FARMINGTON, Utah (September 30, 2019) – The Big Sky Conference announced its ROOT SPORTS football players of the week on Monday. The ROOT SPORTS Offensive Player of the Week honor went to Montana quarterback Dalton Sneed for the second straight week. Northern Colorado cornerback Michael Walker earned ROOT SPORTS Defensive Player of the Week accolades, while Weber State punter Doug Lloyd was named the ROOT SPORTS Special Teams honoree.
Sneed and Montana posted 528 total yards in a 45-20 road win over then-No. 4/5 UC Davis. It was Montana’s first road win over a ranked opponent since 2016. The senior completed 22 of his 33 passes (66 percent) to tie his career-high of five touchdown passes. He threw for 268 yards in the air, without giving up an interception or taking a sack. Sneed added 81 rushing yards to average 8.1 per carry. He finished the game with 349 yards of total offense, more than any other player in the league against a ranked opponent. Montana controlled the ball for 31:03, converting on 7 of 13 third-down opportunities, and scoring on 5 of 6 trips inside the red zone.
UNC’s Walker recorded two game-changing interceptions in the game, as he played a critical role in the team’s first win of the season over Idaho. Both of Walker’s interceptions came in the red zone to help UNC’s defense shut down Idaho’s offense. Walker’s first interception came on the 10-yard line with Idaho up by 10 with 51 seconds left in the first half, as he returned it eight yards. Walker’s second interception came in the endzone in the third quarter with the Vandals up by a touchdown with 4:05 to go in the third quarter. He became the first Bear since 2013 with a multiple interception game. He added in six tackles in the victory.
Weber State’s Lloyd had seven punts for an average of 46.7 yards per punt to aid Weber State in a 29-17 win over nationally-ranked Northern Iowa. He also had a career-long punt of 72 yards in the third quarter that pinned the Panthers at the two-yard line. Five of the seven punts for Lloyd landed inside the 20-yard line and three of his punts ended at the UNI two-yard line.
Other Nominees
Offense: Alexander Davis, PSU; Chris Helbig, SUU; Milo Hall, UNC; Kaden Jenks, WSU; Jalen Hamler, CP; Antoine Custer, EWU; Matt Struck, ISU; Travis Jonsen, MSU; Nick Romano, UI.
Defense: Nela Otukolo, SUU; Jace Lewis, UM; Matt Shotwell, CP; Colin Criner, EWU; Marque Collins, WSU; Brayden Konkol, MSU.
Special Teams: Judd Cockett, SUU; Ben Raybon, UNC; Adam Wilson, UM; Colton Theaker, CP; Nick Kokich, EWU; Kevin Ryan, ISU; Jered Padmos, MSU.
The ROOT SPORTS Game of the Week features Idaho State at Montana. Both teams are coming off league-opening wins. The game will kick off at 1 p.m. MT from Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
