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Week 5: AAC Football Players of the Week

Samuel Hawthorne of Union Commonwealth
September 29, 2025

WALESKA, Ga. - Xavier Malone of Pikeville is the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Football Offensive Player of the Week, while Samuel Hawthorne of Union Commonwealth and Selatian Slaughter of Union Commonwealth are the Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively.

The league announced the awards on Monday.

This is the fifth edition of the awards for the 2025 season. The next set of awards will be announced on Oct. 5.

AAC Defensive Player of the Week
 Samuel Hawthorne - Union Commonwealth - Senior 

  • Made 9 total tackles against Faulkner (Ala.).
  • Had 1 solo tackle and 8 assisted tackles.
  • Recorded 1 sack of a loss of 12 yards.
  • This is his first weekly honor of the season.

AAC Offensive Player of the Week
 Xavier Malone - Pikeville - Graduate Student 

  • Passed for 373 yards and a touchdown in a 34-30 loss to Maryville (Tenn.).
  • Completed 71.4 percent (40-of-56) of his passes.
  • Also rushed for 31 yards on 5 carries.
  • This is his second weekly honor of the season.

AAC Special Teams Player of the Week
Selatian Straughter - Union Commonwealth - Junior

  • Set 3 conference records in a loss to Faulkner (Ala.)
  • Set the new league records for most punt returns in a game (4), best punt return average in a game (27.0), and longest punt return (79 yards).
  • Returned 4 punts for 108 yards.
  • Returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown.
  • Also caught 4 passes for 30 yards and a touchdown.
  • This is his first weekly honor of the season.

Previous Weekly Winners
 Week 1 - Ethan Walker, Bluefield (Defensive); Taylor Jackson, Reinhardt (Offensive); Alex Hanson, Reinhardt (Special Teams)
Week 2 - JaTarius Randolph, Kentucky Christian (Defensive); Jackson Wasik, Kentucky Christian (Offensive); Messiah Wilson, Point (Special Teams)
Week 3 - Braylon Jones, Reinhardt (Defensive); Xavier Malone, Pikeville (Offensive); Isaac Smith, Pikeville (Special Teams)
Week 4 - Chase Hall, Kentucky Christian (Defensive); Jovari Gamble, Kentucky Christian (Offensive); Levi Evans, Pikeville (Special Teams)
Week 5 - Samuel Hawthorne, Union Commonwealth (Defensive); Xavier Malone, Pikeville (Offensive); Selatian Slaughter, Union Commonwealth (Special Teams)