Big Sky Announces ROOT SPORTS Players of the Week
Weber's Kealamakia picks up second award this season
Jon Oglesby, Football Communications Director
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OGDEN, UTAH (October 12, 2015)- A four touchdown performance, a pick-six and a game-winning field goal in overtime highlighted the accomplishments for this week’s ROOT SPORTS Players of the Week.
Idaho State quarterback Michael Sanders is this week’s ROOT SPORTS Offensive Player of the Week, Weber State safety Cordero Dixon is this week’s ROOT SPORTS Defensive Player of the Week and Weber State kicker Josh Kealamakia is this week’s ROOT SPORTS Special Teams Player of the Week.
Sanders completed a season-high 32-of-49 attempts for 427 yards and four touchdowns. The 427 yards ranks as the 13th best passing performance in ISU history. Sanders threw two touchdowns to KW Williams, one a 25-yard strike and the other 47-yarder.
He tossed a 34-yard score to Madison Mangum, and he tossed the game winning touchdown to Jakori Ford, a 27-yard pass with 6:15 left in the game. The win was ISU's first over a ranked team on the road since winning at No. 20 Cal Poly in 2003.
Dixon had a 30-yard interception returned for a touchdown in Weber State's win at #12 Montana Saturday. Dixon intercepted a Montana pass late in the second quarter and returned the ball 30 yards for a TD that gave WSU a 21-14 lead at halftime.
It was Dixon's second career interception and his first INT returned for a TD. He also recorded nine tackles in the win with five solo tackles and four assisted tackles.
This is Kealamakia’s second ROOT SPORTS Special Teams Player of the Week award this season. He made a 27-yard field game-winning field goal in overtime that gave Weber State a 24-21 win at #12 Montana Saturday. He also had six punts for an average of 44.5 yards per punt and had a long punt of 55 yards, his second longest of the year. He also had four kickoffs for an average of 64 yards per kick.
Kealamakia ranks fourth in the Big Sky in punting.
Nominees for ROOT SPORTS Offensive Player of the Week include: Ben Scott, UC Davis; John Santiago, North Dakota; Kendrick Bourne, Eastern Washington; Alex Kuresa, Portland State; Chris Brown, Cal Poly; Dakota Prukop, Montana State; and Eric Wilkes, Weber State.
Nominees for ROOT SPORTS Defensive Player of the Week include: Will Ratelle, North Dakota; Todd Raynes, Eastern Washington; Beau Duronslet, Portland State; Kyle DeVaughan, UC Davis; Zach Hutchins, Montana State; and Tyler Kuder, Idaho State.
Nominees for ROOT SPORTS Special Teams Player of the Week include: Jordan Dascalo, Eastern Washington; Zach Berg, Portland State; Trevor Bolton, Montana State; and Nikko Hayes, Idaho State.