Southland Conference Announces Football Players of the Week
Southland Conference
FRISCO, Texas – Sam Houston State junior running back Corey Avery, Nicholls freshman defensive lineman Sully Laiche and Sam Houston freshman kick returner Jaylen Harris earned Southland Conference Football Player of the Week honors presented by UniversalCoin.com, the league office announced Monday. Briscoe took offensive honors while Harris was named defensive player of the week and Harris was tabbed the top special teams player.
Offensive Player of the Week: Corey Avery, Sam Houston State
Avery set a career-high with 212 rushing yards on 17 carries and four touchdowns in Sam Houston State’s 63-48 win at UIW. The junior from Dallas, Texas (Carter H.S.), averaged 12.5 yards per carry. In the first half, Avery had 107 yards on eight carries while finishing the second half with 105 yards on nine carries. His first two touchdowns came on runs of 54 and 56 yards. Avery is currently 13th on the Sam Houston all-time rushing list with 1,956 career yards.
Honorable Mention: Chase Fourcade, Nicholls; Brandon Acker, Southeastern Louisiana; Kody Edwards, UIW; Kade Harrington, Lamar.
Defensive Player of the Week: Sully Laiche, Nicholls
Laiche helped seal the 35-28 double-overtime win for Nicholls over Stephen F. Austin by making his way in the backfield and forcing a fumble at the 12-yard line that ended the game. The freshman defensive lineman from Gramercy, La. (Lutcher H.S.), anchored the Colonels’ defensive with a career-high 14 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and notched his fifth sack of the season. The win snapped Nicholls’ eight-game skid against SFA.
Honorable Mention: Sione Teuhema, Southeastern Louisiana; Brendan Langley, Lamar; Justin Johnson, Sam Houston State.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Jaylen Harris, Sam Houston State
Harris, a redshirt freshman from Cibolo, Texas (Steele H.S.), entered the weekend as the league’s top kick returner, and he did not disappoint in Sam Houston State’s 63-48 win at UIW. Harris opened the game with a 54-yard return and added a 53-yard return later in the first quarter. He also returned a kick in the fourth quarter for 43 yards and finished the contest with 164 yards on five kick returns.
Honorable Mention: Tyler St. Germain, Nicholls; Shakeir Ryan, Northwestern State; Jonathan Tatum, Southeastern Louisiana.
Each school’s sports information director nominates and votes for the players of the week, though is not permitted to vote for his own player. To receive honorable mention, a player must receive votes from 25 percent of the Southland sports information directors.