Big Sky Conference

Studsrud, Risner, Dawson honored by Big Sky

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BIG SKY CONFERENCE PRESS RELEASE

A multiple touchdown pass performance, double-digit tackles and a 96-yard kickoff return highlight the milestones for this week’s Big Sky Conference Players of the Week.

North Dakota quarterback Keaton Studsrud is the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week award, Northern Colorado safety Taylor Risner is the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week award and Portland State kick returner Kahlil Dawson is the Special Teams Player of the Week, as each helped their respective teams improve to 2-0 records.

Studsrud, a sophomore quarterback from St. Louis Park, Minnesota, completed 19-of-30 passes for 260 yards and three first-half touchdowns in North Dakota’s 21-18 win over the Drake Bulldogs. Studsrud finished the victory with career highs in completions (19), passing yards (260) and passing touchdowns (3) as UND improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2012.

Northern Colorado moved to 2-0 with a 34-10 win over Houston Baptist of the Southland Conference, and Risner factored prominently in the final decision. The junior safety from Wiggins, Colorado, registered a career-high 16 tackle, including one for loss and notched a pass breakup. He helped lead a defense that forced three Huskies fumbles.

Dawson’s performance helped lift Portland State’s spirits in the first conference game of the season. Receiving the kickoff after an Idaho State touchdown, Dawson scampered 96-yards into the end zone, delivering a touchdown that kept the Vikings from ever looking back in a 34-14 road win over the Bengals. The sophomore was the first Portland State player to return a kickoff for a touchdown in five seasons, and averaged 64.5 yards on two returns.

Nominees for the Offensive Player of the Week included: Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington; Josh Cook Jr., Idaho State; Chris Martin, UC Davis; Joe Protheroe, Cal Poly; Case Cookus, Northern Arizona; Alex Kuresa, Portland State; and Trae Riek, Northern Colorado.

Nominees for the Defensive Player of the Week included: Alek Kackmarik, Eastern Washington; Hayden Stout, Idaho State; Derik Hall, Northern Arizona; Jeremy Lutali, Portland State; Cole Reyes, North Dakota; and Mitch Tulane, Weber State.

Nominees for the Special Teams Player of the Week included: Simba Webster, Eastern Washington; Ellis Onic II, Northern Colorado; Mitch Meindel, North Dakota; and Eric Wilkes, Weber State; Ryan Hawkins, Northern Arizona.

 

 

 

 

 

About Colter Nuanez

Colter Nuanez is the co-founder and senior writer for Skyline Sports. After spending six years in the newspaper industry with stops at the Missoulian, the Ellensburg Daily Record and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the former Washington Newspaper Association Sportswriter of the Year and University of Montana Journalism School graduate ('09) has cultivated a deep passion for sports journalism during his 13-year career covering the Big Sky Conference. In August of 2014, Colter and brother Brooks merged their passions of writing and art to found Skyline Sports.

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