NORFOLK, Va. – Howard running back Anthony Philyaw was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Offensive Player of the Week, the conference announced today. Bethune-Cookman safety Diquan Richardson and Norfolk State linebacker T.C. Livingston were named Co-Defensive Players of the Week.
Delaware State’s Mike Waters and Norfolk State’s Cephas Harden earned Co-Rookie of the Week honors, while North Carolina Central’s Tarrance Wells received Offensive Lineman of the Week honors. Nathaniel Tilque, of North Carolina Central,was selected as the Specialist of the Week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Anthony Philyaw
Howard
RB
6-1, 205, Jr.
Redondo Beach, Calif.
Philyaw rushed for a school-record 281 yards and two touchdowns, on 36 carries, in Saturday’s win 26-21 Delaware State. Philyaw reached the 1,000-yard mark when he capped off a 97-yard drive with a 45-yard rush on the offense’s opening drive.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Diquan Richardson
Bethune-Cookman
S
5-11, 167, Jr.
Alvin, S.C.
Richardson collected five tackles (one solo) in the 39-19 win over Florida A&M at the Florida Blue Florida Classic. He picked up a fumble in the first quarter and returned it 10 yards to set up a Wildcats touchdown. The Alvin, S.C. native also notched his third interception of the season as he stopped a Rattler drive late in the fourth quarter.
T.C. Livingston
Norfolk State
LB
6-3, 200, R-Jr.
Suffolk, Va.
Livingston recorded five tackles (one solo), in the Battle of the Bay win at Hampton. He intercepted a pass on Hampton’s opening drive in the third quarter and returned it for a 40-yard touchdown to give Norfolk State the lead en route to the 17-10 victory.
ROOKIES OF THE WEEK
Mike Waters
Delaware State
RB
5-10, 190, Fr.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Waters rushed a career-high 224 yards, with two touchdowns on 30 carries at Howard. He set a DSU single-game record for rushing yards by a freshman. His performance was also the Hornets’ first 200-plus yard rushing game since 2008.
Cephas Harden
Norfolk State
LB
6-1, 215, R-Fr.
East Orange, N.J.
Harden notched a game- and career-high 14 tackles (seven solo) in Norfolk State’s Battle of the Bay victory over Hampton. He earned Defensive MVP honors after leading a defense that held Hampton to 10 points.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
Tarrance Wells
North Carolina Central
G
6-3, 295, Sr.
Oxon Hill, Md.
Wells earned a 91-percent grade on his blocking assignments, with five pancake blocks, and no sacks allowed, as NCCU finished with 454 yards of total offense against the MEAC’s top defense, N.C. A&T State. Wells assisted the Eagles as they amassed 270 yards and five touchdown against the eighth-ranked rushing defense in the nation.
SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK
Nathaniel Tilque
North Carolina Central
P
6-2, 190, Jr.
Charlotte, N.C.
Tilque averaged 43.3 yards on six punts, including a 52 yarder, in the win over North Carolina A&T State. He placed one of his punts inside N.C. A&T State’s 20-yard line.
Other Top Performers
Malcolm Bell (QB/NCCU) amassed 315 yards of total offense, including one passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns, in the 42-21 win over North Carolina A&T State.
Toree Boyd (OT/HOW) earned a 94-percent blocking grade, with three pancake blocks, in the win against Delaware State.
Larry Brihm, Jr. (QB/B-CU) was named Bethune-Cookman’s MVP at the Florida Blue Florida Classic, after completing 20-of-26 passes with one touchdown, in the win over Florida A&M.
Javaunie Francis (K/B-CU) averaged 60 yards on seven kickoffs in the win against Florida A&M.
Quenteze Gallon (LB/FAMU) Amassed 13 tackles (10 solo), a sack and two tackles for loss in the Florida Blue Florida Classic.
Damon Gillespie (P/HOW) registered a personal-best punt of 72 yards, against Delaware State.
LeGrande Harley (LB/NCCU) recorded a game-high 10 tackles, including six solo tackles, in the victory over North Carolina A&T State.
Louis Humphrey (C/NSU) earned a 93 percent grade on his blocking assignments as the Spartans rushed for a season-high 222 yards against Hampton.
Ghafona Iduew (DE/HOW) notched a season-high 10 solo tackles in the win over Delaware State.
Gerard Johnson (RB/NSU) was selected Offensive MVP at the Battle of the Bay after compiling a season-high 132 yards of total offense, in the win at Hampton.
Phillip Norman (OL/B-CU) earned a 96 percent grade on his blocking assignments and snapping duties, as B-CU finished with 401 yards of total offense, in the win over Florida A&M.
