McNeese’s Tabary, SFA’s Ward and Nicholls’ Fonseca voted Southland players of the week

FRISCO, Texas – McNeese quarterback James Tabary, Stephen F. Austin defensive back Alize Ward and Nicholls placekicker Lorran Fonseca were named Southland Conference Football Players of the Week, the league announced Monday.

Tabary was named Offensive Player of the Week while Ward garnered defensive honors and Fonseca was voted Special Teams Player of the Week.

Southland Players of the Week are presented by UniversalCoin.com.

All three teams’ upcoming week four matchups are slated for 6 p.m. kickoffs on Saturday. McNeese (2-1, 0-1 SLC) hosts Houston Baptist (1-2, 0-1 SLC) in Lake Charles. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Southwest Plus and Fox College Sports. Nicholls (2-1, 1-0 SLC) heads to Huntsville to take on Sam Houston State (2-0, 0-0 SLC) on ESPN3 and Stephen F. Austin (1-2, 1-0 SLC) hits the road to face Abilene Christian (1-2, 1-0 SLC).

Offensive Player of the Week: James Tabary, McNeese – Jr. – Quarterback – New Orleans, La.
Tabary threw for 322 yards and four touchdowns, including a 33-yard score with 26 seconds to play, to lift McNeese to a 34-27 win over Alcorn State. The 322 yards and four touchdowns are season-highs as he completed 25 of 36 passes. He set a new McNeese career record with his fifth 300-yard passing game in his career.

Honorable Mention: Jared West, Northwestern State; Foster Sawyer, Stephen F. Austin; Derek Mitchell, UIW.

Defensive Player of the Week: Alize Ward, Stephen F. Austin – So. – Defensive Back – San Diego, Calif.
Ward had one of the best plays in SFA football history – a 70-yard, game-winning interception return for a touchdown. Following a timeout and on a third-and-six with 16 seconds remaining, Ward picked off UIW’s flea flicker attempt and returned it down the sideline for a touchdown with time expired. It was only Ward’s second interception of his career and first takeaway by the Lumberjack defense this season. The play checked in at No. 3 on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays of the night. He also posted the second-most tackles for the Lumberjacks (10), notched two pass breakups and a tackle for loss.

Honorable Mention: Raphael Garner, Central Arkansas; Kenny Dotson, Nicholls; Obinna Iheoma, Northwestern State.

Special Teams Player of the Week: Lorran Fonseca, Nicholls – Jr. – Placekicker – Hercules, Calif.
Fonseca continued the strong start to his career at Nicholls by connecting on 47- and 49-yard field goals in the Colonels’ win over Prairie View A&M. Fonseca’s 40-yarders were season-longs as he improved to 5-for-5 on field goals on the year. He was also 5-for-5 in extra points and booted four touchbacks, giving him nine for the season.

Honorable Mention: Simon Laryea, Abilene Christian; Joe Zema, UIW; Hayden Ray, Central Arkansas.

Southland weekly award winners are nominated and voted upon by each school’s sports information director. Voting for one’s own athlete is not permitted. To earn honorable mention, a student-athlete must appear on 25 percent of ballots.