Green named USA South Defensive Player of the Week

By Chuck Tidmore

Sports Information Assistant 

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  – Huntingdon's Jake Green was recognized as a USA South Athlete of the Week on Monday.

Green, a senior linebacker, was named Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.

In a 40-20 win over Greensboro, Green totaled five tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception and one pass broken up. Green and the Huntingdon defense limited Greensboro to just 61 yards of offense in the second half.

With the Hawks leading 7-0 midway through the first quarter, Green intercepted a pass as Greensboro was driving to potentially tie the game. Green returned the interception 21 yards.

Green's second caused turnover came early in the second half. After Huntingdon threw an interception deep in Greensboro territory a play earlier, Green was able to chase down a Pride running back, force and recover a fumble. With excellent field position, the Hawks were able to put the ball in the end zone and take a 37-20 lead.

Green leads the team with 57 tackles and four pass breakups this season. He has recorded one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions. 

Huntingdon will host Maryville on Saturday at 1 p.m. in a battle for first place in the USA South.

Below is the complete list of USA South Athletes of the Week.

FOOTBALL

Football Offensive Player of the Week
Kenny Hall, Averett - The sophomore quarterback from Concord, North Carolina set a new single-game program record and tied the Conference mark with six touchdown passes in a 56-51 loss to USA South foe N.C. Wesleyan last week. Hall was 19-of-25 for 340 yards passing, an average of 13.6 yards per attempt, with no interceptions. He also carried the ball nine times for 34 yards, giving him a total of 374 yards of total offense. The 340 passing yards is the third-most in Averett single-game history. Also Nominated: Deshjion Whitlock, Maryville; Connor Blair, LaGrange; Troy Helton, Ferrum; Dustin Midgett, N.C. Wesleyan.

Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
Adrian Minondo, N.C. Wesleyan - The freshman running back from Okeechobee, Florida rushed for a new single-game program record 278 yards with four touchdowns in a 56-51 victory over USA South foe Averett last week. Minondo ran the ball 38 times for an average of 7.3 yards per attempt and missed tying the single-game conference rushing record by seven yards. Also Nominated: Mario Williams, Maryville; Sean Bowman, Averett; Dylan DeGroot, Methodist.

Football Defensive Player of the Week 
Jake Green, Huntingdon - The Yulee, Florida senior linebacker led the team in tackles, intercepted a pass, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and broke up a pass in a 40-20 victory over USA South rival Greensboro last week. The interception came deep within Huntingdon territory and was returned 25-yards. Green accumulated two solo tackles and three assisted take downs as the Hawk defense held Greensboro to just 61 yards of offense in the second half. Finally, his forced fumble helped set-up a Huntingdon touchdown. Also Nominated: Nasir Beyah, Maryville; Nick Raszeja, LaGrange; Dontae Gilbert, Averett.

Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
Franchez Marshall, Maryville - The freshman linebacker from Greenville, Georgia totaled three tackles, two of which were for a loss, along with two pass breakups in a 38-31 win over USA South foe LaGrange last week. Marshall tallied two solo tackles with one assisted take down. His two tackles for loss resulted in a total of 14 yards lost and included one sack. Also Nominated: Trey Hayes, Huntingdon; Ti'Shawn Ferguson-Daniels, Averett; Tevis Dasher, Methodist.

Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Travis Jones, Averett - The Danville, Virginia sophomore kick returner became the first Averett player to have three career kickoff returns for a touchdown when he took one 83-yards for a score in a 56-51 loss to USA South foe N.C. Wesleyan last week. He also becomes only the second player in program history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in a single-season. Also serving as Averett's running back, Jones compiled a single-game school-record 325 all-purpose yards (246 kick return, 55 rushing, 24 receiving). Finally, the 246 kick return yards establishes a new USA South single-game record. Also Nominated: Kyle Bennett, Maryville; Hunter Ferguson, Ferrum; Malik Adams, N.C. Wesleyan; Brandon Torres, Methodist.

MEN'S SOCCER

Men's Soccer Player of the Week
Tim Baker, Maryville - The junior midfielder from Knoxville, Tennessee tallied one goal and one assist in a 2-1 victory over USA South rival Covenant in the team's only regular season contest last week. Baker first assisted on the match's opening goal in the 69th minute before scoring the eventual game-winner in the 80th minute. Also Nominated: Brian Benitez, Averett.

Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Hayden Puryear, Maryville - The junior defender from Gallatin, Tennessee notched the first goal of the match in a 2-1 victory over USA South rival Covenant in the team's only regular season contest last week. He opened the scoring with a goal in the 69th minute. Also Nominated: John Matrisciano, Averett; Alex Rabone, Methodist.

