WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- Monmouth
junior Jose Gumbs (Queens, N.Y./Hebron Academy) and freshman Jimmy Lawson
(Manchester, N.J./Manchester) have been named Northeast Conference Defensive
Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively, league officials
announced Monday.
“I am very happy for Jose for being named Defensive Player of the Week, he is
very deserving of the award,” said head coach Kevin Callahan. “Jimmy has been
coming on strong lately and has been a bigger part of our defense as the season
wears on.
They both were instrumental
parts of our defensive effort and win over Bryant.”
Gumbs, reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Year, wreaked havoc in a number of
ways during Monmouth's 21-12 NEC victory over Bryant. The 5-foot-11
strong safety broke up three passes, pounced on a fumble, and blocked a
punt. Helping the Hawks hush the NEC's top scoring offense, Gumbs totaled
a team-high 10 tackles. Gumbs' first tackle led to a three-and-out for the
Bulldogs on their opening possession and set the stage for the first of his
numerous game-changing plays. On fourth down, he blasted through the line and
stuffed a punt that resulted in a safety. Later on in the opening
quarter, Gumbs came up with a turnover when Bryant botched the
center-quarterback exchange on 1st down at their own 42-yard line. Thanks
to the efforts of Gumbs and the rest of the defense Bryant averaged only 1.7
yards per rush and NEC rushing leader Jordan Brown managed a season-low 67
yards on 27 attempts.
Lawson played his part in Monmouth's stifling defensive showing that held the
NEC's top scoring offense to 12 points. The rookie lineman Lawson clogged up
the middle as the Hawks bottled up NEC rushing leader Jordan Brown in a 21-12
NEC victory. Lawson totaled three tackles and logged a key quarterback
sack, helping hold Bryant's offense to a season-low 204 yards. The Bulldogs
averaged fewer than two yards per carry and Brown failed to reach the 100-yard
mark for the first time in seven weeks.
The Hawks are back at home this weekend when they host Saint Francis University
at 1 p.m.
