Ellies named OAC Defensive Player of the Week

Oct. 17, 2005
TWINSBURG, Ohio - The Ohio Athletic Conference office released its weekly awards and Marietta College sophomore defensive back Shawn Ellies (Wilkinsburg/Schenley) was named the league's Defensive Player of the Week for the week ending October 16.

An injury to starting free safety Lonnie Meyers (Cumberland, MD/Fort Hill) opened the door for Ellies to get his first start of the year. He took full advantage by making what may turn out to be one of the year's top plays.

With Mount Union and Marietta tied 0-0 late in the first quarter, the Raiders had a first and goal on the Pioneers' one-yard line. What looked like would be a MTU touchdown turned into a 100-yard fumble return to give MC a 7-0 lead.

Mount Union's Terrance Morring was stripped of the ball by junior strong safety Anthony Banks (Colonial Heights, VA/Thomas Dale) as he attempted to cross the goal line. With the ball free in the end zone, the speedy Ellies picked it up and race the full length of the field for the score. It was the first points given up by the second-ranked Raiders in the first quarter this season.

The 100-yard fumble return set a new Marietta and Ohio Athletic Conference record. The previous conference record was a 97-yard return by John Carroll's Liam Stull in the 2000 playoffs against Hobart.

Ellies finished the game with seven tackles.