Football Southern Conference

SoCon Football Players of the Week, Sept. 2, 2002

SPARTANBURG, SC - The Southern Conference today named its football players of the week for games played on Saturday, August 31. Wofford quarterback Jeff Zolman earned Offensive Player of the Week honors while Western Carolina's Rod Dunlap was the Defensive Player of the Week and VMI's Donnie Johnston was the Freshman of the Week.

Zolman, a 6-1, 190-pound sophomore from Dayton, OH, came off the bench to rush six times for 106 yards in the Terriers' 48-0 win over Newberry. Zolman scored on an 82-yard touchdown run and also completed four of six passes for 49 yards. He led Wofford to scores on three of his four drives in the first half.

Dunlap, a 6-1, 225-pound junior middle linebacker from Winston-Salem, NC, helped Western Carolina open its season with a 23-3 win at Liberty. Dunlap had 10 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception. His forced fumble led to a Catamount field goal and a 3-0 lead early in the game. Dunlap's interception came on Liberty's first drive of the second half and also set up a field goal. He picked up a sack and a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter.

Johnston, a 6-7, 260-pound freshman tight end from Mechanicsville, VA, had a touchdown reception and a crucial two-point conversion reception in the Keydets' 27-24 win at Charleston Southern. An offensive tackle throughout preseason camp, Johnston was switched to tight end just a week before the season opener. Johnson had a 12-yard reception for a score midway through the second quarter.

Also receiving consideration offensively were VMI kicker Matt Sharpe who booted a 35-yard field goal to beat Charleston Southern, 27-24, and Western Carolina running back Manny De Shauteurs who had 91 yards rushing on 24 carries. Defensively, Chattanooga linebacker Josh Cain had 15 tackles against West Virginia; Appalachian State's John Mannino had a pair of sacks against Marshall, and ETSU defender Tony Tiller had an acrobatic interception against North Carolina State. Other top freshmen performers included Wofford's Corey Dunn who had 72 yards on nine carries against Newberry and Georgia Southern's Jermaine Austin who carried 13 times for 73 yards and a touchdown against Delaware.