Weber State University Athletics
Eight Wildcats Earn 2009 First Team All-Big Sky Conference Football Honors
11/24/2009 9:00:00 PM | Football
OGDEN, Utah (Nov. 24, 2009) - Six players were unanimous selections to the 2009 All-Big Sky Conference Football team, which was selected by the league coaches on Monday and released on Tuesday.
Weber State senior wide receiver Tim Toone, Montana senior wide receiver Mark Mariani, Montana State guard senior Jeff Hansen, and Montana tackle Levi Horn were unanimous selections on the offense. Montana State senior defensive end Dane Fletcher and Eastern Washington junior linebacker J.C. Sherritt were unanimous defensive selections.
For the second time in three seasons, Eastern Washington quarterback Matt Nichols was voted the Offensive Player of the Offensive Player of the Year. The 6-foot-3, 220 senior from Cottonwood, Calif., rolled up a league-high 3,454 yards of total offense during the regular season. He completed 67 percent of his passes for 3,369 yards with 30 touchdowns and just five interceptions. His efficiency rating of 164.1 ranks fourth in the nation, and he's fifth in the nation in total offense. Nichols holds the Big Sky's all-time record in total offense and is just 53 yards away from becoming the league's all-time leading passer.
Fletcher, a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award, was named the Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-2, 245-pound senior from Bozeman, Mont., leads the league with 17 tackles for loss. His average of 1.89 ranks second in the nation. Fletcher tallied 6.5 sacks and 66 total tackles. He anchored a defense which ranks first in the league and seventh nationally against the rush.
Sacramento State junior safety Zach Schrader, who transferred to the Hornets after his previous school Division II Western Washington dropped itsfootball program, was tabbed the Newcomer of the Year. The 6-1, 195-pounder from Issaquah, Wash., recorded 102 tackles, which ranks fourth in the league. He also forced a league-high four fumbles and intercepted four passes.
Weber State senior running back Trevyn Smith made history, becoming just the third player in the 47-year history of the league to earn First Team honors four straight seasons. Smith joins Nevada running back Charvez Foger and Weber State's Scott Shields as the only players in league history to earn the four-peat.
Smith, a 5-10, 210-pound senior from Springville, Utah, needs 21 rushing yards in Weber State's first-round playoff game to reach 1,000 yards for the fourth straight season. Smith ranks third on the Big Sky's all-time rushing list with 5,007 yards and ranks fourth place in all-purpose yards with 6,376. He's a candidate for the Walter Payton Award.
Five players were repeat selections from the 2008 First Team, including Mariani and Toone. Mariani, a senior from Havre, Mont., has caught 50 passes for 980 yards with nine touchdowns. Toone, a senior from Peoria, Ariz., caught a league-high 77 passes for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns during the regular season. Toone was also named to the First Team as a return specialist. He leads the nation with a punt return average of 21.2 per game and had two 90-plus returns for touchdowns this season, including a BigSky-record 95-yarder.
Also tabbed to the top team for a second straight season were Weber State center Kyle Mutcher, Wildcat defensive back Josh Morris, and teammate Kevin Linehan, a defensive end. Morris is a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award.
Nichols was a first-team pick in 2007. Portland State fullback senior Bobby McClintock returned to the First Team after last making it in 2006 as a freshman. Regular-season champion Montana led the First Team with nine overall selections. Guard Terran Hillesland, running back Chase Reynolds and fullback Kevin Klaboe were named on offense, along with Mariani and Horn. Inside linebacker Shawn Lebsock, cornerback Trumaine Johnson, and safety Shann Schillinger made the defensive squad. Sophomore Cole Lockwood was the First Team Special Teams player. Reynolds, a junior from Drummond, Mont., has rushed fro 1,159 yards and 15 touchdowns. He's a candidate for the Walter Payton Award.
Weber State landed seven on the first team. Toone was joined by Mutcher, Smith, Linehan, Morris, linebacker Taylor Sedillo and punter Mike Snoy.
Nichols, tight end Nathan Overbay and sophomore running back Taiwan Jones were EWU players named to the first team. Tackle Renard Williams and Sherritt were the Eagles' defensive picks.
Overbay caught a league-high 12 touchdown passes. Jones, a defensive player last season, averaged an amazing 7.4 yards per carry and ranks second in the nation in all-purpose yards at 195 per game. Sherritt, a Buck Buchanan Award Candidate leads the nation in tackles, with 154. He has 11.5 tackles for loss
MSU's Hansen, a 6-4, 297-pounder from Great Falls, Mont., anchored the Montana State offensive line, which helped the Bobcats rank second in the league in total offense. Teammate Mike Person, a junior tackle, also made the first team from the Bobcats' offensive line. Defensive tackle Dan Ogden joined Fletcher on the first team from the Bobcats' defense.
