MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Conference Carolinas office announced its week five Football Players of the Week on Monday afternoon, with Chowan football's Malachi Howell earning Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Howell led the Chowan defense in the Hawks' 29-26 matchup against No. 24 West Alabama on Saturday afternoon in Livingston, Ala. The fifth-year defensive lineman recorded a team-high 10 total tackles, including three solo stops and seven assisted tackles.

The Indian Trail, N.C., native made his presence known in the West Alabama backfield, recording 2.5 tackles for loss for eight yards and 1.5 sacks for four yards. Howell also added two quarterback hurries as part of a Chowan defensive effort that held the nationally ranked Tigers' offense scoreless throughout the second half.

Howell came through with one of Chowan's biggest defensive plays late in the fourth quarter. With the Hawks trailing 27-20, Howell combined with Jayden Acevedo for a fourth-down sack to give Chowan possession at midfield with 5:50 remaining. The stop set up a four-play, 50-yard touchdown drive that brought the Hawks within one at 27-26.

Behind Howell's performance, the Chowan defense finished the contest with six tackles for loss and three sacks while limiting West Alabama to 316 yards of total offense and 159 passing yards. The Hawks held the Tigers without an offensive score over the final two quarters, helping Chowan erase a 21-point halftime deficit and push the nationally ranked Tigers to the final seconds.