The South Atlantic Conference Announces AstroTurf SAC Football Players of the Week, Nov. 16
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The South Atlantic Conference announced its AstroTurf SAC Football Players of the Week for games the final week of the regular season. Catawba quarterback Mike Sheehan was tabbed the Offensive Player of the Week, while Newberry linebacker Taylor McDonnell was named the Defensive Player of the Week. Carson-Newman kicker Carson Wise picked up Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Sheehan, a junior from Wilmington, N.C., completed 68 percent of his passes to go along with 106 yards on the ground and three rushing touchdowns to lift Catawba to its first South Atlantic Conference Football Championship since 2007 on Nov. 14. He rushed for scores of 43, four and one yards in the 28-14 win over Lenoir-Rhyne and accounted for 128 yards through the air. Sheehan's 43-yard touchdown score with 4:55 remaining iced the game for the Catawba Indians and secured a home game for the first round of the NCAA Division II Football Championship. He connected on 11-of-16 passes, while carrying the ball 21 times. The honor is his second-straight Offensive Player of the Week selection this season.
McDonnell, a senior from Bluffton, S.C., recorded nine solo stops, including three tackles for loss and a pair of sacks in a 26-0 win over Wingate on Nov. 14. His sack in the opening quarter resulted in a safety as he also recovered a fumble in the win to push the Wolves to a berth in the 2015 NCAA Football Championship. The honor is his second Defensive Player of the Week nod this season.
Wise, a freshman from Blacksburg, Va., connected on three field goals and was a perfect 8-of-8 on extra points to help the Eagles to a 65-32 win over Tusculum on Nov. 14. He highlighted his day with a career-long 42 yard field goal as Carson-Newman earned a spot in the 2015 NCAA Football Playoffs with the win. The award is his third Special Teams Player of the Week honor this season.
2015 Offensive Players of the Week
Sept. 8 - Evin Sims, Lenoir-Rhyne
Sept. 14 - Cary Littlejohn, Catawba
Keshaun Taylor, Mars Hill
Sept. 21 - Evin Sims, Lenoir-Rhyne
Sept. 28 - Damian Baker, Carson-Newman
Oct. 5 - Isaac Robinson, Tusculum
Oct. 12 - Luke Lancaster, Tusculum
Oct. 19 - Lawrence Pittman, Wingate
Oct. 26 - Gilbert Johnson, Mars Hill
Nov. 2 - Raleigh Yeldell, Newberry
Nov. 9 - Mike Sheehan, Catawba
Nov. 16 - Mike Sheehan, Catawba
2015 Defensive Players of the Week
Sept. 8 - Martez Thompkins, Tusculum
Sept. 14 - Taylor McDonnell, Newberry
Sept. 21 - Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
Sept. 28 - Alstevis Squirewell, Newberry
Oct. 5 - Andre Foulks, Wingate
Oct. 12 - Mark McDaniel, Catawba
Oct. 19 - Eric Mapoles, Wingate
Oct. 26 - Carl Mattox, Mars Hill
Nov. 2 - Kyle Kitchens, Catawba
Nov. 9 - Jason Williams, Carson-Newman
Nov. 16 - Taylor McDonnell, Newberry
2015 Special Team Players of the Week
Sept. 8 - Carson Wise, Carson-Newman
Sept. 14 - Christopher Birozes, Wingate
Sept. 21 - Jody Fuller, Wingate
Sept. 28 - Kyle Clark, Newberry
Oct. 5 - Kristaan Ivory, Lenoir-Rhyne
Oct. 12 - Dylan Barnas, Mars Hill
Oct. 19 - Justin Long, Carson-Newman
Oct. 26 - Carson Wise, Carson-Newman
Nov. 2 - Michael Ashley, Mars Hill
Nov. 9 - Keshaun Taylor, Mars Hill
Nov. 16 - Carson Wise, Carson-Newman