FRISCO, Texas – Nicholls' Pat McQuaide, McNeese's Micah Davey, and Southeastern's Austin Dunlap are the winners of the Southland Conference’s football weekly awards for the final week of the season, as announced by the conference office Monday.
Offensive Player of the Week: Pat McQuaide, Nicholls– QB – So. – Solon, Ohio (Solon)
Pat McQuaide threw for 300 yards on 20 of 25 and accounted for all three touchdowns in the Colonels' win in the River Bell Classic against Southeastern. After scoring on a 3-yard keeper early in the second quarter, he tossed a 78-yard touchdown pass that gave the Colonels the lead for good. With Nicholls leading 14-13 in the third, McQuaide threw a swing pass to Jaylon Spears for a 73-yard TD. The 80 percent clip was a season-high for McQuaide and it was his second 300-yard game of the season.
Honorable Mention: Khalan Griffin, Lamar
Defensive Player of the Week: Micah Davey, McNeese – LB – R-So. – Baton Rouge, La. (University Lab)
With 21 tackles against Lamar, linebacker Micah Davey became the first player in school history to record 20 or more tackles in consecutive games, ending the season with 153 tackles, ranking as the 6th-most in a season in school history. Davey also led the NCAA in total tackles, tackles per game and solo tackles as his 15.3 tackles per game average for the season set a new school record. Davey added 1.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry to his great defensive day.
Honorable Mention: Perry Ganci, Nicholls
Special Teams Player of the Week: Austin Dunlap, Southeastern – P – Sr. – Slidell, La. (Northshort)
Playing in his final game as a Lion, punter Austin Dunlap averaged a career-best 50.6 yards per punt on five punts in the season finale versus Nicholls. His performance included punts of 57 and 56 yards. The Slidell, Louisiana native finished the regular season ranked atop the Southland Conference with a 43.9 punting average and earned his third Special Teams Player of the Week this season.
2023 Southland Football Players of the Week
| Date |
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special Teams |
| Sept. 4 |
Champ Dozier, HCU |
Ian Goodly, Southeastern |
Cam Thomas, McNeese |
| Sept. 11 |
Zach Calzada, UIW |
Steven Parker, UIW |
Gavin Lasseigne, Nicholls |
| Sept. 18 |
Brandon Porter, UIW |
Tre Richardson, UIW |
Austin Dunlap, Southeastern |
| Sept. 25 |
Colby Suits, HCU |
Max Epps, Texas A&M-Commerce |
Austin Dunlap, Southeastern |
| Oct. 2 |
Robert Coleman, Lamar |
Tyler Morton, Nicholls |
Kylan Dupre, Nicholls |
| Oct. 9 |
Collin Guggenheim, Nicholls |
Tyler Morton, Nicholls |
Damashja Harris, Lamar |
| Oct. 16 |
Sevonne Rhea, Lamar |
Tylan Foster, UIW |
Dillon Fedor, HCU |
| Oct. 23 |
Richard Torres, UIW |
Victor Tademy, Southeastern |
Tristan Goodly, Southeastern |
| Oct. 30 |
Brandon Porter, UIW |
Isaiah Cash, HCU |
Alfonso Deleon, Lamar |
| Nov. 6 |
Collin Guggenheim, Nicholls |
Davanté Mathews, Nicholls |
Damien Alexander, Lamar |
| Nov. 13 |
Jaylon Spears, Nicholls |
Joshua Randall, Southeastern |
Ramond Stevens, Lamar |
| Nov. 20 |
Pat McQuaide, Nicholls |
Micah Davey, McNeese |
Austin Dunlap, Southeastern |
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.