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FIRST TEAM
SECOND TEAM
HONORABLE MENTION
OGDEN, UTAH (Nov. 22, 2011) - Co-Big Sky Conference champions Montana and Montana State both placed six player on the First Team of the 2011 All-Conference Team, which was released Tuesday. Both squads also claimed individual awards.
The All-Conference Team and individual award winners were selected by the nine Big Sky Conference coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own players.
Montana senior linebacker Caleb McSurdy was tabbed as the Defensive Player of the Year, while Montana State junior running back Tray Robinson garnered the Newcomer of the Year.
Eastern Washington quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, a leading candidate for the Walter Payton Award, was named the Offensive Player of the Year after becoming just the fourth player in league history to throw for 4,000 yards in 11 games.
Mitchell, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior from Katy, Texas, enjoyed one of the most prolific seasons in Big Sky history. Mitchell completed 318 of 503 passes (63.2 percent) for 4,009 yards with 33 touchdowns. Mitchell leads the nation in touchdown passes, total passing yards, passing yards per game, and total offense. He guided Eastern Washington to a 5-3 conference record and a 6-5 overall mark despite the team suffering a myriad of key injuries early in the season.
Mitchell helped Eastern Washington to the 2010 Division I National Championship, and finished his career with 19 victories in 26 starts. Mitchell’s 4,009 passing yards rank fifth all-time in Big Sky history. The three other quarterbacks who threw for 4,000 yards in just 11 games – Montana’s Dave Dickenson, Idaho’s John Friesz, and Weber State’s Jamie Martin – all won the Walter Payton Award.
McSurdy, a 6-foot-1, 242-pounder from Boise, Idaho, is fourth in the league with 113 total tackles. He also has 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. Montana’s defense finished the regular season tied for first in the league overall, allowing 321.5 yards per game. UM allowed a league-low 20.4 points and 123 rushing yards per game during the regular season. In conference play, UM surrendered 19 points and 318.1 yards per game.
Robinson, a 6-1, 221-pound junior from Euless, Texas, rushed for 572 yards and five touchdowns in his first season with the Bobcats after transferring from Nebraska. Robinson also had 15 catches for 155 yards, and was a standout on special teams, recording five tackles.
Montana and Montana State will both compete in the Division I Championship next weekend. Montana is the No. 4 seed in the 20-team tournament. The Grizzlies will play the winner of the first-round game between Central Arkansas/Tennessee Tech. Montana State will be at home against New Hampshire.
McSurdy led the six pack of Grizzlies on the First Team. Senior cornerback Trumaine Johnson, a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award, was named to the First Team for the third straight season. Offensive tackle Jon Opperud, tight end Greg Hardy, return specialist Jabin Sambrano, and defensive tackle Bryan Waldhauser rounded out the First-Team Grizzlies.
Johnson, who recorded 40 tackles and 10 pass breakups, is considered one of the best cover-corners in the nation, was one of six unanimous selections. McSurdy, Eastern Washington wide receiver Nicholas Edwards, Northern Arizona’s Zach Bauman, Montana State defensive tackle Zach Minter and Bobcat outside linebacker Jody Owens were the others.
Minter, a 6-1, 285-pound junior from Glendale, Ariz., enters the playoffs with 44 tackles – 10.5 for loss – seven sacks and seven quarterback hurries. Owens, a 6-1, 221-pound junior from Mesquite, Texas, enters the playoffs with 87 tackles – 11.5 for loss – five sacks, and an interception.
Senior wide receiver Elvis Akpla, senior offensive tackle Conrad Burbank, senior offensive tackle Alex Terrien, and sophomore running back Cody Kirk were the other Bobcats selected to the First Team. Kirk, a sophomore from Frenchtown, Mont., rushed for a 1,233 yards and 14 touchdowns. Akpla caught 49 passes for 941 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Edwards, a 6-3, 200-pound junior from Tacoma, Wash., put up huge numbers for Eastern Washington. He caught a school-record 95 passes for 1,250 yards with 19 touchdowns. The 19 touchdowns finished one shy of the Big Sky single-season record. He ranks third in the nation in scoring and fourth in receptions per game, receiving yards per game, and total receiving yards.
Edwards was one of five Eagles selected to the First Team. Senior center Chris Powers and senior safety Matt Johnson were selected for the second straight year. Mitchell and cornerback T.J. Lee were also named to the top squad.
Bauman, a 5-10, 200-pound sophomore from Chandler, Ariz., won the Big Sky rushing title with 1,435 yards. He scored 15 rushing touchdowns, and ranks eighth in the nation in all-purpose yards with an average of 162.5 yards per game. Lumberjack teammate Isaac Bond joined Bauman on the first team. Bond, a senior defensive end, is a repeat pick.
There were a total of eight players selected to the team for a second straight season. Weber State offensive guard J.C. Oram, Portland State running back Cory McCaffrey, Weber State linebacker Nick Webb, Sacramento State defensive end Zack Nash, Idaho State punter David Harrington, and Johnson and Powers of Eastern Washington were the repeat picks.
Idaho State linebacker A.J. Storms joined Trumaine Johnson as three-time selections. Storms, a 6-foot, 230-pound senior from Meridian, Idaho, tallied 122 tackles this season and finished his career with 434 total tackles, which ranks second all-time in league history.
Idaho State junior wide receiver Rodrick Rumble also garnered First-Team honors, after catching a Big Sky single-season record 112 passes for 1,348 yards with nine touchdowns.
Portland State, which finished a surprising 7-4 overall, placed four players on the first team. Senior safety DeShawn Shead, who moved from cornerback, was named to the top squad, along with junior kicker Zach Brown and McCaffrey, who missed the final six games with an injury. In five games, however, McCaffrey rushed for 731 yards and 13 touchdowns. Brown leads the nation in field goals with an average of 2.18 per game. He made 24 of 27 field goals, with a long of 53. Nevin Lewis was named to the No. 1 team as a special teams player. Lewis blocked three kicks this season, and was a mainstay on the Vikings’ special teams units.
Weber State freshman fullback Tevia Tolutau rounds out the First Team. He was the only freshman named to the First or Second Team.