Stewart, Derise voted Players of Week

Published 2:00 pm Friday, September 30, 2011

West St. Mary receiver Dai Juan Stewart had a record night in the Wolfpack’s 72-22 win over Kaplan last week.

Delcambre defensive end Sammy Derise had a pretty good night himself in helping the Panthers claim their first win of the season, a 47-18 win over previously unbeaten Hanson.

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The two were rewarded by Teche Area football fans this week with their selection as Players of the Week in an Internet poll, sponsored by Haik, Minvielle and Grubbs Law Firm, on The Daily Iberian’s Website.

Fans nominate players for the weekly honor by submitting their names and statistics on the sports page of The Daily Iberian’s website, www. iberianet.com, beginning after the week’s games end. The top players from those fan nominations are chosen by the sports staff of The Daily Iberian for inclusion in the online poll, which runs from Monday at 2 p.m. through Thursday at 2 p.m. each week.

Stewart set school records with 14 catches for 404 yards and six touchdowns. His five TD catches in the first quarter set a national record, said WSM coach Ryan Antoine, and his six in a half also tied a national record.

The senior, who has committed to sign with SMU, received 36.4 percent of the fan vote in a highly contested poll. Antoine said the coaches didn’t set out to break any records, but Stewart kept making big plays. Quarterback Tre’vell Dixon, who also had a spectacular night with 501 yards and seven touchdown passes, received 9.1 percent of the fan vote. Dixon completed 20 of 25 passes and rushed for 63 yards in the game.

Catholic High receiver Blake Byrom was second in the fan vote after making six catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns, including a couple of highlight-reel receptions in the Panthers’ 29-13 win over previously undefeated Church Point.

Running back Jace Dore of Delcambre (13 carries, 192 yards, 2 TDs) and Jeanerette running back Abdul Tate (212 yards and two touchdowns) rounded out the voting with 19.4 percent and 6 percent of the vote, respectively.

Derise netted 37.1 percent of the fan vote to win defensive honors. 

New Iberia Senior High safety Trent Bourque, who had 15 tackles, including seven tackles for loss, had 28 percent of the fan vote. Catholic High defensive back Tyler Olivier (two interceptions, one for a touchdown) and linebacker Elliott Broussard (forced fumble, fumble recovery, sack) had 24.5 and 10.4 percent of the vote, respectively.