ATLANTA, GA – The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) announced
Football Players of the Week for Week 8 on Tuesday, October 24. Benedict's
Deondra Duehart was named
Offensive Player of the Week, and Fort Valley State swept the remainder of the lineup.
Cedric Hillsman was named
Defensive Player of the Week, Elan Hall was named
Special Teams Player of the Week, and
Brandon Marshall was named
Newcomer of the Week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Deondra Duehart, Benedict College
Running Back | Sophomore | Macon, Georgia
Deondra Duehart, a sophomore running back from Macon, Georgia, had a standout game for Benedict College. He rushed for an impressive 107 yards on 18 carries, averaging 5.9 yards per carry, and scored three touchdowns in their 63-14 victory over Kentucky State. Duehart's performance played a crucial role in the team's season-high rushing total of 277 yards. Keep an eye on him as he continues to make waves in college football!
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Cedric Hillsman, Fort Valley State University
Defensive End | R-Junior | Fort Valley, Georgia
Cedric Hillsman, Fort Valley State University's defensive end, had a standout performance in a recent game against Morehouse College. He led the FVSU defense, limiting Morehouse to just 137 yards for the entire game. Hillsman had a season-high six tackles, a sack for a loss of 7 yards, and three tackles for an 11-yard loss. He also forced a critical fumble in the 3rd quarter and added a QB hurry. Hillsman's dominance on the field was a key factor in FVSU's success that day, and he continues to be a defensive force to watch.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Elan Hall, Fort Valley State University
Punter | Freshman | Acworth, Georgia
Freshman punter Elan Hall OF Fort Valley State University had an outstanding game, averaging 46.0 yards per punt. He made four crucial punts, three landing inside the 20-yard line and one touchback. Hall's first punt traveled 48 yards and was downed at the Morehouse 11-yard line, while the second punt was fair caught at the Morehouse 5-yard line after a 36-yard kick. His third punt was an impressive 55-yarder that resulted in a touchback, and his fourth punt covered 45 yards and was fair caught at the Morehouse 11-yard line. Hailing from Acworth, Georgia, Elan Hall is proving to be a valuable asset to FVSU's special teams.
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK – Brandon Marshall, Fort Valley State University
Running Back | Graduate | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Brandon Marshall, Fort Valley State University's star running back from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, continued his outstanding form with another impressive performance. Marshall, the SIAC's leading rusher, rushed for 140 yards on 28 carries, averaging 5.0 yards per attempt, and scored two crucial touchdowns against Morehouse. One of his standout moments came in the first quarter when he leaped one yard into the end zone, giving FVSU a lead they would not surrender. Marshall's versatility shone through as he caught a pass for an additional 8 yards. In the fourth quarter, Marshall's 14-yard scoring run sealed the deal, making it 21-3 and eventually resulting in a commanding 31-3 victory for Fort Valley State University. Marshall's exceptional performance cements his reputation as a game-changing player and a crucial asset to his team.
About the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors seven men's and six women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit www.thesiac.com.