Men's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Haakan Wahlstrom, Methodist - The freshman midfielder from Molnlycke, Sweden tallied one goal and one assist in a 4-1 victory over USA South foe Ferrum in the team's only regular season contest last week. Wahlstrom first scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 15th minute before assisting on an insurance score in the 18th minute. Also Nominated: David Cuperman, Averett; George Davies, Maryville.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Women's Soccer Player of the Week
Sara Snotherly, Methodist - The Raleigh, North Carolina junior midfielder tallied two goals, including the eventual game-winner in a 6-1 victory over USA South foe Ferrum in the team's only regular season contest last week. Snotherly scored the first two goals of the match to get the Monarchs on the path to victory. Also Nominated: Skye Gunn, Averett; Allyson Hale, Maryville; Jenna Vreeland, Covenant.

Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week
Vanessa Batchelor, N.C. Wesleyan - The Nashville, North Carolina senior goalkeeper led the Bishops to a scoreless draw with USA South Regular Season Champion Meredith in the team's only regular season contest last week. Batchelor stopped all nine shots she faced in the 110 minute affair. Also Nominated: Bailee Brown, Averett; Miranda Lukas, Maryville; Jaisa Loch, Meredith; Taylor Ross, Methodist; Leah Leach, Huntingdon; Rachel Lemay, Covenant.

Women's Soccer Rookie of the Week
Skye Gunn, Averett - The Delray Beach, Florida freshman forward tallied two goals, including the eventual game-winner in a 5-1 victory over USA South foe William Peace in the team's only regular season contest last week. Gunn scored the second goal of the match in the 66th minute then notched an insurance score in the 73rd minute. Also Nominated: Natasha Enrique, Maryville; Jessica Wallace, Meredith; Leah Leach, Huntingdon; Rachel Lemay, Covenant.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball Player of the Week
Taylor Cramsey, Piedmont - The senior right side hitter from Jefferson, Georgia averaged 3.90 kills, a .306 hitting percentage, and 2.10 digs per set in a 3-0 week versus for the Lions. In a 3-0 win over USA South rival Maryville, the first victory over the Scots since 2010, Cramsey totaled 11 kills, nine digs and two assists. In a 3-0 victory over Fisk, Cramsey notched 11 kills, five digs, two service aces, one assist and one block. Finally, in a 3-1 victory over Oglethorpe, Cramsey contributed 17 kills, seven digs, four assists and one block. Also Nominated: Hannah Shields, Averett; Mary Kate white, Maryville; Hannah Helbert, Ferrum; Emily Hendricks, Meredith; Bria Rochelle, Huntingdon; Schuyler Moore, Covenant; Cassidy Hayes, Methodist.

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
 Haley Hixon, Piedmont - The freshman defensive specialist from Ringgold, Georgia averaged 4.90 digs, 0.70 service aces and 0.60 assists per set as the Lions posted a 3-0 record last week. In a 3-0 win over USA South rival Maryville, the first victory over the Scots since 2010, Hixon totaled 14 digs and one service ace. In a 3-0 victory over Fisk, Hixon notched nine digs, four service aces and one assist. Finally, in a 3-1 victory over Oglethorpe, Hixon contributed 26 digs, five assists and one service ace. Also Nominated: Kaitlyn Flickinger, Maryville; Sarah Hendrix, Ferrum; Christina Huber, N.C. Wesleyan; Lauren Condon, Huntingdon; Christiana Summa, Averett; Karly Klimas, Methodist.

Volleyball Rookie of the Week
Keenan Marks, Averett - The freshman setter from Jacksonville, North Carolina averaged 11.00 assists, 2.67 digs, 0.67 kills and 0.67 service aces per set as the Cougars posted a 4-1 record last week. In a 3-0 win over USA South rival Greensboro, Marks notched a double-double of 28 assists and ten digs to go along with two kills and two service aces. In a 3-0 victory over USA South foe William Peace, Marks totaled 35 assists, four digs, one kill and one service ace. In a 3-1 win over USA South rival N.C. Wesleyan, Marks tallied a double-double of 49 assists and 17 digs to go along with five service aces and four kills. Finally, in a 3-1 victory over Virginia Wesleyan, Marks played just two sets and totaled 20 assists, one dig, one kill and one block. Also Nominated: Emily Peters, Piedmont; Taylor Youell, Maryville; Lexi Hall, LaGrange; Cheyenne Strickland, Ferrum; Jordan Tew, Methodist.