CEDAR CITY – Southern Utah University cornerback Erron Vonner has been named this week's Great West Conference defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Thunderbirds' 35-10 win over North Dakota on Saturday.

Vonner, a 5-foot-10, 182-pound sophomore from Toledo, Ohio, had seven tackles, including three solo stops, a half-tackle for loss and led the team with a pair of pass break-ups. His big play was a fourth-quarter interception and return for a touchdown which iced the victory for the Thunderbirds.

His 12-yard return was SUU's first interception return for a touchdown since 2004. Among Vonner's additional highlights Saturday were a touchdown-saving tackle on UND's Ismael Bamba at the SUU 5-yard line on a drive which ended with a failed field goal attempt. Vonner also drew the responsibility for covering UND leading receiver Bamba – who had passed the 100-yard receiving mark in three of the previous four games – and helped keep him without a reception.