Southland Football Players of the Week Named
Nov. 22, 2004
After leading their teams to Southland Conference football co-championships with wins on Saturday, Davon Vinson and Toby Zeigler of Northwestern State and Paul Donelson of Sam Houston State have earned league player of the week honors. Vinson picks up his first offensive award of the season. It is Donelson's second defensive accolade and Zeigler, who has won two special teams' awards in a row, now has three this season.
SOUTHLAND PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE
DAVON VINSON, Northwestern State, Jr., QB, 6-3, 220, Kilgore, Texas
Vinson had 269 passing yards on 12-of-20 aim with one interception and one touchdown. He led the Demons with 74 rushing yards on 11 carries and scored two touchdowns. His 343 yards of total offense guided Northwestern to their greatest come-from-behind win in their 27-year Division I-AA history as NSU scored 37 points in the final 21 minutes of play, overcoming a 16-0 deficit. He posted career highs in passing, rushing and total offense in a win that gave the Demons their first Southland Conference title since 1998 and their fifth Division I-AA playoff appearance in eight seasons.
HONOR ROLL: Dustin Long, SHSU; Scott Pendarvis, McN.
DEFENSE
PAUL DONELSON, Sam Houston State, Sr., S, 6-0, 210, New Waverly, Texas
Donelson helped Sam Houston State defeat Texas State, 27-9, to clinch a co-championship of the SLC. He led the Bearkat defense with 10 tackles, including two for losses and a crucial quarterback sack on a fourth-down play in the second half that helped seal the victory. The Bearkat defense allowed the Bobcats only five first downs and 212 yards total offense.
HONOR ROLL: David Pittman, NWLa.; Kedrick Nicholas, McN.
SPECIAL TEAMS
TOBY ZEIGLER, Northwestern State, Jr., WR, 6-0, 188, Monroe, La.
Zeigler finished with 105 return yards (2-52 on punts, 2-53 on kickoffs), two receptions for 90 yards and scored one touchdown. He had a game-changing 41-yard punt return to launch the Demons' drive to the tying points late in the third quarter of their win at Stephen F. Austin. The return set up NSU at the SFA 46 and the Demons tied the game at 16 two plays later. He also caught a 27-yard TD pass that gave NSU a two-touchdown cushion with 3:07 left to play in a 37-point second-half rally.
HONOR ROLL: Lance Garner, SHSU.