RICHARDSON, Texas –– Mary Hardin-Baylor senior running back Jarvis Thrasher, Howard Payne senior running back Zach Howard, East Texas Baptist freshman defensive back Darius Roberts and Louisiana College freshman kick returner Jordan Rideaux have earned national player of the week honors for games played on Oct. 20.
The three players – Thrasher, Howard and Roberts – is a season-high for the ASC named to the D3Football.com Team of the Week. Thrasher was also named to Don Hansen’s Player of the Week honor roll along with Rideaux. The ASC has had 14 players earn national team of the week recognition and has had at least one representative on a national list each of the first eight weeks of the season.
Thrasher set UMHB and ASC records for single-game rushing yardage and did not carry the ball after the 7:03 mark of the third quarter. He finished with 324 yards on only 12 carries (27.0 ypc) and also set a school record with four rushing touchdowns. Thrasher paired with Quincy Daniels, set an NCAA All-Division record for combined rushing yardage between two teammates at 523 yards.
Howard scored the winning touchdown in overtime to give Howard Payne the 48-47 victory over Hardin-Simmons. His 117 yards rushing is the first time this season a Howard Payne has rushed for over 100. Howard also added four rushing TDs to his performance.
Thrasher and Howard accounted for both allotted spots for running backs on the D3Football.com list.
Roberts had a team-high nine tackles (four solo), a pass break up, and a forced fumble that came late in the fourth quarter to preserve a 27-23 road win over Louisiana College. With the Tigers leading only 27-21, Roberts stripped the ball away from LC receiver Taylor Huffman at the 2-yard line and it was recovered in the end zone by ETBU.
Rideaux got his team on the scoreboard for the first time against East Texas Baptist with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Rideaux, who racked up 161 yards on five returns in the narrow loss, now has two TD returns on the season – something only two other players have done once in the ASC this season.
For complete lists:
D3Football.com
Don Hansen