November 2, 2005
Roncketti, Pope earned USA South Football Offensive, Defensive Player of the Week honors

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Methodist Monarchs swept the USA South Athletic Conference weekly football honors on Tuesday. Quarterback Chris Roncketti was selected as the USA South Offensive Player of the Week, while linebacker Max Pope earned USA South Defensive Player of Week honors.

This is the second straight week that Roncketti has earned the offensive honor, and the third time this season. Pope earned the defensive honor for the first time this season.

A 6-foot, 197-pound senior from Hope Mills, Roncketti engineered Methodist’s third fourth quarter comeback of the season on Saturday in the Monarchs’ thrilling 28-24 victory at Maryville. He completed 23-for-37 passes for 386 yards and two touchdown passes, while rushing for 50 yards on nine carries with one touchdown.

However, it was his fourth quarter heroics that proved the difference as Methodist scored 21 points in the final stanza. Roncketti scored on a 6-yard touchdown run and completed touchdown passes of 7 and 67 yards to Patrick Doleman to win the game.

For the season, Roncketti has completed 114-for-196 passes for 1,767 yards and 10 touchdown passes. He currently leads the USA South in both passing and total offense.

A 5-9, 184-pound senior from Clinton, N.C., Pope had arguably his best game defensively in a Monarch uniform against Maryville. He recorded 14 tackles, including five tackles for a loss and two quarterback sacks in the Methodist victory. It was Pope’s fourth straight game with double-digit tackle totals.

For the season, Pope is second on the team in total tackles (64) and leads the squad in both tackles for a loss and quarterback sacks. In the USA South, he is tied for fifth in tackles for a loss.

Methodist (6-2, 4-1 USA South) plays at in-state rival Greensboro on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Greensboro’s Jamieson Stadium.