Henrico Times

CAA Football Weekly Awards - Sept. 12

CAA Football has announced its weekly award winners for Week 2 of the 2022 season. New Hampshire junior running back Dylan Laube and Monmouth sophomore running back Jaden Shirden shared Offensive Player of the Week honors, while William & Mary freshman cornerback Jalen Jones was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week. Elon sophomore punter Jeff Yurk was chosen as the Special Teams Player of the Week and Rhode Island freshman linebacker A.J. Pena was picked as the Rookie of the Week.

 

CAA Football Co-Offensive Player of the Week

Dylan Laube, Jr., RB, New Hampshire (Westhampton, N.Y./Westhampton Beach)

 

Laube set career-highs for rushing yards (202), carries (32) and TD’s (3) as New Hampshire edged CAA foe UAlbany, 28-23. The junior accounted for 60.6% of UNH’s offense and the rushing total was the most by a UNH back since 1998. Laube reached the end zone in three of the four quarters, capped by a 37-yard scoring run with 1:49 left.

 

CAA Football Co-Offensive Player of the Week

Jaden Shirden, So., RB, Monmouth (West Haven, Conn./Cheshire Academy)

 

Shirden rushed for a school-record 299 yards and two TD’s on only 12 carries in Monmouth’s 52-49 loss to Fordham. The 299 yards is the 8th-highest total in CAA history and the most by any FCS player this season. Shirden broke loose for a 95-yard TD run in the first quarter and followed with an 80-yard scoring run in the third period.

 

CAA Football Defensive Player of the Week

Jalen Jones, R-Fr., CB, William & Mary (Chesapeake, Va./Deep Creek)

 

Making his first career start, Jones recorded three interceptions, including a 33-yard pick six, as William & Mary beat Campbell, 37-21. The three interceptions were the most by a W&M player since 2009 and tied the highest total by any FCS player in 2022. Jones’ pick six put W&M ahead 31-14 in the third quarter and he sealed the win with an interception with 4:10 left. He added a tackle and two PBU’s.

CAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week

Jeff Yurk, So., P, Elon (Southern Pines, N.C./Pinecrest)

Yurk averaged 44.0 yards on five punts to help Elon record a 26-0 win at Wofford. The sophomore pinned Wofford inside the 15-yard line three times as the Phoenix posted its first shutout in five years. All five of Yurk’s punts traveled at least 41 yards and none of them were returned.

CAA Football Rookie of the Week

A.J. Pena, Fr., LB, Rhode Island (Branchburg, N.J./Somerville)

 

In the first significant action of his career, Pena recorded six tackles and 3.5 sacks in Rhode Island’s 35-21 victory at Bryant. The 3.5 sacks matched the second-highest total in Rams’ history and is third-highest among any FCS players this season. Pena led a URI defense that recorded a program-record 10 sacks and held Bryant to -7 yards rushing in the game.

Original source can be found here