Williams, Smith Named SLC Special Teams Player Of The Week
10/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 20, 2003
PLANO, Texas - Michael Williams and Ryan Smith helped Stephen F. Austin State to a win in the Lumberjacks football league opener on Thursday and have been named Southland Conference offensive and special teams players of the week, respectively. Rod Gulley of No. 1 McNeese State had a big interception return for a touchdown to lead the Cowboys to a non-conference win at Southern Utah and has been voted defensive player of the week. Following is a look at their performances along with others nominated.
Offense Michael Williams, Stephen F. Austin, Jr., QB, 6-0, 196, Houston, Texas Williams helped lead the 'Jacks to a 34-31 win over Sam Houston after trailing the Bearkats 21-3 midway through the second quarter. Williams finished the night 12-18-0 for 245 yards and a touchdown. It was the first 200-yard passing game in Williams' career. He connected with Chance Dennis for a 16-yard scoring play to pull within two points. Williams then ran in the conversion to tie the score at 24-24.
Defense Rod Gulley, McNeese State, Sr., FS, 6-2, 197, Newton, Texas Gulley had 10 tackles and a pass interception that he returned for a 33-yard touchdown as No. 1 McNeese State won at Southern Utah, 33-20. He also knocked down three pass attempts.
Special Teams Ryan Smith, Stephen F. Austin, So., DE, 6-3, 220, Newton, Texas Smith came up with perhaps the biggest play of the night for the Lumberjacks when he blocked a Sam Houston punt with just over two minutes to play to set up the Lumberjacks at the SHSU 11-yard line. It was Smith's third blocked punt of the year and allowed the Lumberjacks to go 11-yards in one play to tie the score at 31-31. Smith ended the night with five tackles including 1.5 sacks (-12).
HONOR ROLL OFFENSE Jason Godfrey, SHSU, So., RB, 6-0, 215, Tomball, Texas Posted Sam Houston State's first 100-yard rushing game of the 2003 season in a 34-31 loss to SFA. He carried 23 times for 123 yards, including one touchdown and a long of 23 yards.
B.J. Sams, McN, Sr., WR, 5-10, 173, Mandeville, La. Sams caught seven passes for 106 yards and ran the ball four times for 25 yards and a touchdown in McNeese's 33-20 win at Southern Utah. He also returned two punts for 14 yards and two kickoffs for 59 yards, giving him 204 yards all-purpose yards.
Davon Vinson, NWLa., So., QB, Kilgore, Texas Vinson entered the game midway through the first quarter and the Demons trailing 3-0. He guided the team to 42 unanswered points and a 49-19 win over Texas State by completing 10 of 11 passes for 145 yards. He rushed 10 times for 46 yards and three touchdowns giving him 191 total offensive yards in the game. He also tied a school record set in 1980 by Bobby Hebert with nine consecutive completions.
DEFENSE Ed Jackson, SHSU, Fr., DE, 6-3, 240, LaMarque, Texas Jackson recorded nine tackles, including two quarterback sacks, one fumble force and one fumble recovery to set up SHSU's first touchdown in 34-31 loss to SFA.
Braylon Lester, SFA, Jr., DB, 5-9, 195, Dallas, Texas Lester helped the SFA defense hold Sam Houston to 10 second half points in the Lumberjacks' 34-31 win Thursday night. Lester finished the game with nine tackles, including one tackle for a loss (-1). With SFA trailing 21-3, Lester picked off a Wade Pate pass and returned it 26-yards for a touchdown. The interception was the first of the year for Lester.
Eric Louis, NWLa., Sr., DB, 5-8, 197, Zachary, La. Louis finished with seven total tackles, five solo, and had one sack for 19 yards helping the Demons hold Texas State to 65 total offensive yards until the midway point of the fourth quarter in a 49-19 win over the Bobcats. Louis also had two tackles for a loss for minus 24 yards, two passes broken up and blocked a field goal.
