Football's Williams Named Newcomer of the Year; 18 Earn All-Big Sky Honors

OGDEN, Utah – Freshman Deonte Williams filled in for injured Alex Henderson this season and literally followed in his footsteps becoming the second player in three seasons from Northern Arizona to earn Newcomer of the Year. Henderson garnered the honor in 2006 after his outstanding freshman season.

Williams rushed for 950 yards on 220 carries with a team-best 12 touchdowns, A product of Sacramento, Calif., he improved his single-game season-high five times during the season and ranked second among freshmen in the FBS in rushing yards per game (86.4) and fifth in Division I overall among freshmen. Williams’ 12 touchdowns ranks tied for third on school single-season charts and are the most by a running back since 2000.

Senior cornerback K.J. Gerard, who picked off five passes, was one of two Lumberjacks named to the first-team defense. He was joined by defensive tackle Steve Nwogbe. NAU set Big Sky single-season records for fewest rushing yards allowed, and fewest average rushing yards per game allowed.

Northern Arizona senior Robbie Dehaze was tabbed the first-team punter and place kicker. Dehaze, from Sherwood, Ore., leads the nation with a punting average of 45.2. Dehaze also made 16-of-20 field goals.

Linebacker Cody Dowd and safety Adam Wright earned All-Big Sky second-team honors. Thirteen NAU student-athletes earned All-Big Sky honorable mention honors, including nine on offense.

The football All-Conference teams and individual award winners were released on Tuesday. The squads and award winners were selected by the nine Big Sky Conference coaches.

Weber State quarterback Cameron Higgins was named the Big Sky Conference’s offensive MVP, and was one of a record 12 Wildcats selected to the All-Conference first team.

Eastern Washington senior defensive end Greg Peach, who leads the nation with 18 sacks and 22 tackles for loss, was tabbed the Defensive MVP.

Weber State junior running back Trevyn Smith and Montana senior safety Colt Anderson were the only unanimous selections on the first team. Both players were tabbed to the top squad for the third straight season.

Higgins, the 2007 Newcomer of the Year, shinned in his first full-season as a starter. Entering Saturday’s playoff game, Higgins ranks third in the nation in total passing, and fourth in total offense and passing efficiency. He’s completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 3,791 yards with 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Higgins is averaging a league-best 315.9 passing yards per game. Higgins is a candidate for the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the top offensive player in the FCS.

Peach, a 6-2, 250-pounder from Vancouver, Wash., leads the nation with 18 sacks and 22 tackles for loss. He set the EWU single-season sack record, and fell just one sack short of tying the Big Sky single-season record. Peach finished with 71 total tackles. EWU’s defense held five of its final six opponents under 20 points.

The first-team defense featured six repeat selections: Anderson, Peach, Weber State defensive tackle Bryce Scanlon, Sacramento State linebackers Cyrus Mulitalo and Mike Brannon, and Northern Arizona cornerback KJ Gerard.

Big Sky Conference Award Winners

Offensive Player of the Year - Cameron Higgins, QB, Weber State

Defensive Player of the Year - Greg Peach, DE, Eastern Washington

Newcomer of the Year – Deonte Williams, RB, Northern Arizona

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

Wide Receivers
Tony Washington, Sr., Sacramento State
Tim Toone, Jr., Weber State
Marc Mariani, Jr., Montana

Tackles
Paul Carpenter, Sr., Weber State
Lou Saucedo, Sr., Montana State

Guards
Colin Dow, Sr., Montana
Lawaia Naihe, Sr., Weber State

Center
Kyle Mutcher, Jr. Weber State

Tight end
*Ryan Chelsa, Sr., Northern Colorado

Quarterback
Cameron Higgins, So., Weber State

Running Backs
#@Trevyn Smith, Jr., Weber State
Demetrius Crawford, Sr., Montana State

Fullback
*Marcus Mailei, Sr., Weber State

Place kicker
Robbie Dehaze, Sr., Northern Arizona

Return Specialist
Marc Mariani, Jr., Montana

*Two-Time Selection
#Three-Time Selection
@Unanimous Selection

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

Tackles
*Bryce Scanlon, Sr., Weber State
Steve Nwogbe, Sr., Northern Arizona

Ends
*Greg Peach, Sr., Eastern Washington
Kevin Linehan, Jr., Weber State

Outside
*Mike Brannon, Sr., Sacramento State

Inside Linebackers
J.D. Folsom, LB, Weber State
*Cyrus Mulitalo, Sr., Sacramento State
Linebackers
Cristian Sarmento, Sr., Northern Colorado

Cornerbacks
*KJ Gerard, Sr., Northern Arizona
Josh Morris, Jr., Weber State

Safeties
#@Colt Anderson, Sr., Montana
Beau Hadley, Jr., Weber State
Kevin Retoriano, Jr., Montana State

Punter
Robbie Dehaze, Sr., Northern Arizona

FIRST TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS

Special Teams
Kenyon Blue, Sr., Idaho State

*Two-Time Selection
#Three-Time Selection
@Unanimous Selection

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

Wide Receivers
Aaron Boyce, Jr., Eastern Washington
Eddie Thompson, Sr., Idaho State
Brynsen Brown, Jr., Eastern Washington

