BIG SKY CONFERENCE COMMUNICATIONS
OGDEN, Utah (October 8, 2018) – A pair of Big Sky players have earned National Player of the Week accolades. Idaho State quarterback Tanner Gueller was named the FCS STATS National Offensive Player of the Week and College Football Performance Awards Performer of the Week. Portland State kicker Cody Williams picked up FCS STATS Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Gueller guided Idaho State to a 62-28 win over Idaho at home. He had a career-best 492 passing yards and a school record eight touchdown passes. His eight touchdown passes – one shy of the Big Sky record – leads the FCS this season. He had nine completions for 20 yards or more including an 87-yard touchdown pass. Gueller also rushed for 81 yards with a long of 28. The Bengals were 16 yards away from tying the school record for most total yards of offense in a game.
Williams biggest kick of his college career came with four seconds to go in the game at Montana, as he connected on a career-long 52-yard field goal to lift the Vikings to victory over No. 14 Montana, 22-20. Williams also made field goals of 22 and 43 yards out to finish 3-of-3 for the day. The 52-yarder tied for a Big Sky best this season. He also had six kickoffs for a total of 354 yards and an average of 59.0 yards per kick.
Portland State freshman kicker Cody Williams (57) celebrates his game-winning field goal at Montana/ by Jason Bacaj
Previous 2018 Big Sky National Players of the Week
Week 1
FCS STATS
Special Teams – Tristan Bailey, MSU
Freshman – Ulonzo Gilliam, UCD
CFPA
Performer – Gage Gubrud, EWU
Week 2
FCS STATS
Defense – Dante Olson, UM
Freshman – Josh Davis, WSU
Week 3
FCS STATS
Special Teams – Owen Hoolihan, SAC
Gueller, Goss, Williams earn Big Sky weekly awards
The Big Sky Conference announced its ROOT SPORTS Players of the Week. Idaho State’s Tanner Gueller picked up Offensive Player of the Week honors, Northern Arizona’s Jalen Goss was named Defensive Player of the Week, and Portland State’s Cody Williams earned Special Teams Player of the Week.
Gueller had a career day as he tallied 492 passing yards and a school record eight touchdown passes in the 62-28 win over Idaho. His eight touchdown passes – one shy of the Big Sky record – leads the FCS this season. He had nine completions for 20 yards or more including an 87-yard touchdown pass. Gueller also rushed for 81 yards with a long of 28. The Bengals were 16 yards away from tying the school record for most total yards of offense in a game.
Goss led a Northern Arizona defense that held No. 7 Weber State’s offense to 176 total yards in the Lumberjacks’ 28-24 victory. The defensive tackle recovered a fumble and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 18-18 with 7:18 left in the third quarter. Goss also tallied four tackles, including one tackle for loss and a pair of quarterback hurries. He sparked an NAU defense that registered four sacks and a total of 11 tackles for loss that cost Weber State 48 yards in field position. The Lumberjack defense forced the Wildcats to punt a total of eight times, including six times on their first seven possessions and came away with three interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries.
Williams biggest kick of his college career came with four seconds to go in the game at Montana, as he connected on a career-long 52-yard field goal to stun No. 14/15 Montana, 22-20. Williams also made field goals of 22 and 43 yards out to finish 3-of-3 for the day. The 52-yarder tied for a Big Sky best this season. He also had six kickoffs for a total of 354 yards and an average of 59.0 yards per kick.
Other Nominees for Offensive Player of the Week: Joe Protheroe, CP; Eric Barriere, EWU; Alex Wesley, UNC; Sirgeo Hoffman, PSU; Elijah Dotson, SAC; Ty Rutledge, SUU.
Other Nominees for Defensive Player of the Week: Matt Shotwell, CP; Dehonta Hayes, EWU; Christian Holland, ISU; Dante Olson, UM; Dallas House, PSU; Chinedu Ahanonu, SUU; Preston Smith, WSU.
Other Nominees for Special Teams Player of the Week: Roldan Alcobendas, EWU; DJ Arnson, NAU; J.J. Koski, CP; Malik Flowers, UM; Manny Berz, SUU; Rashid Shaheed, WSU.
