Photo by: Michael Causey/CSU Sports
10/26/2026 10:00:00 AM | Football
CHARLESTON – Charleston Southern's Steve Zayachkowsky was selected as the Ohio Valley Conference's Defensive Player of the Week following his standout performance in a road win at Tennessee State this weekend.
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In the win, Zayachkowsky collected 13 tackles to anchor the Buccaneer defense to their most dominant performance against an FCS opponent this year. The Tigers were limited to just 136 yards of offense including 17 on the ground off 24 carries. Additionally, they gave up only 119 yards through the air on 30 passing attempts. In total, the defense collected six sacks and 10 tackles for loss in the outing.
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Individually, he had a third down sack that set up a missed FG by the Tigers and the game-sealing sack on a fourth down allowing CSU to kneel out the clock. Additionally, he forced a fumble that the Bucs recovered in the second half that set up a field goal to move the score to 20-0. He finished the day with 13 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries.
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In total, this becomes the seventh weekly award for a Buccaneer from the OVC this season. They have had Tristan Lennon earn Defensive Player of the Week (9/14) and Steve Zayachkowsky twice (10/12 and 10/26). Baxter Pearce was chosen as the Freshman of the Week (9/7) while Matt Rolader earned Special Team Player of the Week twice (9/14 and 10/5) as well as Quay Kindell once (10/12).
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Charleston Southern returns to action next weekend as they will begin a three-game homestand. The series will begin with a game against Western Illinois on Saturday, October 31 with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. with the game to be available live on ESPN+.
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In the win, Zayachkowsky collected 13 tackles to anchor the Buccaneer defense to their most dominant performance against an FCS opponent this year. The Tigers were limited to just 136 yards of offense including 17 on the ground off 24 carries. Additionally, they gave up only 119 yards through the air on 30 passing attempts. In total, the defense collected six sacks and 10 tackles for loss in the outing.
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Individually, he had a third down sack that set up a missed FG by the Tigers and the game-sealing sack on a fourth down allowing CSU to kneel out the clock. Additionally, he forced a fumble that the Bucs recovered in the second half that set up a field goal to move the score to 20-0. He finished the day with 13 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries.
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In total, this becomes the seventh weekly award for a Buccaneer from the OVC this season. They have had Tristan Lennon earn Defensive Player of the Week (9/14) and Steve Zayachkowsky twice (10/12 and 10/26). Baxter Pearce was chosen as the Freshman of the Week (9/7) while Matt Rolader earned Special Team Player of the Week twice (9/14 and 10/5) as well as Quay Kindell once (10/12).
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Charleston Southern returns to action next weekend as they will begin a three-game homestand. The series will begin with a game against Western Illinois on Saturday, October 31 with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. with the game to be available live on ESPN+.
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/ FootballSaturday, October 31
Wednesday, October 28
Tuesday, October 27
Sunday, October 25
