OFFENSIVE – RB Donald Babers, Prairie View A&M; 5-9, 170; JR; Houston, TX
Babers rushed 26 times for 198 yards and three touchdowns in the Panthers’ 37-3 win over Alcorn State.
Babers scored touchdowns on runs of 2 and 15 yards, and recovered a fumble in the end zone for a third score.
DEFENSIVE – DE Marcus Benard, Jackson State; 6-4, 260; SR, Ypsilani, MI
Benard made a game-high 14 tackles (five for loss), with 3.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and one touchdown in the Tigers’ 37-21 win over Alabama A&M.
Benard recovered a fumble in the third quarter and returned it 12 yards for a touchdown that gave the Tigers the lead for good.
SPECIALIST – P Pedro Ventura, Prairie View A&M; 5-9, 170; SO, Houston, TX
Ventura averaged 42.8 yards on four punt attempts in the Panthers’ win over Alcorn State.
Ventura’s helped flip field position in the defense’s favor as Prairie View A&M allowed just three points.
NEWCOMER – RB Darius Bolea, Jackson State; 6-0, 205; FR, Jackson, MS
Bolea rushed 11 times for 147 yards and one touchdown in the Tigers’ division-title clinching win over Alabama A&M.
Bolea scored on a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter in posting the first 100-yard game of his career.
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
RB Martell Mallett (Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff) – Rushed for 160 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns in win over Valley. He also caught 2 passes for 59 yards vs. Mississippi Valley State.
LB Zach East (Prairie View A&M) – Made seven tackles (five solo) vs. Alcorn State.
DE Jared Dorn – (Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff) – Made 9 tackles (5 solo), 4 sacks, and 1 forced fumble in shutout win
SS Armon Williams – (Mississippi Valley State) – Made 16 tackles (5 solo) vs. Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
RB Luther Edwards – (Jackson State) – Rushed for 79 yards on 11 carries and 2 TDs vs. Alabama A&M.
DB James Harrell – (Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff) – Made 4 tackles, (3 solo), with one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one interception
P Carlos Reyes – UAPB Made 2-of-4 field goal attempts and all four PATs while averaging 39.2 yards on four punts, with 1 inside the 20 vs. Mississippi Valley State.
