TLU's Wade Freeman grabs second ASC Offensive Player of the Week award
SEGUIN, Texas -- Texas Lutheran sophomore quarterback Wade Freeman (Richmond/Bush) has been named the American Southwest Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season.
Freeman earned his second ASC award after accounting for four touchdowns in TLU's 59-21 Alumni & Family Weekend victory over Louisiana College. Freeman tossed three touchdowns (all to CJ Romero) and he rushed for another score.
Leading the Bulldogs to their fourth consecutive win and to a 4-0 mark in the ASC, Freeman completed all 13 of his passes. He also rushed for 72 yards on only six carries.
Freeman's TD passes to Romero went for five, 28 and 26 yards as TLU opened up a quick 21-0 lead just 12 seconds into the second quarter.
With the game in hand, Freeman only played in the first half. He ended the game with 173 passing yards and an average of 12.0 yards per rush.
Freeman and the Bulldogs head to Brownwood, Texas next Saturday for a 1 p.m. matchup with the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets.
AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Games: October 12, 2019
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Wade Freeman, QB, So., Texas Lutheran
Texas Lutheran sophomore quarterback Wade Freeman (Richmond, Texas) threw for three scores, completed all 13 of his passes, and rushed for 72 yards (on only six carries) and a score to lead the Bulldogs to a 59-21 win over Louisiana College. Freeman hit CJ Romero on scoring tosses of five, 28, and 26 yards as TLU opened a 21-0 lead with barely more than a quarter of play expired. Freeman only played in the first half, earning his second Player of the Week award of the season.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Akeem Jackson, LB, Jr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Mary Hardin-Baylor junior defensive end Akeem Jackson (Fairfield, Texas) had two interceptions and a forced fumble, all of which the No. 1/1 Cru turned into points in a 50-14 win against East Texas Baptist. He returned one of his interceptions 73 yards for a touchdown and added 10 total tackles, broke up a pass and had a half-tackle for loss.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Tavion Page, PR, Fr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Mary Hardin-Baylor freshman punt returner Tavion Page (Giddings, Texas) returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown in the No. 1/1 Cru's 50-14 victory over East Texas Baptist. He finished with 102 yards on three punt returns for a 34.0 average and also had a 14-yard kickoff return.
OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES
Offensive
Mary Hardin-Baylor freshman running back Robert McGrue (Beaumont, Texas) ran for a season-high 143 yards and a touchdown on just 17 carries in the No. 1/1 Cru's 50-14 win over East Texas Baptist. He averaged 8.4 yards per carry and had a long run of 28 yards.
Southwestern senior running back Devin Shaw (Lone Oak, Texas) led the Pirates with 116 yards with a touchdown on 12 carries in a 31-21 win over Belhaven. Shaw averaged 9.7 yards per carry.
Defensive
Texas Lutheran senior cornerback Kedrick Ward (Missouri City, Texas) intercepted two passes against Louisiana College as part of five turnovers gained by the Bulldog defense in a 59-21 win. Ward picked off a pass in the TLU endzone to stop the Wildcats' first drive of the game. He picked off another pass, this time at the TLU 18, in the second quarter. Both interceptions turned into TLU scoring drives.
Southwestern senior defensive back Hayden Smith (Katy, Texas) recorded seven tackles, six solo, with 4.5 for a loss of 17 yards in the Pirates' 31-21 victory at Belhaven.
Special Teams
Texas Lutheran sophomore kicker Juan Ocampo (Lockhart, Texas) was good on all eight of his extra points and made a 43-yard field goal in the Bulldogs' 59-21 victory over Louisiana College. The 43-yarder was just yard off his career-long made field goal, a 44-yarder made in 2018.