The South Atlantic Conference Announces AstroTurf Football Players of the Week

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The South Atlantic Conference announced its AstroTurf Football Players of the Week for games played during the second week of the 2021 season.  Wingate running back Nijere Peoples was tabbed as the Offensive Player of the Week, while Mars Hill linebacker Dexter Fitzpatrick was named the Defensive Player of the Week, and Wingate return man Kyron Thomas picked up Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Peoples, a junior from Charlotte, N.C., led the No. 18 Bulldogs to a 40-21 win over Fayetteville State. He rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns in the victory, racking up 100 yards on the ground in the first half. He also hauled in a pass for five yards and surpassed 2,000 career rushing yards in the game.

Fitzpatrick, a junior from LaGrange, Ga., led the Lions to a 50-14 win over Virginia-Lynchburg last week. He was a force on defense making 11 total tackles, including three solo tackles. Fitzpatrick also had three sacks and three tackles for loss, accounting for 28 yards.  

Thomas, a freshman from Lynchburg, Va., had a huge return game for the Bulldogs, as he helped setup solid field position for Wingate throughout the game. He piled up 135 return yards on 4 kickoffs, averaging 33.8 yards per return. Included in his returns was a 51-yard scramble in the fourth quarter.

2021 SAC AstroTurf Football Players of the Week

Offensive Player of the Week
Sept. 6 – Lendon Redwine, UVA Wise
Sept. 13 – Nijere Peoples, Wingate

Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 6 – DaQuandre Taylor, UVA Wise
Sept. 13 – Dexter Fitzpatrick, Mars Hill 

Special Teams Player of the Week
Sept. 6 – Clayton Crile, Catawba
Sept. 13 – Kyron Thomas, Wingate

AstroTurf is an official corporate partner of the South Atlantic Conference and title sponsor of the Conference's Player of the Week awards program.

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