FRISCO – UTRGV running back Nathan Denney, Lamar defensive back Kristian Pugh, and Lamar kicker Ben Woodard have been named the Southland Conference football weekly award winners for Week 2, the league announced Monday.

Offensive Player of the Week: Ben Woodard, UTRGV – RB – Gr. – Georgetown, Texas (Georgetown HS)
Denney became the first 100-yard rusher in program history, posting a career-high 101 yards on the ground. He also caught a career-high five passes for 37 receiving yards. Denney scored on a 7-yard rush with 2:21 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Vaqueros the lead for good. He gained 50 yards on eight carries (6.2 avg.) in the first quarter to help UTRGV build a 17-0 advantage. This marks the first-ever Southland football weekly award for the young UTRGV program.
Honorable Mention: Kyle Lowe, Southeastern

Defensive Player of the Week: Kristian Pugh, Lamar – DB – Sr. – Beaumont, Texas (West Brook HS)
Pugh spearheaded a defensive effort that helped Lamar pull off arguably the biggest win in program history over the nation’s fourth-ranked team. He recorded five tackles and intercepted a pass—his first of the season. Pugh’s pick came early in the third quarter and set up a field goal to give Lamar its first lead of the game, one the Cardinals never relinquished. Lamar was nearly flawless in the second half, holding the Coyotes to just three points and 85 yards of offense.
 
Special Teams Player of the Week: Ben Woodard, Lamar – K – Sr. – Plano, Texas (Plano East HS)
Woodard scored eight points for Lamar, converting both of his field-goal attempts and both PATs in a game decided by seven points. He connected on field goals of 30 and 26 yards. His 30-yarder with 25 seconds left in the first quarter stopped a 10-0 South Dakota run to start the game, while his second kick in the third quarter gave Lamar its first lead.
 
2025 Southland Football Players of the Week

Date	Offensive	Defensive	Special Teams
Sept. 1	Miequle Brock, Jr., Nicholls	Fernando Washington, Northwestern State	Cooper Evans, Northwestern State
Sept. 8	Nathan Denney, UTRGV	Kristian Pugh, Lamar	Ben Woodard, 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.