Ben Cooney Earns SCIAC Defensive Player of the Week Honor

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Senior defensive back Ben Cooney earned the SCIAC Football Defensive Player of the Week award for games through Saturday, Sept. 17, the league office announced today.

Cooney led CMS with nine tackles (seven solo) and had an interception as the Stags nearly picked up a huge road win at Whitworth, before falling 12-7 on a late touchdown. Cooney ended four Whitworth drives in the second quarter with third-down plays, including an interception, a tackle for a one-yard loss on 3rd-and-2, and a third down tackle a yard short of the first down to force Whitworth to settle for a 43-yard field goal at the end of the half. 

The Stags held Whitworth to only 251 yards of total offense and 12 points (two of which came on a safety), as they nearly came away with a statement win against one of the region's traditional powers. CMS met Whitworth in the 2018 NCAA Tournament and fell 48-6, and last year the teams met at Zinda Field with the Pirates taking a 31-15 victory. 

CMS, which has allowed only 12 points in the first two games, will be back in action on Saturday when it travels to Redlands for a 7 p.m. contest. It will be a non-league game, before the two teams meet at Zinda in November.