LSC Football - Weekly Release 8-31

Complete Release

Players of the Week
NORTH OFFENSIVE
Daniel Nichols, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Sr., WR, Cooper, Texas/Cooper HS
Nichols helped lead Southeastern to a 54-38 win in the season opener against Henderson State, turning in a seven catch, 131 yard performance that saw him tie the school record for touchdown catches in a game with three. Nichols moved to within 140 yards of second place on SE's career receiving list, and is 10 TD's away from the top of the career TD list. He had a long of 46 yards and hauled in all three passes sent his way in long yardage situations, converting five first downs total.

NORTH DEFENSIVE
Stephen DeGrate, Texas A&M-Commerce, Sr., LB, Dallas, Texas
DeGrate made a team-high 11 tackles and forced two fumbles in the Lions' 21-7 loss to Angelo State. He also had a tackle for loss and recorded a game-high eight solo tackles. The Lions' defense held the Rams ground game to under 100 yards as they managed 91 yards on 39 carries for a 2.3 yard per carry average.

NORTH SPECIAL TEAMS
Brian Didonato, Central Oklahoma, Fr., P, Mustang, Okla./Mustang
Freshman place-kicker scored seven of UCO's 13 points in a 42-13 road loss to No. 7-ranked Pittsburg State. Didonato made his first-ever collegiate kick by hitting a 41-yard field goal in the first quarter to pull the Bronchos within 7-3, added the extra point after UCO's lone touchdown in the second period and made a 33-yarder early in the third period as the Bronchos got within 21-13. He also handled the kickoff duties for UCO.

CO-SOUTH OFFENSIVE
Joe Williams, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Sr., RB, Houston, Texas/Forest Brook
Williams went three seasons without scoring a single touchdown. That streak came to an end in a big way against Delta State when he scored three times in the Javelinas 28-17 upset win. He scored the team's first touchdown of the season on a two yard run in the second quarter. He scored again on a one yard run on fourth-and-goal in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, he clinched the win with a 9-yard jaunt with 0:39 remaining. He finished the game with a career-high 80 yards on 14 carries.

Roderick Smith, Tarleton State, Sr., RB, Mesquite, Texas/West Mesquite HS
Smith tied a school record in touchdowns scored and points scored in a single game. Smith had a touchdown from 32 yards out to put the first points on the board in Thursday's season opener. He then scored from 13 yards, 10 yards and two yards to put the Texans ahead 28-7 after the PATs. The Texan senior played the whole first half but sparingly in the second.

CO-SOUTH DEFENSIVE
Arthur Johnson, Abilene Christian, Jr., LB, Rowlett, Texas/Rowlett HS
Johnson led the Wildcats in tackles and scored ACU's first touchdown of the season as he and the rest of the Wildcat defense picked up a sputtering offense in No. 5 ACU's 19-14 win over No. 2 Northwest Missouri State in Thursday's nationally televised NCAA Division II Game of the Week on CBS College Sports. With 4:25 left in the first quarter, Johnson scored on a 42-yard fumble return after NW Missouri quarterback Blake Bolles dropped the ball. Johnson's touchdown return gave ACU a 9-0 lead, an advantage the Wildcats would not relinquish the rest of the night.

Jeff Edwards, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Sr., LB, Houston, Texas/Westside
Edwards made six tackles in the game and likely made the play of the game. With the Statesmen driving to take a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter, he deflected a pass and then came down with the interception inside the 10-yard line. Eight plays later, the Javelinas took the lead for good.

SOUTH SPECIAL TEAMS
Garrett Lindholm, Tarleton State, Sr., K, Pflugerville, Texas/Pflugerville
Lindholm scored eight points in Tarleton's season opener, connecting on all five extra point attempts along with a 44-yard field goal. He also had eight kickoffs for 550 yards with two touchbacks and a 68.8 yards per kick average.