ATLANTA -- Georgia State defensive end Mackendy Cheridor is the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week after leading a strong defensive effort in the Panthers' 41-21 victory over Texas State.
The 6-5, 275-pound junior collected seven tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble against the Bobcats.
After allowing touchdowns on Texas State's first two possessions, the Georgia State defense was outstanding. The Bobcats were 5-for-6 on third downs on their first two drives, but Cheridor and the GSU defense held them to 1-for-13 for the rest of the game.
Georgia State led 41-21 late through the third quarter when the Panthers turned the ball over in their own territory on three straight possessions, but each time, the GSU defense held.
After the third straight turnover gave Texas State the ball at the GSU 31 early in the fourth quarter, Cheridor forced a fumble while sacking Texas State quarterback Tyler Jones, and Tevin Jones recovered for GSU.
Cheridor had another sack and a shared sack in the fourth quarter, and he also had a tackle for loss on 3rd-and-1 in the second quarter.
For the season, he has 22 tackles with a team-leading 4.5 tackles for loss, despite missing two games due to injury. The Decatur, Ga., native (Columbia High School) has moved into second place in GSU history with 7.5 career sacks and fourth place with 19.5 tackles for loss.
Cheridor is second Sun Belt Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week this season, along with safety Bobby Baker following the Wisconsin game.
Cheridor and the Panthers (1-4, 1-1 Sun Belt) play at Sun Belt leader Troy Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN3. The next home game for Georgia State is the Oct. 22 Homecoming game as the Panthers host UT Martin at 3:30 p.m. at the Georgia Dome, also on ESPN3.
