Tuesday, September 23, 2014
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

ST. LOUIS – Three Pioneer Football League student-athletes have received national recognition following their Week 4 performances. Stetson's Donald Payne and Jacksonville's Ryan Giaratano were named to The Sports Network's weekly honors while San Diego's Reggie Bell was honored by the College Football Performance Awards.

Payne, a sophomore defensive back, filled in the defensive stat sheet with a dominating performance to lead Stetson past Birmingham-Southern, 37-19, in Saturday nonconference action. He led all tacklers with 13 stops, including 12 solo tackles. Payne also had three tackles for loss, including a sack, forced a fumble, nabbed an interception and was credited with three quarterback hurries. Payne’s interception came late in the third quarter and killed a drive at the Stetson 23-yard line. After a fake punt helped BSC get deep into Stetson territory, Payne stopped the drive on downs with a sack that forced a fumble on fourth down inside the Stetson 20-yard line.

Giaratano, a sophomore punter, averaged 51.2 yards on six punts to help Jacksonville control field position in a 34-31 victory against Penn, in Saturday nonconference action. Giaratano’s longest punt was a 67-yarder early in the fourth quarter that went into the end zone from the Dolphins 33-yard line. None of his punts went for less than 46 yards. With the Dolphins facing  4th-and-13 on the its own 29-yard line, Giaratano rushed for 22 yards and a first down on a fake punt that helped set up a JU field goal. His 22 rushing yards made him the second-leading rusher for the Dolphins, behind leading rusher Ulysses Bryant’s 127-yard effort.

Bell, a redshirt senior wide receiver, caught just four passes but amassed 186 receiving yards to help San Diego down Ivy League preseason favorite Princeton, 39-29, Saturday. His first reception, an 82-yard catch and carry, set the tone for the day. Bell’s first touchdown reception was a 29-yarder that put the Toreros ahead 21-12. His second score was a 48-yarder to put San Diego ahead for good, 29-22. Bell also had two punt returns, including a 55-yard return, and finished with 245 all-purpose yards.

Payne and Giaratano were the first PFL student-athletes to earn a nod from The Sports Network this season. Bell is the third PFL student-athlete to earn top honors at his position from the College Football Performance Awards, joining Dayton's William Will, Morehead State's Brandon Bornhauser who earned honors in Week 2.