Weber State University Athletics
Weber State Places A Record 12 Players On the All-Big Sky First Team
11/25/2008 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Ogden, Utah - Weber State, the 2008 Big Sky Conference co-champions, and automatic berth winner into the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs, had a record 12 players earn FIRST TEAM All-Big Sky Conference honors. The all league teams were announced Tuesday morning by the Big Sky Conference office. Voting for the players was done by the league's nine head football coaches. ... The previous record was 11 first team players by the 2004 Eastern Washington Eagles and the 1985 University of Nevada Wolf Pack. The Wildcats had 20 total players earn First, Second or Honorable Mention team honors.
Weber State quarterback CAMERON HIGGINS (6-2, 195 Soph. / Hawai'i Kai, Hawai'i) was named the 2008 Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Higgins becomes just the second Wildcat to earn that honor. WSU record-setting quarterback Jamie Martin (6-4, 190) was the 1991 player of the year and shared the honor in 1992 with Idaho running back Devon Pearce.
"This is a tremendous honor for our team, coaching staff, school and fans," said WSU head coach, Ron McBride. "Many of these kids came to us four years ago when we took over and have worked hard on and off the field to achieve this success. My staff has done a tremendous job of preparing them week in and week out and they need to recognized for their effort as well. We have a solid foundation in place upon which to build this program onward and upwards."
Higgins finished the 2008 regular season as the Big Sky Conference leader in Passing (3,791 yards), Total Offense (3,701 yards) and Passing Efficiency (171.50). He completed 265-392 passes for 3,808 yards and 34 touchdowns this season, guiding the Wildcats to a 9-3 record overall and a 7-1 mark in Big Sky Conference play. Higgins was also named First Team All-Big Sky, but did not receive a unanimous vote. Higgins was the 2007 Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year and earned honorable mention all-Big Sky honors.
TREVYN SMITH (5-9, 210 Jr. RB / Springville, Utah) was a unanimous pick as the league's top running back. Smith became just the second player in Big Sky Conference history to lead the league in total rushing yards for three straight seasons. Smith has 253 carries for 1,344 yards and 18 touchdowns to go along with 54 receptions for 612 yards and six touchdowns. Smith's 24 touchdowns is the MOST THIS SEASON in NCAA Division I FCS. He is also the only running back in Division I FCS this season with over 1,000 rushing yards and over 500 receiving yards. Smith was named to the First Team for a third straight season.
MARCUS MAILEI (6-1, 245 Sr. FB / Salt Lake City, Utah) made the backfield a complete first team sweep for the Wildcats. Mailei earned the honor for a second straight season. Mailei earned the selection by his overall play as a blocker, runner and pass receiver. He had just seven carries for 23 yards, but had 19 receptions for 178 yards and two touchdowns. His blocking ability helped Smith to the rushing stats and protected Higgins on passing situations.
TIM TOONE (5-10, 165 Jr. / Peoria, Arizona) was an honorable mention selectee last year as a sophomore, but earned First Team honors this season. Toone was 7th in the Big Sky in Receptions Per Game (5.58), but 2nd in Receiving Yards Per Game at 102.5. he has 67 receptions for 1,230 yards and six touchdowns, and has 106 career receptions for 2,203 yards and 18 touchdowns. He needs just one more TD catch to become WSU's career leader in that category.
All success on offense begins with the offensive line and the Wildcats place THREE player on the Big Sky First Team. PAUL CARPENTER (6-6, 310 Sr. OT / Scottsdale, Arizona) and KYLE MUTCHER (6-3, 295 Jr. OC) both made the first team after earning honorable mention honors in 2007. LAWAIA NAIHE (6-2, 300 Sr. / Anahola, Hawai'i) was moved from center to guard during the 2008 Spring practice sessions. He settled into the left guard spot and was a big factor in the offensive numbers for Higgins, Smith, Mailei and Toone. Naihe, who was 24 years old when he began his collegiate career at Montana-Western for one season, Orange Coast JC for one season and WSU for two seasons, will turn 27 years old on November 30 and has a wife and two children.
"Cameron, Trevyn and Timmy had big numbers this season, but they will each tell you it was because of the play along the offensive line," said McBride. "J.C. (Oram) earned second team honors and in my mind, Zac Carlson should have gotten some recognition as well."
