SoCon names football players of the week

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference Football Players of the Week presented by Southern Recognition were awarded for all games played on Nov. 16. Samford quarterback Quincy Crittendon was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Furman defensive back Billy Lewis was named the Defensive Player of the Week and Western Carolina placekicker Christian Lowery was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Quincy Crittendon, Jr., QB, Samford, Decatur, Ala.

Crittendon completed 34-of-50 of his pass attempts, finishing with a season-high 340 yards and a touchdown pass in Samford’s 36-13 win at then 19th-ranked Chattanooga. The junior also ran for a team-high 59 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown. The Decatur, Alabama, native’s 38-yard touchdown pass came in the second quarter and his 12-yard touchdown run came in the third quarter. Crittendon is ranked fourth in all of FCS football in completion percentage (.716).

Other nominees: Johnathan Bennett (The Citadel), Devontae Houston (ETSU), Trey Hedden (Furman), Whitt Newbauer (Mercer), Taron Dickens (Western Carolina) and Ryan Ingram (Wofford)

 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Billy Lewis, R-Fr., DB, Furman, Athens, Ga.

Lewis recorded a season-high nine tackles, seven of which were solo and a pass breakup in Furman’s 24-21 upset win at then 21st-ranked ETSU. The redshirt freshman also had an interception and a forced fumble in the contest. The native of Athens, Georgia, secured his interception in the first minute of the fourth quarter at the Furman 30-yard line, which he returned 16 yards, halting ETSU’s scoring threat and keeping the score tied at 21-21. For his performance, Lewis was named the Stats Perform FCS National Freshman Player of the Week on Monday.

Other nominees: Evan Byrd (The Citadel), Ray Coney (ETSU), Andrew Zock (Mercer), Noah Martin (Samford), Alex Mitchell (Chattanooga), Eric Rankin (VMI), Wesley Scott (Western Carolina) and David Powers (Wofford)
 

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Christian Lowery, Jr., PK, Western Carolina, Acworth, Ga.

Lowery scored a career-high 15 points for Western Carolina in the Catamounts’ 58-28 win over VMI. The junior was 3-for-3 on field goals and made all six of his PAT attempts. The Acworth, Georgia, product’s field goal makes came from 45 and 26 yards out in the first quarter, before making a 27-yard boot in the third. Lowery also booted a career-best 11 kickoffs in the game for the Catamounts.

Other nominees: Ben Barnes (The Citadel), Ian Williams (Furman), John McConnell (Mercer), DJ Rias (Samford) and Javin Whatley (Chattanooga)

2024 SoCon Football Players of the Week
Offensive
Sept. 2             DJ Smith, Jr., QB, Mercer
Sept. 9             Amari Odom, R-Fr., QB, Wofford

Sept. 16            Trey Hedden, Fr., QB, Furman

Sept. 23            DJ Smith, Jr., QB, Mercer

Sept. 30            Khamran Laborn, R-Jr., WR, ETSU

Oct.7                Sam Phillips, R-Jr., WR, Chattanooga

Oct.14              AJ Johnson, R-So., WR, ETSU

Oct. 21             Cole Gonzales, Jr., QB, Western Carolina

Oct. 28             Dwayne McGee, Sr., RB, Mercer

Nov. 4              Taron Dickens, R-Fr., QB, Western Carolina

Nov. 11             Parker Wroble, Sr., WR, Mercer

Nov. 18             Quincy Crittendon, Jr., QB, Samford

 
Defensive
Sept. 2             Jalen Marshall, Jr., LB, Wofford
Sept. 9             Amir Annoor, Sr., DB, Wofford

Sept. 16            CJ Coombes, R-Fr., DB, Wofford

Sept. 23            TJ Moore, Sr., DB, Mercer

Sept. 30            Dainsus Miller, Jr., DB, Mercer

Oct. 7               David Powers, Sr., LB, Wofford

Oct. 14             TJ Moore, Sr., DB, Mercer

Oct. 21             Noah Martin, Gr., LB, Samford

Oct. 28             Brayden Manley, So., DL, Mercer

Nov. 4              Shamus Jones, Sr., DB, VMI

Nov. 11             Zach West, R-Sr., LB, ETSU

Nov. 18             Billy Lewis, R-Fr., DB, Furman

 
Special teams
Sept. 2             Brayden Smith, So., WR, Mercer

Sept. 9             John McConnell, R-Jr., P, Mercer

Sept. 16            Ian Williams, R-Sr., PK, Furman

Sept. 23            Ewan Johnson, R-So., K, ETSU

Sept. 30            John McConnell, R-Jr., P, Mercer

Oct. 7               Nate Brackett, R-Jr., P, ETSU

Oct. 14             Jude Kelley, R-Jr., PK, Chattanooga

Oct. 21             Jude Kelley, R-Jr., PK, Chattanooga

Oct. 28             James Platte, Gr., P, The Citadel

Nov. 4              Reice Griffith, So., PK, Mercer

Nov. 11             Ewan Johnson, R-So., K, ETSU

Nov. 18             Christian Lowery, Jr., PK, Western Carolina