SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its Football Player of the Week awards for all games played Nov. 5 on Monday. Samford quarterback Michael Hiers was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Chattanooga defensive back Reuben Lowery III was named the Defensive Player of the Week and VMI placekicker Jerry Rice was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
 
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Michael Hiers, Jr, QB, Samford, Birmingham, Ala.
Samford quarterback Michael Hiers claimed his fourth weekly honor of the season after throwing for 322 yards and four touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ 34-15 win over VMI on Saturday. The junior from Birmingham, Alabama, was 30-for-38 through the air, completing 78.9 percent of his passes on the day to assume the FCS lead in completion percentage this season at 76.4. Hiers threw scoring strikes of 2, 49, 70 and 13 yards on the afternoon, with his 70-yard bomb at the end of the third quarter putting Samford ahead for good and accounting for the Bulldogs’ longest play from scrimmage this season.
 
Other nominees: Ailym Ford (Chattanooga), Desmond Reid (Western Carolina) and Jimmy Weirick (Wofford).
 
 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Reuben Lowery III, So., DB, Chattanooga, Powder Springs, Ga.
Chattanooga defensive back Reuben Lowery III had nine tackles (eight solo) and a fumble recovery as the Mocs downed The Citadel 31-21 on Saturday. His first-quarter fumble recovery, one of two for UTC on the day, gave the Mocs the ball deep in The Citadel territory and led to a field goal for Chattanooga’s first points of the day. Lowery, who found out on game day that he was moving from slot to safety due to a flu outbreak on the team, added an 8-yard sack, the first of his career, that effectively ended the game, giving the ball back to Chattanooga on downs with 1:18 to play. The weekly award is Lowery’s second of the season.
 
Other nominees: Noah Martin (Samford), Taurus Dotson (Western Carolina) and David Powers (Wofford).
 
 
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jerry Rice, R-Jr., PK, VMI, Daleville, Va.
VMI placekicker Jerry Rice matched his own shared school record with five field goals made in the Keydets’ 34-15 loss to No. 10 Samford on Saturday. The redshirt junior converted from 34, 36, 39 and 36 yards in the first half, staking VMI to an early 9-0 lead and a 12-7 halftime advantage. Rice added a 38-yarder in the third quarter to match the program record for makes in a game that he already shared with Craig Jones. The five made field goals, which accounted for all of VMI’s scoring on the day, are one shy of the SoCon’s single-game record. Now with 189 career points to his credit, Rice is second all-time at VMI for a kicker.
 
Other nominees: Bradley Porcellato (Samford), Aaron Sears (Chattanooga) and Richard McCollum (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
Oct. 24       Michael Hiers, Jr., QB, Samford
Oct. 31       Jimmy Weirick, 5^th, QB, Wofford
Nov. 7        Michael Hiers, Jr., QB, Samford
 
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
Oct. 24       Kameron Brown, Jr., DB, Chattanooga
Oct. 31       Hugh Ryan, R-Jr., FS, Furman
Nov. 7        Reuben Lowery III, So., DB, Chattanooga
 
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
Oct. 24       Zach Williams, Sr., K, Samford
Oct. 31       Devron Harper, Jr., WR, Mercer
Nov. 7        Jerry Rice, R-Jr., PK, VMI