09/10/2012

Sept. 10, 2012

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - After a winning weekend for Patriot League football, four student-athletes have been recognized for their individual performance with a weekly award from the League on Monday.

Lafayette had a pair of the honorees, with senior quarterback Andrew Shoop and freshman wide receiver/punt returner Jamel Smith both recognized for their role in the Leopards' 17-14 win at William & Mary on Saturday. Shoop, who was named Offensive Player of the Week, completed 18-of-33 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown, while Smith had two receptions and a pair of key fourth-quarter punt returns to help the Leopards to the win and earn his first Patriot League Rookie of the Week award.

The Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week and Special Teams Player of the Week awards were both repeats, with Georgetown senior linebacker Robert McCabe winning the former and Fordham senior punter/kicker Patrick Murray claiming the latter. McCabe made 13 tackles and had a sack in Georgetown's 13-10 win over Wagner, while Murray made two field goals, one from 50 yards, and punted five times for a 44.0 average in Fordham's 28-13 loss to Villanova.

Full write-ups for the weekly award winners are included below along with the honorable mention selections.

Patriot League Football Weekly Awards (Sept. 8)

Offensive Player of the Week
Andrew Shoop, QB, Lafayette Sr., 6-1, 215 (Danville, Pa./Danville)
Shoop played a solid game to lead Lafayette to a 17-14 win at William & Mary on Saturday. He completed 18-of-33 passes for 189 yards and a third-quarter touchdown to Mike Duncan that gave the Leopards a 14-7 advantage they would not relinquish. The 18-yard strike came on a 3rd-and-15 play. Shoop also picked up two first downs on a fourth-quarter drive that resulted in a field goal to put Lafayette up 17-7. He completed passes to eight different receivers, and ran for 25 yards. Shoop led Lafayette to its first win over a CAA opponent since 2005 (Richmond). Shoop is named Offensive Player of the Week for the first time this season and third in his career.

Defensive Player of the Week
Robert McCabe, LB, Georgetown Sr., 6-2, 235 (Newtown Square, Pa./Malvern Prep)
McCabe repeats as Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week after making 13 tackles with a sack in Georgetown's 13-10 win over Wagner on Saturday. It was his second straight game with double-digit tackles, and McCabe stands second in the FCS with 15.0 tackles per game for the year. He is seventh among all active players with 278 career tackles. McCabe helped the Hoyas hold Wagner to 94 rushing yards. It is his third career Defensive Player of the Week award.

Special Teams Player of the Week
Patrick Murray, P/K, Fordham Sr., 5-7, 160 (Mahwah, N.J./Don Bosco Prep)
Murray receives his second straight Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week honor for his effort in Fordham's 28-13 loss to Villanova on Saturday. He made a pair of second-quarter field goals from 50 and 37 yards out, the first coming just two yards shy of the Patriot League record he set last week. Murray punted five times for a 44.0 average, and also gained 25 yards on a fake punt that set up Fordham's first-quarter touchdown. He also earned the College Football Performance Awards Placekicker of the Week honor for the second straight time. It is Murray's third career Special Teams Player of the Week honor.

Rookie of the Week
Jamel Smith, WR/PR, Lafayette Fr., 6-0, 170 (New Egypt, N.J./New Egypt)
Smith had a memorable collegiate debut, notching two catches for 11 yards and two punt returns for 28 yards in Lafayette's 17-14 win at William & Mary. Both punt returns came in the fourth quarter and gave Lafayette a drive start in William & Mary territory as the Leopards were holding on to a 17-7 lead. Smith wins his first Rookie of the Week award.

Honorable Mention

Mike Colvin, QB, Lehigh Sr., 6-3, 230 (Morristown, N.J./Morristown)
Colvin completed 19-of-31 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown and also ran for 11 yards and a score in No. 14/16 Lehigh's 35-14 win over Central Connecticut State on Saturday.

Brandon Wesley, QB, Bucknell Jr., 6-2, 190 (Plano, Texas/Plano East)
Wesley completed 20-of-27 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns in Bucknell's 19-17 win at Marist on Saturday.

Sam Loughery, LB, Lehigh Sr., 6-1, 215 (Glenshaw, Pa./Pitt Central Catholic)
Loughery had 11 tackles, including three for a loss, to lead a strong Lehigh defense in a 35-14 win over Central Connecticut State on Saturday.

Ryan Morgan, DB, Bucknell Jr., 5-11, 190 (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury)
Morgan had eight tackles and a fumble that he forced and returned 55 yards to set up Bucknell's first touchdown in a 19-17 win at Marist on Saturday.

Matt MacZura, K/P, Georgetown Jr., 6-2, 225 (Cranberry Township, Pa./Central Catholic)
MacZura made both of his field-goal attempts, including the game-winner from 35 yards out with 1:42 to play, in Georgetown's 13-10 win over Wagner on Saturday.