Cunningham named MSC Defensive Player of the Week

PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Despite the outcome of Saturday's 49-14 loss to Shorter College, Pikeville's Anson Cunningham had himself a terrific football game.

As a result, the 6-0, 200-pound senior linebacker was named the Mid-South Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

The Clinton, S.C., native finished Saturday's game with 10 tackles, all solos. He had two interceptions in the loss, equaling the number of passes caught by the Hawks on offense.

He also ran down a Hawk player to save a tackle in the second half to prevent another score.

“Anson knows one speed when he's on the football field and that is full-on,” said Coach Joe Johnson. “He doesn't know how to take a play off or go half-speed. He just goes all the time.”

As a result, Cunningham is closing in on the all-time record for tackles in a career at Pikeville College. He now has 234, leaving him 39 shy of the record established just last year by Kenny Harris of 273.

He will also enter Saturday's game at Faulkner (Ala.) University with 137 solo tackles, which is third all-time. But he has the leaders squarely in his sites – he is only three shy of All-American Antwan Marsh for second and four away from the record holder, which is also Harris, with 141.

With his two interceptions, Cunningham vaults into a tie for the conference lead in picks this season. Cunningham is tied for 16th in the MSC averaging 6.7 tackles per game.

Cunningham was joined in the honors this week by Belhaven University's Alex Williams and Bethel University's Patrick Cann.

Williams threw for 377 yards and five touchdown passes on Saturday to earn MSC Offensive Player of the Week. The Covington, La., sophomore quarterback, connected on 20-of-35 passes in the Blazers' 49-21 win over Lindsey Wilson College. Williams set season-highs in passing yards, touchdown passes and total yards (392) in the win.

Williams leads the MSC in total offense per game (319 yards), passing yards per game (386) and touchdown passes (11). He leads the NAIA in total offense (1,276 yards) and total passing yards (1,144) through four games this season.

Belhaven improved to 3-1 on the season with the win. The Blazers have a week off before hosting MSC West Division rival Bethel University on Oct. 2 in Jackson, Miss.

Cann returned a kickoff for a touchdown on Saturday to earn MSC Special Teams Player of the Week. The Eloy, Ariz., native, returned four kickoffs for an average of 43.8 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown return that put the Wildcats ahead for good in Bethel's 37-31 win over West Virginia University Tech.

This season, Cann is sixth in the MSC with a 23.7-yard kickoff return average. His 261 total kickoff yards ranks eighth in the NAIA. His 75-yard return is a season long.

Bethel improved to 1-2 on the season with the win. The Wildcats host University of the Cumberlands on Saturday, Sept. 25, in both the MSC West Division opener for both teams.

Cunningham and the Bears will return to action on Saturday when they travel to Montgomery, Ala., to play Faulkner University.

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