NORFOLK, Va. – North Carolina A&T State quarterback Lamar Raynard and Howard quarterback Caylin Newton were named Co-Offensive Players of the Week for their play on the field this past weekend. Morgan State linebacker Brandon Griffin (Defensive), North Carolina A&T State’s Brandon Parker (Offensive Lineman), Howard’s Gerald Wright (Offensive Lineman) and North Carolina A&T State punt returner Khris Gardin (Specialist) took home the first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference weekly football honors of the 2017 season.
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
CAYLIN NEWTON
HOWARD
QB
5-11, 195, Fr.
ATLANTA, GA.
In his collegiate debut, Newton led Howard to its first-ever FBS win as he totaled 330 offensive yards. Newton rushed for 190 yards and passed for 140 yards including the go-ahead touchdown midway in the fourth quarter at UNLV. The win marked the second consecutive season a MEAC institution has defeated an FBS opponent.
LAMAR RAYNARD
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE
QB
6-4, 200, R-Jr.
HIGH POINT, N.C.
Raynard threw for a career-high 321 yards and broke the school’s single-game record for completion percentage (.863) as North Carolina A&T State knocked off Big South member Gardner-Webb on Saturday evening. He accounted for four of the Aggies’ seven touchdowns and was the first North Carolina A&T State quarterback to throw for 300 yards in six years.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
BRANDON GRIFFIN
MORGAN STATE
LB
5-11, 200, R-Jr.
BALTIMORE, MD.
Griffin collected a game-high eight tackles to go along with two tackles for loss and a sack. He also posted one of three interceptions on the day for a Bear defense that limited the Tigers to just 102 yards of total offense, including just 17 yards on the ground.
SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK
KHRIS GARDIN
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE
PR
5-7, 185, Sr.
MORGANTON, N.C.
Gardin returned five punts for 150 yards and a touchdown including an 88-yard punt return in the win at Grdner-Webb. It was the fifth punt return for touchdown in his career and was the 13th time he has returned a punt for 40-plus yards.
CO-OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
BRANDON PARKER
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STAT
OL
6-7, 309, R-Sr.
KANNAPOLIS, N.C.
Parker graded out at 85 percent and had two pancake blocks as North Carolina A&T State finished with 458 total offensive yards in the win over Gardner-Webb. Parker spearheaded an offensive line which did not allow a sack or knockdown the entire game.
GERALD WRIGHT
HOWARD
OL
6-4, 310, Sr.
MIAMI, FLA.
Wright led an offensive line which paved the way for 449 total offensive yards, including 309 on the ground. The Bison did not allow a sack through the contest.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
CAYLIN NEWTON
HOWARD
QB
5-11, 195, Fr.
ATLANTA, GA.
In his collegiate debut, Newton led Howard to its first-ever FBS win as he totaled 330 offensive yards. Newton rushed for 190 yards and passed for 140 yards including the go-ahead touchdown midway in the fourth quarter at UNLV. The win marked the second consecutive season a MEAC institution has defeated an FBS opponent.
NOTABLE PERFORMERS
Larry Brihm, Jr. (QB/B-CU)
Brihm, Jr. helped engineer Bethune-Cookman to 350 yards of total offense against No. 18 Miami. He finished 22-of-35 passing for 212 yards, as well as gaining 15 yards on the ground and helped engineer three scoring drives.
Tye Freeland (DB/Howard)
Freeland finished second on the team with nine tackles and had a decisive forced fumble and fumble recovery late in the fourth quarter to seal the win for Howard.
Uriel Hernandez (PK/Bethune-Cookman)
Hernandez connected on both field goal attempts (36/35) for Bethune-Cookman against No. 18 Miami. His 36-yard kick to open the game gave BCU its first-ever lead on a nationally-ranked FBS opponent.
Reggie Hunter (LB/North Carolina Central)
Hunter amassed a game-high 10 tackles (7 solo), including a stop for a loss and a quarterback hurry at Duke.
Julian Jacobs (P/Morgan State)
Jacobs averaged 32 yards on six punts, including a 48-yarder. He also pinned Towson deep in its own territory by booting a pair of punts inside the 20.
Devin James (LB/Bethune-Cookman)
James collected four tackles, including three primary stops at No. 18 Miami
Terry Jefferson (DB/Florida A&M)
Jefferson finished with eight tackles, one tackle for loss, a quarterback hurry and interception versus Arkansas.
Darius Leonard (LB/South Carolina State)
Leonard was named the MEAC/SWAC Challenge team MVP after positing a game-high 12 tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack.
Mac McCain (CB/North Carolina A&T State)
McCain helped the Aggies hold Gardner-Webb to only 34 yards passing. His one break-up led to an interception which resulted in a touchdown on the following series in the first half.
Diquan Richardson (DB/Bethune-Cookman)
Richardson tallied 13 tackles at No. 18 Miami as he led the game with seven solo stops.
Tyler Scandrett (PK/South Carolina State)
Scandrett finished 2-for-2 on his field goal attempts with a long of 37 yards.
Isaiah Totten (RB/North Carolina Central)
Totten accounted for 181 all-purpose yards against Duke. He rushed for an 81-yard touchdown – 10th longest run in NCCU history and longest rush by an Eagle since 2010. Totten also averaged 24.5 yards per kickoff return with 98 yards (long of 33) on four attempts.
Courtesy: MEAC
