Safron, Goodwin, Hardin, Johnson Earn ROOT SPORTS Players of the Week
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OGDEN, Utah (Oct. 7, 2013) The Big Sky Conference has selected the ROOT SPORTS football Players of the Week for games played on Saturday, Oct. 5. Sacramento State QB Garrett Safron is the Offensive Player of the Week. Montana cornerback Anthony Goodwin is the defensive Player of the Week. Montana State returner Shawn Johnson and North Dakota returner Greg Hardin are the Co-Special Teams Players of the Week.
Safron, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound junior from Santa Monica, Calif., completed 26-of-39 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns in Sacramento State’s 37-21 win over Northern Colorado. Safron threw TD passes of 11, 12, and 13 yards. It was the fifth 300-yard passing game of his career. He completed passes to eight different receivers, and also ran for 33 yards to finish with 345 yards of total offense. Safron has thrown 16 touchdown games in Sacramento State’s last four games. Safron helped Sacramento State win its first two Big Sky games for the first time in school history.
Goodwin, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior from Murrieta, Calif., intercepted two passes, had seven more pass breakups and three tackles in No. 10 Montana’s 55-27 victory over Portland State. Both of Goodwin’s interceptions led to Montana touchdowns. His first interception came in the first quarter. He returned it 9 yards to the Portland State 36-yard line. His second interception came in the third quarter at the Portland State 45-yard line. The seven pass deflections are the most by a player in the FCS this season.
Hardin, a 5-11, 177-pound senior from Bellevue, Neb., returned a kick 99 yards for a touchdown in North Dakota’s 28-25 win over Idaho State. Hardin became the first player in school history to return three kicks for touchdowns in his career. Hardin’s return came in the third quarter and put his team up 21-10. Hardin had 126 receiving yards to finish with 225 all-purpose yards. He became the school’s all-time leader in receiving yards.
Johnson, a 5-9, 175-pound junior from Bakersfield, Calif., returned a kick 100 yards for a touchdown in Montana State’s 36-7 win over Northern Arizona. The kick return was Montana State’s first for a touchdown since 2008, and just the third 100-yarder in school history. Johnson finished the game with 246 all-purpose yards. He rushed for 92 yards with a 27-yard touchdown run, and also had 54 punt return yards.
ROOT SPORTS, the official television partner of the Big Sky Conference, is televising 10 conference games this season. Big Sky football returns to ROOT SPORTS on Oct. 19 when Montana State travels to Weber State.
Others Nominated
OFFENSE
Mario Brown, RB, Eastern Washington
Luke Austin, WR, Idaho State
Clay Pierson, TE, Montana
Cody Kirk, RB, Montana State
Greg Hardin, WR, North Dakota
Dimitri Stimphill, WR, Northern Colorado
Victor Dean, WR, Portland State
Gabe Manzanarez, RB, UC Davis
Fatu Moala, WR, Southern Utah
DEFENSE
Miquiyah Zamora, LB, Eastern Washington
Mitch Beckstead, LB, Idaho State
Deonte Flowers, CB, Montana State
Chavon Mackey, CB, North Dakota
Todd Davis, LB, Sacramento State
Chad Hansen, LB, Southern Utah
Steven Pitts, LB, UC Davis
Spencer Unga, Weber State
SPECIAL TEAMS
Ashton Clark, Ret., Eastern Washington
Brendon Garcia, K, Idaho State
Kendrick Van Ackeren, Montana
Andy Wilder, P, Northern Arizona
Tanner Ellingsen, Northern Colorado
Kyle Loomis, P, Portland State
Brock Miller, P, Southern Utah
Coby Wadman, P, UC Davis