WATCH NOW - Dion Lewis Week 14 Highlights
WATCH NOW - Dave Teggart's Game-Winning FG
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The BIG EAST Conference has named Pittsburgh running back Dion Lewis, West Virginia linebacker J.T. Thomas and Connecticut kicker Dave Teggart the winners of the conference's final weekly awards of the 2010 season.
Lewis was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week after he rushed for a career-high 261 yards and four touchdowns on 42 carries to lead Pittsburgh to a 28-10 win at Cincinnati, helping the Panthers to a share of the BIG EAST championship. Lewis averaged 6.2 yards per carry in snowy conditions, improving his career totals against the Bearcats to 455 yards and seven touchdowns in two games.
Thomas was tabbed as BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week after he led a West Virginia defense that held Rutgers to 203 yards of offense and 14 points in a 35-14 win, helping the Mountaineers to a share of the BIG EAST title. He finished with seven tackles, including a forced fumble and a 12-yard fumble return in the first quarter that set up the Mountaineers’ first touchdown. Thomas leads a West Virginia unit that ranks second nationally in rushing defense (85.1 ypg) and scoring defense (12.8 ppg).
Teggart was chosen as BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week after he kicked four field goals and scored 13 points, including two field goals of 50-or-more yards in the fourth quarter, to lead Connecticut to a 19-16 win at USF and a share of the BIG EAST championship. Teggart hit the game-winning field goal from 52 yards with 17 seconds left in the fourth quarter to break a 16-16 tie and give the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl-bound Huskies their first Bowl Championship Series appearance. He made field goals of 40, 22, 50 and 52 yards.
BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dion Lewis • So. • RB • Pittsburgh • Albany, N.Y.
BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
J.T. Thomas • Sr. • LB • West Virginia • Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dave Teggart • Jr. • K • Connecticut • Northborough, Mass.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Lawrence Wilson, LB, Connecticut — Had five tackles, a pass breakup and a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 19-16 win at USF.
Dom DeCicco, SS, Pittsburgh — Had four tackles and two interceptions in a 28-10 win at Cincinnati.
Maikon Bonani, K, USF – Scored 10 points, going 3-for-3 on field goals, in a 19-16 loss to Connecticut. Kicked field goals from 42, 38 and 22 yards.
Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia — Had six receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown and a 46-yard rushing touchdown on his only carry in a 35-14 win against Rutgers.
Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia — Completed 23 of 28 passes for 352 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 44 yards in a 35-14 win against Rutgers.
