ATLANTA — The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference recognized Jovontae Thurmon (Stillman), Demario Dixon (Morehouse), Juan Serna (Fort Valley State), Deandre Jackson (Clark Atlanta) and Matthew Reese (Tuskegee) as its SIAC Football Players of the Week for September 29.
Thurmon captured offensive player of the week with Dixon named the league’s top defender for week four. Serna earned specialist honors while Jackson was tabbed with the newcomer award. For the second time on the year, Matthew Reese garnered SIAC Offensive Lineman of the Week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jovontae Thurmon
Stillman
RB • 5-7 • 194 • Sr. • Florence, Miss.
Thurmon had nine carries for 95 yards and three touchdowns in Stillman’s 34-20 win over Kentucky State. Thurmon scored on runs of ten, nine, and 37 yards with the final two scores coming in the first 90 seconds of the fourth quarter. He led a unit that finished with 236 yards on the ground.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Demario Dixon
DB • 5-9 • 175 • Sr. • Ellenwood, Ga.
Morehouse
Dixon led Morehouse in tackles, recording 14, including 1.5 for a loss and an interception, to help post a 20-10 win at Paine. He led all defenders in tackles with the Maroon Tigers holding PC to a pair of scoreless quarters and 24 yards rushing.
SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK
Juan Serna
Fort Valley State
K/P • 5-8 • 180 • Fr. • Douglasville, Ga.
Serna kicked the game winning field goal from 40-yards with time running out (2.2 seconds) to lift Fort Valley State over Benedict, 33-30. Serna also recorded a 43-yard field goal, while punting seven times for 225-yards and six kickoffs for 349 yards.
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Deandre Jackson
Clark Atlanta
RB • 5-3 • 150 • So. • Atlanta, Ga.
Despite a 42-2 loss to West Georgia, Jackson garnered a game-high 139 kick return yards on six attempts and one 15-yard punt return for Clark Atlanta. His 154 total all-purpose yards on special teams topped all players while recording the longest return for the game of 30 yards.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
Matthew Reese
Tuskegee
OL • 315 • 6-3 • Sr. • Birmingham, Ala.
Reese paced Tuskegee’s offensive unit to protect two quarterbacks producing 26 first downs, 271 rushing yards, 245 passing yards, for a total of 516. He abhorred a unit that allowed two sacks during their 44-3 victory over Lane.
Courtesy: SIAC
