Troy Garner Wins USA South Offensive Rookie of the Week
USA South Athletes of the Week - Nov. 15, 2021
FOOTBALL
Football Offensive Player of the Week
Brandon Bullins, Methodist - The sophomore quarterback from Kernersville, North Carolina set a new single-game program record with 488 passing yards in a 38-7 win over N.C. Wesleyan last week. Bullins also set single-game school records for pass competitions (37) and attempts (60) as he threw three touchdowns. Bullins also carried the ball five times for 14 yards. Also Nominated: Dalton Cole, Brevard; De'queze Fryer, LaGrange; Anthony Byrd, N.C. Wesleyan; Cody Estep, Maryville; Malachi Harvey, Huntingdon.
Football Offensive Rookie of the Week
Troy Garner, Huntingdon - The freshman running back from Gordo, Alabama ran for a game-high 112 yards and scored two touchdowns in a 55-9 win over LaGrange as the Hawks completed an unbeaten Conference season. Garner carried the ball 19 times, good for a 5.9 yards-per-attempt average, while also catching one pass for 11 yards. Also Nominated: Marcus Lane, Brevard; Trevon Crank, N.C. Wesleyan.
Football Defensive Player of the Week
Toby Naylor, Brevard - The Southampton, England junior linebacker accumulated a team-high 11 tackles, 2.5 of which were for a loss of seven yards, in a 40-3 victory over Averett. Naylor accumulated six solo tackles and five assisted take-downs with one sack for a loss of five yards. Also Nominated: Klynell Johnson, LaGrange; RJ Carter, N.C. Wesleyan; Nate Jones, Methodist; Conner Showalter, Averett; Max Steele, Greensboro.
Football Defensive Rookie of the Week
Grant Henderson, Maryville - The freshman defensive back from Miami, Florida led the team with nine total tackles and grabbed an interception in a 49-14 win over Greensboro last week. Henderson accumulated six solo tackles and three assisted take-downs, including his first-career tackle for a loss. His first-career interception came on the first play of the second quarter, was returned 17 yards and set-up a Maryville touchdown two plays later. Also Nominated: Korey Hunter, N.C. Wesleyan; Brody Hamm, Huntingdon; Max Steele, Greensboro.
Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Stamati Damalos, Brevard - The senior place kicker from Tarpon Springs, Florida accounted for 16 points thanks to four field goals and four point-after-touchdowns in a 40-3 win over Averett last week. Damalos was a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals which included makes from 27, 42, 40, and a school-record 47-yards out. Also Nominated: Trevor Hargett, Methodist; Kahari McReynolds, Huntingdon; Zach Allman, Greensboro.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Men's Basketball Player of the Week
Kyle Brown, LaGrange - The senior forward from Dallas, Georgia averaged 19.3 points, 6.7 rebounds. 5.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks per game as the Panthers posted a 3-0 record last week with wins over Pensacola Christian, Mississippi University for Women, and Sewanee. Brown posted a double-double (15 points/ten rebounds) against MUW while is week-highs included 25 points, ten rebounds, nine assists, six steals, and three blocks. Also Nominated: Greyson Collins, Greensboro; LB Boyette, Brevard; Damon McDowell, N.C. Wesleyan; Myles Rasnick, Maryville; Jerome Savoy, Pfeiffer; Dante Burden, Methodist; Jordan Foote, Piedmont; Damien Madison, Huntingdon; Quae Charlton, Berea; Jalen Rowell, Averett; Chris Barnette, Covenant; Conner Marchant, Southern Virginia.
Men's Basketball Rookie of the Week
Vernon Fraley, Mary Baldwin - The freshman forward from Raleigh, North Carolina averaged 16.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game in a 0-2 week for the Fighting Squirrels at the Gettysburg Tip-Off tournament with losses to Gettysburg and Penn St.-Abington. For his efforts during the event, Fraley was named to the All-Tournament Team. Fraley's week-highs included 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists, one steal (twice) and one block. Also Nominated: Christian Thompson, Greensboro; Kyle Smith, LaGrange.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Women's Basketball Player of the Week
Destiny Williams, Brevard - The Aiken, South Carolina graduate student forward averaged a double-double of 20.0 points and 12.0 rebounds, to go along with 4.5 steals and 3.0 assists per game as the Tornados posted a 1-1 record last week with a win over Berry and a loss to Greenville. Williams posted a double-double (17 points/15 rebounds) against Berry while her week-highs included 23 points, 15 rebounds, five steals, three assists (twice) and one block. Also Nominated: Quadijah Moore, Greensboro; Courtney Carruthers, Maryville; Livia Skinner, Piedmont; Kayrisma Harrison, N.C. Wesleyan; Destiny Combs, Berea; Camryn Lunsford, Averett; Tyler Davenport, Salem; Cosette Kirsch, Covenant; Jalaya Lewis, LaGrange; Ry Whetstone, Huntingdon; Savanna Christensen, Southern Virginia; Demet Saygili, Mary Baldwin.
Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week
Audrey Jennings, Greensboro - The Elkin, North Carolina freshman guard scored 13 points as the Pride topped Ferrum, 94-54 in the team's only action last week. Jennings also grabbed three rebounds and collected one steal in the victory. Also Nominated: Lexi Shepard, Brevard; Jaa Brown, Averett; Tamsi Echendu, Salem; Bryanna Sanders, LaGrange.
PLEASE NOTE: At least half of the teams in a sport must have competed within the previous week for honors to be awarded.