BRYCE NEVES OF MCMURRY UNIVERSITY, a sophomore linebacker from Abilene, Texas, has been named the SCAC Football Defensive Player of the Week for games played Saturday, November 15th. SCAC Football Release (Week 11)
Neves had eight tackles (four solo) as well as 0.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks but made his biggest contributation with two big fumble recoveries in the fourth quarter as the War Hawks fought back from a 12-point fourth quarter deficit to take a 27-19 victory in Saturday's SCAC Championship game at War Memorial Stadium.
His first fumble recovery was for a touchdown as he fell on the Bulldogs' miscue in their own end zone, which propelled the War Hawks to the 20-19 lead. His second recovery came on the TLU's final drive and helped clinched the game and the SCAC title for McMurry. The honor marks his second weekly award of the season.
Other outstanding performances in the SCAC:
Senior linebacker Pablo Cantu of Austin College had a huge game defensively as the 'Roos topped Centenary 16-14 to wrap up the season. Cantu had 11 tackles with seven solo stops and 0.5 tackles for loss, while also adding a forced fumble in the win. Senior defensive lineman Demetrus Gladney Jr. of Centenary led the way with six solo tackles and eight total stops in the opening game of the inaugural SCAC Football Championship on Saturday in a 16-14 loss to Austin College at War Memorial Stadium. Gladney Jr. added 2.5 tackles for loss. Senior defensive back Ryan Maxwell of Hendrix made history on Saturday as the Warriors routed Lyon 55-28 on SCAC Championship Weekend. The senior was all over the stat sheet, recording nine tackles, one interception, two pass break-ups, and a fumble recovery. His interception gave him both the program's career record and single-season record for interceptions, and he also set the new career record for pass break-ups. Senior linebacker William Litton of Lyon was the Scots' lead tackler on Saturday against Hendrix with 11 tackles (10 solo, 1 assisted), which included three tackles for loss of 10 yards as well as a sack. First-year defensive back Malik Johnnson of Texas Lutheran had seven tackles (five solo) in Saturday's 27-19 championship game loss to McMurry.
| SCAC Football Defensive Players of the Week |
|
| Week 1 | Bryce Neves, McMurry University |
| Week 2 | Zach Mitchell, McMurry University |
| Week 3 | Owen Garcia, Texas Lutheran University |
| Week 4 | Jackson Harris, McMurry University |
| Week 5 | Pablo Cantu, Austin College |
| Week 6 | Owen Garcia, Texas Lutheran University |
| Week 7 | Rhema Getter, Centenary College |
| Week 8 | Mason Johnson, Hendrix College |
| Week 9 | Jason Crawford, Lyon College |
| Week 10 | Justin Navarro, Texas Lutheran |
| Week 11 | Bryce Neves, McMurry University |
