Courtesy of the Patriiot League
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - Colgate senior quarterback Greg Sullivan, Lehigh senior linebacker Al Pierce and Bucknell sophomore running back/kick returner Tyler Smith and freshman quarterback Brandon Wesley have captured Patriot League Football weekly awards, it was announced on Monday.
Sullivan and Pierce each led their team to victories with oustanding individual performances. Sullivan earned the Offensive Player of the Week honor after accumulating 254 yards of total offense and three total touchdowns in No. 22 Colgate's 30-29 triumph over Monmouth. Pierce totaled nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble in Lehigh's 28-14 win at Drake to win the Defensive Player of the Week award. Smith and Wesley both shined in Bucknell's 17-13 loss at Duquesne. Smith scored the Bison's only touchdown of the day on an 89-yard kickoff return in the third quarter to claim the Special Teams Player of the Week honor, while Wesley went 12-of-21 for 81 yards and also rushed for 48 yards in his collegiate debut to claim the Rookie of the Week award.
Holy Cross' Bill Edger and Freddie Santana, Lehigh's Jay Campbell and Colgate's Lamont Sonds each captured honorable mention plaudits.
Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 4)
Greg Sullivan, QB, Colgate Sr., 6-1, 217 (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury)
Sullivan led the Raiders to a season-opening victory over Monmouth with an impressive night both through the air and on the ground. He completed 11-of-14 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown and carried 15 times for 74 yards and two scores. He improved to 2-0 in season openers and 19-4 in his career at Colgate, and now has 5,587 yards of total offense in his career. Sullivan claims his fourth career Offensive Player of the Week awards, and has captured at least one honor in each of the last three seasons.
Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 4)
Al Pierce, LB, Lehigh Sr., 6-1, 215 (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown)
Pierce had a huge game in a strong defensive performance for the Mountain Hawks, recording nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble in a 28-14 win at Drake on Saturday night.Pierce had two of Lehigh's seven sacks in the game, and his sack and forced fumble late in the fourth quarter sealed the win for the Mountain Hawks. Pierce has won consecutive Defensive Player of the Week honors after claiming the final award of the 2009 season.
Special Teams Player of the Week (Sept. 4)
Tyler Smith, RB/KR, Bucknell So., 5-9, 185 (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn)
Smith scored Bucknell's only touchdown of the night with an 89-yard kickoff return that evened the score at 10-10 early in the third quarter of an eventual 17-13 loss at Duquesne on Saturday night. Smith was returning kicks for the first time and finished the night with four returns for 166 yards. Smith has won consecutive Patriot League awards after claiming the final Rookie of the Week honor last season.
Rookie of the Week (Sept. 4)
Brandon Wesley, QB, Bucknell Fr., 6-2, 178 (Plano, Texas/Plano East)
Wesley played the majority of his first collegiate game under center and completed 12-of-21 passes for 81 yards while also leading the Bison with 48 rushing yards in a 17-13 loss to Duquesne.
Honorable Mention
Bill Edger, WR, Holy Cross
7 catches, 124 yards, 2 TD in 38-7 win over Howard
Lamont Sonds, DE, Colgate
6 tackles, 3 sacks in 30-29 win over Monmouth
Jay Campbell, RB, Lehigh
22 carries, 93 yards, 3 TD in 28-14 win at Drake
Freddie Santana, WR, Holy Cross
85-yd PR TD, 111 AP yards in 38-7 win over Howard