Edythe Y. Bradley
An
Albany State University Golden Rams football player has been selected
for player of the week honors by the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference (SIAC).Junior offensive lineman Norris Byrd was named Offensive Lineman of the Week after his stellar performance against the Savannah State University Tigers on Saturday, Sept. 25. The Golden Rams defeated the Tigers 28-14 in the inaugural “Rumble in the Swamp” classic in Waycross, Ga.
Byrd, an Atlanta, Ga. native, anchored the "Gold Rush" offensive line which allowed the Golden Rams to gain 465 yards of total offense, including 291 rushing yards and 174 passing yards in the win over Savannah State. He graded out at 91 percent.
Four other Golden Rams received honorable mention recognitions for their performances against the Tigers. Sophomore running back Kareem Hess rushed for 76 yards on three carries, including a 35-yard touchdown run, and averaged 25.3 yards per carry. Senior linebacker Ernest Seay led the ASU "Dirty Blue" defense with 10 tackles, including six solos, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Freshman receiver Orion Ponder racked up 130 all-purpose yards, including two receptions for 29 yards. He also had five punt returns for 40 yards, and two kickoff returns for 61 yards with a long return of 40 yards. Freshman kicker Brandon Hamilton kicked four successful PATs and recorded 277 yards on five kicks, an average of 55.4 yards per kick.
The Golden Rams will meet the Lane College Dragons on Saturday, Oct. 2, in Albany, Ga. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at the Albany State University Coliseum.