2015 Football Players of the Week
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JJ Hill, Randolph-Macon, Fr., Defensive Back
November 15, 2015Hill, a freshman from Roanoke, Va., helped spearhead the Yellow Jacket's "bend-but-snap-back" defensive performance in Randolph-Macon's 14-9 victory over Hampden-Sydney in the 120th edition of "The Game." R-MC surrendered 339 yards of offense, but also forced four turnovers on two interceptions and a pair of fumbles. It was Hill that came up with both of those interceptions, with each directly scoring or preventing points. He picked off his first pass in the opening frame, returning it 31-yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead. His second INT came in the third quarter when he stopped a Tigers' scoring drive in the end zone. Hill broke up two other passes in the game and registered a pair of tackles, including a quarterback sack. The interceptions brought his season total to three, all coming in the last two weeks. -
Matt Pawlowski, Guilford, Sr., Quarterback
November 15, 2015Pawlowski, a senior from Greensboro, N.C., put together his second 400-yard passing game of the season in the Quakers 41-30 win over Emory & Henry. Pawlowski completed a season-best 76.6-percent (36-of-47) of his passes for 411 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. He was especially potent in the second half, leading Guilford back from a 23-13 deficit and directing the offense to scores on four straight possessions. He was 17-of-20 for 278 yards and three touchdowns in the final two frames. His touchdown plays went for 20, 27, 39 and 18 yards. He has now thrown for an ODAC-best 39 touchdowns this season, three off the conference record (J.D. Ricca, H-SC, 2005). He is also now seventh in NCAA Division III history with 116 touchdown passes, eight short of the ODAC record (Josh Vogelbach, GC, 2005-08). Pawlowski currently leads the ODAC in passing yards (3,333) and yards per game (333.3) in addition to touchdown passes.
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Moody Heard, Washington and Lee, Sr., Linebacker
November 08, 2015Heard, a senior from Houston, Texas, helped the Generals clinch the ODAC title in Washington and Lee's 42-33 win over Catholic. Heard put together a complete performance from his linebacker post, registering five total tackles including his first sack of the season that held the Cardinals to a first quarter field goal rather than reaching the end zone. In addition to a pass breakup, Heard hauled in his first interception of the season and returned it 24 yards to the CUA 26-yard just 36-second prior to halftime. W&L would score via a nine-yard touchdown pass with 0:02 on the first-half clock to take a 28-5 lead into the break. Heard now has season totals of 46 tackles (25 solo) with three sacks, three forced fumbles and Saturday's interception.
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Connor Chess, Washington and Lee, Jr., Running Back
November 08, 2015Chess, a junior from Fairfax, Va., helped lead the Generals to a 52-33 win over Catholic, which clinched the 2015 ODAC title. Chess spearheaded a Generals' rushing effort that churned 391 yards, increasing the Generals streak of games with 300 or more yards rushing to 11 dating back to last season. Chess posted an ODAC weekly-best 159 yards on 18 carries with a pair of touchdown runs. He opened the game's scoring with a 34-yard jaunt around right-end and thru one would-be tackler, and then made it 14-5 in W&L's favor with a 19-yard option-pitch score again around the right side. Chess had five rushes for 10 or more yards with no negative yardage plays on the day as he averaged 8.8 yards per carry. He now leads the Generals and is fifth in the ODAC with 757 yards rushing, while his nine touchdowns are third. He also averages an ODAC-best 8.0 yards per carry (95).
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Max Garrett, Washington and Lee, So., Linebacker
November 01, 2015Garrett, a sophomore from Fairfield, Conn., helped the Generals move to 8-0 for the first time since 1961 and the fourth time in school history as W&L shutdown Emory & Henry's high-powered offense. Garrett led all ODAC players this week with 16 total tackles including nine solo stops. He twice made stops to end Wasps' drives, including a tackles at the one-yard line on 4th-and-goal for E&H early in the second quarter. That effort helped W&L keep Emory & Henry off the scoreboad in the second half. Garrett is currently seventh in the ODAC with 64 tackles and eighth with 39 solo stops. He averages 8.0 tackles per game, also seventh in the ODAC.
