Garrett Tidwell may forever be left thinking what could have been Saturday as two long punt returns – one inside Southeastern Oklahoma’s five yard line and another inside the 20 – were erased by block in the back penalties. Tidwell, who entered the game among the nation’s leaders in both kick and punt return average, still didn’t disappoint, taking the opening kickoff of the second half 86 yards for a touchdown and was named the Lone Star Conference South Division Special Teams Player of the Week Monday.
The senior from Boyd, Texas, became Angelo State’s third player to earn top specialist honors and the second-consecutive after punter George Shamblen won last week’s award. It was Tidwell’s third special teams’ score of the season, having already logged two punt returns for touchdowns.