Courtesy of the Southland Conference
FRISCO, Texas – Southeastern Louisiana quarterback Tyler Beatty was named the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week after guiding the Lions to a 49-24 victory over No. 15/17 Texas State last Saturday in Hammond. Sam Houston State linebacker Will Henry was named the defensive player of the week and Nicholls punter Patrick Dolan was named the conference’s special teams player of the week, the league announced Monday.
Offensive Player of the Week: Tyler Beatty, Southeastern Louisiana
Making his third start of the season and fifth of his career, Beatty posted career-highs of 368 yards and five touchdowns on 27 completions in a 49-24 win over No. 15/17 Texas State in the Southland Conference opener for both teams. The senior from Pflugerville, Texas (Pflugerville), threw three touchdowns to Simmie Yarborough (who became the Lions’ all-time leader in TD receptions passing Felton Huggins) and touchdown passes to Brandon Collins and Zeke Jones. The transfer from Baylor, directed a five-play, 59-yard drive that consumed 30 seconds and resulted in a 13-yard touchdown pass to Yarborough with 4 seconds remaining the half that put Southeastern ahead for good, 28-21. Beatty also ran for 29 yards on seven carries while directing an offense that accumulated 493 total yards and was 13-of-19 in third-down conversions.
Honorable Mention: Jeremy Moses, Stephen F. Austin; Paul Harris, Northwestern State; Tim Flanders, Sam Houston State.
Defensive Player of the Week: Will Henry, Sam Houston State
Henry tied the Sam Houston State record with four sacks in the Bearkats’ 26-7 victory at Nicholls. All-American defensive tackle Michael Bankston also had four sacks against Angelo State in 1991. The junior from Waco, Texas (LaVega), led defensive unit that tied the Southland Conference record for sacks with 12 sacks in a game, which is shared by Northwestern State vs. SFA in 1997. Sam Houston State limited Nicholls to 97 total yards, the fewest given up by a Sam Houston defense since it held SFA to 83 total yards in 1990.
Honorable Mention: Tommy Connors, Southeastern Louisiana; Josh Aubrey, Stephen F. Austin; Frank Newsome, Central Arkansas.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Patrick Dolan, Nicholls
Senior Patrick Dolan helped the Colonels’ offense and defense throughout the game by pinning Sam Houston State deep in their own territory in a 26-7 loss. The senior from Mobile, Ala. (McGill Toolen), had punts 61 yards and the other of 68 to go along with punts of 37, 51, 51 and 40 yards for 51.3 yards per punt. Dolan also handled kickoff duties, notching two kickoffs for 126 and a 63.0 average.
Honorable Mention: Robert Shaw, Sam Houston State; Josh Lewis, McNeese State.
Each school’s sports information director nominates and votes for the players of the week, though is not permitted to vote for his own player. To receive honorable mention, a player must receive votes from 25 percent of the Southland sports information directors.