October 10, 2005
Monarchs’ Roncketti, Shuford selected USA South Offensive Player, Defensive Rookie of the Week for football

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The USA South Athletic Conference issued its weekly honors for football on Monday, and the Methodist Monarchs took two of those honors. Quarterback Chris Roncketti was selected as the USA South Offensive Player of the Week, while cornerback Antwin Shuford was selected USA South Defensive Rookie of the Week.

Roncketti joins tailback Mike Hill as the Methodist players to receive USA South Offensive Player of the Week honors this season, while Shuford was selected USA South Defensive Rookie of the Week for the second time in three weeks.

Roncketti, a senior from Hope Mills, N.C., engineered three fourth quarter touchdown drives in Methodist’s thrilling 29-28 come-from-behind victory at Averett on Saturday. He scored on a 1-yard quarterback keeper early in the fourth quarter, trimming the Averett lead to 22-16. Then after Averett took a five-point lead in the final two minutes of the game, Roncketti directed Methodist 59 yards for the winning score, culminating in his 4-yard touchdown run on a quarterback keeper.

For the game, Roncketti completed 13-for-26 passes for 180 yards. In the second half alone, he was 12-for-19 for 164 yards.

Shuford, a freshman from Fayetteville, N.C., paced Methodist with 14 tackles against Averett. He also recorded one tackle for a loss in the victory.

Methodist (4-1, 2-0 USA South) plays at Ferrum on Friday night at 7 p.m. in a key USA South showdown.