Football James Hill (@jameshillSID)

Nicholls' Guggenheim, Mathews; Lamar's Alexander Named Football Players of the Week

FRISCO, Texas – Nicholls' Collin Guggenheim and Devonté Mathews as well as Lamar's Damashja Harris are the winners of the Southland Conference’s football weekly awards for the ninth week of the season, as announced by the conference office Monday.

Offensive Player of the Week: Collin Guggenheim, Nicholls– RB – Jr. – Kenner, La. (John Curtis)
Running back Collin Guggenheim rushed for 153 yards and four touchdowns in the victory at No. 4/8 UIW. It marked the second time this season that Guggenheim has scored four rushing TDs, tying the school record. He had his normal goalline TDs of five, six, and three yards and also broke free up the middle for a season-long 43-yard touchdown. Guggenheim leads the Southland in rushing yards per game and rushing touchdowns.

Defensive Player of the Week: Devonté Mathews, Nicholls – S – Jr. – Phenix City, Ala. (Central HS)
Safety Devonte' Mathews scored a touchdown and had the game-ending interception in the Colonels' win over No. 4/8 UIW. With Nicholls leading 24-13 in the third, UIW moved into Colonel territory before fumbling on a rush, and Mathews scooped it up and ran 58 yards for a touchdown. Then with UIW looking to rally in the final minutes, Mathews picked off Zach Calzada to seal the Colonels' win in the battle of the unbeatens. Mathews finished with three tackles and a breakup to go along with his two turnovers.
 
Special Teams Player of the Week: Damien Alexander, Lamar – DB – Jr. – New Orleans, La. (Booker T. Washington HS)
Defensive back Damien Alexander made a huge impact on the special teams front this past weekend against Texas A&M-Commerce, recovering a pair of fumbles on Lion muffed punts that set up scoring opportunities in Lamar's 41-21 victory over the Lions.
 
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
 
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.