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Matt Pawlowski, Guilford, Sr., Quarterback
November 01, 2015Pawlowski, a senior from Greensboro, N.C., earns his second straight weekly honor after a record-setting day in the Quakers 52-49 win at Catholic. Pawlowski set ODAC and Guilford records with 611 yards passing, marking the ninth-best mark in NCAA Division III history and the most in the country this season. He's also the first quarterback to cross the 600-yard mark in ODAC history, eclipsing the 592 yards by former GC signal-caller Josh Vogelbach. Pawlowski's 648 total yards of offense are also the most in D-III this season, again setting league and school records. He finished the day completing 37-of-63 passes with seven touchdowns. He hit Adam Smith with three TDs for the fifth time this season, helping the receiver to a D-III leading 16 scoring catches and all-time ODAC-record 43 career touchdown receptions. Pawlowski's TD passes against CUA covered 66, 9, 24, 18, 21, 15 and 2 yards. Three receivers went over 100 yards on the day. Pawlowski leads the ODAC with 32 touchdown passes and is second in yards (2,531), yards per game (316.4) and completion percentage (62.5%).
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Sidney Henry, Hampden-Sydney, Sr., Cornerback
October 25, 2015Henry, a senior from Haymarket, Va., put together a big defensive effort in the Tigers' 38-33 victory over Shenandoah. Henry came up from his cornerback position to make nine solo tackles on the way to 11 for the game. He also made a stop behind the line of scrimmage. His biggest contributions came on turnovers when he played a part in a pair of takeaways. His first came early in the second quarter when he covered a fumble at the SU 29-yard line, which turned into a H-SC touchdown four plays later. He intercepted his league-best fifth pass of the season at the end of the first half when he went up with a Hornets' receiver and pull down an interception in the back of the end zone to preserve the Tigers' 28-20 halftime edge. Three of Henry's five interceptions have come against league play. He's made 45 tackles on the season.
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Matt Pawlowski, Guilford, Sr., Quarterback
October 25, 2015Pawlowski, a senior from Greensboro, N.C., kept his season of zero interceptions alive in the Quakers 41-21 victory over R-MC. Pawlowski threw for 251 yards and five touchdowns on 21-of-33 (63.6%) passing, completing passes to seven different receivers. The scoring plays covered 76, 7, 32, 8, and 14 yards. The five touchdowns mark the fourth time Pawlowski has thrown that many in a game this season -- accounting for 4-of-5 five-touchdown performances by ODAC quarterbacks in 2015 -- while completing 60-percent or better of his passes for the sixth time. Pawlowski became just the second quarterback in ODAC history -- joining former GC signal-caller Josh Vogelbach -- to throw for more than 10,000 yards and 100 touchdowns. He currently leads the ODAC in TD passes (25) and is second in yardage (1,920) and completion percentage (63.6%).
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Michael Messick, Shenandoah, Sr., Linebacker
October 18, 2015Messick, a senior from Mechanicsville, Md., was all over the field in the Hornets' 34-17 triumph over Catholic on Saturday. Messick set a new Shenandoah record with 24 total tackles against the Cardinals, including 13 solo stops. The 24 tackles are the most recorded by an ODAC player since the 2006 season and two more than former Guilford defensive back Satiir Stevenson recorded last season. Messick also recovered a fumble, one of four turnovers registered by the SU defense. He also had 1.5 tackles for a loss, including his first full sack of the season. Messick currently leads the ODAC in overall takcles (84), solo tackles (44) and assisted stops (40). He's averaging a league-best 14.0 tackles per contest.
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De'Eric Bell, Guilford, So., Running Back
October 18, 2015Bell, a sophomore from Jackson, Ga., posted his fourth straight 100-yard rushing game to help the Quakers to a 23-20 victory at Bridgewater. Bell got the fireworks started early as he returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, setting a new school-record in the process. It's the second straight week he's gone the distance on a kickoff, adding to last week's 93-yard effort. He finished the day with 126 yards on two kickoff returns, with four more coming from punt returns and 20 via two receptions. The remained of his 254 all-purpose came on the ground as he carried the ball 21 times for 104 yards and a second touchdown, which covered a season-long 42 yards. Bell is currently third in the ODAC with 595 yards rushing and 99.2 yards per game via the ground. His 1,431 all-purpose yards are 524 more than the next closest ODAC player.
