James Aston earns Southland weekly football award
10/20/2009 3:15:00 PM | Football
James Aston, Sam Houston State senior running back from Katy, has been named as Southland Conference football "Special Teams Player of the Week."
Aston shared the honors with Jeff Turner, kicker from Southeastern Louisiana.
The 5-8, 218 back and kick returner produced 268 all-purpose yards in Sam Houston's 37-21 loss at Southeastern Louisiana Saturday. That included 111 yards on four kickoff returns.
On his final return of the game, Aston dashed untouched 89 yards for a touchdown in fourth quarter. It was the first kickoff returned for a touchdown by a Sam Houston player in three years. Aston also rushed for 103 yards and had 54 yards receiving.
Aston now ranks 10th in career all-purpose yards at Sam Houston. In just two seasons, the running back has rolled up 1,364 yards rushing, 553 pass receiving and 636 in kickoff returns for a total of 2,553 all-purpose yards. He is 447 yards away from becoming one of only six Bearkats to post a career total of 3,000 all-purpose yards.
Tony January (1978-82) holds the school career record with 4,614 yards.
Aston's selection makes him the fourth Sam Houston football player to earn Southland "Player of the Week" honors this season.
Kicker Miguel Antonio was special teams winner after both the North Dakota State and Saint Joseph's victories. Quarterback Blake Joseph was named offensive "Player of the Week" after the 41-0 victory over Saint Joseph's. Linebacker Luke McCall was the defensive award winner following the victory over North Dakota State.
Other Southland Player of the Week winners were wide receiver Simmie Yarborough as Offensive Player of the Week and Mark Newbill as Defensive Player of the Week.
