FARMINGTON, Utah (Nov. 8, 2021) - Idaho's Roshaun Johnson was named the ROOT SPORTS Big Sky Football Offensive Player of the Week after scoring six touchdowns on the ground to lead the Vandals to a win this past Saturday. Johnson was joined by the Montana State pair of Troy Andersen and Bryce Leighton who garnered the Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
The weekly honors were the first for all three student-athletes this season, while being the first on the year for Idaho overall and the third and fourth honors for Montana State in 2021.
Johnson carried the Vandals to victory over Southern Utah this past Saturday, as the running back set career highs and finished the game with 174 yards on the ground and six touchdowns. The six touchdowns broke the school record and came one shy of tying the Big Sky record for most rushing TDs in a game by a single player. The six touchdowns are also the most this season by any player in the FCS or FBS. Following his record-setting performance, Johnson purchased donuts for his offensive linemen that helped pave the way for the Vandal rushing attack.
Anderson made 15 stops and a half tackle for loss to pace MSU's stifling defense in the team's 23-20 win at No. 5 Eastern Washington this past Saturday. The Cats held presumptive Walter Payton Award frontrunner Eric Barriere to his lowest output of the season and kept EWU at a season-low 20 points for the contest. Andersen also had two pass breakups on the day, while making a key stop on second down of EWU's final drive to put the Eagles behind the sticks.
In a game dominated by field position, MSU's Leighton pinned EWU inside the 20-yard line with four of his five punts as the Bobcat special teams unit allowed just one punt return yard on the day. Leighton had punts downed at the 3, 14, 15, 17 and 27-yard lines, with his last punt of the day pinning EWU at its own three to begin the Eagles' final drive. EWU's average starting field position after Bobcat punts was at its own 15-yard line.
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Others Nominated
Off: Isaiah Ifanse (MSU), Davis Alexander (PSU), Cam Humphrey (Montana), Miles Hastings (UC Davis)
Def: Charles Akanno (Idaho),
Anthony Adams (PSU), David Hoage (UNC), Justin Ford (Montana), Josiah Erickson (Sac State), Cam Trimble (UC Davis)
ST: Gianna Smith (PSU), Kyle Sentkowski (Sac State), Brian Buschini (Montana), Daniel Whelan (UC Davis)
Past ROOT SPORTS Big Sky Football Players of the Week
Offensive
Aug. 30: Justin Miller, Southern Utah
Sept. 6: Eric Barriere/Hunter Rodrigues, EWU/UC Davis
Sept. 13: Hunter Rodrigues, UC Davis
Sept. 20: Eric Barriere, EWU
Sept. 27: Eric Barriere, EWU
Oct. 4: RJ Martinez, NAU
Oct. 11: Eric Barriere, EWU
Oct. 18: Eric Barriere, EWU
Oct. 25: Jake Dunniway, Sac State
Nov. 1: Malik Walker/Kevin Daniels, PSU/NAU
Nov. 8: Roshaun Johnson, Idaho
Defensive
Aug. 30: Kobe Singleton, Southern Utah
Sept. 6: Marcus Welnel, Montana
Sept. 13: David Hoage, UNC
Sept. 20: Harrison Beemiller, NAU
Sept. 27: Xander Gagnon, UNC
Oct. 4: Morgan Vest, NAU
Oct. 11: Jayden Dawson, Idaho State
Oct. 18: Daniel Hardy, Montana State
Oct. 25: Eddie Heckard, Weber State
Nov. 1: Morgan Vest, NAU
Nov. 8: Troy Andersen, Montana State
Special Teams
Aug. 30: Jake Gerardi, Southern Utah
Sept. 6: Isaiah Gomez/Brian Buschini, UC Davis/Montana
Sept. 13: Trent Tompkins, UC Davis
Sept. 20: DJ Arnson, NAU
Sept. 27: Kyle Sentkowski, Sac State
Oct. 4: Jackson Cleaver, EWU
Oct. 11: Kevin Ryan, Idaho State
Oct. 18: Blake Glessner, Montana State
Oct. 25: Daniel Whelan, UC Davis
Nov. 1: Rashid Shaheed, Weber State
Nov. 8: Bryce Leighton, Montana State