NORFOLK, Va. – Howard University running back Anthony Philyaw was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Offensive Player of the Week, the conference announced today. Howard’s Bryan Cook was named both the Defensive Player and Rookie of the Week while North Carolina A&T State’s Brandon Parker received Offensive Lineman of the Week honors. Bethune-Cookman punter Javaunie Francis was tabbed as the Specialist of the Week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
ANTHONY PHILYAW
HOWARD
RB
6-1, 205, Sr.
LOS ANGELES, CALIF.
Philyaw ran for a season-high 193 yards and two touchdowns; including a long of 59 yards in the comeback win over Norfolk State. The senior from Los Angeles came up big in the fourth quarter as his 59-yard run on the team’s opening drive in the quarter set up Howard’s third touchdown of the afternoon and made it a one-possession contest.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER / ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
BRYAN COOK
HOWARD
DB
6-1, 180, Fr.
CINCINNATI, OHIO
Cook recorded a pair of interceptions along with three solo tackles in Howard’s win over Norfolk State. The freshman picked off his first pass to open the second quarter which led to a scoring opportunity by Howard. Cook’s final interception in the fourth quarter prevented a Norfolk State score as the pass was picked off at the HU 10.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
BRANDON PARKER
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE
OL 6-7, 309, R-Sr.
KANNAPOLIS, N.C.
Parker had his best game of the season as he logged 73 plays without a penalty or sack. The senior also had a pair of blocks on the goal line as the Aggies ran for a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs behind him. Out of Parker’s 73 plays, 61 were positive plays where his assignment was executed correctly.
SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK
JAVAUNIE FRANCIS
BETHUNE-COOKMAN
P
6-2, 236, Jr.
MIAMI, FLA.
Francis averaged 44.9 yards per punt in a come-from-behind win over North Carolina Central. His nine punts went for 404 yards with one placed inside the 20 and a long of 58 yards.
NOTABLE PERFORMERS
Keenan Black (QB/Delaware State)
lack completed 16-of-26 passes for a career-high 234 passing yards and four touchdowns; including the game-winning touchdown pass with 8.9 seconds left to play. He also rushed for 45 yards on 12 carries in the win over Morgan State.
Juwan Carter (QB/Norfolk State)
arter completed 21-of-35 passes for 257 yards and one touchdown through the air. He also rushed six times for 20 yards with a touchdown as he finished with 277 yards of total offense against Howard.
Raheim Huskey (LB/Hampton)
Huskey recorded career highs of 14 tackles (13 solo); including two tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles against South Carolina State.
Devin James (LB/Bethune-Cookman)
James collected five tackles (3 solo) and had an assisted tackle behind the line of scrimmage at North Carolina Central.
Rico Kennedy (LB/Morgan State)
The sophomore had a sensational individual effort at Delaware State where he finished with seven tackles and added a pair of sacks and forced a fumble. Rico also blocked an extra point and returned it for a two-point score.
Darius Leonard (LB/South Carolina State)
Leonard finished with eight tackles (7 solo); including two sacks and three quarterback hurries to limit Hampton to just 188 yards total offense.
Keavon Mitchell (WR/Bethune-Cookman)
itchell came up with a big reception for the Wildcats as he stepped under a tipped pass at the final horn to collect the game-winning pass. He finished the day with two catches for 59 yards in the road win over North Carolina Central.
Labron Morris (RB/South Carolina State)
Morris rushed for 134 yards on 27 carries with two touchdowns to help the Bulldogs defeat Hampton.
Kennedy Ndukwe (LB/Bethune-Cookman)
Ndukwe picked up a season-best 11 tackles, including nine by solo performance in Bethune-Cookman’s win at North Carolina Central.
Lamar Raynard (QB/North Carolina A&T State)
Raynard broke the Aggies’ single-season passing record on Saturday after completing 22-of-31 passes for 277 yards in the win over Savannah State. He also accounted for a pair of touchdowns on the ground.
Fidel Romo-Martinez (P/Delaware State)
Romo-Martinez averaged 50.5 yards on two punts; including a long of 60 yards in the win over Morgan State.
Aaron Savage (RB/Norfolk State)
Savage amassed 121 all-purpose yards; including a career-high 112 yards rushing against Howard. He also scored his first career touchdown.
Jeremy Taylor (S/North Carolina A&T State)
Taylor recorded three solo tackles; including a tackle for loss. He returned an interception 47 yards in the second quarter to give the Aggies a 14-0 lead over Savannah State.
Colin Washington (KR/PR/South Carolina State)
Washington finished with 146 all-purpose yards to lead the Bulldogs on the day; including a 90-yard kick return and 56-yard punt return.
Nyfease West (RB/Delaware State)
West rushed for a career-high 110 yards on 19 carries and secured three receptions for 33 yards in the win over Morgan State.
Courtesy: MEAC
