Big finish gets 'Cats Big Sky honors

By Jared Eborn
Deseret Morning News
Published: Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007 12:10 a.m. MST
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OGDEN — After starting the season with an 0-4 record, no one looked like an all-star football player at Weber State.

Winning five of seven games to close the season, though, turned the Wildcats from a team filled with underachievers to a bunch of the Big Sky's most-honored players.

The Wildcats, who closed their season with last week's 38-16 loss at Eastern Washington, earned 19 postseason all-conference honors thanks to their strong finish.

Six players were named to the Big Sky's first team while another four earned second-team accolades. Eight Wildcats found their names on the honorable mention list.

Freshman quarterback Cameron Higgins, in addition to his honorable mention honor, was named the conference's newcomer of the year after he threw for 1,959 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions in only seven starts. He averaged 178.1 yards of total offense per game.

Seniors David Hale (offensive lineman) and Ty Sparrow (safety) were joined by juniors Bryant Eteuati (return specialist), Marcus Mailei (fullback), Bryce Scanlon (defensive line) and sophomore Trevyn Smith (running back) on the first team.

Hale, Eteuati and Smith earned their second consecutive first-team honor.

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Smith led the Big Sky in rushing with 1,314 yards while Eteuati was I-AA's all-purpose yardage leader at 207.5 per game. Hale anchored a line which allowed a Big Sky low 12 sacks.

Eteuati was also named to the Big Sky's second team as a receiver where he was joined by senior Dmitri Tsoumpas (OL) and junior J.D. Folsom (LB) while Eteuati was also named a second-team special teams player to compliment his first-team return specialist honor.

The Wildcats, 5-6 overall and 4-4 in conference play, will return most of their all-conference players and should be considered a strong threat to finish high in the conference standings next season.

Sophomores Tim Tone (WR), Kyle Mutcher (OL), Mike Snoy (punter) and Kevin Linehan (DL) are honorable mention team members and will contribute to a solid 2008 season as will Higgins, an honorable mention teammate. Also named to the team were seniors Brandin Williams (CB) and Brad Stewart (LB). Senior defensive lineman Derek Johnson, despite being lost for the season in a Week 4 loss at Montana, was also named to the honorable mention list.

Eastern Washington sophomore quarterback Matt Nichols was named the Big Sky offensive player of the year and Montana defensive end Kroy Biermann was named the defensive player of the year.

E-mail: jeborn@desnews.com

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