Newberry Sweeps SAC Weekly Honors

NEWBERRY, S.C. (NC SID) — Newberry College quarterback W.T. Murden (West Columbia, S.C.) has been named the South Atlantic Conference Offensive Player of the Week, and Wolves defensive lineman Alstevis Squirewell (Great Falls, S.C.) has been named the SAC Defensive Player of the Week as announced by the league office Monday. Murden, a sophomore from Airport High School, completed 27-of-42 passes for 331 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions in Newberry’s 35-28 conference-opening win over Catawba. He averaged 7.9 yards per attempt and 12.3 yards per completion. His 27 completions went to 11 different receivers and he found three different targets for touchdowns. Murden hit Jason Livingston (Conway, S.C.) for touchdowns of 16 and 61 yards, Corey Washington (North Charleston, S.C.) for a 20-yard score and Byron Dickerson (Atlanta, Ga.) for a 27-yard touchdown. He also had three carries for 13 yards. Murden was not sacked in the game, meaning the Newberry offensive line has now allowed only two sacks in the last 15 games. He is currently tied for the SAC’s best touchdown-to-interception ratio at plus-five, and is the only qualified quarterback not to be sacked this season. He is Newberry’s first offensive player of the week since the record-breaking performances of Brandon Bostick and Bryan Ehrlich against Tusculum in October 2010. Squirewell, a redshirt freshman, sealed the Wolves’ 35-28 win over Catawba with a 41-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. He also had three tackles and a tackle for loss in the game. The pick six was his second score of the season, as he also returned a blocked PAT for two points in the win over Elizabeth City State. His interception was one of five in the game for the Wolves. Former Ridge View High School standout Brian Spencer (Columbia, S.C.) had two interceptions while Taniel Massey (Lancaster, S.C.) and Lance Richardson (Ware Shoals, S.C.) each had a pick. Spencer is now tied for the league lead with three interceptions on the season. Squirewell is Newberry’s second SAC Defensive Player of the Week this season, following in the footsteps of former Ridge View High School standout Apollo Stretch (Columbia, S.C.) on week one. With the win over Catawba, Newberry is the only 3-0 team in Super Region Two and one of only two undefeated teams in the region. The Wolves will host the other undefeated team in 2-0 Carson-Newman at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Visit newberrywolves.com for the latest news and info on Newberry College Athletics.