The Big Sky Conference players of the week were announced on Monday by the league office. This week’s honors went to UC Davis’ Jake Maier for the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week, Weber State’s Jordan Preator for BSC Defensive Player of the Week, and North Dakota’s John Santiago for the Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week.
Maier, a sophomore quarterback, threw for a career-high 459 yards and four touchdowns to help UC Davis win the Battle for the Golden Horseshoe against Cal Poly. The Aggies defeated the Mustangs 31-28 to earn its first home victory over Cal Poly since the 2011 season. Maier completed his first 11 passes to start the game, while his 459-passing yards mark was the most by a UC Davis signal caller in the program’s Big Sky era.
North Dakota junior kick returner John Santiago/ by Brooks Nuanez
Preator had two interceptions and returned one for a touchdown in Weber State’s 41-27 win over Montana on Saturday. The junior picked off a Montana pass late in the first half, then had another interception in the fourth quarter that he returned 23 yards for a touchdown to help seal the win. It was his second two-interception performance this season. Preator also had five tackles on the day.
Santiago, a junior, accumulated 200 all-purpose yards, including a 64-yard punt return for a touchdown in North Dakota’s 48-21 victory at Portland State. It was the first punt return for a touchdown in the All-American’s career as he broke seven tackles en route to his 30th career touchdown. It was the third game this season Santiago racked up 200 or more all-purpose yards as he also had two kickoff returns of 30-plus yards in the contest. He currently leads the FCS with 1,495 all-purpose yards (166.1 ypg).
Other Nominees for ROOT SPORTS Offensive Player of the Week: James Madison, Idaho State; Nick LaSane, Montana State; Chance Brewington, Northern Arizona; Patrick Tyler, Southern Utah; Stefan Cantwell, Weber State.
Other Nominees for ROOT SPORTS Defensive Player of the Week: Adkin Aguirre, Idaho State; Josh Buss, Montana; Mac Bignell, Montana State; Jaxson Turner, North Dakota; Wes Sutton; Northern Arizona; Chance Bearnson, Southern Utah.
Other Nominees for ROOT SPORTS Special Teams Player of the Week: Rashaan Miller, Southern Utah; Jered Padmos, Montana State; Griffin Roehler, Northern Arizona; Trey Tuttle, Weber State.
The ROOT SPORTS Game of the Week will be Northern Arizona at Montana. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:35 p.m. MT.
