As we get deeper and deeper into football and soccer season, schools get closer to conference play. In fact, some Big South schools have already begun conference play, such as the High Point University Women’s Soccer team, as they played to a 1-1 draw with Charleston Southern University on Saturday, September 21. For a lot of schools, however, conference play does not start until this week (or upcoming weekend).
Another thing that comes with getting deeper into the season is more awards. For Campbell University, that means it will be time to further stack the trophy case. This past weekend alone, Campbell won a total of five Big South Weekly Awards, topped with three in football. In addition to football, Campbell won one award in Men’s Soccer, and another in Women’s Soccer. Joining Campbell this past weekend, however, would be in-state rival Gardner-Webb University, who won two awards in Men’s Soccer.
Starting with Campbell football, Justice Galloway-Velazquez, the sophomore linebacker from Fayetteville, NC, won Big South Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in a 31-29 win over in-state FCS rival Davidson. In that game, Velazquez posted a career high 14 tackles (seven solo, seven assisted) with two forced fumbles, which tied a school record.
Continuing with Campbell football, Jalen Kelsey, the freshman wide receiver from Gainesville, FL, won Big South Freshman of the Week for his performance in the Davidson game. Kelsey caught two catches (both for touchdowns) for a team-high 71 yards. Kelsey’s first grab (29 yards) extended the Camels’ lead to 21-7, while his second (career-long 42-yard reception) gave Campbell a 28-14 lead.
Perhaps the most exciting football award of the week went to Colin Gary, the Camels’ redshirt-senior kicker from Carrollton, VA, who booted a time-expiring, 50-yard field goal to knock off the previously undefeated Davidson Wildcats in a thrilling, 31-29 win for the Camels. Gary set the Campbell record for longest field goal with his make, and bested his previous longest of 37 yards. Gary was also a perfect four-for-four on PAT’s.
The football field was not the only place Campbell was kickin’ it. On the soccer field, senior midfielder Gideon Betz, who earned an award earlier this season, won Big South Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Campbell’s matches at Coastal Carolina University and Georgia Southern University. The Camels only allowed one goal between the two matches, and in the 1-0 victory at Georgia Southern, Betz helped limit the Eagles to two total shots in the match.
On the women’s side of the pitch for Campbell, senior defender Callie Beckwith won Big South Defensive Player of the Week for the Fightin’ Camels. In Campbell’s 2-0 victory against in-state rival UNC-Asheville, Beckwith helped hold the Bulldogs to just two shots on goal.
Unlike last week, where Campbell was the only North Carolina-based Big South school to win Big South Weekly Awards, Gardner-Webb joined the party this week, winning two awards in Men’s Soccer.
On the attack, it was junior forward Oskar Wang, who won Big South Attacking Player of the Week for his performance in matches against Georgia State and George Mason. Wang scored a goal in each match, headlined by a goal in the 71st minute against Georgia State that earned the Camels a 2-2 draw. In the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ 3-2 overtime win at George Mason, Beta scored a goal in the sixth minute of play. In the youth movement, it was forward Jorge Salgado, who won Big South Freshman of the Week. Salgado tallied an assist in the 2-2 draw at Georgia State, while delivering his team the 3-2 overtime victory at George Mason via his golden goal in the 95th minute of play.
Campbell, keep fighting to win more awards. Gardner-Webb, keep running towards those impressive achievements.
Will we see High Point or UNC-Asheville join the Big South Weekly Awards next week?
