CANTON, Ga. - The SAA went 6-2 against nonconference competition during the second week of the Division III college football season. A trio of schools moved to 2-0 on the year. Southwestern traveled to the Pacific Northwest and downed Puget Sound 47-19. Centre used a walk-off, 32-yard field goal go get past future SAA rival Maryville 17-14 and Millsaps thumped John Melvin on Sunday afternoon, 46-0. Sewanee shutout Westminster 42-0 at home to even its record at 1-1. Rhodes and Trinity also moved to .500 on season with the Lynx beating Austin 49-13 and Trinity going on the road to defeat Belhaven 55-10.
The first conference game of the season will be played in week three when Southwestern travels to Hendrix on Saturday afternoon.
Around the SAA:
Athletes of the Week:
OFFENSIVE:
Jacorin Thomas | Sewanee | Sophomore | Augusta, Ga. – led the Tigers to their first win of the season, delivering an impressive dual-threat performance. He rushed 19 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns, while also going 9-for-17 through the air, passing for 137 yards and adding another touchdown. His balanced attack powered Sewanee to a home victory against Westminster.
DEFENSIVE:
Nick Grant | Centre | Fifth-Year | Madisonville, Ky. – was the anchor to Centre’s stingy defense in a tight win over Maryville. His highlight play happened at the end of the second quarter with the Scots in Centre territory. The Colonels forced a fumble, Grant recovered the ball at midfield and raced all the way for a touchdown to tie the game and put momentum in Centre's corner. The fifth-year safety also finished with two tackles and two pass breakups that were key in the Colonels thrilling 17-14 win.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Lamont Nickleberry | Trinity | Sophomore | Childress, Texas – was electric on special teams for the Tigers on Saturday, leading the team to a 55-10 blowout win on the road against Belhaven University (MS). Nickleberry piled up 148 yards on just four kickoff and punt returns in the game, scoring his second career punt return touchdown in the first quarter. He took the opening kick back for a 47-yard return to midfield to set up Trinity's first touchdown of the game. Nickleberry then returned the first Belhaven punt of the game 65 yards for a touchdown and a 13-0 Tiger lead less than three minutes later.
Notable Performances:
- Ian Burleson (Millsaps) - Millsaps football freshman quarterback Ian Burleson threw for two touchdowns and 82 yards on 5-of-8 passing as the Majors bested John Melvin University on Sunday.
- Leroy Rodriguez (Southwestern) - a sophomore running back from Corpus Christi, Texas, made quick work of the Puget Sound Logger defense in the Pirates game on Saturday. Rodriguez rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns as part of a Pirate rushing attack that rushed for 279 total yards. Rodriguez only needed twelve attempts to eclipse the 100-yard mark, averaging 9.5 yards per carry with a longest run of thirty-eight yards in the Pirates' 47-19 win over Puget Sound.
- John Hampton III (Rhodes) – on the road at Austin, Junior John Hampton III caught six passes for 149 yards, highlighted by a 62 yard touchdown reception. The Lynx ran past the ‘Roos 49-13.
- Winston Hutchison (Trinity) - led a balanced offensive onslaught for the Trinity Tigers on Saturday night, as the team earned a 55-10 lopsided victory over Belhaven University (MS). Hutchison nearly outgained the entire Belhaven team on the ground, piling up 80 yards on just nine carries in the game (Belhaven had 94 yards rushing), and scoring a pair of touchdowns. He scored on an eight-yard run late in the first quarter to put the Tigers up 20-0, then broke off a 37-yard run for a touchdown that made it a 41-3 game in the third quarter.
- Luke Bridges (Millsaps) - returned an interception 15 yards for a touchdown to set the tone in the first quarter as the Majors beat John Melvin, 46-0 on Sunday. Bridges added three solo tackles, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.
- Kason Holder (Sewanee) - was a disruptive force on defense, recording 2.5 sacks for a loss of 16 yards. He also tallied four solo tackles, one assisted tackle, and 3.5 total tackles for a loss of 19 yards. Holder’s impact extended beyond tackles, as he broke up a pass and applied pressure with a quarterback hurry.
- DJ James (Southwestern) - a senior defensive back from Houston, James was part of a Pirates defensive secondary that collected three interceptions, including eleven pass break-ups against the Puget Sound Loggers. Of those eleven break-ups, James had five and one interception, returning it for seventy-six yards. In addition to his work in pass defense, James also totaled four tackles against the Loggers.
- Tyson Cornett (Trinity) - led Trinity to a decisive 55-10 road win over Belhaven University (MS) on Saturday evening, holding the offense to less than 200 yards and forcing two turnovers in the game. Cornett recorded an interception for the second time in as many games this season, but this time he returned the interception 24 yards for a touchdown that put Trinity up 48-3 late in the third quarter. He also recorded three solo tackles for the Tigers.
- Cam Tegge (Centre) - In a game where every point mattered, Cam Tegge was perfect on all of his kicks in Centre's 17-14 victory over Maryville. The senior kicker converted a 32-yard field goal on the final play of the game to provide the winning margin in walk-off style.
- Connor Babin (Millsaps) - Millsaps football placekicker Connor Babin used his leg effectively to help power Majors down John Melvin, 46-0 on Sunday. Babin sent six kickoffs for 348 yards, averaging 58 yards per attempt. A kick landed as a touchback and a second went out of bounds, while the others pinned John Melvin deep into their territory with each offensive drive.
- Thomas Conroy (Rhodes) - Had 2 Blocked Kicks. 1 of which was a FG block that was returned for a 75 Yard Touchdown. The second was a Blocked Extra Point Attempt.
- Jack Satterfield (Sewanee) - Was flawless in the kicking game this weekend. He converted both of his field goal attempts, with a long of 29 yards, and was a perfect 4-for-4 on point after attempts. Satterfield also boomed a 55-yard punt and handled kickoff duties, recording eight kickoffs for 495 yards, averaging an impressive 61.9 yards per kick.
2024 Football Report Archive (AOW Offensive/Defensive/Special Teams)
Sept. 9 – Aiden Huerta (Southwestern)/Tyson Cornett (Trinity)/Ethan Klapatch (Millsaps)