The South Atlantic Conference Announces Astroturf SAC Football Players of the Week, Oct. 30 | WATCH

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The South Atlantic Conference announced its AstroTurf  SAC Football Players of the Week for games the ninth week of the season.  Catawba quarterback Patrick O'Brien was tabbed the Offensive Player of the Week, while No. 16 Wingate linebacker Zack Singleton was named the Defensive Player of the Week.  Bulldog return man BJ Muckelvene picked up Special Teams Player of the Week.

O'Brien, a senior from Mooresville, N.C., threw for 403 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Catawba Indians to a 45-28 come-from-behind win over Limestone on Oct. 28.  He became just the fourth Catawba Indian to eclipse the 400-yard mark as he connected on 26-of-36 passes to finish the contest with a 72-percent competition clip and an efficiency rating of 202.9.  He finished the contest with no interceptions, while three of his touchdown strikes came in the second half.  The award is his first Offensive Player of the Week selection this season.

Singleton, a senior from Germanton, N.C., scored his first career touchdown as he took a 49-yard interception to the house in Wingate's 44-20 win over Newberry on Oct. 28.  He also posted nine tackles in the contest, including a tackle for loss.  Singleton recovered a fumble in the contest as the Bulldogs moved to 8-0 for the first time in Wingate's NCAA era, while the win clinched at least a share of the 2017 South Atlantic Conference football crown.  The honor marks his first Defensive Player of the Week nod this season.

Muckelvene, a sophomore from Waxhaw, N.C., currently leads the nation with three punt returns for a score as he took a first quarter punt back 85 yards for a score in the win over the Wolves.  His score put the Navy and Vegas Gold up 21-0 with 2:45 left in the frame.  Muckelvene also added two kickoff returns for 28 yards to go along with three punt returns for an average of 28.3 yards per punt return.  The plaudit is his third Special Teams Player of the Week honor this season.

2017 AstroTurf SAC Football Players of the Week

Offensive Player of the Week
Sept. 5 - David Salmon, Mars Hill
Sept. 11 - Sam Mobley, Catawba
Sept. 18 - Keshaun Taylor, Mars Hill
Sept. 25 - Markell Castle, Newberry
Oct. 2 - D'Anta Fleming, Limestone
Oct. 9 - Markell Castle, Newberry
Oct. 16 - Alex Ogle, Tusculum
Oct. 23 - DJ Phillips, Limestone
Oct. 30 - Patrick O'Brien, Catawba

Defensive Player of the Week
Sept. 5 - Kyle Kitchens, Catawba
Sept. 11 - Robbie Wallace, Wingate
Sept. 18 - Auntrell Mack, Wingate AND Matt Simon, Tusculum
Sept. 25 - Matthew Ellis-White, Wingate
Oct. 2 - Montel Presley, Carson-Newman
Oct. 9 - Desmond Fairell, Carson-Newman
Oct. 16 - Landon Scott, Lenoir-Rhyne
Oct. 23 - Joey Felder, Limestone
Oct. 30 - Zack Singleton, Wingate

Special Teams Player of the Week
Sept. 5 - B.J. Muckelvene, Wingate 
Sept. 11 - Isaac Gallegos, Tusculum AND Chance Walker, Newberry 
Sept. 18 - B.J. Muckelvene, Wingate
Sept. 25 - Freddy McCollum, Wingate
Oct. 2 - Nick Smith, Limestone
Oct. 9 Shea Rodgers, Newberry
Oct. 16 - Hunter Cantrell
Oct. 23 - Lee Brackman, Catawba
Oct. 30 - BJ Muckelvene, Wingate