NEW ORLEANS – Two University of South Alabama football student-athletes earned weekly honors from the Sun Belt Conference with their performance in a 31-24 victory over Western Kentucky to open league play Saturday.

Tyrell Pearson and Aleem Sunanon were chosen the conference Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively, the league office announced Monday; it's the first occasion either has been honored in their career.

The former — a 5-foot-8, 150-pound native of Greenville, S.C. — intercepted two fourth-quarter passes, adding two tackles, in his initial appearance of the season.  With the game tied at 24 in the final three minutes, he ran back the first pick 49 yards to set up Trey Fetner's game-winning one-yard touchdown run, while the second came in the end zone with the Hilltoppers facing fourth-and-10 from USA's 13-yard line to preserve the victory.

The latter kicked a career-best three field goals, adding a first-quarter extra point to score in double figures for the second straight week.  The 5-foot-7, 185-pound redshirt freshman from Orlando, Fla., connected from 42 yards early in the second quarter to cut the USA deficit to four points, while with the Jags trailing by 11 to start the second half he hit a 43-yard attempt to make it a one possession game.  In the fourth quarter, Sunanon was good from 27 yards with 12-and-a-half minutes to go, tying the contest 24-24.

It's the third time since the start of last season that a Jaguar placekicker has earned the league's weekly special teams award.

With the win over the Toppers, the Jaguars improved to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the Sun Belt.  USA is off this weekend, and will return to action at Tennessee on Saturday, Sept. 28.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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