Northern Arizona placed three players on the First Team: Senior running back Alex Henderson, who finished the regular season with a league-high 1,166 rushing yards, senior wide receiver Ed Berry (75 catches, 1,075 yards), and junior safety Matt Estrada.
Idaho State sophomore linebacker A.J. Storms (120 tackles) and Bengal punter Jon Vanderwielen were also named to the first team. Vanderwielen leads the Big Sky and ranks second in the nation with an average of 44.7 yards per punt.
Portland State sophomore Zach Brown, who also doubles as a receiver, was selected as the First Team kicker. Brown made 18-of-25 field goals this season.
MVP Offense: Matt Nichols, Sr., QB, Eastern Washington
MVP Defense: Dane Fletcher, Sr., DE, Montana State
Newcomer of The Year : Zach Schrader, Jr., S, Sacramento State
Unanimous Selections: Marc Mariani, WR, Montana, Tim Toone, WR, Weber State, Levi Horn, OT, Montana Jeff Hansen, OG, Montana State Dane
Fletcher, DE, Montana State J.C. Sherritt, LB, Eastern Washington
Four-Time Selections: Trevyn Smith, Jr., RB, Weber State
Two-Time Selections: WR - Tim Toone, WSU (2008, 2009), WR - Marc
Mariani, UM (2008, 2009) C - Kyle Mutcher, WSU (2008, 2009) DE -
Kevin Linehan, WSU (2008, 2009) CB - Josh Morris, WSU (2008,
2009) QB - Matt Nichols, EWU (2007, 2009) FB - Bobby McClintock, PSU (2006, 2009)
Wide Receivers *#Tim Toone (5-10, 165 Sr. Peoria, AZ / Peoria HS) WEBER STATE
*#Marc Mariani, Sr., Montana
Ed Berry, Sr., Northern Arizona
Tackles #Levi Horn, Sr., Montana
Mike Person, Jr., Montana State
Guards Terran Hillesland, Sr., Montana
#Jeff Hansen, Sr., Montana State
Center *Kyle Mutcher (6-3, 300 Sr. Park City, UT / Park City HS) WEBER STATE
Tight end Nathan Overbay, Sr., Eastern Washington
Quarterback *Matt Nichols, Sr., Eastern Washington
Running backs Chase Reynolds, Jr. Montana
^Trevyn Smith (5-9, 210 Sr. Springville, UT / Springville HS) WEBER STATE
Taiwan Jones, So., Eastern Washington
Alex Henderson, Sr., Northern Arizona
Fullback Kevin Klaboe, Sr., Montana
*Bobby McClintock, Sr., Portland State
Placekicker Zach Brown, Fr., Portland State
Return Specialist Tim Toone (5-10, 165 Sr. Peoria, AZ / Peoria HS) WEBER STATE
*Two-Time Selection ^Three-Time Selection #Unanimous Selection
Tackles Renard Williams, So., Eastern Washington
Dan Ogden, Jr., Montana State
Ends #Dane Fletcher, Sr., Montana State
*Kevin Linehan (6-3, 245 Sr. Los Alamitos, CA / Los Alamitos HS) WEBER STATE
Outside linebackers J.C. Sherritt, Jr., Eastern Washington
A.J. Storms, So., Idaho State
Inside linebackers Shawn Lebsock, Sr., Montana
Taylor Sedillo (5-11, 235 Jr. Salt Lake City, UT / Skyline HS) WEBER STATE
Cornerbacks Trumaine Johnson, So., Montana
*Josh Morris (6-0, 190 Sr. Ada, Oklahoma / Ada HS-N.E. Oklahoma JC) WEBER STATE
Safeties Shann Schillinger, Sr., Montana
Matt Estrada, Jr., Northern Arizona
Punter Mike Snoy (6-2, 180 Sr. Layton, UT / Northridge HS) WEBER STATE
Jon Vanderweilen, Sr., Idaho State
Special Teams Cole Lockwood, So., Montana
*Two-Time Selection #Unanimous Selection
Wide Receivers Aaron Boyce, Sr., Eastern Washington
Tony Davis, Sr., Eastern Washington
Brandyn Reed, Jr., Sacramento State.
