Week 6: Jayden Sauray, Delaware State

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Delaware State quarterback Jayden Sauray, who starred at Wise High School in Upper Marlboro, has been named the DC Touchdown Club Washington Metro College Player of the Week after his career-best performance led the Hornets to a lopsided homecoming victory.

Sauray completed 15 of 29 passes for 130 yards and rushed 17 times for a career-high 292 yards and three touchdowns as the Hornets beat Franklin Pierce, 34-0.

Sauray reeled off a pair of 94-yard touchdown runs, one started the scoring midway through the first quarter and the other finished the scoring midway through the fourth quarter. He was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week.

To say it was a long time coming might be an understatement.

Sauray threw 60 touchdown passes and rushed for 17 more scores during his two seasons as the starter at Wise. He began his collegiate career at the University of Maryland, spending three seasons as a reserve for the Terrapins, including a spring practice spent at running back, before transferring to Delaware State prior to last season.

He played in 11 games for the Hornets last season, but emerged from preseason camp third on the depth chart behind a pair of transfers. Sauray then struggled in practice and briefly slipped to fourth. At the same time, Delaware State offensive coordinator Nyema Washington said, Sauray maintained an excellent attitude.

“I’m so happy for the kid,” said Washington, a former Suitland High standout. “Honestly, it’s a testament to his work ethic. He’s been in a tough situation, sitting on the sideline but he handled it the right way. Things like that don’t happen if you’re pouting or not being a great teammate. He was unreal on Saturday.”

With Houston and Troy transfer Ui Ale injured in Delaware State’s previous game and Coastal Carolina transfer Samari Collier already out with a shoulder injury, the Hornets turned to Sauray.

“It’s a wild story how it played out,” Washington said. “Jayden earned it. He’s a gamer.”

This week’s DC Touchdown Club College Player of the Week Honor Roll:

  • UNC Pembroke QB Josh Ehrlich (Broadneck) completed 18 of 27 passes for a career-high 355 yards and five touchdowns and rushed nine times for 86 yards and another score as the Braves beat Erskine, 44-3.

  • Navy QB Jackson Gutierrez overcame two lost fumbles and an interception to complete 5 of 7 passes for 95 yards and one touchdown and rush 41 times for a career-high 232 yards and three touchdowns as the Midshipmen scored the game’s final 20 points to beat Tulsa, 34-26.

  • Shippensburg QB Roman Jensen (Maret) completed 16 of 26 passes for 242 yards and five touchdowns as the Raiders beat Millersville, 35-27.

  • Coastal Carolina RB Dominic Lee-Knicely rushed 25 times for a career-high 169 yards and one touchdown and caught three passes for 42 yards as the Chanticleers beat Marshall, 27-21.

  • Ohio LB Jermaine Minnis (DeMatha Catholic) made a career-high 12 tackles as the Bobcats beat Central Michigan, 31-14.

  • Frostburg State QB Peyton Murphy (St. Charles) completed 19 of 21 passes for 285 yards and four touchdowns in his first collegiate start as the Bobcats beat Glenville State, 56-7.

  • Penn State LB Tony Rojas (Fairfax) made 10 tackles with one sack as the Nittany Lions lost to USC, 31-23.

  • Bowie State LB Michael Thompson III made five tackles with two tackles for loss and 1 ½ sacks, forced a fumble and returned an interception 39 yards for a touchdown as the Bulldogs beat Winston-Salem State, 21-0.