Waters named NEC Defensive Player of the Week for first time
Shelbred collects Special Teams Player of the Week for second time this season
Domercant earns NEC Prime Performer status for third time
Waters is the third Skyhawk to earn NEC Defensive Player of the Week honors this fall after recovering two fumbles that led to scores on Saturday, including a 17-yard fumble return for score of his own (PHOTO BY Jim Pierce) |
EASTON, Mass. (November 14, 2023) – Three members of the Stonehill College football program received weekly honors from the Northeast Conference for their performances in the Skyhawks 33-28 triumph over Duquesne University on Saturday.
Senior linebacker Justin Waters is the third Stonehill player to earn NEC Defensive Player of the Week honors this season with his selection for the first time in his career, while classmate Perry Shelbred has been named the NEC Special Teams Player of the Week for a second time this fall. Waters also collected NEC Prime Performer status for the first time, along with junior wide receiver Chris Domercant who is a Prime Performer for the third time this fall.
Waters, who joins classmates Sam Murphy and Micah Brown in earning NEC Defensive Player of the Week accolades this season, spearheaded Stonehill's defensive effort and was largely responsible for Stonehill building a 17-0 lead before the first quarter was half old on Saturday. He shared the team lead with six tackles (two solo) and recovered two fumbles that led to touchdowns, including a 17-yard scoop and score for the first touchdown of his career and a 17-0 lead seven minutes into the game. His first recovery on the Duquesne 13-yard line on the Dukes first offensive play from scrimmage resulted in a 10-0 lead three plays later after the Skyhawks had scored a field on the opening drive of the game. The second fumble recovery that he returned for a score was on the Dukes second play from scrimmage, giving Stonehill three scores before the hosts had attempted three snaps on offense.
Waters has played all nine games for Stonehill this season and is fourth on the team with his 34 tackles (15 solo), including 0.5 for a loss of a yard, and the two fumble recoveries. He totaled a career-high seven tackles (five solo) in the Skyhawks 23-20 win at Georgetown University on September 16. Waters has played 20 games over his Stonehill career, totaling 66 tackles (31 solo), including 4.5 for a loss of 13 yards, with 1.5 sacks for a loss of three, a forced fumble, pass breakup and two fumble recoveries. He was named to the Northeast-10 Conference Academic Honor Roll prior to the College's transition to NCAA I FCS in 2022.
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Shelbred, who also earned NEC Special Teams Player of the Week accolades following Stonehill's 33-30 win at Central Connecticut State University in week two to open the NEC season, collects the honors for the third time in his career overall after scoring a team-high nine points, including a pair of first quarter field goals to aid in the Skyhawks building a 20-7 lead after a quarter of play. He made all three extra point tries and converted both field goal attempts, connecting with a 22-yard try at the end of an 11-play, 69-yard drive on the opening possession of the game. Shelbred followed that with a 34-yard field goal with three-seconds left in the first quarter.
Shelbred, who has converted two 50-plus yard field goals this season, leads Stonehill and ranks ninth in the NEC with his 43 points scored, including fifth among NEC kickers. His nine field goals this fall rank fourth in the Conference and are tied for fifth among Stonehill's all-time single-season leaders. He is one of two kickers in the league to convert from 52-yards this fall – matching the program record with his walk-off kick at Central Connecticut, while his 16 extra points rank sixth in the NEC.
Shelbred enters the weekend ranked ninth among Stonehill's career scoring leaders with 159 points over his three seasons at the College. He is just one point behind Nate Robitaille, '15 for eighth and five shy of Rob Olivar, '04 for seventh all-time. Shelbred's 26 career field goals made ranks third all-time at Stonehill, while his 81 extra points rank fourth.
Domercant racked up a career-high 184 all-purpose yards against Duquesne on Saturday, including a game-winning 21-yard touchdown rush with 50-seconds to play that answered a go-ahead score by the Dukes less than two minutes earlier. He finished the game with four receptions for 66 yards, six carries for 51 yards and his first career rushing score, while returning three kickoffs for 67 yards, while having a 96-yard kickoff return for a score nullified by a penalty.
Stonehill (4-5, 3-3 NEC) returns to action on Saturday, when it closes out its second NCAA Division I FCS season by hosting LIU for an NEC matchup on Senior Day at W.B. Mason Stadium at 1 p.m. Please note that the Senior Day recognition will start at 12:20 p.m.
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