Moon Township, Pa. - Senior linebacker Elias Navarro (Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / South Plantation) of the Robert Morris University football team was honored by the Northeast Conference Monday when we was tabbed NEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week.

It marks the first weekly honor of the 2010 season for Navarro, who shares the accolade with Bryant's Samad Wagstaff, as well as the second of his career.

Navarro was instrumental in helping the Colonials hold Sacred Heart to just 10 yards rushing in a 35-31 victory over the Pioneers, taking home game-high honors with 13 tackles, including 11 solo stops. Among his 13 takedowns were five tackles for losses that totaled 23 yards, including a pair of sacks.

On the first play from scrimmage for Sacred Heart, Navarro stuffed running back Marcel Archer of the Pioneers for no gain and on the following play sacked quarterback Dale Fink for an eight-yard loss to set the tone for the RMU defense.

In addition to being named the NEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week, Navarro was named the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) National Performer of the Week at linebacker by the College Football Performance Awards. 

Through two games of the 2010 campaign Navarro has compiled 15 tackles, which ranks second for Robert Morris, while leading the Colonials in both tackles for loss (6) and sacks (2). His average of 3.0 tackles for loss per game ranks tied for the third in the FCS.

Led by Joe Walton, the only head coach in the 17-year history of the program, Robert Morris (1-1 / 1-0 NEC) opens the home portion of its 2010 schedule when it welcomes Big South foe Liberty to Joe Walton Stadium for a Noon kickoff Saturday, Sept. 18.

The Flames, coming off a 27-23 victory at Ball State (9/11), are ranked No. 14 in the latest FCS Coaches Poll and No. 15 in the Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top 25 poll.