Nicholls State Sweeps Football Player of the Week Awards
FRISCO, Texas ? After its 38-35 upset win at No. 11 McNeese State last Saturday, Nicholls State has swept Southland Conference football players of the week awards, the league office announced Monday. Quarterback Chris Bunch was named offensive player of the week, while free safety Lardarius Webb was named defensive player of the week. Kicker Ross Schexnayder earned special team weekly honors. It was the first weekly kudos this season for both Bunch and Schexnayder and was the first defensive recognition for Webb, who had previously been named the conference’s special teams player of the week three times this season.
Offensive Player of the Week: Chris Bunch, Nicholls State
Senior Chris Bunch led the offensive charge for the Colonels as they upset No.11 McNeese State 38-35 in Lake Charles. Bunch, a senior quarterback from Crystal River, Fla., threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more in the upset. Completing 3-of-4 passes for 79 yards, he added eight carries for 38 yards to account for 117 yards of total offense in Nicholls’ first win in Cowboy Stadium since 1998. This is Bunch’s first player of the week award this season.
Honorable Mention: Cameron Luke, Texas State.
Defensive Player of the Week: Lardarius Webb, Nicholls State
Senior Lardarius Webb put together his most complete game of the season on defense, recording six solo tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, a recovered fumble and two pass breakups. The senior All-American from Opelika, Ala., also added three kickoff returns for 78 yards, and one punt return for 20 yards in Nicholls State’s upset over No.11 McNeese State. This is Webb’s fourth player of the week award this season but his first on defense. He has been recognized as the league’s special teams player of the week three times, including each of the past two weeks.
Honorable Mention: Larry Hart, Central Arkansas.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Ross Schexnayder, Nicholls State
Kicker Ross Schexnayder made a pair of 37-yard field goals to help lift the Colonels to a 38-35 road victory at No. 11 McNeese State. His last field goal was what proved to be the game winner, giving the Colonels a 38-27 lead with 2:24 left in the fourth quarter. With his two makes, the junior from Houma, La., remains perfect of the year, making 8-of-8 field goal tries. This is Schexnayder’s first player of the week award this season.
Honorable Mention: Andrew Ireland, Texas 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.