NORFOLK, Va. – North Carolina A&T State running back Marquell Cartwright was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Offensive Player of the Week, the conference announced today. North Carolina A&T State’s Franklin “Mac” McCain III was named the Defensive Player and Rookie of the Week for the second consecutive week.
North Carolina A&T State’s Brandon Parker was named Offensive Lineman of the Week honors while North Carolina Central placekicker Aedan Johnson was selected as Specialist of the Week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MARQUELL CARTWRIGHT
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE
RB
5-8, 201, R-JR.
HIGH POINT, N.C.
Cartwright ran for a career-high 176 yards on 17 attempts in North Carolina A&T State’s win over Morgan State. The High Point, N.C. native opened the contest with a bang as he recorded a 72-yard touchdown run on the second play from scrimmage while averaging 10.4 yards per carry. Cartwright finished the contest with eight attempts of six or more yards from scrimmage in only three quarters of action on Saturday.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK / ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
MAC MCCAIN III
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE
CB
5-11, 174, R-FR.
GREENSBORO, N.C.
McCain had multiple interceptions for the second consecutive weekend as he finished with three at Morgan State. Two of the interceptions were returned for touchdowns as he finished with 178 interception return yards, 38 yards short of the NCAA FCS record. He is one of only 28 FCS players to return two interceptions for a touchdown in a game. He has three pick-6’s this season.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
BRANDON PARKER
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE
OL 6-7, 309, R-SR.
KANNAPOLIS, N.C.
Parker was flawless on the field this past weekend as he did not allow a penalty or sack en route to a 514-yard offensive performance at Morgan State. With Parker leading the way, the Aggies rushed for 345 yards while averaging 7.2 yards per rush. The senior from Kannapolis, N.C. graded out at 90 percent and recorded three pancake blocks while winning the honor for the fourth consecutive week.
SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK
AEDAN JOHNSON
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL
PK
5-8, 160, JR.
CHULA VISTA, CALIF.
Johnson accounted for nine points in North Carolina Central’s comeback win over South Carolina State Thursday night. In the third quarter, Johnson’s two field goals helped keep NCCU within striking distance as he also connected on a career-long 41-yarder.
NOTABLE PERFORMERS
Ronald Bell (WR/Hampton)
Bell racked up 140 yards on 13 receptions, and two touchdowns; including the game-tying touchdown with 23 seconds left as Hampton fell 30-23 to Monmouth in overtime.
Juwan Carter (QB/Norfolk State)
Carter completed 28-of-46 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns while setting career highs in completions, attempts and passing yards in NSU’s first win of the year at Delaware State.
Chauncey Caldwell (QB/North Carolina Central)
Caldwell sparked North Carolina Central to a comeback victory over SC State. He rushed for a game-high 91 yards and threw for 74 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Chris Faddoul (P/Florida A&M)
Faddoul averaged 40.7 yards on three punts; including a 55-yarder, and two downed inside the 20-yard line against Savannah State.
Javaunie Francis (P/Bethune-Cookman)
Francis averaged 34.8 yards per punt at Howard, booming away four punts for 139 yards. He pinned one punt inside the Howard 20-yard line, and had a long punt of 41 on the afternoon.
James Holman (OL/Howard)
Holman led the Bison to 500 yards of total offense; including 343 yards on the ground in their win over Bethune-Cookman.
Gerome Howard (DL/ Bethune-Cookman)
Howard totaled four tackles on the afternoon at Howard. The rookie picked up three solo stops with one assisted tackle. He also picked up his first collegiate quarterback sack.
Chad Hunter (WR/Florida A&M)
Hunter secured six receptions for a total of 96 yards; including touchdown grabs of 38 and 17 yards against Savannah State.
Michael Jones (RB/Bethune-Cookman)
Jones helped spark the Bethune-Cookman offense at Howard, picking up a season-high 112 yards on the ground. He carried the ball 21 times for an average of 5.3 yards per rush on the day.
Wes Jones (C/Norfolk State)
Jones helped NSU gain a season-high 345 yards of total offense, including 292 passing.
Rico Kennedy (LB/Morgan State)
Kennedy led the Bears’ defensive efforts with a game-high 10 tackles. The sophomore linebacker also recorded a quarterback sack and forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by senior defensive lineman Jai Franklin in the fourth quarter.
Leeland Lassiter (DB/Howard)
Lassiter recorded five solo tackles and a pass break up to assist the Bison defense in the win over Bethune-Cookman.
Chris Lee (DL/Norfolk State)
Lee recorded six tackles (4 solo), 2.5 for a loss of 16 yards, and two sacks for a loss of 15 yards to lead a strong defensive effort that allowed just 226 total yards and seven points in the Spartans win over Delaware State.
Alden McClellon (DB/North Carolina Central)
McClellon registered eight tackles (6 solo), including three hits for a loss of 22 yards with a solo sack for an 11-yard loss against South Carolina State.
Caylin Newton (QB/Howard)
Newton completed 12-of-25 passes for a total of 157 yards and rushed for 140 yards. He combined for three total touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown with 39 seconds remaining to give Howard the victory over Bethune-Cookman.
Diquan Richardson (S/Bethune-Cookman)
Richardson collected a game-high 12 tackles, including a career-best 10 solo stops on the day. He also chipped in for a tackle behind the line of scrimmage, and registered a pass deflection.
Ryan Stanley (QB/Florida A&M)
Stanley completed 17-of-25 passes for a total of 214 yards; including two touchdown passes in the Rattlers win over Savannah State.
Jakaris Wilson (LB/Florida A&M)
Wilson led Florida A&M with 12 tackles (9 solo), one tackle for a loss, and a sack at Savannah State.
Courtesy: MEAC