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Thomas Freeland, Washington and Lee, Fr. Defensive Back
October 11, 2015Freeland, a freshman from Franklin, Tenn., had a banner day in his first collegiate start to help the Generals to a 35-28 win at Hampden-Sydney. Freeland posted a team-high 13 tackles, including 10 solo stops, with 1.5 tackles for a loss that cost H-SC seven yards of offense. No tackle was bigger than his stop of Hampden-Sydney running back Kyree Koonce on the 1-yard line on third-and-goal with 12-seconds remaining. Freeland made an open field tackle on the wing short of the goal-line to keep the Tigers' back out of the end zone. The Generals' interior defense held one play later to preserve the seven-point win. Freeland also recovered a fumble at the W&L 32-yard line and returned it seven yards late in the first quarter. That setup the Generals' second touchdown for a 14-0 lead. Freeland currently has 24 tackles on the season.
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Adam Smith, Guilford, Sr., Wide Receiver
October 11, 2015Smith, a senior from Mocksville, N.C., picks up his second weekly award of the season after helping lead Guilford to a 55-38 shootout win over Shenandoah. Smith averaged 25.3 yards per reception as he caught 10 passes for a school-record 253 yards and three touchdowns. The 253 yards are tied for the fifth-most all-time in ODAC history and the sixth most in NCAA Division III this season. The three touchdowns mark the third time this season he has hauled in three scores in a game. Smith's scoring plays went for 20, 21 and 36 yards, while only one of his receptions was for less than 11 yards. He had seven receptions of at least 20 yards. Smith currently leads the ODAC in receiving yards (755), yards per game (151.0), yards per catch (19.4) and receiving touchdowns (10). He's second with 39 receptions.
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Sidney Henry, Hampden-Sydney, Sr., Cornerback
October 04, 2015Henry, a senior from Haymarket, Va., helped the Tigers move to 3-1 in Hampden-Sydney's 38-21 win over Catholic. In addition to making eight tackles, Henry posted his second two-interception game of the season. Both of his interceptions came at key points in the game, with his first putting a stop to the Cardinals first drive of the game and leading to a 7-0 H-SC lead. His second came early in the fourth quarter when he came down with the ball at the Hampden-Sydney eight-yard line and returned it 34 yards to setup a six-minute scoring drive that essentially sealed the contest. Henry nearly scored a touchdown on a special teams play at the end of the first half when he picked up a blocked punt and returned it 56 yards before being brought down at the CUA six-yard line as time expired. Henry currently leads the ODAC with four interceptions.
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Kyree Koonce, Hampden-Sydney, Fr., Running Back
October 04, 2015Koonce, a freshman from Charlottesville, Va., exploded to post the ODAC's highest rushing yardage-day of the season in the Tigers 38-21 victory over Catholic. Koonce carried the ball 30 times for 203 yards, finishing just 24 yards shy of breaking the Hampden-Sydney single-game rushing record. He notched a pair of touchdowns, scoring via a 32-yard dash for the game's first touchdown and then finding pay-dirt to finish off a 15-yard play early in the second quarter. Koonce also caught four passes for 38 yards, giving him 241 all-purpose yards and an average of 7.1 yards per touch. Koonce in currently second in the ODAC in overall rushing yards (437) and yards per game (109.3), while sitting third in touchdown runs (5) and yards per rush (7.2).
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Tre'von Lightfoot, Emory & Henry, Jr., Cornerback
September 27, 2015Lightfoot, a junior from Big Island, Va., provided the momentum the Wasps needed to recover from an early 14-0 deficit to post a 27-24 win over NCAA FCS foe East Tennessee State University. Lightfoot made four tackles in the game, but also came away with the game's only turnover. He intercepted a pass at the ETSU 36-yard line to setup good field position for what would become a game-tying drive at 17-all early in the third quarter. Lightfoot broke up another pass during the game and added 17 yards of kick return yardage to his daily output. Lightfoot is now tied atop the ODAC with three interceptions with Bridgewater's Jason Monroe.
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Skyler Simcox, Emory & Henry, Fr., Placekicker
September 27, 2015Simcox, a freshman from Abingdon, Va., registered nine of the Wasps 27 points and was a key cog in Emory & Henry's come-from-behind victory against NCAA Division I FCS opponent East Tennessee State University. The Wasps' placekicker was not only 3-for-3 on extra points, but he drilled a pair of 48-yard field goals in the third quarter. His first boot -- the longest attempt of his career -- tied the game at 17-all early in the third quarter, while his second kick gave E&H its first lead of the game at 20-17 with 1:55 on the third quarter clock. The 48-yard makes are the third-longest made in ODAC history and are the longest made by an Emory & Henry kicker since Ross McKernan hit a 48-yarder against Randolph-Macon in 2005. Simcox is now 11-for-11 on extra points and 4-of-5 on field goals this season.
