BOONE, N.C. — In a matter of seconds, Tae Hayes switched from being an award favorite to playing second fiddle.
Hayes and fellow Appalachian State cornerback Clifton Duck each tied the school's single-game record by intercepting three passes in a 45-31 victory against New Mexico State. With one sack on a third-down blitz and seven tackles also to his credit, Duck was named the Sun Belt Conference's Defensive Player of the Week.
Hayes had a lead in the head-to-head interception race with less than two minutes left in last weekend's game and was on the verge of doubling up Duck.