Football’s Estrada Recognized by Big Sky Again; Lumberjacks Garner National Ranking
Photo by Matt Thompson/NAU Football
OGDEN, Utah – Senior Matt Estrada was honored by the Big Sky Conference for the second consecutive week, garnering Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance at Southern Utah last weekend.
Estrada, a 5-10, 175-pound senior from La Habra, Calif., returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown in Northern Arizona's 26-23 road victory over Southern Utah. Estrada's second-quarter return cut Southern Utah's lead to 17-16. It was the ninth longest punt return for a touchdown in school history. Estrada finished with 116 return yards. He also forced a fumble that was recovered by a teammate on the punt cover unit. Estrada, an All-Conference safety, was co-defensive player of the week last week.
"There was great blocking on the play," said Estrada. "There was a huge hole. Anyone could have scored on that one. I knew I had to spark our team some way."
The Big Sky Conference also honored Montana State quarterback Denarius McGhee as the offensive player of the week and Montana defensive tackle Bryan Waldhauser and Portland State safety Manoa Latu as the co-defensive players of the week. NAU punter Drew Zamora was recognized by the College Performance Awards as an honorable mention selection for punter of the week.
NAU also moved into the national polls for the first time this season, placing 24th in the FCS Coaches Poll. The Lumberjacks are 26th overall in The Sports Network poll as the top team outside the poll receiving votes. It is the first national ranking for NAU since Oct. 26 of the 2009 season when the Lumberjacks were a season-high No. 21 in The Sports Network poll and No. 22 in the FCS Coaches Poll.
NAU plays at Eastern Washington on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. The Eagles are ranked 13th in The Sports Network poll and 14th in the FCS Coaches Poll.
Others Nominated
OFFENSE
Bo Levi Mitchell, QB, Eastern Washington
Tavoy Moore, WR, Idaho State
Chase Reynolds, RB, Montana
Zach
Bauman, RB, Northern Arizona
Connor Kavanaugh, QB, Portland State
Jeff Fleming, QB, Sacramento State
Mike Phillips, WR, Weber State
DEFENSE
J.C. Sherritt, LB, Eastern Washington
Basim Hudeen, LB, Idaho State
Scott
McKeever, LB, Northern Arizona
John Eddy, LB, Northern Colorado
SPECIAL TEAMS
Cameron Zuber, P, Eastern Washington
Brendon Garcia, K, Idaho State
Brody McKnight, K, Montana
Jason Cunningham, K, Montana State
Thomas Duyndam, P, Portland State
Sam McCowan, Ret., Sacramento State
Josh Kealamakia, P, Weber State
FCS Coaches Poll
1. Appalachian State (16) 672
2. Delaware (2) 630
3. Jacksonville St. (1) 620
4. Stephen F. Austin 566
5. William & Mary 539
6. James Madison 517
7. Villanova 513
8. UMass 511
9. S. Carolina State 438
10. Montana State 437
11. Richmond 377
12. Montana 354
13. G. Southern 327
14. E. Washington 307
15. Texas State 354
16. Cal Poly 224
17. N. Dakota State 165
18. Northern Iowa 161
19. Elon 153
20. W. Illinois 142
21. S. Illinois 131
22. C. Arkansas 110
23. New Hampshire 92
24. Northern Arizona 84
25. Wofford 66
