OGDEN, Utah (October 3, 2016) – Two weeks into Big Sky Conference play, several teams have begun to distance themselves.
Whether the wins have been by a considerable margin, or tight on the scoreboard, three players were able to excel at their positions, while leading their teams to wins.
For contributions to their teams this past weekend, Eastern Washington receiver Cooper Kupp was named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week; Northern Colorado cornerback Marshaun Cameron was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week; and Eastern Washington returner Antoine Custer was named Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week.
Kupp had a 12-catch, 274-yard performance in a 63-30 victory against UC Davis, breaking the FCS record for career receiving yards. His current total of 5,417 yards broke the record of 5,250 yards, set by Elon’s Terrell Hudgins from 2006-09. Kupp has a record 63 career receiving touchdowns, and is second on the all-time FCS receptions list (352 catches, 43 behind the record of 395, set by Hudgins).
The senior receiver had scoring receptions of 71 and 32 yards from quarterback Gage Gubrud, as well as a non-scoring 52-yard catch, giving him 30 plays of 40 yards or more in his Eastern career. He came one yard from his school record of 275 receiving yards, last year at Northern Colorado, and now has averaged a TD reception for every 5.6 catches in his career.
Northern Colorado is 3-1 for the first time since 2003, and the Bears picked up a 21-18 win over Northern Arizona to open league play. Cameron, a freshman cornerback, had a career-high 13 tackles, along with two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.
Eastern Washington’s Custer earns weekly special teams honors for the second time this season. Custer opened the third quarter with a 55-yard return this time, leading to a short touchdown drive to pull EWU within two points, 23-21. The lead changed hands twice before the Eagles scored the final 35 points of the game. He also had a 16-yard return versus the Aggies, and is averaging 54.7 yards on three returns this season.
Nominees for Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week include: Paris Penn, Portland State; KW Williams, Idaho State; Trae Riek, Northern Colorado; Brady Gustafson, Montana; Keaton Studsrud, North Dakota; Manusamoa Luuga, UC Davis; and Nate Ketteringham, Sacramento State.
The nominees for Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week include: Miquiyah Zamora, Eastern Washington; Ryan Johnson, Montana; Xavier Coleman, Portland State; Tank Johnson, North Dakota; Manoah Pearson, Sacramento State; and Jayson Miller, Idaho State.
Other nominees for Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week include: Eric Williams, Montana; and Colby Wadman, UC Davis.
This press release is courtesy of Jon Oglesby – Big Sky Conference. All Rights Reserved.
