Howard University quarterback Caylin Newton was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Offensive Player of the Week, the conference announced today. Norfolk State’s Nhyre’ Quinerly and Howard’s Jalen Smith shared Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors while Howard’s James Holmon received Offensive Lineman of the Week honors. Howard’s Joseph Crute was tabbed Rookie of the Week while Bethune-Cookman returner Jimmie Robinson was named Specialist of the Week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Caylin Newton
Howard
QB
6-0 | 195 | So.
Atlanta, Ga.
Newton was the MEAC’s top passer with 301 yards on 20-of-32 attempts in Howard’s win over Bethune-Cookman in the Circle City Classic. The sophomore also rushed for 40 yards on 14 attempts and threw for two touchdowns for the sixth time in his career.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Nhyre’ Quinerly
Norfolk State
DB
6-0 | 195 | R-Jr.
Norfolk, Va.
Quinerly finished the weekend with seven tackles along with an interception, pass breakup and forced fumble in Norfolk State’s win over South Carolina State on Saturday. The redshirt junior came up big with the game on the line early in the fourth quarter as he forced a fumble at the NSU five-yard line which landed in the hands of a teammate and kept SC State down by seven. He also picked off a pass in the third quarter which thwarted another potential SC State score.
Jalen Smith
Howard
DB
6-0 | 195 | Fr.
Virginia Beach, Va.
Smith had a career day in Howard’s win over Bethune-Cookman as he returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter give HU a two-touchdown lead at the time. The freshman finished with four tackles on the afternoon.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
Josiah Crute
Howard
RB
5-10 | 196 | Fr.
Washington D.C.
Crute was a workhorse on Saturday as he rushed for 83 yards on 11 carries with a pair of touchdowns in Howard’s win over Bethune-Cookman. The freshman converted a pair of fourth down plays on Howard’s opening drive en route to his first touchdown while scoring on a 31-yard run in the third quarter.
SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK
Jimmie Robinson
Bethune-Cookman
KR
5-8 | 165 | Sr.
Palm Coast, Fla.
Robinson set a new school record for return yards in a single game (202 yards), adding a pair of kickoff returns for touchdowns. He took one back 99 yards, and another that went 94 yards, respectfully. Robinson also caught a pass for touchdown.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Josiah Crute
Howard
RB
5-10 | 196 | Fr.
Washington D.C.
Crute was a workhorse on Saturday as he rushed for 83 yards on 11 carries with a pair of touchdowns in Howard’s win over Bethune-Cookman. The freshman converted a pair of fourth down plays on Howard’s opening drive en route to his first touchdown while scoring on a 31-yard run in the third quarter.
NOTABLE PERFORMERS
Adrian Allen (OL/Morgan State)
Allen led a Bears offensive line which was able to produce 270 total yards against North Carolina A&T State’s top-ranked defense in the MEAC. The senior also helped open running lanes for the Bears who produced 132 yards on the ground, including a rushing touchdown. He completed the game with three
Knockdowns and one pancake block.
L’Dre Barnes (OL/Bethune-Cookman)
Helped BCU roll up 416 yards of total offense and never surrendered a sack on the afternoon. He also
collected one downfield block in the game as he graded out at 90 percent.
Bishop Bonnett (RB/Florida A&M)
Bonnett led FAMU in rushing with 89 yards on nine carries, and one touchdown, while catching two passes for 70 yards and a 69-yard third quarter touchdown, that put FAMU ahead for the first time in the game, 10-7. He scored the game-clinching touchdown on a nine-yard run with under six minutes left in the contest.
Juwan Carter (QB/Norfolk State)
Led NSU to its second straight win in Orangeburg over SC State, throwing for a season-high 281 yards, the second-most in his career. He also accounted for two touchdowns, one rushing and one passing.
Chris Faddoul (P/Florida A&M)
Averaged 46.2 yards per punt with three downed inside the SSU 20-yard line, and one touchback.
Taylor Goettie (P/ Norfolk State)
Averaged 44.5 yards on four punts, with two landing inside the SCSU 20. One landed inside the five, and another resulted in SCSU starting its final drive at its 17-yard line.
Devin James (LB/Bethune-Cookman)
Led Bethune-Cookman with nine tackles (six solo), a quarterback hurry and forced fumble.
Alex Raya (PK/Morgan State)
Raya’s 36-yard field goal as time ran out lifted Morgan State to a 16-13 upset over North Carolina A&T on Saturday night, ending the Aggies’ 15-game winning streak. Raya had tied the game with a career-best 51-yard field goal earlier in the fourth quarter and kicked his first field goal of the season in the third quarter.
Elijah Richardson (LB/Florida A&M)
Had 11 total tackles (seven solos), and two tackles for loss in FAMU’s win over Savannah State.
Xavier Smith (WR/Florida A&M)
Led FAMU with five (5) pass receptions for 47 yards.
Marquise Thorns (DB/Morgan State)
Thorns’ third quarter interception marked his second interception of the season and the ninth pick of the year for the Bears
Damare’ Whitaker (LB/Morgan State)
Finished Saturday’s contest at North Carolina A&T State with a game-high 13 tackles (11 solo).
Courtesy: MEAC
