OGDEN, Utah — The Big Sky Conference has selected the ROOT SPORTS Football Players of the Week for games played on Saturday, Oct. 27. Southern Utah quarterback Brad Sorensen and Sacramento State quarterback Garrett Safron are the Co-Offensive Players of the Week. Portland State linebacker Ian Sluss is the Defensive Player of the Week. Southern Utah kicker Colton Cook is the Special Teams Player of the Week.
Sorensen, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound senior from Grand Terrace, Calif., completed 33-of-43 passes for a season-high 392 yards and one touchdown to lead Southern Utah to a 30-27 upset of top-ranked Eastern Washington. In the second half, Sorensen completed 15-of-24 passes for 224 yards. Sorensen connected with Fatu Moala with 7:01 to play in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 27-27. He engineered a 10-play, 61-yard drive in the final minutes to set up the game-winning field goal.
Safron, a 6-1, 195-pound sophomore from Santa Monica, Calif., completed 31-of-38 passes for 303 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in Sacramento State’s 35-29 upset of No. 11 Cal Poly. Safron threw TD passes of 5, 28, 3 and 32 yards. His 3-yard strike to T.J. Knowles late in the third quarter put the Hornets ahead 28-17. His 32-yard TD pass to Morris Norrise with 3:09 to play gave the Hornets a 35-23 lead. His completions, attempts, and touchdown passes were all career-highs. Safron also rushed for 46 yards.
Sluss, a 6-foot, 225-pound senior from Vista, Calif., intercepted two passes, scored a touchdown, recovered two fumbles, and tallied six tackles in Portland State’s 49-21 win over U.C. Davis. Sluss was a one-man turnover machine in the fourth quarter, falling on two fumbles and intercepting two passes in the final 15 minutes. Sluss picked off a pass and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown with 5:32 remaining, marking the third straight game he has scored a defensive touchdown. His first interception came with 12:10 to play and the Vikings holding a 28-14 lead. Sluss made five solo stops
Cook, a 5-8, 17-pound junior from Centerville, Utah, made the game-winning field goal from 36 yards out with three seconds to play in Southern Utah’s 30-27 win over No. 1 Eastern Washington. Cook also connected on field goals of 32 and 24 yards in the first half to help the Thunderbirds forge a 13-13 halftime tie. Cook was also 3-for-3 on extra points, and had four of his seven kickoffs go for touchbacks.
ROOT SPORTS, the official television partner of the Big Sky Conference, will televise a doubleheader on Saturday. At 1:30 p.m. Mountain, coverage of Montana’s road game against Weber State begins. At 4:15 p.m. Pacific, Sacramento State plays host to No. 3 Montana State.
Others Nominated
OFFENSE
Deonte Williams, RB, Cal Poly
Brandon Kaufman, WR, Eastern Washington
Peter Nguyen, RB, Montana
Cody Kirk, RB, Montana State
Jace Davis, WR, Northern Colorado
Kieran McDonagh, QB, Portland State
Anthony Soto, WR, UC Davis
DEFENSE
Nick Dzubnar, LB, Cal Poly
Tyrone Holmes, DL, Montana
Jody Owens, LB, Montana State
Mike Dosen, S, Northern Arizona
Gavin Miller, DE, Northern Colorado
Markell Williams, DB, Sacramento State
Zak Browning, LB, Southern Utah
Jordan Glass, LB, UC Davis
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kevin Miller, Eastern Washington
Andy Wilder, P/K, Northern Arizona
Thomas Duyndam, P, Portland State
Justin Weldon, P, Sacramento State
Colton Schmidt, P, UC Davis
— Big Sky Sports Information