Tackles Ryne Holstrom, Sr., Northern Arizona
Nestor Cruz (6-4, 305 Sr. Fresno, CA / Central HS-Reedley JC) WEBER STATE
Guards Matt Lemley, Sr., Sacramento State
J.C. Oram ( 6-4, 280 Soph. Slaterville, UT / Fremont HS) WEBER STATE
Center Alex Verlanic, Jr., Montana
Tight end Steve Pfahler, Sr., Montana
Quarterback Michael Herrick, Jr., Northern Arizona
Running backs Aaron Mason, Sr., Montana State
Fullback Bo Bolen (5-9, 200 RsFr. Aurora, CO / Grandview HS) WEBER STATE
Placekicker Matt Myers, So., Northern Arizona
Return Specialist Marc Mariani, Sr., Montana
Tackles Christian Clark, Jr., Sacramento State
Austin Mullins, Sr., Montana
Ends Jace Palmer, Sr., Montana
Isaac Bond, So., Northern Arizona
Outside linebackers Ryan Pedersen, Sr., Portland State
Brandon Fisher, Sr., Montana
Inside linebackers John Eddy, Jr., Northern Colorado
Clay Bignell, So., Montana State
Stevon Thomas, Sr., Northern Arizona
Cornerbacks Korey Askew, Jr., Northern Colorado
Kevin Retoriano, Sr., Montana State
Safeties Zach Schrader, Jr., Sacramento State
Beau Hadley (6-0, 195 Sr. Taylor, UT / Fremont HS) WEBER STATE
Punter Augie Heath, So., Sacramento State
Special Teams Ryan Lutz, Sr., Northern Colorado
Wide Receivers - Kelvin Krosch, So., Idaho State; Tyler Palmer, Sr., Montana; Everett Gilbert, Fr., Montana State; Conrad Meadows, Sr., Northern Arizona; Curt Sweeney, Sr., Northern Arizona; Alex Thompson, Sr., Northern Colorado; Dylan Lane, Jr., Sacramento State; Mike Phillips (6-1, 190 Jr. Seaside, CA / Monterey HS) WEBER STATE
Tackles - Chris Thomas, Sr., Eastern Washington; Chris Dyk, Sr., Montana; Matt Luenen, Sr., Portland State.
Guards - Ryan Forney, Sr., Eastern Washington; Jon Opperud, So., Montana; Kris Poindexter, Jr., Northern Arizona; Moses Punzal, Sr., Portland State. Peter Lenz, Sr., Sacramento State.
Center - Chris Powers, So., Eastern Washington; Ryan Henry, Sr., Idaho State; Jeff Hines, Jr., Northern Arizona; Alex Shapiro, So., Northern Colorado; Tyler Staley, Sr., Portland State.
Tight end Dan Beaudin, Sr., Montana; Joe Schreibeis, Sr., Montana State; Shaun Fitzpatrick, Sr., Northern Arizona; Cody Nakamura (6-2, 240 Sr. Wailuku, HI / Baldwin HS) WEBER STATE
Quarterback - Cameron Higgins (6-2, 210 Jr. Honolulu, HI / St. Louis HS) WEBER STATE
Bryan Waggener, Sr.,Northern Colorado.
Running backs - Thomas Brooks-Fletcher, Sr., Montana
Placekicker - Jarret Huk, Idaho State; Brody McKnight, Montana; Jason Cunningham, So., Montana State; Chris Diniz, Jr., Sacramento State.
Return Specialist - Aaron Woods, Sr., Portland State
Tackles - Tyler Hobbs, Jr., Montana; Jason Da'Alba, So., Montana State; Dwight Boyd, So., Northern Arizona; Ryan Eastman (6-0, 270 Soph. Honolulu, HI / St. Louis HS); Maiah Fa'atoafe, (6-0, 280 Fr. Honolulu, HI / Aiea HS) WEBER STATE
Ends - Jacob Kragt, Sr., Eastern Washington; Severin Campbell, Jr., Montana; Brandon Vance, Jr., Northern Arizona; Nick Hernon, So., Northern Colorado; John Laidet, So., Montana State; Kevin Moore, Sr., Sacramento State.
Outside linebackers - Makai Borden, Sr., Eastern Washington; Jody Owens, Fr., Montana State; Reid Worthington, Jr., Northern Arizona; Nick Webb (6-4, 220 Soph. Salt Lake City, UT / East HS) WEBER STATE
Inside linebackers - Phillip Arias, Jr., Idaho State; Matt King, Jr., Northern Colorado; Ryan Rau, So., Portland State; Erik Pedersen, Sr., Portland State.
Cornerbacks - Andrew Swink, Sr., Montana; DeShawn Shead, So., Portland State; Thyrell Lewis (5-9, 175 Sr. Hawthorne, CA / Taft HS - Mt. San Antonio JC) WEBER STATE
Safeties - Matt Johnson, So., Eastern Washington; Kevin Hatch, Sr., Eastern Washington; Chris Holmesly, Jr., Idaho State; Erik Stoll, Jr., Montana; Michael Rider, Jr., Montana State; Max Hewitt, Jr., Northern Colorado; Cody Worthen, So., Portland State; Jordan Brown (6-2, 175 Jr. Brigham City, UT / Box Elder HS - Snow JC) WEBER STATE
Punter - Sean Wren, So., Montana.
SPECIAL TEAMS HONORABLE MENTION
Tanner Ripley, Jr., Montana State; Taelor Worrell, Jr., Northern Arizona; Nick Kalpin, So., Portland State; John Feaster, Fr., Sacramento State; Caldwell Taylor (6-5, 220 Soph. Deweyville, UT / Bear River HS) WEBER STATE.