ORAM (6-4, 295 RsFr. / Slaterville, Utah), stepped in last Spring and established himself as the right guard replacing 2007 All-Big Sky First Teamer Dimitri Tsoumpas. Oram played and started in all 12 games after red-shirting the 2007 campaign.
Also named to the Second Team Offense was tight end CODY NAKAMURA (6-1, 215 Jr. / Wailuku, Hawai'i). Nakamura, who played the first two seasons as a wide receiver, was moved to the tight end spot last Spring when the Wildcats had only one body at the spot for practice sessions. He quickly learned the position and had an outstanding Spring. Coming into the 2008 season he had just 10 receptions for 71 yards and no touchdowns. He burst on the scene in 2008 with 42 receptions for 682 yards and a team high NINE TD receptions.
The Wildcat's DEFENSE had FIVE First Team selectees. BRYCE SCANLON (6-3, 295 Sr. DT / Evanston, Wyoming) was named first team for a second year in a row. Scanlon had 48 total tackles, 14 unassisted, with 6.5 tackles for loss, one quarterback sack and one blocked kick.
J.D. FOLSOM (6-3, 235 Sr. SLB / Salmon, Idaho) earned First Team honors in 2008 after garnering second team honors in 2007. Folsom had 62 tackles in 10 games (missed games @Montana State and Northern Colorado) with 22 unassisted. He had three tackles for loss, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
KEVIN LINEHAN (6-3, 255 Jr. DE / Los Alamitos, California) was honorable mention last season, but put up some impressive numbers in 2008 to be named to the First Team. Linehan was second to Eastern Washington's Greg Peach in Quarterback Sacks in the Big Sky Conference this season with 10.5, and was second to Peach in Tackles for Loss with 14.5. He and teammate Beau Hadley were one of only three players in the Big Sky this season with FIVE FORCED FUMBLES. One of those fumbles he not only forced, but recovered and ran 94-yards for a touchdown in the season opening game at home vs. Montana-Western. He was third on the team in total tackles with 64 and had 27 unassisted stops.
BEAU HADLEY (6-0, 215 Jr. Safety / Taylor, Utah) and JOSH MORRIS (6-0, 180 Jr. / Ada,. Oklahoma) each earned all-conference honors for the first time in their collegiate careers. Both were named First Team All-Big Sky.
As mentioned above, Hadley was one of only three players in the Big Sky this season with five forced fumbles. He also had two fumble recoveries as well. Hadley stepped in and replaced WSU's 2007 tackles leader, Ty Sparrow, at one of the safety spots, and he did an admirable job because he too, is the team leader in total tackles with 111 this season, 54 unassisted. He has three interceptions and four pass break ups as well, and added one quarterback sack. He was third in the Big Sky Conference in Tackles Per Game at 9.2. Hadley also earned Honorable Mention honors as a Special Teams player as well.
Morris, saw considerable action, and was a three-game starter, in 2007. He has started in all 12 games in 2008 and is the WSU team leader in interceptions with four. Three of those picks came in the November 8 game at Idaho State becoming only the 7th player in WSU football history to have three or more interceptions in a single game. He has 52 total tackles in 2008 with seven pass break ups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and a quarterback sack.
"Our defense has been very steady all season," said McBride. "They have forced a lot of turnovers which has in turn given the offense more opportunities. Beau Hadley and Josh Morris really took their play to another level this season. They have been two big keys to our overall success on that side of the ball."
Earning Honorable Mention All-Big Sky honors were wide receiver MIKE PHILLIPS (6-1, 185 Soph. / Seaside, California), defensive lineman and first-year freshman RYAN "The Beast" EASTMAN (6-0, 275 Fr. / Honolulu, Hawai'i) ,BRYANT ETEUATI (5-7, 160 Sr. Return Specialist / Layton, Utah), PATE MOLENI (6-3, 265 Sr. DE / West Valley City, Utah), BIFF SWAN (6-0, 235 Sr. MLB / Jerome, Idaho) and SCOTTY GOODLOE (6-1, 195 Sr. Safety / San Diego, California)
Phillips has 33 catches for 569 yards and six touchdowns this season. Eastman has played in all 12 games and was a starter vs. Portland State. He has 21 total tackles (12 unassisted), one forced fumble and two quarterback sacks for a minus 13 yards.
