Heading into week six, the Southland Conference houses some of the best student athletes in the country. Every team has at least one elite player that rises to the occasion, but few teams have elites players that can become a difference-maker. In 2022, a couple of big upsets recently has changed the trajectory of where teams are at in the Southland. It takes a special player to see the ins and outs of winning and preparing for games to truly be elite. These five have tore up the Southland so far this season and which ones to keep an eye on as the season progresses. In no particular order, here is my take of the Top 5 in the Southland.
Incarnate Word QB Lindsey Scott Jr.
Since the time he captured a state championship for Zachary High School, Scott can slice and dice any team in a dominant way. At Nicholls, he ranked sixth all-time in career passing yards (3,767) in just 18 games played and led the Southland in rushing yards with 990 in the 2021 season. With UIW, Scott in five games has 1,778 passing yards and 141 rushing yards with only two interceptions.
Scott walked into the end zone on two separate drives to score the first 14 points of the game. The first touchdown came just three minutes in. UIW brought a Lamar Jackson-type offense when former quarterback Cameron Ward went under center for the Cardinals. Now, with Scott under center, the scheme stays the same and has worked well so far this season. Expect to see Scott in the FCS playoffs and possibly Sundays in the near future.
Northwestern State WR Javon Antonio
This week, Antonio was named Louisiana Sports Writers Association and Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week in the win against Nicholls. A big part of Northwestern State’s win over Nicholls was credit to Antonio’s two touchdowns and a two-point conversion—all with 3:17 left to go in the game. Antonio has recorded 100 or more receiving yards in back-to-back games for the second time in his NSU career and has five 100-yard performances in 10 career games.
Antonio produced his second straight game with nine catches, at least 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Both of his scores came in the final 1:34 of the game as the Demons erased a 12-point deficit in an 89-second span. Antonio’s 27-yard touchdown grab pulled Northwestern State within five points and his 3-yard score with 9 seconds left and ensuing 2-point conversion catch capped the Demons’ first win against Nicholls since 2015.
HCU LB Rodney Dansby
Dansby was selected Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week, as announced by the league office Monday. Houston Christian University (HCU), formerly Houston Baptist University (HBU), underwent a name change in September 2022. After leading the conference in tackles as a true freshman last season, Dansby ranks third in the league and is tied for 14th nationally, averaging 10.0 tackles per game.
Dansby tied for the HCU team lead with 11 tackles and returned a fumble for a touchdown in the Huskies’ 37-34 win over Lamar. With the game scoreless through the first quarter, Dansby scooped up a fumble and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown for the first score of the game early in the second quarter. The Huskies followed with another fumble return for a touchdown on Lamar’s next possession.
SLU WR CJ Turner
In the win against UIW to open SLC play, CJ Turner ran down a 59-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Eli Sawyer on the game’s final play. His 100-yard receiving game was the 10th of his career, tying the school record set by teammate Austin Mitchell. His two scoring receptions give him 22 in his career, which tied him with Southeastern Athletics Hall of Famer Felton Huggins for third in school history. Last season, he finished with 27 catches for 464 yards and five touchdowns before suffering season-ending injury after six games. He also finished season among program’s career leaders in receiving yards (2,383, 3rd), receptions (185, 3rd), receiving touchdowns (19, 4th) and 100-yard receiving games (9, 2nd).
Northwestern State QB Zachary Clement
- Photo by Chris Reich/NSU Photographic Services
In his last start against Nicholls, Clement helped drive Northwestern State to run 19 plays for 120 yards and tallied 15 points. A Swiss Army knife the Demons needed, it took Clement with 3:17 on the clock to secure the Demons’ first 2-0 start since 2005. Clement earned Louisiana Sports Writers Association Offensive Player of the Week honors after a four-touchdown performance in the Demons’ 35-27 Southland Conference-opening win against Lamar on September 24. Clement threw for a career-high 366 yards and equaled his career high with three touchdown passes. The 366 yards place Clement seventh in NSU’s single-game passing yardage list and stand as the second-highest total produced by a Demon quarterback at Turpin Stadium.
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