Coleman, Salem & Wagner Recognized by CCC Football Following Saturday’s Win over Nichols
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 28, 2018) – Three members of the Western New England University football team have been recognized by Commonwealth Coast Football with weekly awards following the Golden Bears' 49-14 victory over Nichols College on Saturday.
Junior quarterback Alec Coleman (Arlington, Mass.) was named the CCC Football Offensive Player of the Week for the third consecutive week and fourth time this season, while freshman linebacker Joshua Salem (Dracut, Mass.) garnered his third straight and fourth overall Defensive Rookie of the Week award. Additionally, senior kicker Valentin Wagner (Saint Aubin de Medoc, France) collected Special Teams Player of the Week accolades for the first time.
Coleman led a Western New England rushing attack that gashed the Bison defense for a season-high 548 yards, as he carried the ball 24 times for a career-high 284 yards (11.8 avg.) and four touchdowns.
He scored on runs of 69, 52, eight and six yards, and also threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Jordan Moore. Coleman's 52-yard rushing touchdown early in the third quarter gave the Golden Bears a lead they would not relinquish.
Through eight games this season, he leads CCC Football in both passing (15) and rushing (13) touchdowns, while his 1,296 passing yards and 652 rushing yards rank third and fourth, respectively.
Salem continued his impressive freshman campaign with another strong effort on Saturday, as he contributed a team-high nine tackles, 0.5 sacks and a pass breakup to a Western New England defense that surrendered just 97 yards and no points to Nichols in the second half.
Salem's 42 tackles this season rank second on the team and tied for 20th in the conference.
Wagner earns Special Teams Player of the Week honors for the first time after connecting on all seven of his extra point attempts. Wagner is a perfect 44-for-44 on extra point opportunities this season.
Western New England (7-1, 4-0 CCC Football) travels to Endicott College next Saturday with a chance to secure the program's second straight CCC Football title and fourth consecutive conference championship overall.
