Nation’s Leading Tackler Wins NEC Rookie of the Week Award 

Loretto, Pa. (October 15, 2007) – Saint Francis’ freshman linebacker, Scott Lewis (South Fork, Pa./Bishop McCort), has earned Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week honors for his ferocious play against the Duquesne Dukes on Saturday, October 13, 2007.  Ryan Shepard (Kittanning, Pa./Kittanning) received the decoration as well on October 1, 2007 for his defensive prowess against the Liberty Flames. 

Lewis’ and Shepard’s NEC Rookie of the Week honors marks the second time in Saint Francis history in which two players have been nominated for the accolade.  The last time two Rookies of the Week hailed from Saint Francis University was when Maurice Sales caught 14 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown on November 17, 2003 and Anthony Doria threw for 398 yards on 38 completions on October 13, 2003. 

On Saturday against Duquesne, Lewis tallied 15 total tackles and assisted on one tackle for loss.  Those impressive single-game stats are just an anecdote to his unbelievable season thus far.  Lewis, a freshman with only five collegiate games under his belt, leads the entire nation (in Division I-FCS and Division I-FBS) in tackles with 13.0 tackles per game.  He has brought down 65 ball carriers in just five games.  He also has one forced fumble, earned two sacks for 17 yards, made five tackles for losses amounting to 27.5 yards and also made two quarterback hurries in his 2007 debut.  To put it in perspective, Saint Francis’ second leading tackler at the end of the season finished with 66 total tackles.

Lewis is also ninth in the Northeast Conference in tackles for loss per game with 0.90 and tied for fifth in forced fumbles per game with 0.20. 

If Lewis keeps this pace up, not only will he obliterate defensive records at Saint Francis, but he may challenge top feats put forth in the NEC and NCAA, as well.