Nov 21, 2006, 20:50 GMT
Ogden, UT - Northern Arizona senior quarterback Jason Murrietta was named the Offensive Player of the Year for the second time. Portland State senior linebacker Adam Hayward was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year. Northern Arizona freshman running back Alex Henderson earned the Newcomer of the Year.
Big Sky Conference champion Montana placed seven players on the first team. The Grizzlies finished 8-0 in league, and take a 10-1 record and a 10-game winning streak into the playoffs. Weber State put six players on the first team. Northern Arizona and Portland State each had five players named to the first team.
Murrietta, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior Walter Payton Award candidate from Glendale, Ariz., completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,827 yards with a school-record 34 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Murrietta, who won the league MVP as a freshman in 2003, had an efficiency rating of 168.3. In the eight conference games, Murrietta threw 28 touchdowns and three interceptions. Murrietta finished his career sixth on the Big Sky's all-time passing list with 10,726 yards, and is second with 94 touchdown passes.
Hayward, a 6-0, 235-pound senior Buck Buchanan Award candidate from Westminster, Calif., finished with 104 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles. He was twice named National Player of the Week by the Sports Network. Hayward led a Portland State defense, that allowed just 12.4 points per game in conference play. The Vikings' defense allowed just 10 touchdowns in eight league games. Hayward is the first Portland State player to win Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year.
Henderson, a 5-10, 195-pound freshman from Calabasas, Calif., burst onto the scene with 1,016 yards and five touchdowns. Henderson averaged 5.4 yards per carry. He had four 100-yard games, including a 265-yard effort against Eastern Washington. Henderson also caught 14 catches for 215 yards with one score, and averaged 39.5 yards per kick return with a touchdown. Henderson averaged a league-best 126.3 all-purpose yards per game.
Murrietta, Northern Arizona wide receiver Alex Watson, and Montana State wide receiver Michael Jefferson were the only unanimous picks. Watson, a junior from Long Beach, Calif., caught 82 passes for 1,017 yards and 15 touchdowns - all league highs. Jefferson, a senior from El Paso, Texas, caught 57 passes for 842 yards with eight touchdowns during the regular season.
Portland State junior offensive tackle Brennan Carvalho, Viking cornerback Dominic Dixon, Idaho State senior linebacker Pago Togafau, and Northern Arizona senior punter Rhian Madrid were all named to the first team for the second straight season. Montana defensive end Mike Murphy was named first team in 2004 as a sophomore. Murrietta was the first-team QB as a freshman in 2003.
Murphy was joined on the first team by teammates Eric Allen (WR), Cody Balogh (OT), Colin Dow (OG), Kory Biermann (DE), and safeties Toreey Thomas and Colt Anderson. Anderson was also named the first team All-Conference Special Teams Player.
Montana's defensive finished the regular season, as the Big Sky leader in rushing defense, passing defense, total defense, and scoring defense.
Portland State's other first-team picks included fullback Bobby McClintock and DT C.J. Niusulu
Weber State placed OT David Hale, running back Trevyn Smith, DT Rio Stotler, LB Tyler DeBry and cornerback Bo Smith, and returner Bryant Eteuati on the first team.
Linebacker Chris Hunsaker and tight end Shaun Fitzpatrick rounded out Northern Arizona's first-team picks.
Running back Josh Barnett, center George Yarno and Togafau were Idaho State's first-team picks.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE: QB - Jason Murrietta, Northern Arizona, WR - Alex Watson, Northern Arizona WR - Mike Jefferson, Montana State, WR - Eric Allen, Montana, OL - David Hale, Weber State, OL - Cody Balogh, Montana, OL - Brennan Carvalho, Portland State, OL - Colin Dow, Montana, OL - George Yarno, Idaho State, TE - Shaun Fitzpatrick, Northern Arizona, RB - Josh Barnett, Idaho State, RB - Trevyn Smith, Weber State, FB - Bobby McClintock, Portland State, PK - Brett Bergstrom, Eastern Washington, RS - Bryant Eteuati, Weber State.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE: DL - C.J. Niusulu, Portland State, DL - Rio Stotler, Weber State, DL - Mike Murphy, Montana, DL - Kroy Biermann, Montana, LB - Chris Hunsaker, Northern Arizona, LB - Tyler DeBry, Weber State, LB - Adam Hayward, Portland State, LB - Pago Togafau, Idaho State, CB - Dominic Dixon, Portland State, CB - Bo Smith, Weber State, S - Torrey Thomas, Montana, S - Colt Anderson, Montana, P - Rhian Madrid, Northern Arizona.
(Courtesy of Big Sky Media Relations)
© 2006 The Sports Network
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