smallcollegefbfan
September 7th, 2009, 12:46 PM
BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Liberty wide receiver Mike Brown (Charlottesville, Va.) has been named the Big South football Choice Hotels Offensive Player of the Week and VMI linebacker Eric Church (Louisa, Va.) has been named the Defensive Player of the Week for games played the opening weekend of the 2009 regular-season, it was announced today by the Conference office. In addition, Gardner-Webb kicker Ryan Gates (Newnan, Ga.) was named Special Teams Player of the Week, while Gardner-Webb defensive tackle Matthew Goods (East Orange, N.J.) was tabbed Freshman of the Week.
Brown caught 11 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown, and later added a rushing touchdown in Liberty’s season-opening loss at FBS member West Virginia. His 20-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter tied the ballgame at 10-10, while his nine-yard scamper in the fourth quarter provided the game’s final margin at 33-20. Brown’s 157 receiving yards were the second-highest by a Big South player against an FBS opponent, while his 11 receptions marked the first time a Liberty receiver caught 10 passes in a game during head coach Danny Rocco’s tenure. Brown added 107 kickoff return yards to finish the day with 271 all-purpose yards, the fifth-highest single-game total in Big South history.
Church recorded a career-high 13 tackles in helping VMI to a 14-13 win over Robert Morris. Church had nine solo tackles as well as two tackles-for-loss for 11 yards, including a sack for a seven-yard loss. He had 10 tackles in the first half alone, and helped the Keydets hold the Colonials to 267 total yards – the Keydets’ lowest amount since holding Coastal Carolina to 252 yards last season on Oct. 11.
Gates tied the Big South single-game kick scoring record with 16 points in Gardner-Webb’s 58-14 win over Mars Hill. He booted all seven of his PAT attempts, and connected on field goals from 30, 31 and 30 yards in the game. He has now made 19 field goals in 12 career games with the Runnin’ Bulldogs and has scored 10 points in a game four times.
Goods came off the bench late in the first quarter to tie for the team-lead with six tackles against Mars Hill. He collected a team-high 3.5 tackles-for-loss (minus-17 yards), one sack, one pass break-up and two quarterback hurries. With the game tied 7-7 early in the second quarter, Goods stepped up in one series with a sack, batted down pass and quarterback pressure during a three-play sequence.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Liberty wide receiver Mike Brown (Charlottesville, Va.) has been named the Big South football Choice Hotels Offensive Player of the Week and VMI linebacker Eric Church (Louisa, Va.) has been named the Defensive Player of the Week for games played the opening weekend of the 2009 regular-season, it was announced today by the Conference office. In addition, Gardner-Webb kicker Ryan Gates (Newnan, Ga.) was named Special Teams Player of the Week, while Gardner-Webb defensive tackle Matthew Goods (East Orange, N.J.) was tabbed Freshman of the Week.
Brown caught 11 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown, and later added a rushing touchdown in Liberty’s season-opening loss at FBS member West Virginia. His 20-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter tied the ballgame at 10-10, while his nine-yard scamper in the fourth quarter provided the game’s final margin at 33-20. Brown’s 157 receiving yards were the second-highest by a Big South player against an FBS opponent, while his 11 receptions marked the first time a Liberty receiver caught 10 passes in a game during head coach Danny Rocco’s tenure. Brown added 107 kickoff return yards to finish the day with 271 all-purpose yards, the fifth-highest single-game total in Big South history.
Church recorded a career-high 13 tackles in helping VMI to a 14-13 win over Robert Morris. Church had nine solo tackles as well as two tackles-for-loss for 11 yards, including a sack for a seven-yard loss. He had 10 tackles in the first half alone, and helped the Keydets hold the Colonials to 267 total yards – the Keydets’ lowest amount since holding Coastal Carolina to 252 yards last season on Oct. 11.
Gates tied the Big South single-game kick scoring record with 16 points in Gardner-Webb’s 58-14 win over Mars Hill. He booted all seven of his PAT attempts, and connected on field goals from 30, 31 and 30 yards in the game. He has now made 19 field goals in 12 career games with the Runnin’ Bulldogs and has scored 10 points in a game four times.
Goods came off the bench late in the first quarter to tie for the team-lead with six tackles against Mars Hill. He collected a team-high 3.5 tackles-for-loss (minus-17 yards), one sack, one pass break-up and two quarterback hurries. With the game tied 7-7 early in the second quarter, Goods stepped up in one series with a sack, batted down pass and quarterback pressure during a three-play sequence.