SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Monday, the Southern Conference announced its SoCon Football Players of the Week presented by GEICO for all games played March 13. Samford safety Chris Edmonds repeated as the Defensive Player of the Week and teammate Mitchell Fineran earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Western Carolina’s Donnavan Spencer was named the Offensive Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Donnavan Spencer, Western Carolina, Sr., RB, Charlotte, N.C.
Western Carolina running back Donnavan Spencer ran for a career-best 220 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 45 yards to amass a career-best 265 all-purpose yards as the Catamounts downed The Citadel 21-14 on Saturday for their first win of the season. The Charlotte, North Carolina, senior carried the ball 27 times in turning in the 15^th 200-yard rushing game in program history and the eighth-best individual performance. His 220 ground yards are the second-most by an FCS player this season. With 17 career rushing touchdowns, Spencer is now five away from entering Western Carolina’s top 10.
 
Other nominees: Nathan Storch (The Citadel), Devin Wynn (Furman), Ty King (Samford), Korey Bridy (VMI) and TJ Luther (Wofford).
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Chris Edmonds, Samford, So., S, Columbus, Ga.
Samford safety Chris Edmonds earned his second straight weekly honor after recording eight tackles (four solo, 1/2 for loss) and forcing a pair of second-half turnovers as the Bulldogs upset No. 20 Wofford, 37-31. With 2:59 left in the third quarter and the Terriers driving in Samford territory, Edmonds picked off a pass and returned it 22 yards to end the Wofford threat. Early in the fourth quarter, the sophomore from Columbus, Georgia, forced a fumble on a long Wofford run that a Bulldog teammate recovered, ending another Terrier threat. Samford would hang on to win its sixth straight over Wofford.
 
Other nominees: Anthony Britton (The Citadel), Donovan Manuel (ETSU), Darius Kearse (Furman), Stone Snyder (VMI), Ty Harris (Western Carolina) and Logan Barnes (Wofford).
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Mitchell Fineran, Samford, Jr., PK, Fort Valley, Ga.
Samford placekicker Mitchell Fineran accounted for 13 points in the Bulldogs’ 37-31 win over No. 20 Wofford on Saturday, highlighted by a 3-for-3 day in field-goal tries. In addition to going 4-for-4 on point-after attempts, the junior from Fort Valley, Georgia, connected on field goals of 41, 40 and 35 yards. His 41-yarder in the second quarter tied the game at 17, while his second two came in the fourth quarter, putting Samford ahead 37-24. Fineran also handled kickoff duties for the Bulldogs, averaging 54.1 yards with four touchbacks on eight kicks.
 
Other nominees: Ben Steele (The Citadel), Garrett Taylor (ETSU), Timmy Bleekrode (Furman), Jerry Rice (VMI), Paxton Robertson (Western Carolina) and Landon Parker (Wofford).
 
2020-21 SoCon Football Players of the Week
Offensive
Feb. 22             Quay Holmes, R-Jr., RB, ETSU
March 1            Liam Welch, Sr., QB, Samford
March 8            Ryan Miller, Jr., TE, Furman
March 15          Donnavan Spencer, Sr., RB, Western Carolina
 
Defensive
Feb. 22             Donovan Manuel, R-So., LB, ETSU
March 1            Connor Riddle, R-Sr., LB, VMI
March 8            Chris Edmonds, So., S, Samford
March 15          Chris Edmonds, So., S, Samford
 
Special teams
Feb. 22             Paxton Robertson, Fr., K, Western Carolina
March 1            Gabe Boring, Jr., P, Chattanooga
March 8            Timmy Bleekrode, R-So., PK/P, Furman
March 15          Mitchell Fineran, Jr., PK, Samford