Seniors Willie Hayward of Florida A&M and Chad Simpson of Morgan State University were selected as Co-Offensive Players of the Week while Bethune-Cookman’s Ronnie McCullough earned the Defensive Player of the Week honor, the league announced on Monday.
Eddie Battle of Florida A&M was named Rookie of the Week, while Raymond Harrison of South Carolina State University and Delaware State’s Peter Gaertner earned the Offensive Lineman and Special Teams Player of the Week accolades.
Hayward (WR, 6-3, 190, Sr., Miami, Fla.) celebrated senior day and homecoming in truly senior fashion as he caught nine passes for a career-high 175 yards and two touchdowns. His second touchdown of the day capped a four play, 94-yard drive that included a 73-yard catch.
Simpson (RB, 5-9, 210, Sr., Miami, Fla.) ran 33 times and amassed 215 yards and one touchdown against the Norfolk State Spartans. Simpson leads the MEAC in rushing yards (1,271) and attempts (248) and has earned two previous Player of the Week honors this season.
McCullough (LB, 6-1, 230, Sr., Tampa, Fla.) collected a career-high 23 tackles, five solo, as the Wildcats fell to the Pirates, 31-24. This is McCullough’s third 20+ tackle performance this season, including two 20-tackle games against Morgan State and Winston-Salem State. McCullough earns his third straight Defensive Player of the Week honor, fourth this season.
Battle (QB, 6-2, 215, Fr., Titusville, Fla.) came off the bench to record 259 passing yards on 15-of-24 attempts with two touchdowns to help the Rattlers to a homecoming win over North Carolina A&T.
Harrison (C, 6-1, 290, r-So., Columbia, SC) spearheaded the team’s blocking performance that paved the way for 448 yards of total offense, 207 on the ground. He also added five pancake blocks, four domination blocks and six cut blocks. He graded out at 91-percent in the Bulldogs win over Howard.
Gaertner (PK, 6-0, 180, Sr., Berlin, Germany) earned his third straight Special Teams accolade after he completed 3-of-3 field goals including a 37-yard game winning field goal, with no time on the clock, as the Hornets defeated the Winston-Salem Rams, 23-20. His kicking performances led to 11 of the Hornets 23 points. This is Gaertner’s third MEAC Special Teams’ honor in a row.
Other Top Performances
Jahmal Blanchard (HAM) punted five times for a total of 243 yards (48.6 avg.) including a 60-yard boot to aid the Pirates’ victory over Bethune-Cookman.
Adrian Brown (DSU) aided the Hornets to 348 yards of total offense in their win over the Rams.
Corey Council (B-CU) recorded a career-high 156 yards of return yardage on five kickoffs, including a 90-yard touchdown against the Hampton Pirates.
Marquez Davis (NSU) tallied 12 tackles, four solo, including two and a half tackles for a loss of 11 yards to help the Spartans defeat the Bears.
Dwyane Delaney (MSU) graded out at 98-percent as he aided the Bears to 312 yards of total offense including three pancake blocks.
Michael Ferguson (NCAT) ran for 170 yards on 22 attempts with one touchdown to become the fifth different Aggie to record 1000 rushing yards in a single season.
Carlton Ford (NSU) graded out at 91-percent as he helped the Spartans to 312 total offensive yards, 162 yards rushing, in their win over Morgan State.
Jeremy Gilchrist (HAM) caught 10 passes for 147 yards and one touchdown in the Pirates win over the Wildcats.
Stephen Grantham (SCSU) finished 1-of-1 on field goals (25 yards) and 8-of-8 on PATs in the Bulldogs win over the Bison.
Markee Hamlin (SCSU) collected nine tackles, five solo, for the Bulldogs.
Rashad Howard (NSU) had six kick returns for 76 yards and four punt returns for 28 yards against Morgan State.
Daryl Jones (NSU) recorded rushing 167 yards on 30 carries with two touchdowns in the Spartans win over Morgan State.
Justin Lawrence (MSU) posted three tackles and two sacks for a 13 yard loss and two forced fumbles against Norfolk State.
Malcolm Long (SCSU) came off the bench to complete 5-of-8 passes for 172 yards and two scores in the Bulldogs win over the Bison.
Cleveland McCoy (SCSU) completed 12-of-17 passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns in the Bulldogs win over Howard.
Charles Robinson (HAM) led the Pirates with eight tackles, five solo, and a sack for a six yard loss against Bethune-Cookman.
Jimmie Russell (B-CU) connected on 6-of-9 passes for 63 yards and rushed for 50 yards on 12 attempts with one touchdown against the Pirates.
Ron Spinner (DSU) led the Hornets with eight tackles, two for a loss of two yards, and one recovered fumble in the win over Winston-Salem St.
Brian Sumlar (B-CU) ran for a season-high 66 yards on eight carries with two touchdowns for the Wildcats.
Wesley Taylor (FAMU) drilled the 33-yard game winning field goal with 45 seconds to secure the 24-21 win over the Aggies.
Vernon Wilder (FAMU) tallied eight tackles, seven solo, and one sack for six yards as the Rattlers defeated N.C. A&T.
Vashon Winton (DSU) completed 21-of-29 passes for 238 yards with a passing touchdown as well as 10-yards rushing on nine carries and a rushing touchdown in the Hornets win over the Rams.