SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards for all games played Oct. 15 on Monday. Furman running back Dominic Roberto was named the Offensive Player of the Week, while Paladin defensive tackle Matt Sochovka was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. Mercer cornerback Michael Campbell was named the Defensive Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Dominic Roberto, R-Jr., RB, Furman, Fayetteville, N.C.
Furman running back Dominic Roberto averaged more than a first down per touch in the Paladins’ 47-40 win over Western Carolina on Saturday, as he had 25 carries for 252 yards, both career highs. The redshirt junior from Fayetteville, North Carolina, ran for two touchdowns, housing a 62-yarder on Furman’s first drive and adding a 1-yard plunge early in the third quarter. Roberto also recorded his first career touchdown catch, a 20-yard reception in the first quarter. Roberto’s 252 rushing yards are the third-most by a player in Furman’s 117-year football history. He was also named the FedEx Ground FCS National Offensive Player of the Week by Stats Perform on Monday.
 
Other nominees: Fred Payton (Mercer), Ailym Ford (Chattanooga), Censere Lee (Western Carolina) and Jimmy Weirick (Wofford).
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Michael Campbell, Gr., CB, Mercer, Darien, Ga.
Mercer cornerback Michael Campbell had two tackles and his first career game with multiple interceptions as the Bears downed defending SoCon champion ETSU 55-33 on Saturday. The graduate student from Darien, Georgia, intercepted his first pass of the day in the second quarter, giving the Bears the ball at their own 21-yard line. Mercer would cash in for a touchdown on the following play to make it a 28-10. After picking up both of his tackles on the same drive in the fourth quarter, Campbell found the end zone himself with a 41-yard interception return for a touchdown with just 1:47 left in the contest to salt the game away.
 
Other nominees: Hasan Black (The Citadel), Chris Hope (ETSU), Jay Person (Chattanooga), Va Lealaimatafao (Western Carolina) and David Powers (Wofford).
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Matt Sochovka, Gr., DT, Furman, Fayetteville, N.C.
Furman defensive tackle Matt Sochovka played an integral role on special teams in Furman’s 47-40 win over Western Carolina on Saturday, blocking a pair of kicks. The graduate student from Fayetteville, North Carolina, picked up his first block of the day on the Catamounts’ first drive, swatting a 27-yard field-goal attempt. Two plays later, the Paladins took a 7-0 lead. With just 2:18 left in the contest and the Catamounts mounting a fourth-quarter rally, Sochovka struck again, blocking a point-after-touchdown attempt to crucially keep the score at 44-40 in Furman’s favor and ensuring that Western Carolina could not tie it with a field goal if it were to regain possession.
 
Other nominees: Tyler Keltner (ETSU) and Brandon Dickerson (Western Carolina).
 
2022 SoCon Football Players of the Week
Offensive
Sept. 5       Michael Hiers, Jr., QB, Samford
Sept. 12      Preston Hutchinson, Sr., QB, Chattanooga
Sept. 19      Preston Hutchinson, Sr., QB, Chattanooga
Sept. 26      Michael Hiers, Jr., QB, Samford
Oct. 3         Jaylan Thomas, Sr., RB, Samford
Oct. 10       Jacob Saylors, Sr., RB, ETSU
Oct. 17       Dominic Roberto, R-Jr., RB, Furman
 
Defensive
Sept. 5       Reuben Lowery III, So., DB, Chattanooga
Sept. 12      Chandler Martin, R-Fr., LB, ETSU
Sept. 19      Hugh Ryan, R-Jr., FS, Furman
Sept. 26      Isaiah Richardson, Sr., DB, Samford
Oct. 3         Nathan East, Gr., LB, Samford
Oct. 10       Isaac Dowling, So., LB, Mercer
Oct. 17       Michael Campbell, Gr., CB, Mercer
 
Special teams
Sept. 5       Richard McCollum, R-Jr., PK, Western Carolina
Sept. 12      Colby Kintner, Jr., K, The Citadel
Sept. 19      Ian Williams, R-So., PK, Furman
Sept. 26      Richard McCollum, R-Jr., PK, Western Carolina
Oct. 3         Tyler Keltner, Jr., K, ETSU
Oct. 10       Tyler Keltner, Jr., K, ETSU
Oct. 17       Matt Sochovka, Gr., DT, Furman