By: Doug Ireland/Sports Information Director
Box Score NATCHITOCHES – After making plays that accounted for a 17-point swing in Northwestern State's 34-0 win at Nicholls Saturday in the Southland Conference football opener for both teams, Demons junior All-America linebacker Derek Rose was voted the Southland's “Defensive Player of the Week” award Monday.
Rose intercepted a pass and returned it 10 yards to launch a 44-yard scoring drive that gave Northwestern (2-2) a 7-0 lead five minutes into the game. Late in the second quarter, he completed a goalline stand with a fourth-down tackle for no gain at the 3-yard line, rebuffing what proved to be the best chance for the Colonels (1-3) to score. Rose recovered a fumble at the Nicholls 30 on the first play of the second half, leading to the first of two John Shaughnessy field goals for Northwestern.
He finished with eight tackles, five solos, while contributing two quarterback hurries as the Demons limited Nicholls to 212 total yards. It was the first shutout in a Southland Conference contest since 2009.
Rose also won the Southland award, and added the Louisiana Sports Writers Association player of the week honor, following a season-opening victory over Delta State.
One of 16 defenders from around the country's FCS ranks on the Sports Network's Buck Buchanan Award Watchlist for an honor presented to the most outstanding defensive player in the subdivision, Rose had his impactful outing at Nicholls near his hometown of New Orleans, where he graduated from O. Perry Walker High School.
It came a week after he was able to play only four snaps due to a sore hamstring at SMU.
The shutout was the first in 53 games, since 2006, by the Demons, who play host to McNeese State (2-1 overall, 1-0 in the Southland) Saturday evening at 6 in Turpin Stadium.
