OGDEN, Utah — The Big Sky Conference has selected the first ROOT SPORTS football Players of the Week for the 2012 season. Cal Poly quarterback Andre Broadous is the Offensive Player of the Week. Eastern Washington linebacker Ronnie Hamlin and Montana linebacker Jordan Tripp are the Co-Defensive Players of the Week.  Eastern Washington kicker Jimmy Pavel is the Special Teams Player of the Week.

Broadous, a 6-foot, 210-pound senior from Portland, Ore., accounted for four touchdowns as Cal Poly won its first game as a Big Sky member, downing the University of San Diego 41-14. Broadous rushed 15 times for 113 yards, an average of 7.5 yards per carry. He scored on a career-long 56-yard run in the third quarter to put the Mustangs up 20-7. He added a 5-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. Broadous also completed 12-of-19 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns. His TD passes of 7 and 12 yards came in the fourth quarter, as the Mustangs broke open a 20-14 game with 21 unanswered points. This is Broadous’ first career ROOT SPORTS Player of the Week honor.

Hamlin, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior from Lacey, Wash., recorded a team-high eight tackles and broke up a pass in Eastern Washington’s 20-3 upset of Football Bowl Subdivision member Idaho last Thursday night in Moscow. Hamlin led a defense which forced the Vandals to punt nine times, and allowed just 237 yards. Idaho’s longest rush of the game was 7 yards. Idaho was also just 2-of-15 on third downs. Hamlin recorded four solo stops. This is Hamlin’s first career ROOT SPORTS Player of the Week award.

Tripp, a 6-3 1/2, 244-pound junior from Missoula, Mont., returned to the Grizzly lineup after missing the last 11 games of the 2011 season with an injury. Tripp responded with 10 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and 1.5 tackles for loss in Montana’s 35-24 victory over South Dakota. Montana’s defense limited South Dakota to just nine first downs, 83 rushing yards, and 233 total yards. This is Tripp’s first career ROOT SPORTS Player of the Week honor.

Pavel, a 5-11, 195-pound senior from Molalla, Ore., was perfect in his first game as the Eagles’ placekicker in his team’s 20-3 upset of Idaho. Pavel, who handled kickoff duties a year ago, connected on field goals of 34 and 23 yards, and also made both of his extra points as EWU won its first game over an FBS team since 2003. Pavel’s 34-yard field goal in the first quarter tied the game at 3-3. He added a 23-yard field goal in the third quarter to put the Eagles ahead 13-3. This is Pavel’s first career ROOT SPORTS Player of the Week award.

ROOT SPORTS, the official TV partner of the Big Sky Conference, will televise 12 conference games in 2012. Its first telecast on Sept. 22 features Northern Arizona taking on nationally-ranked Montana.

 Others Nominated

OFFENSE

Andre Broadous, QB, Cal Poly

Brandon Kaufman, WR, Eastern Washington

Kevin Yost, QB, Idaho State

Dan Moore, RB, Montana

DeNarius McGhee, QB, Montana State

Jake Miller, RB, North Dakota

D.J. Adams, RB, Portland State

Garrett Safron, QB, Sacramento State

Mike Hoke, QB, Weber State

DEFENSE

Ronnie Hamlin, LB, Eastern Washington

Mitch Beckstead, LB, Idaho State

Jordan Tripp, LB, Montana

Caleb Schreibeis, DE, Montana State

Garrison Goodman, LB, North Dakota

Jaycob Shoemaker, LB, Portland State

Todd Davis, LB, Sacramento State

Luke King, LB, Weber State

SPECIAL TEAMS

Bobby Zalud, K, Cal Poly

Jimmy Pavel, K, Eastern Washington

A.J. Silva, K, Montana State

Nick Fernandez, K, Portland State

Colton Schmidt, P, UC Davis

Kris Parham, Ret., Weber State

 — Big Sky Conference Information