Stevenson Named Big South Special Teams Player of the Week

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Coastal Carolina quarterback Zach MacDowall (Acworth, Ga.) has been named the Choice Hotels Big South Football Offensive Player of the Week, while Chanticleers defensive end Jamel Davis (Richmond, Va.) has been selected as the Defensive Player of the Week for games played the seventh week of the 2010 season.  In addition, Charleston Southern kick returner Gerald Stevenson (Naples, Fla.) is the Special Teams Player of the Week, while Stony Brook linebacker Jawara Dudley (Roosevelt, N.Y.) is The Crons Brand Freshman of the Week.

Stevenson returned two kickoffs for touchdowns against Gardner-Webb, becoming the first player in Big South history to accomplish this feat, and finished with a Conference-record 389 all-purpose yards.  After GWU went ahead 14-3 in the first quarter, Stevenson returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards for a score.  Later in the fourth quarter after Gardner-Webb went ahead 28-17, Stevenson scooped up a squib kick and returned it 81 yards for another touchdown.  He also had kickoff returns of 34 yards and 27 yards, in addition to two punt returns for 34 yards.  Stevenson averaged 48.6 yards on his five kickoff returns. It is the second week in a row that Stevenson has earned the honor.

MacDowall accounted for 301 yards of total offense and was responsible for four touchdowns in Coastal Carolina’s win at Presbyterian College.  He rushed for a career- and game-high 97 yards on 11 attempts (8.8 per carry), scored a 16-yard touchdown, and rushed for at least 12 yards on five of his carries, including a long of 20.  MacDowall was 11-of-21 passing for 204 yards and three touchdowns, and completed nine of his final 12 attempts after starting 2-of-9.  He connected on a long play of 62 yards to Marquel Willis that set-up his rushing score, and had eight completions go for at least 11 yards downfield.

Davis collected five tackles, 1.5 sacks and a pass break-up in the first half at Presbyterian College before leaving with an injury.  His pass break-up came on PC’s first series on 3rd-and-10 and forced a three-and-out punt.  At the end of the first quarter, David assisted on a third down sack to force another punt.  In the second quarter, he stopped PC running back Trandon Dendy for no gain on 3rd-and-1, and on the next play, sacked PC’s quarterback at the Coastal 18-yard line to end the threat and give the Chanticleers the ball.

Dudley, who entered the game with 15 tackles on the season, posted a team- and career-high 12 stops (five solo, seven assisted) at Lafayette.  He also recorded 2.0 tackles-for-loss, a pass break-up and a quarterback hurry.  His quarterback pressure on 3rd-and-7 forced a fourth down play, then recorded a tackle-for-loss on a 2nd-and-10 situation.  He later broke up a pass attempt on 3rd-and-7 to force another fourth down.

Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week: Gerald Stevenson (Charleston Southern), Patrick Hall (Gardner-Webb), Chris Summers (Liberty) and Michael Coulter (Stony Brook).

Also nominated for Defensive Player of the Week: Chris Patrick (Charleston Southern), Bryce Nixon (Gardner-Webb), Danny Broggin (Liberty) and Justin Bethel (Presbyterian College).

Also nominated for Special Teams Player of the Week: Mike Larsson (Liberty) and Patrick Morgano (Presbyterian College).

Also nominated for Freshman of the Week:  James Nunley (Charleston Southern), Matt Hazel (Coastal Carolina), Preston Pemasa (Gardner-Webb) and Ryan Singer (Presbyterian College).