Football: Football: UL’s Surgent named Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Week

Tim Buckley, Daily Advertiser, September 9, 2013

Tim Buckley, Daily Advertiser, September 9, 2013

After returning a kickoff a school-record 100 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter of UL’s 48-27 loss at Kansas State last Saturday, Ragin’ Cajun senior Darryl Surgent has been named the Sun Belt Conference’s Special Teams Player of the Week.

With his 113 yards on two kickoff returns, 24 yards on three catches and another 2 rushing yards Saturday, Surgent moved past current NFL receiver Brandon Stokley (3,789) and into second place on UL’s all-time all-purpose yardage leaders list with 3,909. Tyrell Fenroy leads with 5,231 from 2005-08.

Surgent’s 100-yard return against the Wildcats broke the old school record of 99 set in 1968 by Mike McDonald against Pensacola Navy.

The Alexandria Senior High product also tied Mike McKenzie’s career UL record of two career kickoff return touchdowns. Surgent also has the third-longest kickoff return in UL history, a 97-yarder against Oklahoma State in 2010.

South Alabama senior quarterback Ross Metheny and Troy sophomore defensive lineman Jadarius Garner are the Sun Belt’s Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively.

Metheny set South Alabama game records with 365 yards of total offense and four TDs accounted for in 41-39 non-conference win at Tulane on Saturday that snapped a seven-game Jaguar losing streak. The lefty was 19-of-30 passing for 290 yards and two scores, and he added a career-best and game-high 75 rushing yards on 11 carries.

Garner had 3.0 tackles-for-loss including two sacks for minus-20 yards, two forced fumbles and one quarterback hurry in Troy’s non-conference win over Savannah State.

After opening its 2013 season 0-2 with losses at Arkansas and Kansas State, UL plays its home opener Saturday night against Southland Conference-member Nicholls State.