ROCK HILL, S.C. – Carson-Newman defensive end Zeke Andrews (Eastman, Ga.) and kicker Carlos Lopez (Seymour, Tenn.) have been named the South Atlantic Conference Defensive and Special Team Players of the week, respectively, after leading the Eagles to a 27-24 win over visiting Brevard College on Saturday. A historic rushing performance earned Mars Hill's Jonas Randolph SAC Offensive Player of the Week honors, league officials announced on Monday.
Andrews, the SAC Defensive Player of the Week, led Carson-Newman with nine tackles -- including two sacks and four for loss -- in the Eagle's 27-24 victory over Brevard on Saturday. Both of Andrews' sacks ended BC drives.
Andrews was a key force for the C-N defense that held Brevard, which entered the game with the nation's No. 3 rushing offense, to just 140 yards.
Finally, earning SAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors was C-N kicker Carlos Lopez, who connected on a 25-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Eagles over Brevard. On the game, Lopez was 2-for-2 on field goals – including a 38-yarder – and connected on all three of his PAT attempts.
Randolph had the best rushing day in SAC history on Saturday, finishing with 49 carries for 373 yards -- both setting conference records -- in the Lions' win over Tusculum. His 373 yards were the most in Division II this season and the ninth-most in DII history. The 49 carries were also the most in any NCAA division this year.
The performance also vaulted Randolph into second on the SAC's all-time rushing yards list, and he became just the second player in league history to surpass 5,000 yards. Randolph leads Division II in rushing this season.
SAC Football Weekly Awards – Week 9
Offensive Player of the Week
Jonas Randolph, Mars Hill
Sr. | RB | Daleville, Ala.
Defensive Player of the Week
Zeke Andrews, Carson-Newman
Sr. | DE | Eastman, Ga.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Carlos Lopez, Carson-Newman
Jr. | PK | Semour, Tenn.