Thomas and Tarver earn USA South Athlete of the Week honors

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Two Huntingdon football players were recognized as USA South Athletic Conference Athletes of the Week on Monday.

Running back Eric Thomas was named Offensive Rookie of the Week and linebacker Linell Tarver was named Defensive Rookie of the Week. This is the first recognition for Thomas and the fourth time Tarver has been named Defensive Rookie of the Week.

Both players were recognized for their efforts in a 55-7 win over Methodist. The win clinched Huntingdon's third straight conference championship.

In the win, Thomas averaged 7.7 yards per carry as he rushed for a career-high 161 yards on 21 carries – all in the second half. In the final 24:02 of the game, Thomas accounted for all but 74 of the Hawks' 235 yards and scored on a 36-yard touchdown run.

For the season, the freshman has 267 yards and two touchdowns on 44 carries.

Tarver recorded 10 tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss, one pass break up and one quarterback hurry against Methodist. All but two of his tackles came in the first half. The 10 tackles were one short of his season high.

For the season, Tarver is the Hawks' third leading tackler with 57 stops. The freshman also has 2.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries and one pass break up. 

Huntingdon, which moved into the American Football Coaches Association's Division III Top-25 poll on Monday, will close out the regular season at LaGrange on Saturday. The 24th-ranked Hawks will kickoff at noon (Central).

Click here to view this week's complete list of USA South Athletes of the Week.