NORFOLK, Va., – Howard University quarterback Caylin Newton was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Offensive Player of the Week, the conference announced today. North Carolina A&T State’s Mac McCain III was named Defensive Player of the Week while Howard’s James Holmon and Norfolk State’s Craig Rodwell received Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week honors. Florida A&M placekicker Yahia Aly was tabbed as the Specialist of the Week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
CAYLIN NEWTON
HOWARD
QB
6-0, 195, So.
ATLANTA, GA.
Newton combined for 532 total yards in Saturday’s contest at FBS Ohio University. The sophomore from Atlanta passed for 439 yards on 26-of-52 attempts while rushing for 93 yards on 21 attempts. His 532 total yards was the third-most in program history and the 439 yards passing was the most since 2001.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MAC McCAIN III
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE
CB
5-11, 173, R-So.
GREENSBORO, N.C.
McCain returned his fourth career interception for a touchdown in the Aggies’ 28-23 win over FBS East Carolina on Sunday. McCain’s return went for 100 yards, which was his second career 100-yard pick, after he returned one against Morgan State on Sept. 23, 2017. The redshirt sophomore also finished with 11 tackles on the evening and broke up three passes.
CO-OFFENSIVE LINEMEN OF THE WEEK
JAMES HOLMON
HOWARD
OL
6-6, 350, Gr.
AUGUSTA, GA.
Holman graded out at 90 percent as Howard finished with 632 total offensive yards at Ohio.
CRAIG RODWELL
NORFOLK STATE
OL
6-4, 290, R-Jr.
RICHMOND, VA.
Rodwell was the top performer on an offensive line which helped NSU amass 368 yards of total offense and score 34 points in the season opener versus Virginia State. He graded out at 89 percent with three pancakes while helping the Spartans run for 147 yards, including Aaron Savage’s career high-tying 112.
SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK
YAHIA ALY
FLORIDA A&M
PK
6-0, 200, Sr.
OSCEOLA, IA.
Aly set a single-game school record with six field goals made in six tries, connecting on boots of 38, 43, 24, 29, 26 and 29 yards. He was also 3-for-3 on PATs, giving him 21 points as Florida A&M won its season opener.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
XAVIER SMITH
FLORIDA A&M
WR
5-10, 170, R-Fr.
HAINES CITY, FLA.
Smith led the Rattlers in receiving yardage, ranked second on the team in receptions and also caught a touchdown in the team’s season-opening win versus Fort Valley State.
NOTABLE PERFORMERS
Marcellus Allison (LB/Howard)
Allison finished with 12 tackles (9 solo) and a tackle for loss on the road at Ohio University.
David Bowman (DB/Delaware State)
Finished with 11 total tackles (7 solo) and a half-tackle for loss in his debut at Buffalo.
Zack Costano (LS/Morgan State)
Scored Morgan State’s first touchdown of the season via a fumble recovery.
Jamal Currie-Elliott (RB/N.C. Central)
Averaged over five yards per carry with a touchdown run in his first career collegiate contest. Also caught two receptions for 21 yards at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.
Chris Faddoul (P/Florida A&M)
Faddoul averaged 60 yards on two punts for the Rattlers with a long of 61 yards.
Rico Kennedy (LB/Morgan State)
The junior led the Bears with 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in the Bears’ season opener versus Towson.
Dakota Lebofsky (P/PK/Howard)
Lebofsky connected on a 40-yard field goal and downed two punts inside the 20 at Ohio.
Derrick Mayweather (LB/Florida A&M)
Mayweather helped anchor a Rattler defense which held Fort Valley State to a -12 yards rushing. He recorded 12 total tackles (8 solo), with one sack and a tackle for loss.
Josh Nardone (PK/Norfolk State)
Nardone was 2-for-2 on field goals with makes of 26 and 24 yards in the win over Virginia State. He was also 4-of-4 on PATs, including one from 35 yards that was backed up by a penalty.
Marcus Pettiford (OL/North Carolina A&T State)
Pettiford had a penalty free-day with an 84 percent grade and two pancakes as he protected a pair of quarterbacks in North Carolina A&T State’s win over East Carolina.
Nhyre’ Quinerly (DB/Norfolk State)
Quinerly notched two interceptions in a game for the first time in his career in Saturday’s win over Virginia State while also breaking up one pass. His first interception ended VSU’s drive in NSU territory to end the 1st half, and his second pick came late in the 4th quarter as VSU was trying to rally. He helped the NSU defense hold VSU to 13 points and 267 total yards.
Aaron Savage (RB/Norfolk State)
Savage tied his career high with 112 rushing yards and amassed a career-high 142 all-purpose yards in the win over Virginia State on Saturday. He also caught his first career touchdown pass, one of his two touchdowns total.
Malik Wilson (WR/North Carolina A&T State)
Wilson was the top receiver for the Aggies as he caught a game-high seven receptions for 89 yards in the team’s win over East Carolina of the FBS on Sunday. Wilson’s 49-yard reception on a 3rd-and-12 in the fourth quarter against ECU led to the Aggies’ game-winning touchdown drive.
Courtesy: MEAC
