GSC Announces Football Players of the Week, Sept. 29
North Alabama running back Lamonte Thompson and Florida Tech linebacker Chris Stapleton have been named the Gulf South Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week for games played in Week Four of the 2014 season. North Alabama placekicker/punter Taylor Pontius was also tabbed the Special Teams Player of the Week and Florida Tech quarterback Mark Cato took home the Freshman of the Week.
Thompson claims his second all-time honor and is UNA's first winner of the season after leading the Lions to a 31-29 victory over No. 21 Valdosta State in the GSC Game of the Week. The junior recorded his seventh career 100-yard outing, running for a game-best 140 yards and two touchdowns on a GSC season-high 25 carries. The Florence, AL native extended North Alabama's lead to 14-0 in the first quarter, but he saved his best for the second half, compiling 104 yards and giving UNA a 28-22 edge with 5:48 left to play when he ran for a five-yard score.
Stapleton is FIT's second consecutive Defensive winner, spearheading the Panthers' defense in a 34-33 near upset at No. 14 DI-FCS Bethune-Cookman. The sophomore racked up five total tackles led by three solo stops. The Navarre, Fla. native made his biggest impact in BCU's backfield, racking up a game-high two solo sacks for 12 yards.
Pontius posts his first-ever laurel thanks to a record-setting performance in the UNA's 31-29 home victory over No. 21 Valdosta State. The senior overcame plenty of adversity during the contest capped by the game-winning, school-record, 54-yard field goal as time expired. The Biloxi, MS native was injured during the opening kickoff only to return as the team's placekicker and punter the rest of the game. Pontius' missed PAT with 5:28 to play opened the door for VSU's lead at 2:02, but he redeemed himself with the game on the line, booming the longest field goal in the GSC since 2000. For the night, Pontius also kicked two punts for 65 yards and five kickoffs for 339 yards and two touchbacks.
Cato earns his fourth consecutive Freshman award, leading the Panthers to a 34-33 near-upset at No. 14 Bethune-Cookman. The Alachua, Fla. native completed 20-of-36 passes for a career-high 310 yards and four touchdowns. Cato's became just the third signal caller to pass for four TDs in a game this season, tying his previous effort versus Stetson two weeks ago.
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week: Xavier Milton (Florida Tech, WR); Seth Hinsley (West Georgia, RB)
Also nominated for Defensive Player of the Week: Alex Armah (West Georgia, DE)
Also nominated for Special Teams Player of the Week: Jordan Howard (Delta State, RS); James Dugan (West Georgia, P)
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week: Zed Brown (West Georgia, SS)