MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama’s Tyrell Pearson and Aleem Sunanon were named Sun Belt Players of the Week on Monday, the conference office announced, after the Jaguars beat Western Kentucky 31-24 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams.
Pearson was selected as the league’s Defensive Player of the Week and Sunanon as the Special Teams Player of the Week. It is the first weekly conference honor of each player’s career.
Pearson’s Fourth-Quarter Interceptions
Pearson, a 5-foot-8, 150-pound defensive back from Greenville, S.C., intercepted two passes in the fourth quarter and made two tackles in his first appearance of the season.
His first interception came in the final three minutes, and he returned it 49 yards to set up Trey Fetner’s 1-yard touchdown run that put South Alabama ahead for good. Pearson’s second interception came in the end zone with Western Kentucky facing fourth-and-10 from the South Alabama 13-yard line, sealing the victory.
Sunanon Kicks Three Field Goals
Sunanon, a 5-foot-7, 185-pound redshirt freshman from Orlando, Fla., made a career-high three field goals, connecting from 42, 43 and 27 yards, and added extra points to reach double figures in scoring for the second straight week. His 27-yard field goal tied the game 24-24 with more than 12 minutes remaining.
Bye Week Before Tennessee
South Alabama is off this weekend. The Jaguars return to action Saturday, Sept. 28, at Tennessee in Knoxville.