Eteuati, who was suspended for three games for team rules violations, had 19 kickoff returns for a 23.9 per return average and 23 punt returns for a 12.0 per return average. He also has 41 receptions for 474 yards and five touchdowns.
Moleni earned honorable mention honors as a sophomore in 2006. This season he had 37 total tackles and was second to Linehan on the team in quarterback sacks with 4.5 for minus 22 yards.
Swan has started all 12 games at the middle linebacker spot. He's second to Beau Hadley on the team in total tackles with 77 (21 unassisted) and has one pass interception.
Goodloe played in the program for five years. In 2008 he has started all 12 games and has 46 total tackles (26 unassisted), three interceptions and is the team leader in pass break ups with eight. One of his interceptions was returned 41-yards for a touchdown vs. Portland State. He also has two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
AWARD WINNERS
Offensive Player of the Year - Cameron Higgins, QB, Weber State
Defensive Player of the Year - Greg Peach, DE, Eastern Washington
Newcomer of the Year - Deonte Williams, RB, Northern Arizona
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
Wide Receivers Tony Washington, Sr., Sacramento State
Tim Toone, Jr., Weber State
Marc Mariani, Jr., Montana
Tackles Paul Carpenter, Sr., Weber State
Lou Saucedo, Sr., Montana State
Guards Colin Dow, Sr., Montana
Lawaia Naihe, Sr., Weber State
Center Kyle Mutcher, Jr. Weber State
Tight end *Ryan Chelsa, Sr., Northern Colorado
Quarterback Cameron Higgins, So., Weber State
Running Backs #@Trevyn Smith, Jr., Weber State
Demetrius Crawford, Sr., Montana State
Fullback *Marcus Mailei, Sr., Weber State
Place kicker Robbie Dehaze, Sr., Northern Arizona
Return Specialist Marc Mariani, Jr., Montana
*Two-Time Selection #Three-Time Selection @Unanimous Selection
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Tackles *Bryce Scanlon, Sr., Weber State
Steve Nwogbe, Sr., Northern Arizona
Ends *Greg Peach, Sr., Eastern Washington
Kevin Linehan, Jr., Weber State
Outside *Mike Brannon, Sr., Sacramento State
Linebackers J.D. Folsom, LB, Weber State
Inside *Cyrus Mulitalo, Sr., Sacramento State
Linebackers Cristian Sarmento, Sr., Northern Colorado
Cornerbacks *K.J. Gerard, Sr., Northern Arizona
Josh Morris, Jr., Weber State
Safeties #@Colt Anderson, Sr., Montana
Beau Hadley, Jr., Weber State
Kevin Retoriano, Jr., Montana State
Punter Robbie Dehaze, Sr., Northern Arizona
FIRST TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS
Special Teams Kenyon Blue, Sr., Idaho State
*Two-Time Selection #Three-Time Selection @Unanimous Selection
First-Team Breakdown by Team
Eastern Washington 1
Idaho State 1
Montana 4 (counting Mariani at two positions)
Montana State 3
Northern Arizona 4 (counting Dehaze at two positions)
Northern Colorado 2
Sacramento State 3
Weber State 12
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
Wide Receivers Aaron Boyce, Jr., Eastern Washington
Eddie Thompson, Sr., Idaho State
Brynsen Brown, Jr., Eastern Washington
Tackles Levi Horn, Jr., Montana
Brent Russum, Sr., Montana
Guards Jeff Hansen, Jr., Montana State
J.C. Oram, Fr., Weber State
Center J.D. Quinn, Sr., Montana
Tight end Cody Nakamura, Jr., Weber State
Quarterback Cole Bergquist, Sr., Montana
Running Backs Chase Reynolds, So., Montana
Bryan Hilliard, So., Sacramento State
Fullback Alexis Alexander, Sr., Eastern Washington
Place kicker Jason Cunningham, Fr., Montana State
Felipe Macias, Sr., Eastern Washington
Return Specialist Aaron Woods, Jr., Portland State
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
Tackles Lance Witherspoon, Sr., Eastern Washington
Craig Mettler, Sr., Montana
Ends Dane Fletcher, Jr., Montana State
Jason Belford, Sr., Eastern Washington
Outside Ryan Phipps, Sr., Idaho State
Linebackers Cody Dowd, Jr., Northern Arizona
Inside Bobby Daly, Sr., Montana State
Linebackers Andy Schantz, Sr., Portland State
Cornerbacks DeShawn Shead, Fr., Portland State
D.J. Clark, Sr., Idaho State
Safeties Shann Schillinger, Jr., Montana
Adam Wright, Sr., Northern Arizona
Punter Fritz Brayton, Sr., Eastern Washington
SECOND TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS
Special Teams Tom Martin, Sr., Montana
HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE
Wide receivers - Tony Davis, Eastern Washington; Jaron Taylor, Idaho State; Isiah Burel, Idaho State; Ed Berry, Northern Arizona; Conrad Meadows, Northern Arizona; Skyler Moore, Northern Arizona; Mike Ferriter, Montana; Desean Thomas, WR, Montana State; Brandon Smith, Northern Arizona; Aaron Woods, Portland State; Mario D'Ambrosio, Portland State; Mike Phillips, Weber State.
