smallcollegefbfan
September 14th, 2009, 04:47 PM
MSU's Pendland heads players of the week
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - McNeese State running back Toddrick Pendland, Grambling defensive end Christian Anthony, Montana cornerback Trumaine Johnson and Florida A&M special teams performer Leroy Vann have been named The Sports Network's FCS national players of the week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Toddrick Pendland, McNeese State, Senior, 5-10, 175, Running Back, Newton, TX.
Pendland helped McNeese State to a 40-35 upset over No. 2-ranked Appalachian State on Saturday afternoon by becoming the first Cowboy player ever to rush for over 100 yards and pick up over 100 receiving yards in the same game. Pendland, a Walter Payton Award nominee, carried the ball 19 times for 127 yards and one touchdown and hauled in 10 passes for 121 yards and two more TDs. Pendland also added a two-point conversion on a direct snap in the Wildcat formation to finish with 20 points. He was instrumental in converting several third- and fourth-down situations into first downs and caught a pass from Derrick Fourroux on fourth and seven in the final minute fourth quarter to keep McNeese State's winning drive alive.
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Christian Anthony, Grambling, Junior, 6-4, 275, Defensive End, Birmingham, AL.
Anthony was a one-man wrecking crew in Grambling's 38-17 victory over Northwestern State on Saturday night, forcing a fumble and intercepting two passes and turning them into touchdowns. With Grambling trailing 14-7 at halftime, Anthony intercepted a pass at the NSU 24 and lateraled to Nigel Copeland, who ran for the score. On the next Demon offensive series, Anthony intercepted another pass and took it in from 25 yards out for the TD. Anthony, a Buck Buchanan Award candidate, also had six solo tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and two quarterback hurries as the Tigers won the 500th win in school history.
Trumaine Johnson, Montana, 6-3, 197, Sophomore, Cornerback, Stockton, CA.
Johnson intercepted two passes in the end zone and added a key pass breakup to help lift Montana to a come-from-behind, 17-10 road victory at UC Davis on Saturday night. Johnson ended the Aggies' first and final drives with interceptions off of quarterback Greg Denham, one of the country's most efficient passers. The second interception came on fourth down with 51 seconds left and secured the Grizzlies' win. Johnson also added six tackles and one tackle for loss during the game.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Leroy Vann, Florida A&M, 5-9, 185, Senior, KR/PR-DB, Tampa, FL.
Vann sparked Florida A&M to a 34-10 road victory over Winston-Salem State on Thursday night in a nationally-televised game, returning two punts for touchdowns. Vann's 95-yard punt return in the second quarter gave the Rattlers some breathing room with a 14-3 lead and his 80-yard punt return in the third quarter made it a 21-3 game. The All-American returned three punts altogether for 189 yards, an average of 63 yards per return. He also had two kickoff returns for 39 yards to finish with 228 all-purpose yards. Vann now has eight returns for touchdowns during his career, five of them on punts. The defensive back also had an assisted tackle, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry during the game. Vann ranks second nationally in punt returns (30.8 average) and 10th in all-purpose yards.
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - McNeese State running back Toddrick Pendland, Grambling defensive end Christian Anthony, Montana cornerback Trumaine Johnson and Florida A&M special teams performer Leroy Vann have been named The Sports Network's FCS national players of the week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Toddrick Pendland, McNeese State, Senior, 5-10, 175, Running Back, Newton, TX.
Pendland helped McNeese State to a 40-35 upset over No. 2-ranked Appalachian State on Saturday afternoon by becoming the first Cowboy player ever to rush for over 100 yards and pick up over 100 receiving yards in the same game. Pendland, a Walter Payton Award nominee, carried the ball 19 times for 127 yards and one touchdown and hauled in 10 passes for 121 yards and two more TDs. Pendland also added a two-point conversion on a direct snap in the Wildcat formation to finish with 20 points. He was instrumental in converting several third- and fourth-down situations into first downs and caught a pass from Derrick Fourroux on fourth and seven in the final minute fourth quarter to keep McNeese State's winning drive alive.
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Christian Anthony, Grambling, Junior, 6-4, 275, Defensive End, Birmingham, AL.
Anthony was a one-man wrecking crew in Grambling's 38-17 victory over Northwestern State on Saturday night, forcing a fumble and intercepting two passes and turning them into touchdowns. With Grambling trailing 14-7 at halftime, Anthony intercepted a pass at the NSU 24 and lateraled to Nigel Copeland, who ran for the score. On the next Demon offensive series, Anthony intercepted another pass and took it in from 25 yards out for the TD. Anthony, a Buck Buchanan Award candidate, also had six solo tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and two quarterback hurries as the Tigers won the 500th win in school history.
Trumaine Johnson, Montana, 6-3, 197, Sophomore, Cornerback, Stockton, CA.
Johnson intercepted two passes in the end zone and added a key pass breakup to help lift Montana to a come-from-behind, 17-10 road victory at UC Davis on Saturday night. Johnson ended the Aggies' first and final drives with interceptions off of quarterback Greg Denham, one of the country's most efficient passers. The second interception came on fourth down with 51 seconds left and secured the Grizzlies' win. Johnson also added six tackles and one tackle for loss during the game.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Leroy Vann, Florida A&M, 5-9, 185, Senior, KR/PR-DB, Tampa, FL.
Vann sparked Florida A&M to a 34-10 road victory over Winston-Salem State on Thursday night in a nationally-televised game, returning two punts for touchdowns. Vann's 95-yard punt return in the second quarter gave the Rattlers some breathing room with a 14-3 lead and his 80-yard punt return in the third quarter made it a 21-3 game. The All-American returned three punts altogether for 189 yards, an average of 63 yards per return. He also had two kickoff returns for 39 yards to finish with 228 all-purpose yards. Vann now has eight returns for touchdowns during his career, five of them on punts. The defensive back also had an assisted tackle, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry during the game. Vann ranks second nationally in punt returns (30.8 average) and 10th in all-purpose yards.