ATLANTA — The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) has announced its weekly football player of the week awards for Week 10 of the 2017 season.

Morehouse spotlights the list with Kivon Taylor and David Smith earning the league’s top offensive and defensive players of the week respectively.

Justin Owens was named top newcomer for Tuskegee with Johnny Willis of Benedict becoming the first returner to earn the special teams accolade.

Offensive Player of the Week
Kivon Taylor
Morehouse
QB • 6-5 • 220 • Sr. •  Atlanta, Ga.

Taylor powered Morehouse to a 40-0 win against rival Clark Atlanta. He connected 12-of-16 pass attempts for 166 yards. He completed a pass to eight receivers while throwing four touchdown passes to the same number of players.

Defensive Player of the Week
David Smith
Morehouse
LB • 6-1 • 220 • Sr. • Newport News, Va.

Smith led Morehouse to a 40-0 win over rival Clark Atlanta. He spotlighted the league’s number one defense heading into Week 10 holding the SIAC’s top offense in total yards per game without a score. Smith tied a game-high 14 tackles (8 solos) while recording 4.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Newcomer of the Week
Justice Owens
Tuskegee
RB • 5-10 • 175 • Sr. • Alexandria, Ala.

Owens found the end zone twice to help Tuskegee earn the West Division title defeating rival Miles and punching its ticket to the SIAC Football Championship game. Owens rushed for 134 yards on 13 attempts while averaging 10.3 yards per carry. He scored both of his touchdown runs from one yard out to help the Golden Tigers record a season high 50 points.

Special Teams Player of the Week
Johnny Willis
Benedict
KR/PR • 180 • 5-8 • Fr. • Dublin, Ga. 

Willis scored in the 4th quarter to lift Benedict to a 20-14 win over Kentucky State. With 3:01 remaining and trailing 16-14, Willis returned a 91-yard punt return to help the Tigers secure the win and record seven or more wins for the second time in the modern era.