COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Elliott named nation’s Dodd Coach of the Week
Officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. announced that Virginia’s Tony Elliott was selected as the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week after a 46-38 upset of then-No. 8 Florida State.
“Coach Elliott and the Cavaliers showed tremendous poise and resilience in a high-pressure matchup,” said Jim Terry, Chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation. “Their ability to upset a top-10 opponent in such dramatic fashion reflects the leadership, character and preparation that the Dodd Trophy represents.”
Also, Virginia was named the nation’s “Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Team of the Week” by the Football Writers Association of America for the third time. The last time came when the Cavaliers won 31-27 at No. 10 North Carolina in October 2023.
Meanwhile, three Cavaliers gained weekly honors from the Atlantic Coast Conference: Chandler Morris (quarterback), Mitchell Melton (defensive lineman) and Ja’son Prevard (defensive back). Also honored, as the Specialist of the Week, was Virginia Tech kicker John Love after the Hokies’ 23-21 triumph at North Carolina State.
NSU’s Chapman takes MEAC award for defense
Norfolk State defensive back Corey Chapman received Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week accolades.
Chapman, a 5-foot-11 redshirt senior from Chesapeake, registered nine tackles in Saturday’s loss at Wagner, including six solo stops. He also made one of two interceptions by the Spartans.
JMU gains 2 honors from Sun Belt
James Madison linebacker Trent Hendrick was selected as the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week, while safety Curtis Harris-Lopez was the Special Teams Player of the Week after the Dukes’ 35-10 victory over Georgia Southern.
Hendrick led JMU with career highs of 11 tackles and three sacks, forcing a fumble and breaking up a pass. Harris-Lopez’s first kickoff return for JMU went for an 88-yard touchdown for a 21-3 lead.
Liberty LB named Campbell semifinalist
Graduate student Joseph Carter, Liberty’s defensive leader the last two seasons, was named a semifinalist for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy. It is considered college football premier scholar-athlete award. He has a 3.60 grade-point average and was a second-team All-Conference USA linebacker last season.
CNU moves into Division III top 25s
After beating then-No. 13 Susquehanna on Saturday, Christopher Newport (3-0) entered the d3football.com Top 25 at No. 23, one spot ahead of Hampden-Sydney and two places ahead of Susquehanna.
In the American Football Coaches Association D-III poll, Hampden-Sydney is 21st and CNU 24th. Randolph-Macon received votes for both surveys.
Meanwhile, two Captains earned New Jersey Athletic Conference honors. Connor Barry, who was 17 of 30 for 374 yards and three touchdowns, was the Offensive Player of the Week. Former Granby High star Drevyon Tharrington, who led the Captains with 57 yards on nine carries and caught a 6-yard pass, was the Rookie of the Week.
In the AFCA Division II poll, Virginia Union (3-1) rose three spots to No. 18 after trouncing Shaw 59-7.
Former Old Dominion coach Bobby Wilder’s Tennessee Tech team was ranked 11th in this week’s Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and ninth in the coaches’ poll, both of which feature No. 1 North Dakota State and No. 2 South Dakota State. No team from Virginia is among the 25, though Richmond received votes in both polls.
ODU, JMU, VT learn Oct. 11 kickoff times
Kickoff times and video coverage for numerous Oct. 11 games were announced. Old Dominion will play at Marshall at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+, after James Madison’s noon home game against Louisiana on ESPN2.
In the ACC, Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech will be at 3:30 on the ACC Network.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S SOCCER
CNU’s Sidaway takes 8th C2C award
Christopher Newport junior goalkeeper Amy Sidaway was named the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the fifth time in a row a Captain has taken that honor and the 24th of the last 27. It’s Sidaway’s eighth such honor.
CNU (7-0-2), ranked third in Division III, shut out Catholic 1-0 as Sidaway posted her 27th shutout and improved her record to 40-2-6. She has a 0.34 goals-against average and .893 save percentage.
