Monday, November 3, 2014
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

PHILADELPHIA – Stetson safety Donald Payne and Butler running back Sam Schrader were named the National Defensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week, respectively, by The Sports Network, Monday.

Payne, a sophomore defensive back from Fayetteville, Georgia, set a PFL record with 27 tackles in Stetson’s 28-24 PFL victory against Campbell, Saturday. Including his one pass breakup, Payne had a hand in stopping more than one-third of Campbell’s 79 offensive plays. Payne had 10 solo tackles in the contest and also chipped in a pair of tackles for loss and two tackles  for no gain. He also had a 20-yard return on a missed field goal just before halftime. It was Payne’s second 20-tackle effort in 2014, joining a 21-tackle outing against Jacksonville in Week 8.

Schrader, a freshman running back from Mishawaka, Indiana, finished the day with 13 carries for 162 yards and 4 touchdowns, but it was his second-quarter performance that stood out. He had three second-quarter touchdowns turned the tide in Butler’s 62-52 PFL victory against Morehead State, Saturday. Schrader had 4 carries for 82 yards in the quarter with touchdown runs of 21, 55 and 4 yards, catapulting Butler to a 35-23 halftime lead. He would add a 68-yard touchdown run to start the third quarter. It is the third 4-touchdown performance by a PFL running back this season, joining the two pieced together by Dayton’s Connor Kacsor.