Southern Utah: sports briefs

SUU football players earn weekly awards

CEDAR CITY — Southern Utah University swept the Great West Conference's Player of the Week awards this week after Saturday's 56-35 conference win over UC Davis. Running back Major Gray earned the offensive honor, cornerback Colin Pretlow was named on defense and Fesi Sitake received the nod for special teams.

Gray, a 5-foot-9, 205-pound junior from Las Vegas, Nev., tied the SUU record for rushing touchdowns in a game with four Saturday, including three in the first half. Pretlow, a 5-10, 176-pound junior from Las Vegas, intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown, thwarting UC Davis' come-back bid.

Sitake a 5-11, 185-pound wide receiver/punt returner from Hillcrest High, returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to stake SUU to a 35-21 lead. It was the first punt return for a touchdown at SUU since 2004. Sitake returned three punts a total of 106 yards, including returns of 61, 17 and 28 yards.