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Lehigh's Boyko Named National FCS Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 25, 2012
Sports Network FCS Players of the Week (Sept. 24) CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - Lehigh senior linebacker Billy Boyko has been named National Defensive Player of the Week by two top FCS media outlets after his outstanding performance to help the Mountain Hawks to a 28-26 win at Liberty on Saturday. Boyko was first honored by The Sports Network on Monday, and took home another national honor on Tuesday when he was selected by College Sports Journal/GameWornUniforms.com. Boyko picked up additional regional honors when he was named the Defensive Player of the Week by both the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and Metropolitan New York Football Writers Association (MNYFWA). Georgetown junior Matt MacZura was named the Special Teams Player of the Week by each organization after booting the game-winning 33-yard field goal with 14 seconds left in the Hoyas' 21-20 win at Princeton on Friday. Boyko, who was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week earlier in the day, had 14 tackles, a sack and one huge interception that he returned 39 yards for a touchdown to lead Lehigh to a 28-26 victory at Liberty on Saturday. The tackle total marked a career high and the interception was a career first, coming in the fourth quarter to give Lehigh a 28-20 lead and serve as the game-winning score. Boyko helped the Mountain Hawks extend the nation's longest regular-season winning streak to 13, and Lehigh moved up to No. 11 in the FCS Coaches Poll and No. 15 The Sports Network top 25 on Monday. Lehigh will take on Fordham in its Patriot League opener on Saturday, with the Mountain Hawks carrying a 14-game win streak against League opponents into the contest.
A full list of Patriot League football student-athletes that have received national or regional FCS weekly honors in 2012 is included below. Week 4 (Games of Sept. 20-22) Week 3 (Games of Sept. 13-15) Week 2 (Games of Sept. 6-8) Week 1 (Games of Aug. 30-Sept. 1) |
