smallcollegefbfan
September 15th, 2008, 12:49 PM
Big Sky Announces football players of the week
Ogden, Utah - The Big Sky Conference has announced its Football Players of the Week for Games played on Saturday, Sept. 13. University of Montana wide receiver Mark Mariani and Weber State quarterback Cameron Higgins are the Co-Offensive Players of the Week. Sacramento State defensive tackle Christian Clark is the Defensive Player of the Week. Montana State returner Demetrius Crawford is the Special Teams Player of the Week.
Mariani, a 6-foot, 185-pound junior from Havre, Mont., caught eight passes for 208 yards and four touchdowns in the fifth-ranked Grizzlies’ 46-10 victory over Southern Utah. The 208 receiving yards tied for the sixth-most in UM single-game history. The four touchdowns tied for the school record. Mariani’s touchdown receptions went for 14, 66, 32 and 36 yards. Mariani also had 55 yards on four punt returns and 26 yards on a kickoff return to finish with 289 all-purpose yards.
Higgins, a 6-2, 195-pound sophomore from Kai, Hawai’i, completed 18-of-23 passes for 333 yards with a career-high five touchdown passes in Weber State’s 44-7 victory over Dixie State. Higgins completed his first 14 passes. Higgins’ TD passes went for 4, 62, 37 and 8 yards. He fired four of the TD passes in the first half, helping the Wildcats build a 34-7 halftime lead.
Clark, a 6-3, 270-pound sophomore from Los Angeles, registered six total tackles, 2.5 for loss, and two sacks. He also forced fumble and blocked an extra point in the Sacramento State’s 27-16 victory over Southern Oregon. On Clark’s second-quarter sack, he forced a fumble that his team recovered. Sacramento State scored on a 9-yard run on the very next play to take a 21-3 lead.
Crawford, a 5-8 175-pound senior from Fairfield, Calif., returned a kick 100 yards for a touchdown in Montana State’s 35-23 loss to Minnesota of the Big Ten Conference. Crawford cut Minnesota’s lead to 14-13 with his second-quarter return. The 100-yard return tied for the longest in Big Sky Conference history. Crawford is the 17th player in league history to return a kick 100 yards. Crawford finished with 144 yards on four kick returns. He also had 76 rushing yards, and finished with 223 all-purpose yards.
Others Nominated for Weekly Awards
Offense
Drew Hubel, QB, Portland State
Evander Wilkins, RB, Sacramento State
Defense
Austin Mullins, DT, Montana
Deshawn Shead, CB, Portland State
Kevin Linehan, DE, Weber State
Special Teams
Ken Wood, P, Montana
Austin Woods, Ret., Portland State
Kyle Hill, Ret., Sacramento State
Bryant Eteuati, Ret., Weber State
Ogden, Utah - The Big Sky Conference has announced its Football Players of the Week for Games played on Saturday, Sept. 13. University of Montana wide receiver Mark Mariani and Weber State quarterback Cameron Higgins are the Co-Offensive Players of the Week. Sacramento State defensive tackle Christian Clark is the Defensive Player of the Week. Montana State returner Demetrius Crawford is the Special Teams Player of the Week.
Mariani, a 6-foot, 185-pound junior from Havre, Mont., caught eight passes for 208 yards and four touchdowns in the fifth-ranked Grizzlies’ 46-10 victory over Southern Utah. The 208 receiving yards tied for the sixth-most in UM single-game history. The four touchdowns tied for the school record. Mariani’s touchdown receptions went for 14, 66, 32 and 36 yards. Mariani also had 55 yards on four punt returns and 26 yards on a kickoff return to finish with 289 all-purpose yards.
Higgins, a 6-2, 195-pound sophomore from Kai, Hawai’i, completed 18-of-23 passes for 333 yards with a career-high five touchdown passes in Weber State’s 44-7 victory over Dixie State. Higgins completed his first 14 passes. Higgins’ TD passes went for 4, 62, 37 and 8 yards. He fired four of the TD passes in the first half, helping the Wildcats build a 34-7 halftime lead.
Clark, a 6-3, 270-pound sophomore from Los Angeles, registered six total tackles, 2.5 for loss, and two sacks. He also forced fumble and blocked an extra point in the Sacramento State’s 27-16 victory over Southern Oregon. On Clark’s second-quarter sack, he forced a fumble that his team recovered. Sacramento State scored on a 9-yard run on the very next play to take a 21-3 lead.
Crawford, a 5-8 175-pound senior from Fairfield, Calif., returned a kick 100 yards for a touchdown in Montana State’s 35-23 loss to Minnesota of the Big Ten Conference. Crawford cut Minnesota’s lead to 14-13 with his second-quarter return. The 100-yard return tied for the longest in Big Sky Conference history. Crawford is the 17th player in league history to return a kick 100 yards. Crawford finished with 144 yards on four kick returns. He also had 76 rushing yards, and finished with 223 all-purpose yards.
Others Nominated for Weekly Awards
Offense
Drew Hubel, QB, Portland State
Evander Wilkins, RB, Sacramento State
Defense
Austin Mullins, DT, Montana
Deshawn Shead, CB, Portland State
Kevin Linehan, DE, Weber State
Special Teams
Ken Wood, P, Montana
Austin Woods, Ret., Portland State
Kyle Hill, Ret., Sacramento State
Bryant Eteuati, Ret., Weber State