ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Tusculum linebacker Matt Simon has been named the AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Week announced league officials on Monday.                                       

Simon, a senior from Lithonia, Georgia, scored a pair of defensive touchdowns in Tusculum's 30-24 overtime loss at Limestone in the league opener for both teams.  Simon's first score came when he scooped up a fumble with one hand and returned it for a 20-yard touchdown in the second quarter.                      

In the fourth quarter with the score tied 17-17, Simon returned an interception for a 29-yard touchdown, his second TD of the game.

Simon becomes the first player in program history to return both an interception and a fumble for a touchdown in the same game.  He would finish the game with seven tackles on the night.

Tusculum (1-2, 0-1 SAC) steps out of conference play this week with a road contest at UNC Pembroke, slated for 7 p.m. this Saturday night.