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The Big Sky Conference has selected its first football players of the week for the 2010 season. Eastern Washington running back Taiwan Jones is the offensive player of the week. Northern Colorado cornerback Korey Askew is the defensive player of the week. Portland State kicker Zach Brown is the special teams player of the week.
Jones, a 6-foot, 200-pound junior from Antioch, Wash., led the FCS in week one with a career-high 322 all-purpose yards in a 49-24 loss to Nevada on Sept. 2. Jones rushed the ball 12 times for 145 yards, an average of 12.1 yards per carry. He caught two passes for 92 yards, including an 82-yard touchdown on his first touch from scrimmage. The Walter Payton Award candidate also amassed 85 yards on four kick returns. His 322 all-purpose yards eclipsed his previous career high of 279 set last year against Sacramento State. This is Jones’ second career player of the week honor.
Askew, a 5-7, 175-pound senior from Denver, returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown, and tied for the team-high with five tackles in Northern Colorado’s 54-0 victory over Adams State. Askew put the Bears up 21-0 early in the second quarter with his one-handed interception and subsequent return. Askew and the Bear defense limited Adams State to just 60 passing yards. Northern Colorado posted its first shutout since the 2002 season. This is Askew’s first career player of the week honor.
Brown, a 6-1, 180-pound sophomore from Keizer, Ore., made three long field goals in Portland State’s 54-9 loss to Arizona State of the Pac-10 on Saturday. Brown connected from 43, 53 and 47 yards to account for all of the Vikings’ points. The 53-yarder was a career long, and tied the second-longest in school history. Brown, a preseason All-American, has made eight consecutive field goals and 17 of his last 19 dating back to last season. Brown is the first Viking in history to make three field goals longer than 50 yards. This is Brown’s third career player of the week.
Others Nominated
Offense
Tavoy Moore, RB, Idaho State
Justin Roper, QB, Montana
Zach Bauman, RB, Northern Arizona
Jace Davis, WR, Northern Colorado
Ray Fry, WR, Portland State
Cameron Higgins, QB, Weber State
Defense
Jeff Minnerly, S, Eastern Washington
Kenny Viser, DB, Idaho State
Jordan Tripp, LB, Montana
Jordan Craney, S, Montana State
Anthony Llanos, LB, Northern Arizona
Marquese Smith, CB, Sacramento State
DeShawn Shead, CB, Portland State
Jordan Brown, S, Weber State
Special Teams
Cameron Zuber, P, Eastern Washington
David Harrington, P, Idaho State
Peter Nguyen, Ret., Montana
Matt Myers, K, Northern Arizona
Jason Cunningham, K, Montana State
Cameron Kaman, P, Northern Colorado
Kyle Monson, Ret., Sacramento State
Shaun McClain, K, Weber State