OKLAHOMA CITY – The Louisiana Christian University football team took home numerous honors as the Sooner Athletic Conference announced its end of season awards on Wednesday with the Wildcats winning five individual awards and 20 All-Conference selections.
 
Louisiana Christian head coach Ben McLaughlin was named the SAC's Coach of the Year. Kylon Polk picked up both the league's Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards. Bryce Perkins earned the conference's Newcomer of the Year honor. Datlan Cunningham was selected as the Sooner's Athlete of the Year to round out the individual honors.
 
McLaughlin, in his second season as the head coach at LCU, led the Wildcats to an 8-3 record and 7-1 in the SAC, earning a share of the conference championship. The title was McLaughlin's first as the Wildcats head coach as the team doubled its win total from his inaugural campaign, from four to eight, and more than doubled its win total in games in the Sooner Athletic Conference from 2024, from three to seven. The conference title was LCU's second since joining the SAC in 2021, joining the team's 2023 championship. This is McLaughlin's first Coach of the Year award.
 
Polk, a freshman safety from Loreauville, La., finished the season in record-breaking fashion. He intercepted the quarterbacks of Arkansas Baptist and Ottawa four times each, resulting in eight interceptions over the final two weeks of the season, returning one in each game for a touchdown. He finished the season with 11 total interceptions for the year, the only player in all of college football with 10 or more. He also averaged more than 5.5 tackles per game, forced a fumble, and was credited with five pass breakups during the year. A two-time Sooner Athletic Conference and NAIA Defensive Player of the Week, this is Polk's first postseason awards.
 
Perkins, a redshirt freshman quarterback from Van Buren, Ark., completed 54.9 percent of his passes and averaged 220.5 passing yards per game, throwing 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Independence Community College transfer also ran for two more scores. This is Perkins' first career conference postseason honors.
 
Cunningham, a redshirt sophomore running back from Alexandria, La., rushed for 90.3 yards per game and 11 touchdowns on the season on his way to being named the SAC's Athlete of the Year and a First Team All-Conference athlete. These are Cunningham's first career postseason conference honors.
 
Joining Cunningham and Polk on the All-Conference First Team are wide receiver EJ Scott, offensive guard Javonte Roberts, offensive tackle Gavin Lilley, inside linebacker Jordan Oglesby, and wide receiver/punt returner/kick returner Darius Washington for his play on special teams.
 
With Perkins on the SAC's All-Conference Second Team are wide receiver Omarius Davis, center J.D. Winans, defensive tackle Jermarian Jackson, cornerback David Voorhies III, punter Preston Baker, and long snapper Garrett Chancelor.
 
The Wildcats also had six All-Conference Honorable Mentions. Those are running back Jaterrius Johnson, tight end Xavier Jackson, defensive end Marques Hampton, cornerback Nate Sullivan, safety Brandon Johnson II, and kicker Levi Hilborn.