Sep 11, 2007, 16:57 GMT
Philadelphia, PA - Richmond running back Tim Hightower, Fordham safety Matt Loucks, Jacksonville State linebacker Drew Robinson and Prairie View safety Vallice Ford were named as national players of the week by The Sports Network, the division's most widely recognized sports information service.
Hightower was selected as the offensive player of the week, while Loucks and Robinson shared defensive honors. Ford was named as the special teams player of the week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tim Hightower, Richmond - Senior, Running Back, 6-1, 225, Alexandria, VA
Hightower rushed for a career-high 246 yards and four touchdowns on just 19 carries to lift Richmond to a 49-14 Colonial Athletic Association victory over Northeastern on Saturday. Playing in over 100-degree temperatures in Boston, Hightower had scoring runs of three, 90, 67 and 12 yards to spark the Spiders. Hightower averaged 12.9 yards per carry and helped the Spiders roll up 443 yards on the ground and a school-record 642 yards of total offense. Hightower's previous best rushing performance of 149 yards had come last year against Northeastern.
DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Matt Loucks, Fordham - Junior, Safety, 6-1, 193, Port St. Lucie, FL
Loucks recorded a career-high 26 tackles, including 14 solo stops in Fordham's 23-20 loss to Albany on Saturday. The 26 tackles were just two off the Patriot League record of 28, set by Lee Picariello of Lehigh on Oct. 27, 1990 against William & Mary.
Drew Robinson, Jacksonville State - Senior, Linebacker, 6-2, 220, Cedartown, GA
Robinson intercepted two passes, returned one 45 yards for a touchdown and recovered a fumble in the Gamecocks' 33-19 victory over Chattanooga. Besides the touchdown return, Robinson also ran his other interception back 63 yards to end a UTC scoring threat and set up a JSU field goal. His 108 yards of return yardage was more than any offensive player in the game. Robinson also added three solo tackles.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Vallice Ford, Prairie View, Junior, Safety, 6-1, 190, Canton Springs, MD
Ford returned two blocked punts for touchdowns as Prairie View beat North Carolina A&T 22-7 on Saturday in the Angel City Football Classic in Los Angeles. Ford returned the first punt 18 yards after it was blocked by teammate Riante Jones for a touchdown. Ford then recovered another Jones blocked punt and took it three yards for another score. Finally, Ford showed his defensive skill by tackling NC A&T's David Robinson for a safety to give him 14 of the 22 points scored by Prairie View. Ford added three tackles, one for a loss and had one pass breakup.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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