Catawba’s Roach, Darnell, Wingate’s Floyd Named Football Players Of The Week

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The South Atlantic Conference announces its football Players of the Week for the week ending October 13, 2007. Catawba College claims two of the three awards this week. The visiting Catawba Indians defeated number seven Carson-Newman College 55-49 Saturday in one of the wildest league games in recent memory.

This week's recipients include Catawba College senior quarterback Brad Roach (Williamston, N.C.), Catawba College junior place kicker Cory Darnell (Rural Hall, N.C.) and Wingate University redshirt senior linebacker Bobby Floyd (Fairmont, N.C.).

Roach earns Offensive Player of the Week honors for the first time this season and second time in his career. Floyd earns Defensive Player of the Week laurels for the second time this season. Darnell is the SAC Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time in his Catawba career. The SAC football Player of the Week awards are selected by a vote of the league's seven football sports information directors.

Brad Roach

Bobby Floyd

Cory Darnell

Roach's career day helped 12th-ranked Catawba rally from a 35-13 deficit Saturday in Jefferson City, Tenn. The 6-6, 245-pound senior threw for 486 yards on 37-of-64 passing with four touchdowns and no interceptions

The Carson-Newman contest marks the third straight game Roach has not thrown an interception. The Williamston High School product barely missed Catawba school records set by Luke Samples in a 2003 loss to Carson-Newman (492 passing yards, 38 pass completions).

Roach guided Catawba 71 yards in the final minute of the first half to pull the Tribe within 35-20 at the break. He keyed two third quarter scores as Catawba tied the score on its first two possessions after the half. Roach was 20-of-29 in the second half for 252 yards.

Bobby Floyd led the Wingate defense with 12 total tackles (four solo and eight assists) as the Bulldogs defeated Lenoir-Rhyne College 31-13 Saturday afternoon. Thanks to the efforts of Floyd and his teammates, the Bulldogs held the Bears to 72 yards rushing on 34 attempts. In last week's NCAA Division II football statistics, Wingate was fourth in the nation in rushing defense.

In addition to his 12 total stops, Floyd compiled 1.5 tackles for loss. On the 2007 season, Floyd is second on the Wingate team with 63 tackles (26 solo, 37 assists). His ledger includes five tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one QB sack and one fumble recovery. A 6-3, 240-pound linebacker from Fairmont High School, Floyd participates on four Bulldog special teams units (kick-off return and coverage, punt coverage and extra-point block) in addition to his defensive duties.

Cory Darnell scored 11 points on two field goals and five extra points in Catawba's road win at Carson-Newman. A North Forsyth High School product, Darnell had a career-long 44-yard field goal in the first half, cutting Catawba's deficit to 21-13 at the time.

A 6-2, 200-pound place kicker, Darnell tallied his first two field goals of the season Saturday. His kick-offs helped pen the Eagles inside their own 30-yard-line on five second-half possessions after Carson-Newman started twice in Tribe territory on four first-half kicks. Darnell is 17-of-18 on extra points this season.