Football’s Bond Earns Big Sky Honor

OGDEN, Utah – Defensive lineman Isaac Bond has been named the Co-Defensive Player of the Week by the Big Sky Conference for his performance last week along with Montana State’s Michael Rider.

Bond, a 6-4, 240-pound sophomore from Vancouver, Wash., tallied 10 tackles - five solo - with two sacks, 3.5 tackles per loss, two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a pass breakup in Northern Arizona’s 35-27 home win over Northern Colorado. Bond and the NAU defense held the Bears to three straight field goal attempts in the fourth quarter after Northern Colorado advanced inside the Lumberjacks’ 20-yard line and stopped the final drive on the 2-yard line. This is Bond’s first Player of the Week honor.

Rider, a 5-11, 199-pound junior from Billings, Mont., registered 11 tackles, including five solo stops to lead a Bobcat defense that held Weber State to just two touchdowns. Rider tallied 1.5 tackles for loss, and came up with two big plays late in the game to secure the upset. Rider tackled Weber State’s Trevyn Smith at the MSU 1-yard line with 28 seconds remaining. He was also in on the tackle of WSU’s Bo Bolen on a dramatic fourth-and-goal, dropping the running back for a 5-yard loss to secure the win. This is Rider’s first Player of the Week honor.

The Big Sky Conference also selected Montana State running back Aaron Mason as the Offensive Player of the Week and Sacramento State punter Augie Heath as the Special Teams Player of the Week.

Others Nominated for Weekly Honor

OFFENSE
Matt Nichols, QB, Eastern Washington
Michael Herrick, QB, Northern Arizona
Alex Thompson, WR, Northern Colorado
Lavonte Kirven, WR, Portland State
Jason Smith, QB, Sacramento State
Mike Phillips, WR, Weber State

DEFENSE
Renard Williams, DL, Eastern Washington
Christian Clark, DL, Sacramento State
Jordan Brown, S, Weber State

SPECIAL TEAMS
Cameron Zuber, P, Eastern Washington
Jon Vanderwielen, P, Idaho State
Eric Fisher, P, Montana State
Austin Shanks, Ret., Northern Arizona
Cameron Kaman, P, Northern Colorado
Zach Brown, K, Portland State