SAC honors former Indian Land standout McIlwain

By Earl Gault - Herald correspondent

Newberry College sophomore defensive back Kamaal McIlwain, who played his prep football at Indian Land, has been named the South Atlantic Conference's Defensive Player of the Week.

It was the second weekly honor for the 5-10, 175-pound McIlwain, who was also selected Special Teams Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 6.

McIlwain received his latest honor for his effort in Newberry's 32-21 upset victory over 15th-ranked and previously unbeaten Wingate on Saturday.

Against Wingate, McIlwain had 94 yards of defensive return yardage. After a first-half interception by teammate Andre Moyd, McIlwain took a lateral and romped 34 yards, carrying the ball inside Wingate's 1-yard line to set up a Newberry touchdown.

In the third quarter, McIlwain scooped up a Wingate fumble and returned it 60 yards for a TD. He added three tackles and broke up a pass.

McIlwain and Newberry teammate Mike Grase, a former Rock Hill High standout, were also honored on Tuesday by the Newberry County Touchdown Club.

McIlwain was named the club's Special Teams Player of the Month, and Grase was given the organization's Defensive Player of the Month Award.

For the season, McIlwain has 20 tackles, one interception seven passes broken up and eight passes defended. He has one fumble return for a TD and has blocked two kicks.

Grase, a 5-10, 225-pound senior linebacker, has 34 tackles, including 6.5 for losses of 18 yards, and one sack.

Newberry is 4-3 and tied for the SAC lead at 3-1. Newberry will travel to Greeneville, Tenn., at 2 p.m. on Saturday to face Tusculum.

• N.C. STATE: Sisters Angelina and Tia Blackmon, former Fort Mill High cross country standouts, turned in strong efforts in the recent East Carolina University Invitational.

Angelina Blackmon, a recent NCSU graduate and running unattached, finished second in the event with a time of 17:17.

Tia Blackmon, a freshman for the Wolfpack but running unattached, wound up 15th with a clocking of 19:30.

The Wolfpack continues their season on Saturday at the NCAA Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind.

• WEST POINT: Former Fort Mill High soccer standout Ashleigh Sheets has helped the Black Knights women's team get off to a strong start this season.

Sheets, a freshman midfielder-forward, has helped lead her team to a 10-4 overall record and a perfect 3-0 Patriot League start.

Sheets has played in all 14 games for the Black Knights. She has logged 676 minutes, scored one goal with four assists for six points.

At Fort Mill, Sheets helped the Lady Yellow Jackets to four straight Region 3-AAAA championships and a state title.