Landon Cotney wins Offensive Player of the Week
USA South Athletes of the Week - Oct. 18, 2021
FOOTBALL
Football Offensive Player of the Week
Landon Cotney, Huntingdon - The junior quarterback from Alexander City, Alabama accumulated 375 total yards of offense and three touchdowns in a 30-25 win over Averett last week. Through the air, Cotney was 17-of-23 for 228 yards with one touchdown pass while on the ground, he carried the ball 24 times for 147 yards with two touchdowns. Also Nominated: Freddie Aiken III, Brevard; Trey Blackwell, N.C. Wesleyan; Jarrod Mosby, Averett; Chase Wester, Southern Virginia.
Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
Shawn Watlington, Averett - The freshman running back from Danville, Virginia rushed for 100 yards with a touchdown in a 30-25 loss to Huntingdon last week. Watlington carried the ball nine times for an average of 11.1 yards-per-attempt and broke-off an 82-yard score that gave the Cougars a fourth-quarter lead. Also Nominated: Khaliyl Mattison, Brevard; Trevon Crank, N.C. Wesleyan.
Football Defensive Player of the Week
Tyler Wester, Southern Virginia - The Hoschton, Georgia sophomore defensive back accumulated five total tackles, including an assisted sack for a loss of three yards, to go along with a forced fumble, three pass breakups and an interception which he returned for a touchdown in a 31-14 win over Greensboro last week. On the first play of the game, Wester recovered a fumble which, four plays later, led to a Knight score to put them up 7-0, a lead they would never relinquish. Later, Wester picked-off a fourth quarter pass and returned it 12 yards for an insurance touchdown. Also Nominated: Wyatt Lankford, Brevard; Da'Shaun Wallace, Greensboro; Deante Lucenti, N.C. Wesleyan; Conner Showalter, Averett; Dorian Champion, Maryville.
Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
Max Steele, Greensboro - The freshman linebacker from Julian, North Carolina totaled a game-high 17 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss of eight total yards, in a 31-14 loss to Southern Virginia last week. Steele accumulated four solo tackle and 13 assisted takedowns in the defeat. Also Nominated: Jailin Smith, Brevard; Korey Hunter, N.C. Wesleyan; Cameron Grady, LaGrange.
Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Mykel Santos, Maryville - The junior kick returner from Augusta, Georgia scored on an 85-yard kickoff return in the second quarter to help spark Maryville to a 31-26 win over N.C. Wesleyan last week. Santos' touchdown put the Scots up two scores at the team as he averaged 41.3 yards per return on three attempts. Also Nominated: Nicholas Acus, Brevard; Corrie Lee, N.C. Wesleyan; Derek Bass, Southern Virginia.
MEN'S SOCCER
Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Austin Vinyard, Maryville - The Oak Ridge, Tennessee senior forward scored three goals as the Scots posted a 2-0 record last week. In a 3-1 win over Berea, Vinyard opened the scoring in the sixth minute before adding an insurance tally in the 61st minute. In a 2-1 victory over Brevard, Vinyard scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 56th minute. Also Nominated: Sam Stewart, Pfeiffer; Cameron Earls, Piedmont; Keegan Weekley, Covenant; Andrea Lacche, N.C. Wesleyan; Erik Blick, Averett; Jorge Lemus, William Peace; Blake Webb, LaGrange.
Men's Soccer Defender of the Week
Andrew Cole, LaGrange - The Rochester Hills, Michigan freshman goalkeeper posted a 2-0 record last week with one shutout for the Panthers. In the 180 minutes of play, Cole stopped seven of the eight shots he faced. In a 2-1 win over Piedmont, Cole made three saves while, in a 1-0 shutout of Mississippi University for Women, Cole collected five saves. Also Nominated: Ali Jaafar, Pfeiffer; CJ Wyborn, Piedmont; Griffin Felton, Covenant; Alan Linares, Greensboro; Tobias Borzel, N.C. Wesleyan; Tyler Yates, Averett; Mykal Manfred, Maryville; Rush Campbell, William Peace; Andrew Cole, LaGrange.
Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Antonio Sas-Cane, N.C. Wesleyan - The Rio, Argentina freshman midfielder tallied his first career hat trick with three goals in a 5-1 win over Methodist, the only contest her appeared in last week for the Battling Bishops. Sas-Cane scored all three of his goals within six minutes of each other, including one in the 25th minute which proved to be the eventual game-winner. Also Nominated: Vitor Braga, Brevard; Jean Bah, Pfeiffer; CJ Wyborn, Piedmont; Anderson Ivey, Covenant; Casey Atwell, Methodist; Merced Mendez Flores, Greensboro; Oliver Kousholt, Averett; Grayson Dugan, Maryville; Andrew Cole, LaGrange.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Women's Soccer Player of the Week
Morgan Thomas, Meredith - The Garner, North Carolina junior forward scored both game-winning goals in a 2-0 week for the Avenging Angels. In a 1-0 victory over Pfeiffer, Thomas scored in the 78th minute to give Meredith the lead for good. In a 2-1 victory over Mary Baldwin, Thomas' 81st-minute goal proved to be the difference. Also Nominated: Alyssa Hetherington, Brevard; Cayci Eaton, Pfeiffer; Doren Staley, Huntingdon; Kailey Burrell, Covenant; Logan Schnabl, Greensboro; Khristel Thompson, N.C. Wesleyan; Julia Gib, Piedmont; Celia de Diego, Averett; Katie O'Brien, Maryville; Sydney Dailey, LaGrange; Bailee Vanover, Berea; Cyanne Harkins, Mary Baldwin.
Women's Soccer Defender of the Week
Abby Judge, Piedmont - The Bellbrook, Ohio junior defender helped the Lions earn a 2-0 record, which included one shutout, last week while also contributing offensively with one game-winning goal and two assists. In a 1-0, double-overtime, shutout of Covenant, Judge scored the game-winning goal in the 105th minute. In a 3-2, overtime, victory over Huntingdon, two Judge corner kicks found teammates for goals. Also Nominated: Emma White, Brevard; Britney Levy, Pfeiffer; Faithe Korponay, Huntingdon; Lucy Sandhoff, Covenant; Jordan Tomberlin, Salem; Sierra Tursich, Greensboro; Alicia Jacobs, N.C. Wesleyan; Morgann Dills, Averett; Mary Newman, Methodist; Maggie Wilson, Maryville; Leila Moss, LaGrange; Miranda Lutz, Meredith.
Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Laila Allen, Piedmont - The Marietta, Georgia freshman goalkeeper posted a 2-0 record, which included one shutout, last week for the Lions. In 202 minutes in net, Allen stopped 12 of the 14 shots she faced. In a 1-0, double-overtime win over Covenant, Allen made six saves to secure the shutout while in a 3-2, overtime win at Huntingdon, Allen again collected six saves. Also Nominated: Maddy Edwards, Brevard; Julia Hayes, Pfeiffer; Mae Pierce, Covenant; Celia de Diego, Averett; Sierra Lee, Maryville; Erica Bower, LaGrange; Alyssa Tittsworth, Berea.
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball Player of the Week
Deanna De La Torre, Berea - The sophomore outside hitter from Georgetown, Texas averaged 3.89 kills, with a .394 hitting percentage, and 3.67 digs per set as the Mountaineers posted a 3-0 record last week with wins over Boyce, Huntingdon and Brevard. De La Torre notched double-doubles against Huntingdon (15 kills/16 digs) while her week-highs included 15 kills, 16 digs, three blocks, one service ace and one assist. Also Nominated: Kaitlyn Pressley, Brevard; Madison Honeycutt, Pfeiffer; Grace Logterman, Covenant; Valeria Rosa Lopez, Salem; Morgan Ilsley, Huntingdon; Hailey Stout, Greensboro; Kendall Craig, Methodist; Sydney Barnwell, N.C. Wesleyan; Morgan Barnes, Averett; Brooklyn Wallet, Maryville; Hannah Collier, William Peace; Sharon Inno-Dike, Wesleyan; Whitney Bolton, Meredith; Elle Warnick, Southern Virginia.
Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Fabiana De Jesus, Berea - The senior libero/defensive specialist from Caguas, Puerto Rico averaged 6.30 digs per set last week as the Mountaineers posted a 3-0 record last week with wins over Boyce, Huntingdon and Brevard. De Jesus's week-highs included 33 digs, four service aces and four assists. Also Nominated: Bailey Lance, Brevard; Emma Gray Beacham, Pfeiffer; Anna Baldwin, Covenant; Valeria Rosa Lopez, Salem; Audrey Horsley, Huntingdon; Carly Uhlir, Greensboro; Janie Harmelink, Methodist; Kira Kristjanson, N.C. Wesleyan; Erin Gray, Averett; Logan Moore, William Peace; Emily Rogers, Maryville; Zaysharae Malia-Hughes, Wesleyan; Lauren Phillips, Meredith; Katelyn Chamberlain, Southern Virginia.
Volleyball Rookie of the Week
Kinsley Stevens, Averett - The freshman setter from Danville, Virginia averaged 7.41 assists and 2.65 digs per set as the Cougars posted a 5-0 record last week gaining wins over Salem, Mary Baldwin, Bridgewater, Methodist, and Pfeiffer. Stevens notched double-doubles against Bridgewater (20 assists/10 digs), Methodist (44 assists/12 digs), and Pfeiffer (29 assists/11 digs) while her week-highs included 44 assists, 12 digs, two service aces, one kill (five times) and one block. Also Nominated: Logan Priddy, Brevard; Anya Parker, Pfeiffer; Macy Nelson, Salem; Jessi Hilyer, Huntingdon; Jeanana Fowler, Methodist; Georgia Grace Anderson, William Peace; Landry Frisch, Maryville; Trinity Jackson, Wesleyan; Idymel Ayala Rivera, Berea; Brenna Clyde, Southern Virginia.
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Drew Topoly, Methodist - The sophomore from Smithfield, North Carolina has competed in two events over the past two weeks. He placed 84th out of 337 runners at the Royals Cross Country Challenge two weeks ago, completing the 8,000-meter course in a time of 25:12. Last week, Topoly placed 8th out of 96 runners at the East Carolina Invitational by completing the 8,000-meter course in a time of 25:12. Also Nominated: Garrett Spangler, Brevard; Connor Moranos, Piedmont; Philly Barungi, N.C. Wesleyan; Anthony Ponce-Mexicano, Averett; Micaiah Allison, Covenant; Daniel Steele, William Peace.
Men's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Dylan May, Southern Virginia - The freshman from Missuola, Montana placed first out of 100 runners at the Roanoke College Invitational last week. May completed the 8,000-meter course in a time of 26:27. Also Nominated: Jadon Gonzales, Piedmont; Ayden Harper, N.C. Wesleyan; Victor Sobun, Methodist; Josiah Mellott, Covenant; Daniel Steele, William Peace.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Corrine Weaver, Meredith - The junior from Sanford, North Carolina placed 64th out of 300 runners at the Royals Cross Country Challenge two weeks ago. Weaver completed the 5,000-meter course in a program-record time of 18:43. Also Nominated: Val Angel, Piedmont; Anna Ray, N.C. Wesleyan; Rebekah Chase, Averett; S.K. Lipperd, Covenant.
Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week
Bayleigh Redd, Southern Virginia - The freshman from Spanish Fork, Utah placed first out of 85 runners at the Roanoke College Invitational last week. Redd completed the 5,000-meter course in a time of 22:48. Also Nominated: Anna Ray, N.C. Wesleyan; Jahdayna Samuels, Averett; Kali Hina, Covenant.
PLEASE NOTE: At least half of the teams in a sport must have competed within the previous week for honors to be awarded.