Nicholls’ Lindsey Scott Jr. and Dontaze Costly among Southland football players of week

Colonels’ Scott Jr., Costly combine for seven scores in rout of UIW; Ruffin records seven stops, interception

FRISCO, Texas – Nicholls’ Lindsey Scott Jr. and Dontaze Costly, along with Lamar’s Anthony Ruffin, are the Southland Football Players of the Week, the league announced Monday. Weekly awards are presented by Hercules Tires.

Scott garners Offensive Player of the Week recognition after totaling six touchdowns and 345 yards of total offense in a 75-45 rout of then-No. 13 UIW, and Costly recorded the first kick return for a touchdown by a Colonel since 2013 to earn Special Teams Player of the Week honors. The Colonels (4-1, 3-1 SLC) next take on McNeese at noon CT on Saturday.

Ruffin is honored as the Defensive Player of the Week after tallying a team-high seven tackles and an interception in the Cardinals’ 31-23 win over Northwestern State. Lamar (2-3, 2-3 SLC) wraps up the regular season against No. 25 Southeastern Louisiana at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Offensive Player of the Week: Lindsey Scott Jr., Nicholls – Senior – Quarterback – Zachary, La.
Scott led the Colonels to eight touchdowns on their first eight offensive drives in a 75-point showing against UIW. He threw only four incompletions (17-for-21), racking up 264 yards passing and tied the school’s single-game record with five TD passes. He also added 81 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.

Honorable Mention: Scooter Adams, Northwestern State; Jalen Dummett, Lamar.

Defensive Player of the Week: Anthony Ruffin, Lamar – Sophomore – Defensive Back – Houma, La.
Ruffin led the Cardinals with a team-high seven tackles and picked off one of three passes on the afternoon, which helped Lamar jump out to an insurmountable first half lead against the Demons. With NSU threatening in Cardinal territory, he intercepted Kaleb Fletcher at the goal line and returned it 27 yards to set up LU’s second scoring drive.

Honorable Mention: None.

Special Teams Player of the Week: Dontaze Costly, Nicholls – Junior – Wide Receiver – Vacherie, La.
Costly scored three touchdowns in the Colonels’ win over ranked No. 13-ranked UIW, highlighted by a 90-yard kick return for a TD in the second quarter. Despite initially mishandling the ball at the 10, he gathered it, weaved through defenders and outraced another down the sideline for the first Colonel kick return TD since 2013.

Honorable Mention: Enrique Carmona, Lamar.

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.

2021 Southland Spring Football Players of the Week
March 29 – Lindsey Scott Jr., Nicholls; Anthony Ruffin, Lamar; Dontaze Costly, Nicholls
March 22 – Cameron Ward, UIW; Isaiah Chambers, McNeese; Jequez Ezzard, Sam Houston
March 15 – Jequez Ezzard, Sam Houston; Jahari Kay, Sam Houston; Ferlando Jordan, Southeastern Louisiana
March 8 – Kevin Brown, UIW; Ferlando Jordan, Southeastern Louisiana; Mateo Rengifo, Southeastern Louisiana
March 1 – Eric Schmid, Sam Houston; Hayden Shaheen, Nicholls; Ce’Cori Tolds
Feb. 22 – Cody Orgeron, McNeese; Dellary Oubre, Nicholls; Jacob Abel, McNeese