The Southern Conference recognized University of Tennessee at Chattanooga linebacker Marshall Cooper as its defensive player of the week Monday. The senior from Hixson High School made 10 tackles in the Mocs' 24-10 season-opening win over Eastern Illinois last Thursday. Seven were solo stops, and he also broke up two passes as UTC gave up the fewest points of any SoCon team in week one. This is the third career weekly honor from the SoCon for Cooper, who was honored for defense after last year's win over Samford and for special teams after blocking a punt in a win over East Tennessee State in 2017. Samford quarterback Chris Oladokun was the offensive player of the week, and Furman kicker Grayson Atkins was the special-teams honoree.
Running
* With the annual 5K for FCA race back on Labor Day, 43-year-old Rodney Stoker breezed to victory in 16 minutes, 29 seconds Monday at Chattanooga State. The female winner was 14-year-old Estella Clemons of Cleveland, 22nd overall in 20:44. Sarah Welch and Isabella Dawson were close behind in 20:49 and 20:54. The overall runner-up out of 194 finishers was Brady Smith in 17:49, with masters winner Kelly Bellar third in 17:56 and Gavin Chandler, Jackson Hughes, Andy Highlander, Alexander Bastnagel, grand masters winner Dean Thompson, Rogelio Balderas and Ryan Shrum also beating 19 minutes. Rhea County High School won both team competitions.
Soccer
* Covenant College sophomore Mercer Stout was chosen the USA South men's soccer player of the week after his three goals in the Scots' 2-0 season start. The Signal Mountain resident scored the winning goal in each match and already has exceeded his goal total for 2018.
* Dalton State freshman goalkeeper Aaron Fraire is the Southern States Athletic Conference men's soccer defensive player of the week after making 12 saves and allowing only goal in the first three games of the season. He's played 263 minutes.
Golf
* The Sewanee men's golfers shot a collective 890 and tied for fourth out of 16 teams this past weekend in the Transylvania Fall Invitational at the University of Kentucky Club in Lexington. Wittenberg, ranked sixth in NCAA Division III, won with an 870, and Greensboro and Piedmont followed at 877 and 882. Sewanee's Gray Matthews was tied for first after two rounds and finished in a tie for fifth at 218 (71-72-75), and freshman Grayson Maddox played as an individual and tied for 16th at 223. Tigers teammates Woodson Smith, Zach Russell, Michael Olmsted and Tommy Oliver shot 225, 226, 227 and 227.
Softball
* UTC's softball booster organization, the Lady Moc RBI Club, will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the indoor practice facility at Warner Park, and the public is welcome. Coach Frank Reed will introduce the Mocs' new players and preview the fall exhibition season.
- Compiled by Lindsey Young and Ron Bush