(Editor’s note: Big Sky Conference media release)
OGDEN, Utah – The Big Sky Conference announced its ROOT SPORTS Big Sky Football Players of the Week on Monday. The ROOT SPORTS Offensive Player of the Week honor went to Cal Poly fullback Joe Protheroe. Landon Stice of Weber State was named the ROOT SPORTS Defensive Player of the Week, while Sacramento State punter Owen Hoolihan picked up ROOT SPORTS Special Teams accolades.
Protheroe became the first Big Sky player to eclipse the 200-yard rushing mark when he ran for 228 yards on 43 carries in Cal Poly’s 44-15 win over Brown. The fullback added three touchdowns to his resume when he scored from 3, 5 and 1 yard out for the Mustangs. Protheroe’s performance ranks him fifth in the FCS in rushing yards in a single game.
Stice, a senior for the Wildcats, had six tackles, a half sack, a fumble recovery for a touchdown, an interception and a quarterback hurry in helping lead Weber State to a 27-10 win over No. 22 South Dakota. He recovered a fumble in the first quarter and returned the fumble 28 yards for a touchdown. In the second half, Stice had an interception and returned it 28 yards. Stice led a Weber State defense that forced three turnovers and held South Dakota to 238 yards of offense.
Hoolihan punted eight times during the game and managed to pin Northern Colorado inside the 20-yard line six times, as he helped Sacramento State secure the 28-25 road win. The senior helped seal the win for the Hornets with a 50-yard punt in the final seconds of the game that backed the return up and led to a muffed punt which was recovered by Sacramento State. Northern Colorado’s average field position thanks to Hoolihan’s eight punts was the 14.1 yard line.
Other Nominees for ROOT SPORTS Offensive Player of the Week: Tamarick Pierce, EWU; Mitch Gueller, ISU; Samuel Akem, UM; Tucker Rovig, MSU; Keaton Mott, UNC; Davis Alexander, PSU; Elijah Dotson, SAC; Chris Helbig, SUU; Josh Davis, WSU.
Other Nominees for ROOT SPORTS Defensive Player of the Week: Matt Shotwell, CP; Josh Lewis, EWU; Kody Graves, ISU; Dante Olson, UM; Jerone Jackson, UNC; Anthony Adams, PSU; Immanuel Anderson, SAC.
Other Nominees for ROOT SPORTS Special Teams Player of the Week: Broc Mortenson, CP; Roldan Alcobendas, EWU; Malik Flowers, UM; Trey Tuttle, WSU.
The first ROOT SPORTS Game of the Week will be on Saturday, Sept. 22 when Montana hosts Sacramento State at 1 p.m. MT in Missoula.
