The Big Sky Conference has selected its football Players of the Week for games played on Saturday, Oct. 31. Montana running back Chase Reynolds is the Offensive Player of the Week. Eastern Washington linebacker Matt Johnson is the Defensive Player of the Week. Sacramento State punter Augie Heath is the Special Teams Player of
the Week.
Reynolds, a 6-foot, 195-pound junior from Drummond, Mont., rushed for a career-high 241 yards on 33 carries and scored one touchdown in second-ranked Montana's 31-10 victory over No. 14 Weber State. The 241 yards are the most by a Big Sky Conference running back this season. Reynolds helped Montana control the time in possession in the second half, rushing 21 times for 193 yards over the final 30 minutes. Montana held the ball for more than 20 minutes in the second half. Reynolds scored on a 2-yard run early in the third quarter to put Montana up 20-3.
Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound sophomore from Tumwater, Wash., tied a Big Sky Conference record with four interceptions in the Eagles' 47-10 victory over Portland State in Seattle, Wash. Johnson became the first player in league history to intercept four passes in a game, and the first in 20 years. Johnson picked off two passes in the first quarter. His third interception came in the second quarter and stopped a PSU scoring drive. Johnson added the fourth interception in the fourth quarter. Eastern Washington limited Portland State to 163 passing yards a season after the Vikings had 623 passing yards in an upset of the Eagles. Johnson also registered two tackles.
Heath a 5-11, 185-pound sophomore from Chico, Calif., punted five times for an average of 41.6 yards per kick in Sacramento State's 27-24 upset of No. 21 Northern Arizona. Heath pinned NAU inside its 20-yard line four times, and once right at the 20-yard line. His last effort pinned NAU at its own 4-yard line with 2:51 left in the game. Heath had a long punt of 51 yards, and also ran a fake punt 18 yards to set up a Hornet touchdown.
Others Nominated for Weekly Honor
OFFENSE
Matt Nichols, QB, Eastern Washington
Aaron Mason, RB, Montana State
Michael Herrick, QB, Northern Arizona
Bryan Waggener, QB, Northern Colorado
Sam McCowan, RB, Sacramento State
DEFENSE
Trumaine Johnson, CB, Montana
Darius Jones, Montana State
Matt Estrada, S, Northern Arizona
Logan Zabel, LB, Northern Colorado
Jermaine Jacobs, DT, Portland State
Christian Clark, DE, Sacramento State
SPECIAL TEAMS
Jon Vanderwielen, P, Idaho State
Jason Cunningham, K, Montana State
Zach Brown, K, Portland State