Story courtesy of the Southland Conference
Photo courtesy of Northwestern State Athletics
FRISCO, Texas – Northwestern State senior quarterback Brad Henderson was named the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday. McNeese State junior cornerback Guy Morgan was named the defensive player of the week while Central Arkansas senior receiver Dezmin Lewis was named the special teams player of the week.
Offensive Player of the Week: Brad Henderson, Northwestern State
Henderson completed 28 of 53 passes for 357 yards and two touchdowns and added eight carries for 102 yards in leading Northwestern State at Nevada. The senior from Starkville, Miss. (Starkville H.S.), posted the school’s No. 2 single-game totals in passing yards (four shy of Bobby Hebert’s 1980 school record) and total offense (five yards shy of Hebert). Henderson led Demons to most total yards (585) since 2002, most first downs (31) since 1997 and five drives of more than 74 yards in final six series of shootout with the Wolf Pack. Henderson set single-game pass attempts mark (by three), without an interception, and had his first 100-yard rushing game.
Honorable Mention: Cody Stroud, McNeese State; Brady Attaway, Stephen F. Austin; Willie Matthews, Central Arkansas; Timothy Flanders, Sam Houston State.
Defensive Player of the Week: Guy Morgan, McNeese State
Morgan’s interception early in the third quarter deep in McNeese State’s own territory proved to be the game changer when Weber State was driving for a tying score. One play later, the Cowboys scored on a 91-yard run to give them a 21-7 lead and eventually a 35-21 win. The junior cornerback from Baton Rouge, La. (St. John H.S.), also had four tackles, including a tackle for loss and another pass break up. The interception was his second of the season.
Honorable Mention: Dax Swanson, Sam Houston State; Collin Garrett, Stephen F. Austin; Josh Jones, Central Arkansas; Cqulin Hubert, Southeastern Louisiana.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Dezmin Lewis, Central Arkansas
Lewis scored two special teams touchdowns in the Bears’ 70-3 win over Bacone College. He got his first score when he picked up a blocked punt and went 12 yards for a score and another on a bad snap over the punter’s head that he scooped up and took 18 yards to the end zone. The sophomore from Mesquite, Texas (North Mesquite H.S.), also caught three passes for 27 yards and a touchdown.
Honorable Mention: Nick Bruno, Stephen F. Austin; Cory Kemps, Nicholls State; Miguel Antonio, Sam Houston 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.