CIAA Announces Football Weekly Honors #3


FOOD LION OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK


#51 Antavious Zachery, Shaw
(So, OL – Lithonia, GA)


Zachery helped the Shaw offense produce 487 yards of total offense, including 299 yards on the ground, and average nearly seven yards per play in their win over Central State. The sophomore from Lithonia, GA and his linemates didn’t give up a sack and the Bears put up 52 points, which is the most points scored by a team in the CIAA this season.  


FOOD LION QUARTERBACK OF THE WEEK


#18 Bryce Witt, Chowan
(Sr, QB – Sutherland, VA)


Witt completed 22 of 33 passes for 405 yards and tied his own school record with seven touchdowns while adding 20 yards on the ground in the Hawks 49-19 win over Erskine College. The senior signal-caller has thrown for 910 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 317 yards of total offense, all of which lead the conference this season. 

FOOD LION RECEIVER OF THE WEEK


#1 Imeek Watkins, Chowan
(SR, WR – Wilmington, NC)


Watkins caught five passes for 64 yards with four of his catches resulting in touchdowns in the Hawks 49-19 win over Erskine College. The senior wideout’s single-game touchdown total is the most in the conference this season by a non-quarterback. 

FOOD LION OFFENSIVE BACK OF THE WEEK


#7 Jada Byers, Virginia Union
(Fr, RB – Hammonton, NJ)


Byers had a game-high 201 rushing yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns in the Panthers 49-7 win over Virgina Lynchburg. The Hammonton, NJ native also caught one pass for 11 yards to earn Offensive MVP honors in his first Willard Bailey Classic. 


FOOD LION DEFENSIVE BACK OF THE WEEK


#15 Marquis Hamilton, Virginia Union
(Gr, DB – Washington, DC)


Hamilton picked off two passes, returning one for 16 yards that led to a Virginia Union touchdown in their 49-7 win over Virginia Lynchburg. The Washington, DC native also registered a tackle on his way to being named Defensive MVP of the Willard Bailey Classic. 


FOOD LION LINEBACKER OF THE WEEK


#6 Ta’Shaun Taylor, Winston-Salem State
(Sr, LB – Durham, NC)


Taylor led his team with 10 tackles and tied for the game-high with eight solos against FCS-DI North Carolina Central. The senior from Durham, NC also had a pass breakup and an assisted on a tackle for loss.

FOOD LION DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK


#3 Rafiq Abdul-Wahid, Chowan
(Sr, DL – Baltimore, MD) 


Abdul-Wahid posted five tackles with two and a half sacks in Chowan’s 49-19 win over Erskine. The senior from Baltimore, MD also forced a fumble and registered a quarterback hurry while leading a defensive front that allowed just 21 yards rushing. 





FOOD LION SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK


#80 Devin Versteegen, Shaw
(Fr, K – Rolesville, NC) 


Versteegen delivered 10 of the 52 points scored by Shaw in their shut out win over Central State. The freshman from Rolesville, NC hit on all seven of his PAT attempts and added a 23-yard field goal, producing the highest single-game point total by a CIAA kicker this season.

FOOD LION ROOKIE OF THE WEEK


#7 Raevon Freeman, Elizabeth City State
(Fr, DL – Matthews, NC)


Freeman posted six tackles, including four solos, and two sacks against FCS-DI Norfolk State. The first-year defensive lineman also forced two fumbles and had a fumble recovery while also registering a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.