Sacramento State's Jeff Fleming was named the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week after leading Sacramento State to an upset of Oregon State.
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OGDEN, UTAH (Sept. 5, 2011) - The Big Sky Conference has selected its football Players of the Week from the opening weekend of the 2011 campaign. Sacramento State quarterback Jeff Fleming is the offensive player of the week. Montana defensive tackle Ben Hughes is the defensive Player of the Week. Portland State’s Nevin Lewis is the special teams player of the week.
Fleming a 6-foot-4, 200-pound senior from Fullerton, Calif., completed 22-of-25 passes for 257 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in Sacramento State’s stunning 29-28 overtime victory over Oregon State of the Pac-12. Fleming threw TD passes for 19 and 4 yards to Chase Deadder in the second quarter, and added a 6-yarder to Brandyn Reed in overtime. Fleming also hooked up with Reed on the game-winning two-point conversion. Fleming also rushed for a team-high 39 yards. Fleming had an efficiency rating of 152.8. The victory was the first over an FBS team in Sacramento State history, and snapped a 49-game losing streak to FBS teams by Big Sky Conference teams. It also marked the first time a Big Sky team beat a Pac-12 team since 1996. This is Fleming’s second Player of the Week honor.
Hughes, a 6-foot, 285-pound senior from Grants Pass, Ore., tallied 10 tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and recorded a safety in Montana’s 42-16 loss at Tennessee of the SEC. Hughes recorded five solo tackles and five assisted tackles. In the third quarter, Hughes tackled Tennessee running back Tauren Poole in the end zone for safety, cutting the Vols’ lead to 28-9. Hughes helped Montana limit Tennessee to just 2.8 yards per rushing attempt. Hughes played in seven games in 2010, recording six tackles. This is Hughes’ first Player of the Week Honor.
Lewis, a 6-2, 195-pound junior from Culver, Ore., blocked a punt and recorded a tackle on a fake punt attempt in Portland State’s 52-0 victory over Southern Oregon. In the first quarter, Southern Oregon tried a fake punt from its own 33-yard line. Lewis made the stop at the 27-yard line. Three plays later, Portland State scored to take a 17-0 lead. On Southern Oregon’s next Punt, Lewis broke through for the block. PSU took over at the Southern Oregon 8-yard line, and scored soon after to take a 24-0 lead. This is Lewis’ first Player of the Week honor.
Others Nominated
Offense: Bo Levi Mitchell, QB, Eastern Washington; Rodrick Rumble, WR, Idaho State; Danny Kistler, OL, Montana; Zach Bauman, RB, Northern Arizona; Cory McCaffrey, RB, Portland State; Mike Hoke, QB, Weber State
Defense: Zach Johnson, LB, Eastern Washington; Tanner Davis, DB, Idaho State; Isaac Bond, DE, Northern Arizona; Ryan Rau, LB, Portland State; Todd Davis, LB, Sacramento State; Willie Okwuonu, S, Weber State
Special Teams: Mike Jarrett, K, Eastern Washington; Sean Wren, P, Montana; Shaun McClain, K, Weber State.