12/24/24
SCRANTON, Pa. -- As we approach the end of 2024, Lackawanna College Athletics is reflecting on the top moments from the 2024 athletics calendar, and revealing them one day at a time between now and the new year!
Today's top event comes to us from Lackawanna Football!
#8: Football's Trio Of National Player Of The Week Winners
Throughout the 2024 season, Lackawanna College football was making a splash on the national stage, and it resulted in three separate players getting national recognition through the NJCAA Division I Football Player Of The Week awards!
The first football student-athlete recognized was linebacker
Andrew Marshall (Carroll, OH), who led an incredible Lackawanna defensive effort against Monroe University on October 5th at home in a 44-13 win for the Falcons. Marshall led way with a team-high eight tackles, three for loss, and two sacks in the win. Marshall helped spearhead a defensive performance that limited Monroe to -19 yards rushing and just 129 yards of total offense. The Mustangs punted ten times, had just eight first downs (two of which came via penalty), and were 2-for-18 on third down. Marshall ended up leading the Falcons in all three tackling categories for the year, tops on the team in solos tackles (37), tackle assists (22), and total tackles (59). Marshall was tied for the team-lead with 13.5 tackles-for-loss this season, and finished with a team-high 6.5 sacks on the year. He had five games with five or more solo tackles, three games with three or more tackles-for-loss, and six games with five or more total tackles, including a season-high 14 total tackles against Georgia Military to close out the year.
Two weeks later, kicker
Keegan Hughes (Scranton, PA) was recognized as the NJCAA Special Teams Player Of the Week with a sparkling game against Sussex County CC. Hughes set a Lackawanna College school record with four field goals in one game, all coming in the first half of the 28-12 win against the Skylanders on October 19th. The Falcons relied on Hughes for the majority of their offense, as Hughes buried kicks from 42, 22, 30, and 43 yards away. He finished off three straight drives in the second quarter with field goals, including his 43-yarder, his longest of the season, to end the second half. Hughes finished with 14 points for the game, the second game in a row where he had 14 points. Hughes finished the season fourth in the country in points (76), playing one or two fewer games than everybody else listed inside the Top 8. His eleven made field goals set a school-record for most made kicks in a season, and was second in the country. His 43 extra points were eighth in the country.
Flash forward another two weeks, and it was another defensive standout for the Falcons making a splash on the national stage, as linebacker
Nyair Graham (Camden, NJ) had a stellar day against Monroe University on the road in early November. Nyair was outstanding, leading a phenomenal defensive effort for the Falcons in their 28-20 win on the road against the Mustangs. Graham had seven tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, and 1.5 sacks on the day, helping lead a defense that finished with 14 TFLs and seven sacks, while holding the Monroe rushing game to just 38 yards on the ground for the day. Graham finished the season third on the Falcons in total tackles (45.0) and solo tackles (25), as well as second in tackle assists (20). Graham finished tied with Marshall for first on the team at 13.5 tackles-for-loss, and had 3.5 sacks on the year.
The Falcons finished 7-3 on the year, the fourth-straight season where Lackawanna College had a 7-3 record. The Falcons were ranked #11 in the final NJCAA Division I Football rankings.
Top 14 Moments Of 2024 For Lackawanna College Athletics
14) Women's Basketball Knocks Off Harcum College
13) Women's Soccer Returns To The Postseason
12) John Fox Comes Home For Wrestling
11) Danny Berg Returns To The Soccer Sidelines
10) Esports Raises $11.8K For Charity
9) Softball's Winning Streak and Maloney's Big Week
8) Three Football Players Named NJCAA POTW
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