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 Junior Rod Dunlap was named Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week after helping WCU open the 2002 season with a 23-3 win at Liberty. He had 10 tackles with a sack, caused fumble, recovered fumble and interception. |
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Sept. 2, 2002
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina junior middle linebacker Rod Dunlap was named Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week after helping the Catamounts open the 2002 season with a 23-3 victory at Liberty on Aug. 31.
Dunlap (Winston-Salem, N.C./Reynolds HS) tallied 10 tackles, which is the third double-digit tackle performance of his career, while adding a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception. On Liberty's first series - the third play of the game - Dunlap created a turnover by forcing a Flame fumble, which led to Western taking a 3-0 lead. On Liberty's first drive of the second half, Dunlap registered his first career interception, which also setup a WCU field goal to make the score 20-0. Late in the third quarter, Dunlap dropped Liberty quarterback James Condon for a loss of 12 yards for Dunlap's first career sack. Dunlap added a fourth "big play" with just over nine minutes left in the contest as he recovered a fumble.
Overall, Dunlap was involved in three of Liberty's seven turnovers and led a WCU defense that allowed the Flames to convert just 5-of-14 opportunities on third down.
Western Carolina will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 7 with a match-up versus traditional Southeastern Conference power Auburn. Kickoff at Jordan-Hare Stadium is set for 4:00 pm (CT), which is 5 pm (ET).