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Daytwyn Rascoe, Guilford, Sr., Linebacker
September 20, 2015Rascoe, a senior from Pikesville, Md., led a Guilford defense that limited Averett to just one first down in the second half on the way to a 58-21 victory. Rascoe made 12 total tackles including eight solo stops. He was in the backfield most of the afternoon, registering four tackles for a loss which included a quarterback sack. His efforts cost the Cougars 21 yards of offense. He also beat an Averett ball-carrier to the goal-line for a safety, tackling him in the painted grass after recovering an errant snap. Rascoe leads Guilford with 20 total tackles, 14 solo stops and five tackles for a loss thru three games.
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Adam Smith, Guilford, Sr., Wide Receiver
September 20, 2015Smith, a senior from Mocksville, N.C., etched his name under a pair of Guilford record book entries on the way to accounting for 20 points in Guilford's 58-21 win over Averett. Smith became the Quakers all-time leader in touchdown receptions and career receiving yardage by hauling in a season-high 11 passes for 195 yards and a personal-best three touchdowns. He now has 35 touchdown catches and 3,190 career receiving yards with the former ranking fourth in ODAC history and the latter just shy of cracking the conference's top-five. Smith notched touchdowns of 13, 25 and 25 yards, with the last score coming on a double-tipped pass for the record. He also added a catch to convert a two-point opportunity. The 195 yards marks his school-record 14th game of 100 or more receiving yards. Smith currently leads the ODAC in receiving yards (464), yards per catch (18.6) and receiving touchdowns (7), while sitting second in receptions (25).
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Jimmy Moynahan, Washington and Lee, Sr., Linebacker
September 13, 2015Moynahan, a senior from Sandwich, Mass., led an attack Generals defensive unit that forced three turnovers and made 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage in their win over Sewanee. Moynahan made five total stops in the day with 2.5 coming for a loss of yardage. That included 1.5 sacks, one of which was a sack fumble for one of four forced fumbles by the W&L defense on the day. Moynahan added to his contest by also recovering a fumble late in the second quarter. Moynahan, a converted running back before the 2014 season, helped the Generals limit the run-heavy Sewanee offense to less that 200 yards on the ground on 56 rushing attempts.
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Joseph Vairo, Randolph-Macon, Fr., Quarterback
September 13, 2015Vairo, a freshman from Coral Springs, Fla., broke the Randolph-Macon record for total offense with 475 yards from scrimmage in just his second collegiate game. Thru the air, the Yellow Jackets southpaw completed 17-for-26 passes for 376 yards and three touchdowns. He came up a yard short of his first 100-yard rushing game as he added 99 yards on 17 carries with three more touchdowns via the ground. Vairo had a nose for big plays in R-MC's win over Averett, scoring touchdown passes for 74, 43 and 15 yards and adding a 27-yard score amongst his three rushing touchdowns. Thru two games, Vairo has throw for 591 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 120 yards and three touchdowns.
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Ryan Byrd, Emory & Henry, Sr., Strong Safety
September 06, 2015Byrd, a senior from Grottoes, Va., was all over the field in the Wasps' 55-7 season-opening rout of Ferrum College on Saturday. He adjusted quickly -- and well -- to his new role as strong safety in Week 1, moving from corner during the offseason. He made a total of 13 tackles against Panther ball-carriers, including eight solo stops. Byrd also came away 2.5 tackles for a loss, costing Ferrum 15 yards of offense. That total included a quarterback sack for a loss of eight yards. His efforts helped spearhead a defense that was on the field for nearly 37 minutes, but allowed only 233 yards and forced six turnovers.
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Lucas Morley, Catholic, Jr., Receiver
September 06, 2015Morley, a junior from Olney, Md., helped erase the memory of McDaniel College's 34-31 comeback victory in the 2014 season-opener with some late heroics of his own. Morley saved his best play in the Cardinals' 2015 lid-lifter for the fourth quarter as he helped lead Catholic to a 34-33 come-from-behind victory over the Green Terror. Morley hauled in three of his four touchdowns on the day in the final 13:02 to the game, including the deciding score with 0:13 on the clock to complete a 49-yard scoring play. Morley had scores of 18 and nine yards in the frame, adding to the eight-yard touchdown he recorded late in the third quarter. Morley finished with a career-high 13 receptions for 210 yards.
