Barth Named ACC Specialist of the Week

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Virginia Running Back Cedric Peerman and North Carolina Linebacker Quan Sturdivant headline the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Players of the Week for the games of Oct. 11. Peerman rushed for 173-yards on 16 carries including runs of 79 and 60 yards in the Cavaliers’ 35-20 win over East Carolina. Sturdivant returned an interception 32-yards for a touchdown in North Carolina’s 29-24 win over Notre Dame. Joining them this week are Virginia Tackle Eugene Monroe, Georgia Tech Defensive End Derrick Morgan, North Carolina Place Kicker Casey Barth and Virginia Defensive End Matt Conrath.

Peerman scored twice and amassed 199 all-purpose yards to claim the Offensive Back of the Week award. He also became the second player in school history and the first since 1948 to rush for 60-yards twice in a game. North Carolina’s Sturdivant took Defensive Back of the Week accolades by making 10-tackles in addition to the touchdown he scored on the first possession of the second half. Sturdivant now ranks fifth in the conference in tackles with 35.

Virginia’s Monroe claimed Offensive Lineman of the Week honors as he helped the Cavalier offense to 202 rushing yards against East Carolina’s rushing defense. He helped provide excellent pass protection, allowing only one sack in the game. Georgia Tech’s Derrick Morgan was named Defensive Lineman of the Week with 10 tackles, four for a loss and 2.5 sacks in Georgia Tech’s 10-7 win over Gardner-Webb. He also deflected a potential game-tying field goal in the waning moments to help preserve the win.

North Carolina’s Barth kicked a freshman school record three field goals in the Tar Heels’ 29-24 win over Notre Dame to take Specialist of the Week honors. He made attempts from 41, 24 and career-long 42-yards. Virginia’s Conrath was named Rookie of the Week as he tallied two tackles in Virginia’s win over East Carolina. He also posted a sack and a forced fumble on the same play as he stripped the ball from the Pirate quarterback early in the fourth quarter. The turnover gave the UVa offense the ball and set them up for a touchdown that put the game out of reach.

OFFENSIVE BACK—Cedric Peerman, Virginia, RB, 5-10, 208, Sr., Gladys, Va.
Against East Carolina, Peerman rushed for a season-high 173 yards on just 16 carries and scored twice. He also caught a career-high eight passes for another 26 yards. He scored UVa’s first two TDs on runs of 79 and 60 yards to become only the second player in school history to have two 60-yard runs in a game and the first to accomplish the feat since 1948. His 173 yards are the second-most by an ACC player this season.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN—Eugene Monroe, Virginia, Tackle, 6-6, 315, Sr., Plainfield, N.J.
Monroe played every snap in the Cavaliers’ win and graded out at a team-leading 88%, his highest grade this season and the second-highest by any Virginia player in 2008. He helped pave the way for the Cavaliers to rush for a season-high 202 yards, their second 200+ game in row, and more than 60 yards above East Carolina’s average coming into the game.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN—Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech, DE, 6-4, 270, So., Coatsville, Pa.
Morgan had career-highs of four tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks. He also added 10 total tackles and he partially deflected Gardner-Webb’s game-tying field goal in the closing moments of the Yellow Jacket’s 10-7 win. Morgan, who had seven solo tackles, spearheaded a defensive effort that allowed Tech to hold Gardner-Webb to seven points and just 74 yards rushing.

DEFENSIVE BACK—Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina, OLB, 6-2, 230, So., Oakboro, N.C.
Sturdivant returned an interception 32-yards on the opening drive of the second half in North Carolina’s 29-24 victory over Notre Dame to change the momentum and bring the Tar Heels within one point of the Fighting Irish at 17-16. The interception was the third of his career and second this season. Sturdivant also added 10-tackles for the second consecutive game.

SPECIALIST—Casey Barth, North Carolina, PK, 5-11, 170, Fr., Wilmington, N.C.
Barth booted three field goals, all in the first half, of Carolina’s 29-24 win over Notre Dame. He converted on efforts from 41, 24 and 42 yards. Barth tied the single-game school record for most field goals by a freshman with three. He was also honored as one of three Lou Groza Collegiate Placekicking Award “Stars of the Week.”

ROOKIE—Matt Conrath, Virginia, Defensive End, 6-7, 269, R-Fr., Oak Lawn, Ill.
Conrath recorded only two tackles but was instrumental in Virginia’s 35-20 victory over East Carolina. He sacked the East Carolina quarterback early in the fourth quarter and forced a fumble in the process, which was recovered by the Cavaliers. UVa then marched the ball down the field to score and put the game out of reach. He also broke up a pass and graded out at 85% on the Virginia defense which held East Carolina’s offense to 89 yards on the ground.
-Courtesy ACC

-- Jesse Jones, CAPE FEAR SPORTS REPORT