South Atlantic Conference Announces Football Players of the Week, Oct. 31
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The South Atlantic Conference announced its AstroTurf SAC Football Players of the Week for games played the ninth week of the season. Newberry quarterback Raleigh Yeldell was tabbed the Offensive Player of the Week, while Tusculum linebacker Deres Benn was named the Defensive Player of the Week. Meanwhile, Catawba kicker Lee Brackman picked up Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Yeldell, a senior from Edgefield, S.C., passed for 428 yards and connected on 76 percent of his throws to finish with four touchdowns in Newberry's 53-14 win over Lenoir-Rhyne on Oct. 29. He averaged nearly 10 yards a completion and found 10 different receivers in the contest. On the ground, he rushed for 23 yards and one touchdown on five carries. He also became Newberry's single-season passing leader in the contest as he now has 2,834 yards on the year. The honor marks his fourth Offensive Player of the Week selection this season.
Benn, a senior from Chattanooga, Tenn., recorded a game-high 13 tackles, including three for loss in Tusculum's 28-27 overtime loss at Mars Hill. Benn tallied 11 solo tackles and blocked and recovered a punt to set up the Pioneers' opening touchdown. Benn is second on the team in tackles (65), interceptions (2) and pass break-ups (5). He also has 11 tackles for loss and has forced two fumbles. The honor is his first Defensive Player of the Week nod.
Brackman, a freshman from Athens, Ga., was perfect on six point after tries in the win over Brevard on Oct. 29. He also had a pair of touchbacks on seven kickoffs with five returns starting in the end zone and not advancing past the 25 yard-line. He award is his first Special Teams Player of the Week.
2016 SAC Offensive Players of the Week
Sept. 6 - Lawrence Pittman, Wingate
Sept. 12 - Lawrence Pittman, Wingate & Raleigh Yeldell, Newberry
Sept. 19 - Raleigh Yeldell, Newberry
Sept. 26 - Mike Sheehan, Catawba
Oct. 3 - Nelson Brown, Lenoir-Rhyne
Oct. 10 - Montavious Taylor, Carson-Newman
Oct. 17 - Raleigh Yeldell, Newberry
Oct. 24 - Malik Prescott, Mars Hill
Oct. 31 - Raleigh Yeldell, Newberry
2016 SAC Defensive Players of the Week
Sept. 6 - L'Keith Brown, Tusculum
Sept. 12 - Ricky Hawks, Mars Hill
Sept. 19 - Case Woodard, Catawba
Sept. 26 - Case Woodard, Catawba
Oct. 3 - Sherrod Williams, Lenoir-Rhyne & Moryah Johnson, Wingate
Oct. 10 - Zack Singleton, Wingate
Oct. 17 - Case Woodard, Catawba
Oct. 24 - Ray Edwards, Wingate
Oct. 31 - Deres Benn, Tusculum
2016 SAC Special Teams Players of the Week
Sept. 6 - Caleb Baird, Wingate
Sept. 12 - Kevin Snead, Carson-Newman
Sept. 19 - Brennan Lambert, Catawba
Sept. 26 - Dayton Rogers, Brevard
Oct. 3 - Evan Altizer, Tusculum
Oct. 10 - Chandler Phillips, Wingate
Oct. 17 - Caleb Baird, Wingate
Oct. 24 - Cole Watson, Newberry
Oct. 31 - Lee Brackman, Catawba