Justin Edwards, Kirby Baynes Earn SCIAC Weekly Awards

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Claremont-Mudd-Scripps running back Justin Edwards and cornerback Kirby Baynes were named the SCIAC Offensive Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, the league office announced this afternoon.

The Stags earned the two awards after a big 29-21 win over nationally ranked Chapman at Zinda Field on Saturday. The Panthers came in ranked No. 18 in the nation, but were handed their first loss by a strong effort from CMS, which improved to 3-1 with the win after falling to No. 23 Whitworth the previous weekend. 

Edwards was a big part of that effort, carrying the ball 32 times for 204 yards and four touchdowns. The Stags went with running back by committee the first three weeks, but Edwards became the workhorse against the Panthers, and produced all four Stag touchdowns on the day, carrying the ball in from one yard, one yard, three yards and five yards behind a strong performance from the CMS offensive line. Edwards also had a long carry of 55 yards early in the second half to help the Stags bounce back after Chapman opened the second half with a touchdown. 

Baynes had nine tackles, eight solo, and produced the one CMS turnover on the day when he intercepted a Chapman pass in the first half. He also broke up a pass in the CMS end zone, and had a tackle for a loss on the final Chapman drive, which stalled at the CMS 15-yard line. 

The Stags will be back in action this weekend when they host Redlands for a 1 p.m. game at Zinda Field for its conference opener, after defeating Chapman and Pomona-Pitzer (on Sept. 4) in non-conference games.