FRISCO, Texas – McNeese quarterback Devin Lippold, SFA defensive end Lowote Jurkin and Carlos Alvarado have been named the Southland Conference football weekly award winners for the season’s opening week, the league announced Monday. 

Offensive Player of the Week: Devin Lippold, McNeese – QB – So. – Houston, Texas (Clear Lake HS) 
Lippold made his first career start in McNeese's 52-0 win over Texas Wesleyan, where he threw four touchdowns and tallied 199 yards on 15 of 20 passing in only 2 ½ quarters of action. He is the first McNeese quarterback to throw four touchdowns in his first start, which included passes of 36, 22, 10 and 8 yards. Lippold also rushed for 11 yards to finish with 210 yards of total offense. Honorable Mention: Lonnie Shinn, Southeastern

Defensive Player of the Week: Lowote Jurkin, SFA – DB – Jr. – Pflugerville, Texas (Weiss HS)

In SFA's 44-7 win over East Texas A&M, Jurkin delivered 1.5 sacks, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry for a Jacks defense that allowed less than 190 yards while forcing four turnovers in the Lumberjacks second conference win of the season. 

Special Teams Player of the Week: Carlos Alvardado, SFA – K – Sr. – Lecheria Venezuela (Tomball HS)

Alvarado's first of five PATs on the night gave him 100 career points as a Lumberjack and he also recorded the second three-FG effort of his career with makes of 23, 37 and 26, helping lead SFA to its 44-7 win over East Texas A&M. . 

2026 Southland Football Players of the Week

Date	Offensive	Defensive	Special Teams
Aug. 31	Cutter Stewart, HCU	Jayven Anderson, HCU	Lukasz Smolen, HCU
Sept. 7	Devin Lippold, McNeese	Lowote Jurkin, SFA	Carlos Alvarado, SFA

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.