Southland Conference Announces Football Players of the Week
Southland Conference
FRISCO, Texas – Sam Houston State junior quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe, Lamar senior defensive back Brendan Langley and UCA junior kick returner Dwayne Smith earned Southland Conference Football Player of the Week honors presented by UniversalCoin.com, the league office announced Monday. Briscoe took offensive honors while Langley was named defensive player of the week and Smith was tabbed the top special teams player.
Offensive Player of the Week: Jeremiah Briscoe, Sam Houston State
Briscoe set a program-record with seven touchdowns on 25 of 33 passing in Sam Houston State’s 63-28 win over rival Stephen F. Austin in the Battle of the Piney Woods. The junior from Houston, Texas (Stratford H.S.), set a career-high with 438 passing yards with no interceptions while leading the Bearkats to the most points scored in the 91-year old history of the contest. Briscoe also helped lead Sam Houston to 593 yards of total offense in the game.
Honorable Mention: James Tabary, McNeese; Hayden Hildebrand, Central Arkansas; Kade Harrington, Lamar.
Defensive Player of the Week: Brendan Langley, Lamar
Langley tied a school-record with three interceptions in Lamar’s 38-14 win against Southeastern Louisiana. The senior from Marietta, Ga. (Kell H.S.), is only one of three Cardinals to notch three picks in the same contest. Two of his three interceptions came on consecutive possessions for the Lions, setting up second-half touchdowns for Lamar. Langley also had three total tackles in the win.
Honorable Mention: Andre Fuller, McNeese; Derick Roberson, Sam Houston State; George Odum, Central Arkansas.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Dwayne Smith, Central Arkansas
Smith, a junior from Buford, Ga. (Collins Hill H.S.), returned just his second kickoff of the season 93 yards for a touchdown to give the Bears a 51-20 lead over Abilene Christian late in the third quarter. It was UCA’s first kickoff return for a score since 2014 and it tied for the eighth-longest in school history. The Bears would move to 3-0 in league play after a 58-27 win over the Wildcats.
Honorable Mention: Joseph Figenshaw, Sam Houston State; Zae Giles, Lamar.
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.