Tackles - Brice Leahy, Eastern Washington; Chris Thomas, Eastern Washington; Evan Dietrich-Smith, Idaho State; Chris Dyk, Montana; Mike Person, Montana State; Trevor Heekin, Northern Arizona; Ryan Kemp, Northern Colorado; Ray Navar, Sacramento State.
Guards - Terran Hillseland, Montana; Kris Poindexter, Northern Arizona; Chris Jones, Northern Colorado; Moses Punzal, Portland State; Matt Lemley, Sacramento State.
Center - Charlie Wulff, Eastern Washington; Kevin Meagher, Northern Arizona.
tight end - Nate Overbay, Eastern Washington; Dan Beaudin, Montana; Steven Pfahler, Montana; Brandon Bostick, Montana State; Brian Riley, Northern Arizona.
Quarterback - Matt Nichols, Eastern Washington; Bryan Waggener, Northern Colorado; Jason Smith, Sacramento State.
Running Back - Dale Morris, Eastern Washington; Deonte Williams, Northern Arizona, Andrew Schmidt, Montana.
Fullback - Trevor Messersmith, Idaho State; Kevin Klaboe, Montana; Bobby McClintock, Portland State.
Place kicker - Juan Gamboa, Sacramento State.
Return Specalist - J.D. Ponciano, Idaho State; Conrad Meadows, Northern Arizona, Bryant Eteuati, Weber State.
HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE
Tackles - Jesse Carlson, Montana; Christian Clark, Sacramento State; Ryan Eastman, Weber State.
Ends - Jace Palmer, Montana; Mike Stadnyk, Montana; Mike Battisti, Northern Arizona; Kyle Rath, Northern Arizona; Zach Nash, Sacramento State; Pate Moleni, Weber State.
Outside Linebackers - JC Sherritt, Eastern Washington; Zach Johnson, Eastern Washington, Brandon Fisher, Montana; Chase Gazzerro, Montana State; Jeff Price, Montana State; Joe Kenney, LB, Northern Colorado; K.J. McCrae, Portland State; Ryan Pedersen, Portland State; Michael Hickman, Sacramento State.
Inside Linebackers - Makai Borden, Eastern Washington; Shawn Lebsock, Montana; Tyler Corwin, Montana; Stevon Thomas, Northern Arizona; Erik Pedersen, Portland State; Biff Swan, Weber State.
Cornerback - Ryan Kelley, Eastern Washington; Trumaine Johnson, Montana; Ramon Lewis, Montana State; Myles Hayes, Northern Colorado; Deionte Gordon, Sacramento State.
Safeties - Matt Johnson, Eastern Washington; A.J. Storms, Idaho State; Max Hewitt, Northern Colorado; Scotty Goodloe, Weber State.
Punters - Jon Vanderwielen, Idaho State; Erik Fisher, Montana State.
SPECIAL TEAMS HONORABLE MENTION
Nick Ramos, Eastern Washington; Anthony Evans, Northern Arizona; Beau Hadley, Weber State
