OGDEN, Utah (October 9, 2017) – Northern Arizona picked up two out of the three ROOT SPORTS Players of the Week honors, as the awards were announced on Monday by the league office. This week’s honors went to Northern Arizona’s Case Cookus for the ROOT SPORTS Offensive Player of the Week, Northern Arizona’s Josh Clarke for ROOT SPORTS Defensive Player of the Week, and Southern Utah’s Rashaan Miller for the ROOT SPORTS Special Teams Player of the Week.
Cookus completed 26-of-45 passes for 380 yards with no interceptions and three touchdowns in the 37-16 upset victory over No. 7/11 Illinois State of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The win was the highest victory over a ranked team for the Big Sky this season. In addition to 380 passing yards, Cookus recorded his first career touchdown reception when he caught a 23-yard pass from true freshman wide receiver Chance Brewington. Prior to Saturday’s game, Illinois State previously unbeaten this season at 4-0, now 4-1 was the second-ranked team in the FCS in yards allowed at 166.5. Cookus and NAU recorded 431 yards of offense, breaking ISU’s previous opponent high of 311. The Redbirds had also only previously allowed three offensive touchdowns through its first-four games. NAU scored four touchdowns in the game.
Clarke led the Northern Arizona defense with a career-best 11 tackles (6 solo, 5 assists), including 3.0 tackles for loss, a sack and a pass breakup in the 21-point win over Illinois State. The Lumberjack defense held the Redbirds to their lowest point total this season of 16 points. Illinois State was held to 286 yards of total offense.
Miller was critical in keeping Cal Poly off the board in Southern Utah’s 20-14 win against the Mustangs. He had seven punts on Saturday for a total of 305 yards. With a long of 55 yards, he landed four within the 20-yard line and had one punt of 50-plus yards. Miller’s punt late in the game pinned the Mustangs down at the 19-yard line with 2:51 remaining. The punt helped lead to a Cal Poly fumble on their own 44-yard line, which led to SUU taking over and taking a knee to seal the win, 20-14.
Other Nominees for ROOT SPORTS Offensive Player of the Week: Gage Gubrud, Eastern Washington; Mitch Gueller, Idaho State; Gresch Jensen, Montana; Keaton Studsrud, North Dakota; Josh Kraght, Portland State; Jay Green Jr., Weber State
Other Nominees for ROOT SPORTS Defensive Player of the Week: Keenan Williams, Eastern Washington; Mario Jenkins, Idaho State; Jesse Sims, Montana; Mac Bignell, Montana State; Luke Nelson, Northern Colorado; Artuz Manning; Chinedu Ahanonu, Southern Utah
Other Nominees for ROOT SPORTS Special Teams Player of the Week: Jordan Dascalo, Eastern Washington; Andy Whittier, Idaho State; Tim Semenza, Montana; Griffin Roehler, Northern Arizona
Press release courtesy of Denise Thompson – Big Sky Conference. All Rights Reserved.
