Campbell's Awuruonye tackles FCS national honors

By foxsports
Published

(STATS) - Every vowel is represented in Ugonna Awuruonye's name except one.

Fittingly, it's the "I," because that pronoun really isn't a part of the Campbell defensive end's vocabulary as a senior. Although the individual records are falling to Awuruonye, his real focus has been turning his Camels into a Pioneer Football League title contender.

Awuruonye, Dartmouth's Dalyn Williams, North Carolina A&T's Khris Gardin and Stephen F. Austin's Loren Easly have been named the STATS FCS National Players of the Week for games between Oct. 1-3.

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OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK=

Dalyn Williams, Dartmouth, QB, Sr., 6-0, 215, Corinth, Texas

The All-Ivy League quarterback enjoyed a near-perfect performance in Dartmouth's first win at Penn in 18 seasons, 41-20. He completed 92 percent of his passes (23 of 25) in wet, windy conditions to top the school record which had stood for 53 years. He threw for 336 yards and four touchdowns, which tied a career high, and carried the ball 13 times for 73 yards and the Big Green's other two touchdowns. He went over 400 total yards in a game (with 409) for the third time in his career.

Honorable Mention: Trent Brittain, QB, Incarnate Word

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DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK=

Ugonna Awuruonye, Campbell, DE, R-Sr., 6-5, 260, Charlotte, North Carolina

Campbell's Mike Minter coached Awuruonye for one season in high school, so the Camels' third-year head coach has been glad to reunite with the All-Pioneer Football League pass rusher. Awuruonye collected 10 tackles and three sacks, which tied a school single-game record, in Campbell's 24-14 smothering of Drake. He set the Camels' career sacks mark with 19 and extended his school tackles-for-loss record to 31.5 while leading a defensive effort that had nine sacks and held Drake to 154 total yards.

Honorable Mention: Brett Taylor, LB, Western Illinois

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SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK=

Khris Gardin, North Carolina A&T, PR, So., 5-7, 158, Morganton, North Carolina

All four of Gardin's punt returns went for over 40 yards and put A&T in Hampton territory, including one in the end zone, as the Aggies posted a 45-31 victory in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The longest return went for 71 yards as Gardin gave his team the lead for good, 38-31, with 5:56 left in the fourth quarter. He also had returns of 42, 45 and 45 yards, giving him 203 yards on the four returns. He broke a school record for average yards per return (50.8).

Honorable Mention: John Lunsford, PK, Liberty

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FRESHMAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK=

Loren Easly, Stephen F. Austin, RB, Fr., 5-11, 200, Houston

Back in his hometown, Easly had a Texas-size performance in the "Battle of the Piney Woods" at NRG Stadium, rushing for 213 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, although Stephen F. Austin fell 34-28 to defending Southland Conference co-champion Sam Houston State. Easly gave the Lumberjacks the chance for an upset, breaking off an 80-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to pull them within 31-28. He also had his first career pass reception in the game.

Honorable Mention: Brannon Barry, DE, Illinois State