Football’s Dowd Named to Big Sky Preseason Team

OGDEN, UTAH – Senior linebacker Cody Dowd, a product of Scottsdale North High School, was named to the 2009 Big Sky Preseason All-Conference team, which was released Wednesday. The team was picked by select media and sports information directors.

Dowd was an All-Big Sky second team selection in 2008, ranking ninth on the team with 32 tackles with three sacks, two pass deflections and forced fumble. He had five tackles five times during the season.

“It is a really big incentive to do well,” said Dowd of the honor. “We want to come out and prove we are a contender. Everyone is really excited to play. We are working hard in the weight room and doing drills on the field.”

Dowd joined Portland State’s Erik Pedersen, Montana’s Shawn Lebsock, and Eastern Washington’s Zach Johnson as the linebackers on the team.

Weber State senior running back Trevyn Smith, looking to become the first player in league history to lead the conference in rushing four straight seasons, was one of three unanimous offensive selections. The others were Portland State senior fullback Bobby McClintock and Weber State center Kyle Mutcher. Weber State senior cornerback Josh Morris was the lone unanimous defensive selection.

Ten of the 27 players on the 29-player team were first-team All-Conference selections in 2008. That list is led by Smith, Mutcher, Morris and reigning league offensive MVP Cameron Higgins, wide receiver Tim Toone, defensive end Kevin Linehan, and safety Beau Hadley all of Weber State.

Other All-Conference performers in 2008 include Montana wide receiver Marc Mariani, who made the squad as a wide receiver and return specialist, and Montana State safety Kevin Retoriano.

Weber State led all teams, placing 10 players at 11 positions. Hadley was selected as a safety and a special teams player. Weber State placed a record 12 on the 2008 All-Conference First Team.

Smith, a 5-foot-9, 210-pounder from Springville, Utah, tied a single-season conference record with 28 touchdowns in 2008. He enters his senior season ranked sixth on the Big Sky’s all-time rushing list with 4,028 yards.

Higgins, a 6-2, 195-pound junior quarterback from Kai, Hawai’i, set a single-season league passing record with 4,447 yards to go along with 36 touchdowns and a 65.6 completion percentage en route to claiming Big Sky MVP honors.

Smith was joined in the backfield by Montana junior Chase Reynolds, who rushed for 1,573 yards and 22 touchdowns, helping the Grizzlies to the 2008 national championship game, and Portland State senior fullback Bobby McClintock. McClintock missed the 2007 season with an injury, but returned last season to rush for 457 yards and six touchdowns, and catch 34 passes.

Eastern Washington senior Aaron Boyce joined Toone and Mariani at wide receiver. Toone caught 84 passes for a single-season conference record 1,525 yards last season. Mariani caught 69 passes for 1,308 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also averaged 16.2 yards per punt return with two touchdowns. Boyce, an All-American in 2007, caught 63 passes and 10 TDs in 2008.

Weber State senior Cody Nakamura was selected as the tight end. Nakamura caught 48 passes for 729 yards with a team-high 10 touchdown catches in 2008.

Mutcher was one of two Wildcats named to the offensive line. He’s joined by teammate J.C. Oram, a sophomore, at guard. Montana State senior preseason All-American Jeff Hansen is the other guard. Montana senior Levi Horn and Eastern Washington senior Chris Thomas were selected at the tackle spots.

Montana State sophomore Jason Cunningham was tabbed as the kicker. Cunningham made 13-of-19 field goals and 38-of-39 extra points as a true freshman.

Montana State senior Dane Fletcher, a candidate for the Buck Buchanan Award, was selected as a defensive end along with Linehan. Fletcher, of Bozeman, Mont., tallied 6.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last season, while Linehan had 10.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss.

Weber State sophomore Ryan Eastman and Sacramento State junior Christian Clark were selected as defensive tackles. Clark tallied 42 tackles – nine for loss – and five sacks as a junior. Eastman netted 22 tackles and two sacks.


Hadley and Retoriano were selected as the safeties. Hadley finished second in the league with 129 total tackles and tied for the conference lead with five forced fumble last season. Retoriano had 58 tackles and four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

Morris, who intercepted five passes last season, and Portland State sophomore DeShawn Shead, who led the conference with six picks were selected as the cornerbacks.

Idaho State senior Jon Vanderwielen, who averaged 42.4 yards per kick was voted as the punter.


2009 Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team


OFFENSE

Pos., Player, Year, Hometown, School
QB, Cameron Higgins, Jr., Kai, Hawai’I, Weber State*
RB, Trevyn Smith, Sr., Springville, Utah, Weber State*#
RB, Chase Reynolds, Jr., Drummond, Mont., Montana
FB, Bobby McClintock, Sr., Coos Bay, Ore., Portland State#
OT, Levi Horn, Sr., Spokane, Wash., Montana
OT, Chris Thomas, Sr., Sumner, Wash., Eastern Washington
OG, Jeff Hansen, Sr., Great Falls, Mont., Montana State
OG, J.C. Oram, So., Slaterville, Utah, Weber State
C, Kyle Mutcher, Sr., Park City, Utah, Weber State*#
WR, Tim Toone, Sr., Peoria, Ariz., Weber State*
WR, Aaron Boyce, Sr., Kent, Wash., Eastern Washington
WR, Marc Mariani, Sr., Havre, Mont., Montana*
TE, Cody Nakamura, Sr., Wailuku, Hawai’I, Weber State
K, Jason Cunningham, So., Amarillo, Texas, Montana State
Ret, Marc Mariani, Sr., Havre, Mont., Montana*

DEFENSE

Pos., Player, Year, Hometown, School
DE, Dane Fletcher, Sr., Bozeman, Mont., Montana State
DE, Kevin Linehan, Sr., Los Alamitos, Calif., Weber State*
DT, Christian Clark, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., Sacramento State
DT, Ryan Eastman, So., Honolulu, Hawai’I, Weber State
LB, Cody Dowd, Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz., Northern Arizona
LB, Erik Pedersen, Sr., Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., Portland State
LB, Shawn Lebsock, Sr., Billings, Mont., Montana
LB, Zach Johnson, So., Tumwater, Wash., Eastern Washington
CB, Josh Morris, Sr., Ada, Okla., Weber State*#
CB, DeShawn Shead, So., Palmdale, Calif., Portland State
S, Beau Hadley, Sr., Taylor, Utah, Weber State*
S, Kevin Retoriano, Sr., San Diego, Calif., Montana State*
P, Jon Vanderwielen, Sr., Upland, Calif., Idaho State
Special Teams – Beau Hadley, Sr., Taylor, Utah, Weber State

*First-Team All-Conference in 2008.
#Unanimous Selection