Jeanpiere, Chambers, Harris Named Football Players of the Week
Southland Conference
FRISCO, Texas – Nicholls wide receiver Damion Jeanpiere, Jr., Central Arkansas defensive lineman Chris Chambers and Sam Houston State wide receiver/kick returner Jaylen Harris were named Southland players of the week, the conference announced Monday.
Jeanpiere was voted Offensive Player of the Week, Chambers earned defensive honors and Harris was chosen as Special Teams Player of the Week.
Southland Players of the Week are presented by
UniversalCoin.com.
Nicholls (1-1, 1-0 SLC) next hosts Prairie View A&M in its final nonconference matchup of the season on Saturday at 6 p.m. Central Arkansas (1-1, 0-0 SLC) opens league play on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. when they host Southeastern Louisiana. Sam Houston State (2-0, 0-0 SLC) has a bye week, returning to action on Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. to host Nicholls.
Offensive Player of the Week: Damion Jeanpiere, Jr., Nicholls – Jr. – Wide Receiver – Kenner, La.
Wide receiver Damion Jeanpiere Jr. had his second straight 100-yard outing against Texas A&M. He finished with five receptions for 174 yards against the Aggies, highlighted by a 54-yard catch to set up the Colonels’ game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter. After two games played, he has 319 yards receiving on just eight receptions.
Honorable Mention: Hayden Hildebrand, Central Arkansas; Darrel Colbert, Jr., Lamar; James Brown, Houston Baptist; Davion Davis, Sam Houston State.
Defensive Player of the Week: Chris Chambers, Central Arkansas – Defensive Lineman – Pearl, Miss.
Chambers led a dominating UCA defense that allowed just 276 total yards at Murray State in a 41-13 win. He had eight solo tackles, three tackles for loss (including a 10-yard sack) and forced a fumble. The Bears’ defense held the Racers to 80 yards in the first half, leading 31-6 at halftime.
Honorable Mention: Allen Pittman, Nicholls; Taylor Thompson, Houston Baptist; Daniel Crosley, Lamar; Sione Teuhema, Southeastern Louisiana.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Jaylen Harris, Sam Houston State – So. – Wide Receiver/Kick Returner – Cibolo, Texas
In the Bearkats’ 44-31 win at Prairie View A&M, Harris returned a Panther kick 97 yards up the right sideline in the third quarter for a score, taking the wind out of the Prairie View sails after the Panthers had drawn back to within 30-24. The touchdown against the Panthers was the fifth-longest in program history and the first kickoff return for a touchdown for Sam Houston since Brandon Closner returned one 82 yards against Montana State in 2011.
Honorable Mention: Juwan Petit-Frere, Southeastern Louisiana; Christian Guzman, Houston Baptist, Joe Zema, UIW.
Southland weekly award winners are nominated and voted upon by each school’s sports information director. Voting for one’s own athlete is not permitted. To earn honorable mention, a student-athlete must appear on 25 percent of ballots.