Tackles
Levi Horn, Jr., Montana
Brent Russum, Sr., Montana

Guards
Jeff Hansen, Jr., Montana State
J.C. Oram, Fr., Weber State

Center
J.D. Quinn, Sr., Montana

Tight end
Cody Nakamura, Jr., Weber State

Quarterback
Cole Bergquist, Sr., Montana

Running Backs
Chase Reynolds, So., Montana
Bryan Hilliard, So., Sacramento State

Fullback
Alexis Alexander, Sr., Eastern Washington

Place kicker
Jason Cunningham, Fr., Montana State
Felipe Macias, Sr., Eastern Washington

Return Specialist
Aaron Woods, Jr., Portland State

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

Tackles
Lance Witherspoon, Sr., Eastern Washington
Craig Mettler, Sr., Montana

Ends
Dane Fletcher, Jr., Montana State
Jason Belford, Sr., Eastern Washington

Outside Linebackers
Ryan Phipps, Sr., Idaho State
Cody Dowd, Jr., Northern Arizona

Inside Linebackers
Bobby Daly, Sr., Montana State
Andy Schantz, Sr., Portland State

Cornerbacks
Deshawn Shead, Fr., Portland State
D.J. Clark, Sr., Idaho State

Safeties
Shann Schillinger, Jr., Montana
Adam Wright, Sr., Northern Arizona

Punter
Fritz Brayton, Sr., Eastern Washington

SECOND TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS

Special Teams
Tom Martin, Sr., Montana

HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE

Wide receivers – Tony Davis, Eastern Washington; Jaron Taylor, Idaho State; Isiah Burel, Idaho State; Ed Berry, Northern Arizona; Conrad Meadows, Northern Arizona; Skyler Moore, Northern Arizona; Mike Ferriter, Montana; Desean Thomas, Montana State; Brandon Smith, Northern Colorado; Aaron Woods, Portland State; Mario D’Ambrosio, Portland State; Mike Phillips, Weber State.

Tackles – Brice Leahy, Eastern Washington; Chris Thomas, Eastern Washington; Evan Dietrich-Smith, Idaho State; Chris Dyk, Montana; Mike Person, Montana State; Trevor Heekin, Northern Arizona; Ryan Kemp, Northern Colorado; Ray Navar, Sacramento State.

Guards – Terran Hillseland, Montana; Kris Poindexter, Northern Arizona; Chris Jones, Northern Colorado; Moses Punzal, Portland State; Matt Lemley, Sacramento State.

Center – Charlie Wulff, Eastern Washington; Kevin Meagher, Northern Arizona.

Tight end – Nate Overbay, Eastern Washington; Dan Beaudin, Montana; Steven Pfahler, Montana; Brandon Bostick, Montana State; Brian Riley, Northern Arizona.

Quarterback – Matt Nichols, Eastern Washington; Bryan Waggener, Northern Colorado; Jason Smith, Sacramento State.

Running Back – Dale Morris, Eastern Washington; Deonte Williams, Northern Arizona, Andrew Schmidt, Montana.

Fullback – Trevor Messersmith, Idaho State; Kevin Klaboe, Montana; Bobby McClintock, Portland State.

Place kicker – Juan Gamboa, Sacramento State.

Return Specalist – JD Ponciano, Idaho State; Conrad Meadows, Northern Arizona, Bryant Eteuati, Weber State.

HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE

Tackles – Jesse Carlson, Montana; Christian Clark, Sacramento State; Ryan Eastman, Weber State.

Ends – Jace Palmer, Montana; Mike Stadnyk, Montana; Mike Battisti, Northern Arizona; Kyle Rath, Northern Arizona; Zach Nash, Sacramento State; Pate Moleni, Weber State.

Outside Linebackers – JC Sherritt, Eastern Washington; Zach Johnson, Eastern Washington, Brandon Fisher, Montana; Chase Gazzerro, Montana State; Jeff Price, Montana State; Joe Kenney, LB, Northern Colorado; K.J. McCrae, Portland State; Ryan Pedersen, Portland State; Michael Hickman, Sacramento State.

Inside Linebackers – Makai Borden, Eastern Washington; Shawn Lebsock, Montana; Tyler Corwin, Montana; Stevon Thomas, Northern Arizona; Erik Pedersen, Portland State; Biff Swan, Weber State.

Cornerback – Ryan Kelley, Eastern Washington; Trumaine Johnson, Montana; Ramon Lewis, Montana State; Myles Hayes, Northern Colorado; Deionte Gordon, Sacramento State.

Safeties – Matt Johnson, Eastern Washington; A.J. Storms, Idaho State; Max Hewitt, Northern Colorado; Scotty Goodloe, Weber State.

Punters – Jon Vanderwielen, Idaho State; Erik Fisher, Montana State.

SPECIAL TEAMS HONORABLE MENTION

Nick Ramos, Eastern Washington; Anthony Evans, Northern Arizona; Beau Hadley, Weber State