Nov. 5, 2007

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Senior linebacker Ronnie McCullough led the Wildcats with a career-high 23 tackles on Saturday as he swept his way to a third consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Defensive Player of the Week award.

Staying atop the NCAA Division I (FCS) polls as the nation's leader has been no small task for McCullough, but he seems to know how to do it week-in and week-out as he rolled his way to yet another 20+ tackle performance over the weekend against the run-based Hampton University offense led by Volusia County native Van Morgan.

Ronnie McCullough, a senior linebacker from Tampa, Fla., pulled off an amazing 23 tackles on Senior Appreciation Day in his last home game for the Maroon and Gold at Larry Kelly Field/Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach, Fla. It was the third time this season he has collected 20+ tackles, and his seventh double-digit tackle performance of the 2007 campaign.

Offensive Player of the Week honors this week went to Florida A&M wide receiver Willie Hayward who caught nine passes for a career-high 175 yards and two (2) touchdowns. Chad Simpson [Morgan State] shared this week's MVP award on offense with Hayward as he collected 215 yards rushing on 33 attempts with one touchdown.

Eddie Battle of Florida A&M was Rookie of the Week with 259 yards passing on 15-of-24 attempts with two touchdowns via the air for the Rattlers.

There was little doubt once again for Special Teams Player of the Week with Delaware State's Peter Gaertner picking up his third consecutive award in this category after booting a game-winning field goal for the Hornets in the final seconds over Winston-Salem State. Raymond Harrison of South Carolina State picked up Offensive Lineman of the Week honors after spearheading the Bulldogs blocking performance that paved the way for 448 yards of total offense.

For more information on Bethune-Cookman Football, please contact the B-CU Office of Sports Information at (386) 481-2206, or locate your internet browser to www.BCCathletics.com. For information on the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, please log on to www.MEACsports.com.