Griz, Cats earn Big Sky accolades

The Montana Grizzlies had 26 selections and the Montana State Bobcats got 17 players named to the 2013 Big Sky All-Conference Team, announced by the league on Tuesday afternoon.

For the third straight season, a player from Montana was also named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year. MSU's Brad Daly shared the 2013 honor with Cal Poly defensive tackle Sullivan Grosz. Daly finished his senior season with 14 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss, along with 71 total tackles. He is a finalist for the Buck Buchanen Award, give to the best defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision. Daly is the second straight Bobcat to win Big Sky Player of the Year. In 2012, former MSU linebacker Jody Owens captured the award, while Montana linebacker Caleb McSurdy took the honor in 2011.

As expected, Eastern Washington sophomore quarterback Vernon Adams was named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year. Teammate Cooper Kupp was named Freshman of the Year, and UC Davis junior running back Gabe Manzaneres earned Newcomer of the Year. The Big Sky Coach of the Year will be named later today.

The Grizzlies had four First-Team All-Conference selections, with three on defense. Outside linebackers Jordan Tripp and J.P. Kanongata'a, along with junior defensive end Zack Wagenmann were all selected. Tripp and Wagenmann are repeat first-team selections. On offense, senior tackle Danny Kistler was named a first-teamer for the second straight season. Daly was named the other first-team defensive end, while Shawn Johnson (RS) was the Cats' only other first-team nod.

Second-team Grizzlies included, wide receiver and return specialist Ellis Henderson, who was also named third-team special teams, guard William Poehls, center Kjleby Oiland, defensive tackle Alex Bienemann, cornerback Anthony Goodwin and safety Matt Hermanson. Second-team Bobcats were, running back Cody Kirk, tight end Tiai Salanoa, cornerback Deonte Flowers and special teamer Chad Newell.

On the third team locally were, Montana's Jordan Johnson (QB), Trevor Poole (OG), Jamal Jones (FB) and Tonga Takai (DT), and MSU's Tanner Bleskin (WR) and J.P. Flynn (OG). Notable Honarable Mention honors included, MSU's DeNarius McGhee, a two-time Big Sky Player of the Year, as well as linebacker Alex Singleton, along with UM running back Jordan Canada and tight end Clay Pierson.

To many, the likes of Henderson, Coyle, Singleton and Canada not being voted higher on the list was a surprise.

2013 Big Sky All-Conference and Postseason Awards

Offensive Player of the Year: Vernon Adams, So., QB, Eastern Washington

Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Sullivan Grosz, Sr., DT, Cal Poly; Brad Daly, Sr., DE, Montana State

Newcomer of the Year: Gabe Manzanares, Jr., RB, UC Davis

Freshman of the Year: Cooper Kupp, Fr., Eastern Washington

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

Wide Receivers: *Cooper Kupp, Fr., Eastern Washington; $Greg Hardin, Sr., North Dakota; DeAndre Carter, Jr., Sacramento State

Tackles: Mitchell Van Dyk, Sr., Portland State; $Danny Kistler, Sr., Montana

Guards: Tyler Worthley, Sr., Sacramento State; Lefi Letuligasenoa, Sr., Cal Poly

Center: Ashton Miller, Sr., Eastern Washington

Tight End: RJ Rickert, Jr., Northern Arizona

Quarterback: *Vernon Adams, So., Eastern Washington

Running Back: Zach Bauman, Sr., Northern Arizona; DJ Adams, Sr., Portland State

Fullback: Akaninyene, Umoh, Sr., Cal Poly

Kicker: Colton Cook, Sr., Southern Utah

Return Specialist : Shawn Johnson, Jr., Montana State

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

Tackles: Sullivan Grosz, Sr., Cal Poly; Tim Wilkinson, Sr., Northern Arizona

Ends: Brad Daly, Sr., Montana State; $Zack Wagenmann, Jr., Montana

Outside: LBs $Jordan Tripp, Sr., Montana; JP Kanongata'a, Sr., Montana

Inside LBs: Todd Davis, Sr., Sacramento State; Zak Browning, So., Southern Utah

Cornerbacks: $Anders Battle, Sr., Northern Arizona; TJ Lee III, Sr., Eastern Washington

Safeties: $Lucky Dozier, Sr., Northern Arizona; Alex Hubbard, Sr., Cal Poly

Punter: Kyle Loomis, Jr., Portland State

FIRST TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER

Bo Schutzle, Sr., Eastern Washington

*Unanimous Selection

!Three-Time First Team Selection

$Two-Time First Team Selection

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

Wide Receiver: Ellis Henderson, So., Montana; Luke Austin, Sr., Idaho State; Ashton Clark, Sr., Eastern Washington

Tackles: Clay DeBord, So., Eastern Washington; Giovanni Sani, Sr., Cal Poly

Guards: William Poehls, Sr., Montana; Steven Forgette, Sr., Eastern Washington

Center: Roy Garcia, Jr., Northern Arizona; Kjelby Oiland, Sr., Montana

Tight End: Tiai Salanoa, Jr., Montana State

Quarterback: Garrett Safron, Jr., Sacramento State

Running Back: Cody Kirk, Sr., Montana State; Kristaan Ivory, Jr., Cal Poly

Fullback: Nick Butier, So., Northern Arizona

Kicker: Brendon Garcia, Sr., Idaho State

Return Specialist: Ellis Henderson, So., Montana

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

Tackles: Andru Pulu, Sr., Eastern Washington; Alex Bienemann, Sr., Montana

Ends: James Cowser, So., Southern Utah; Nick King, Sr., UC Davis

Outside LBs: Ronnie Hamlin, Sr., Eastern Washington; Johnny Millard, Sr., Cal Poly

Inside LBs: Brock Coyle, Sr., Montana; Clarence Bumpas, Sr., Northern Colorado

Cornerbacks: Anthony Goodwin, Sr., Montana; Deonte Flowers, Jr., Montana State

Safeties: Matt Hermanson, Jr., Montana; Tommy Collet, Jr., Sr., Southern Utah

Punter: Justin Weldon, Sr., Sacramento State

SECOND TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS

Chad Newell, Fr., Montana State

THIRD TEAM OFFENSE

Wide Receivers: Tanner Bleskin, Sr., Montana State; Morris Norrise, Sr., Sacramento State; Kasey Closs, Jr., Portland State

Tackles: Cody Burgess, Sr., