Weber State football: Toone gets national honor again

OGDEN — Another game-changing punt return for a touchdown resulted in more honors for Weber State's Tim Toone.

Toone was named The Sports Network's national special teams player of the week and the Big Sky's special teams player of the week for returning a punt 90 yards for a score in Weber State's 27-9 win over Northern Arizona in snowy conditions on Saturday. It's the second time this season that Toone earned both honors. The first came after he had a 95-yard punt return for a touchdown against Sacramento State.

So all Toone needs to do to earn national recognition is return a punt 90 yards for a score each week.

"I guess so," Toone said, laughing. "It's a pattern."

Toone, who now leads the nation in punt returns with an average of 21.2 yards per return, picked up several key blocks during his return. Caldwell Taylor contributed two of them on the score. Toone said being at the top of the nation is a credit to the entire punt return team.

"It's great," Toone said. "Some of the guys had huge blocks to set that up. It was everybody doing what they needed to do."

The Wildcats were sorely needing a big play when Toone scored. They trailed the Lumberjacks 9-6 at the time and had done little on offense for about two quarters. Toone's play ignited Weber State and the fans who braved the snowy conditions.

"He's had a hell of a career here," said Wildcats coach Ron McBride. "That (punt return) was awesome. That was obviously a huge turning point. It was a big-time play."

Toone had 181 all-purpose awards against Northern Arizona. He has 18 punt returns for 382 yards and 66 receptions for 882 yards and has scored nine touchdowns this season. He is tied for the most career punt return touchdowns in Weber State history with three.

—Deseret News staff and wire reports