[bozlady]

Jennings And Rocco Named Big South Player of the Week

September 25, 2006
Lynchburg, Va.



Running back Rashad Jennings has been named the Choice Hotels Big South Offensive Player of the Week, while defensive back Chris Rocco has been named the Big South Freshman of the Week honoring both players’ efforts in Liberty’s shutout victory over Savannah State this past weekend.

Jennings (R-So., RB, Forest, Va.) rushed for a season-high 194 yards on 21 carries at Savannah State. He recorded three rushing touchdowns for the second time this season and averaged 9.2 yards per rush, which is his second-best yards per carry average of the year.

Jennings broke two 50-yard runs in the game – a 53-yard touchdown scamper in the second quarter and a season-best 57-yard run in the third quarter that eventually led to a touchdown. He also became the first player in Big South history to rush for three touchdowns in a game twice in a season since Sam Gado in 2004, and has tied a league record in reaching 500 rushing yards (542) in just four games.

Jennings rushing performance pushed him back inside the nation’s top five rushing list as he ranks fifth in the nation by averaging 135.5 rushing yards per game, while also ranking fifth in the nation in scoring as he is averaging 12.0 points scored per game.

Rocco (Fr., DB, Forest, Va.) recorded four tackles, including three solo stops, in his first career start at Savannah State. He added an assisted tackle for loss (2 yards), an interception (three yard return) and another pass break-up on the night in recording his first collegiate statistics.

His second quarter interception stopped the Tigers from entering Liberty territory and helped the Flames post their second shutout of the year. Liberty currently ranks first in the nation in scoring defense as the Flames have allowed just 4.3 points per game over their first four contests, while the Flames are tied with Cal Poly for the nation’s lead in shutouts on the year.

Jennings and Rocco become the fourth and fifth players to earn Big South weekly honors this year as Wynton Jackson was named Special Teams Player of the Week on September 4 after his performance against St. Paul’s, while Manny Rojas and Ben Beasley were named Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively, last Monday after the Towson game.

The Flames close out a three-game road swing on Saturday when they travel to Winston-Salem, N.C., to face Wake Forest. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN360.

http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm? ... 93&TeamID=

[bigsmooth]

good stuff. congrats to the guys on their solid play.

[SuperJon]

Big South Bias. They hate us. We should've gotten defensive and special teams too.

[Sly Fox]

It was further evidence of just how bad the Big South wasw this past weekend that they felt they had no choice but to honor some Flames.

[PAmedic]

I KNOW I KNOW- 2 DII teams and, well- Sav St. But still impressive:

Liberty currently ranks first in the nation in scoring defense as the Flames have allowed just 4.3 points per game over their first four contests, while the Flames are tied with Cal Poly for the nation’s lead in shutouts on the year.

[jcmanson]

congrats to the guys