Carson-Newman’s Wakefield, Jones, Catawba’s Presley 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 November 10, 2007. Carson-Newman College (10-1 overall) claims two of the three awards this week. The Eagles defeated Tusculum College 63-24 at Jefferson City, Tenn. Saturday.

Carson-Newman's winners are sophomore running back Buck Wakefield (Drummonds, Tenn.) and freshman punter Chris Jones (Rome, Ga.). The SAC Offensive Player of the Week, Wakefield receives SAC Player of the Week laurels for the second time in his career. Wakefield was honored once in 2006. Jones earns SAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for the first time as an Eagle.

Catawba College senior defensive back Thomas Presley (Goldsboro, N.C.) earns the SAC Defensive Player of the Week award following his stellar performance in Catawba's 45-0 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne College. Presley joins Jones as a first-time selection.

Buck Wakefield

Thomas Presley

Chris Jones

Buck Wakefield rushed eight times for 123 yards and two touchdowns against Tusculum. He averaged an astounding 15.4 yards per carry. In addition, he caught three passes for 69 yards and one TD. A Mumford High School product, Wakefield got the Eagles on the scoreboard first with an 83-yard touchdown run.

Later in the day, the 5-9, 165-pound Wakefield hauled in a screen pass from sophomore quarterback Alex Good (Greensboro, N.C.) and sprinted 40 yards to the end zone for another Eagle score. Wakefield had 194 of Carson-Newman's 524 yards of total offense Saturday. On the season, Wakefield has rushed 76 times for 612 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Thomas Presley turned in a rare feat Saturday, scoring two defensive touchdowns in the Indians' shutout victory over Lenoir-Rhyne. The Aycock High School graduate intercepted a pass and returned it 12 yards to give the Tribe a 21-0 lead in the second quarter.

Early in the third quarter, the 5-10, 185-pound Presley returned a fumble 49 yards for a score and a 35-0 edge. He also had three tackles, including one on a fake punt to deny the Bears a first down. Presley leads Catawba (10-1 overall) with three interceptions on the season.

Chris Jones had only two punts against Tusculum, but he made them count. The Coosa High School specialist kicked twice for 110 yards, an average of 55 yards per punt. Jones booted a 64-yard punt (his longest of the season) in the fourth quarter. The Eagles downed the ball on the Tusculum 22-yard line.

For the season, the 6-0, 200-pound Jones has averaged a league-leading 41.4 yards per punt. Jones has had six boots land inside the 20-yard line during the 2007 campaign.

The SAC Football Players of the Week are selected by a vote of the league's sports information directors.