Baptiste Named KCAC Special Teams Player of the Week

After he provided an injection of life into the Eagles' sideline in the first half of their home opener with a kick return touchdown, freshman return specialist Lorenzo Baptiste was named the KCAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week for the week of August 28 through September 3, the conference announced this week.

At a point in the game where neither Avila's offense nor defense was able to deliver much, and as the Eagles were staring down a large first half deficit against No. 11 Southwestern, Baptiste fielded Preston Fashner's kickoff inside the 10-yard line and scampered past everybody en route to a 91-yard kick six with just over two minutes left in the first half.

The Eagles managed just 13 points – including the six from Baptiste – in the first half, but that kick return score, and his solid work on special teams for the rest of the game as well, helped spark a late Avila rally: the Eagles' deficit was as large as 30 points in the second half but Avila out-scored Southwestern 22-0 in the fourth quarter to give the team a chance at a miraculous comeback.

Baptiste finished the day with five kick returns for a total of 196 yards – more yards than Southwestern accumulated as a team – an average of 31.2 yards per return, and the 91-yard score. The Eagles have now scored special teams touchdowns in each of their first two games this season, including Robert Brooks' punt return score against Bethany.

In just his second collegiate game, Baptiste, the freshman from North Miami, Florida, gives Avila its second KCAC Football Player of the Week award winner in as many games – Baptiste joins defensive back Trevon Miller as conference honorees this season.

Baptiste and the rest of the Eagles return to the road to face KCAC upstarts Friends this Saturday night in Wichita. Kickoff at Adair-Austin Stadium is set for 6 PM; as always, you can watch all the action live and for free on the KCAC Network.