OKLAHOMA CITY – For the second time this season, Texas Wesleyan running back Clint Epperson was named the league's offensive player of the week. Epperson earned the award after a record-breaking performance in a win over Louisiana College. TXWES leads the league with six player of the week awards.
Malcolm Johnson took Sooner Athletic Conference football defensive player of the week after aiding Langston to victory in a clash of ranked teams in the league. Langston, ranked 18th in the NAIA, prevailed 44-41 over ninth-ranked OUAZ on Saturday in Surprise, Ariz. The SAC special teams player of the week went to OUAZ's Shamar Moreland.
Offensive player of the week: Clint Epperson | RB | Fr. | Valley View, Texas
Clint Epperson piled up six rushing touchdowns, a single-game Texas Wesleyan record in the Rams' 56-39 victory over Louisiana College on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas. Epperson collected 159 yards on 19 carries. Epperson broke the Rams' previous mark by speeding to a 54-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter. Desmond Nisby established the school record by running for four touchdowns against Southwestern Assemblies of God on Oct. 20, 2018 in Waxahachie, Texas.
Through seven games, Epperson has compiled 616 yards rushing (88 ypg), averaging 6.6 yards per carry with 12 touchdowns.
Other nominees: Jordan Barlow, SW Assemblies of God; Cole Davis, Arizona Christian; Larry Harrington, Langston; Willie McCline, Panhandle State.
Defensive player of the week: Malcolm Johnson | DB | So. | Houston
Malcolm Johnson topped Langston with 15 tackles and 11 unassisted stops in the Lions' victory. Johnson has accumulated 44 tackles, 30 solo tackles, three passes broken up and two interceptions this year. The Lions (7-0, 6-0 SAC) remained undefeated on the year thanks to Ger'Kerry Jackson's 11-yard touchdown run with 3:50 left at Spirit Field.
Other nominees: Keandre Belcher, SW Assemblies of God;
Vondrice LaFrance, Texas Wesleyan; Khavia Reese, Panhandle State; Christian Threadgill, Arizona Christian.
Special teams player of the week: Shamar Moreland | RB-KR-PR | Sr. | Phoenix
Shamar Moreland garnered his fourth weekly award from the SAC with two conference offensive player of the week awards and one SAC special teams player of the week honor. Moreland previously grabbed the SAC's special teams weekly honor for Oct. 8-14, 2018. Moreland racked up 324 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, including a 6-yard scoring run that cut Langston's lead to 44-41 with 2:09 remaining. Moreland rumbled to a 94-yard kickoff return touchdown that put OUAZ ahead 17-7 in the second quarter, and rushed 1 yard for a touchdown. Moreland bolted to 184 yards on four kick returns, 111 yards on 16 rushing attempts, 24 receiving yards on three catches and 5 yards on two punt returns. This year, Moreland has run for 352 yards and eight touchdowns, caught eight passes for 89 yards and averaged 34.1 yards on eight kick returns. Moreland reached 2,000 yards rushing for his career.
Other nominees: Jon Cole, Arizona Christian; Hunter Elliott, Langston; Kieran Woodley, SW Assemblies of God.
| 2021 Sooner Athletic Conference Football Players of the Week |
| WEEK |
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK |
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK |
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK |
| Oct. 18-24 |
Clint Epperson, RB, Texas Wesleyan |
Malcolm Johnson, DB, Langston |
Shamar Moreland, RB-KR-PR, OUAZ |
| Oct. 11-17 |
Larry Harrington, QB, Langston |
Damaris Herron, DB, SW Assemblies of God |
A.J. Bobb, WR-KR, Texas Wesleyan |
| Oct. 4-10 |
Tyler Duncan, QB, Arizona Christian |
Matt Hernandez, DL, Panhandle State |
Aidan Quinn, RB-KR, Arizona Christian |
| Sept. 27-Oct. 3 |
Marcelous Chester-Riley, RB, OUAZ |
Drake Rodriguez, DL, SW Assemblies of God |
Me'kyle Franklin, WR-KR, Louisiana College |
| Sept. 20-26 |
RaQuon Washington, QB, Langston |
Devron Sims, DB, Wayland Baptist |
Kieran Woodley, K, SW Assemblies of God |
| Sept. 13-19 |
Marcelous Chester-Riley, RB, OUAZ |
Elijah Hall, DB, Texas Wesleyan |
Kieran Woodley, K, SW Assemblies of God |
| Sept. 6-12 |
Clint Epperson, RB, Texas Wesleyan |
Brandon Tomerlin, LB, OUAZ |
A.J. Bobb, WR-PR, Texas Wesleyan |
| Aug. 30-Sept. 5 |
Austin McCullough, QB, OUAZ |
Tyquandrik Conner, LB, Texas Wesleyan |
Gregory Blaser, K-P, Texas Wesleyan |
| Aug. 23-29 |
Tyler Duncan, QB Arizona Christian |
Martin Rodriguez, DL, Arizona Christian |
Hunter Martensson, K-P, Louisiana College |
