Cook, Pegues and Schumacher Earn Big South Weekly Football Honors
October 20, 2014 | Football
CHARLOTTE – Gardner-Webb receiver Kenny Cook, linebacker Jeffrey Pegues and kicker Paul Schumacher each earned Big South Conference weekly awards Monday, as selected by the league office.
Cook (Cross Hill, S.C. / Clinton HS) was named Choice Hotels Offensive Player of the Week for his record-setting day in Lexington, Va., which saw him turn 12 catches into a Big South Conference and Gardner-Webb single-game record 251 yards and two touchdowns – including the game-winner – in a 47-41 double overtime win.
The 6-foot-4, 218-pound standout had five catches for 90 yards in the first half, but didn't get into the end zone until early in the third quarter. He caught a pass on the near sideline from Lucas Beatty, and took it 80 yards to the house – extending Gardner-Webb's lead to 28-13 less than a minute after halftime.
Cook caught a dart from Tyrell Maxwell to pick up a key first down on Gardner-Webb's next possession, moving the chains on a drive that resulted in a field goal and a 31-13 lead heading into the fourth quarter. After the Keydets surged in front late, Cook stepped up with a 14-yard reception on the game-tying drive to move the chains – but saved his best for the overtime periods.
Cook's diving, 23-yard catch at the two-yard line opened the bonus period, setting up a two-yard touchdown run by J.J. Hubbard that put GWU up 41-34. He then made the play of the day, leaping to haul in Beatty's 25-yard strike in the end zone in the second overtime to win the game.
The preseason All-America selection also had a 49-yard catch over the middle on a dive late in the first quarter Saturday afternoon.
His yardage total is the top mark in the FCS nationally this season and fell just shy of the overall Division I standard of 263 yards by Washington State's Vince Mayle vs. Cal two weeks ago.
Cook, who missed 10 quarters and two entire games early in the season with an injury, nearly matched his entire season yardage total (260) on Saturday. Nine of his catches against the Keydets went for first downs or touchdowns, with both scores coming in the second half and overtime.
In addition to breaking school and conference single-game marks, he also established a new Foster Stadium/Alumni Memorial Field standard, which was previously held by William & Mary's Mark Conklin (240 yards, Sept. 13, 1997).
Cook is just the third Gardner-Webb receiver to top 200 yards in a game, joining Duvaughn Flagler (14 catches, 210 yards vs. Wofford on Nov. 19, 2005) and William Andrews, Jr. (12 catches, 203 yards at #23 New Hampshire on Nov. 11, 2000).
He is now tied with former Stony Brook standout Kevin Norrell with seven career games with 100+ yards receiving and is tied with former Coastal Carolina All-America receiver Jerome Simpson for eighth in league history with 161 receptions.
Cook ranks seventh in league annals with 2,185 yards and sixth with 20 career touchdowns – all accomplished in only 28 career games. This season, he leads Gardner-Webb with 37 catches for 511 yards and four touchdowns in five games played.
Pegues (Charlotte, N.C. / Mallard Creek) was named Crons Brand Freshman of the Week for the second time this season, and was all over the field on Saturday.
The 6-foot, 195-pound linebacker registered a career-high 20 tackles (eight solo) in the win, which was the top tackling day for a Big South Conference freshman since Gardner-Webb's Mike Pavelko recorded 24 stops against VMI on October 22, 2005 – a triple-overtime win for GWU that season in Lexington.
Four of Pegues' stops came on special teams coverage and one came on a third-and-long late in the first half that forced a VMI punt.
Pegues has collected 38 total tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks so far this season in five starting assignments.
Schumacher (West Palm Beach, Fla. / The King's Academy) stepped up with a career-best when it mattered Saturday, splitting the uprights with room to spare on a 43-yard field goal with just seven seconds left to send the game to overtime.
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound freshman rallied from an early miss in the first half to make two field goals in the game, and was true on all five PAT attempts to finish with a career-high 11 points. His 26-yard field goal midway through the third quarter gave Gardner-Webb a 31-13 lead.
Schumacher is tied for the league lead with eight made field goals this season. Saturday marked the second game in a row he has knotted the score on a last-second field goal. His 35-yarder just before the halftime horn against Charlotte (10/4) tied the game at 17.
Gardner-Webb (4-3) will turn its attention to a Big South Conference race, beginning with a trip to Liberty on Saturday, October 25. The league posted a 21-5 record against non-conference FCS programs this season, an all-time high.
Saturday's GWU-Liberty tilt will kick off at 3:30 pm in Williams Stadium and will air live on ESPN3.
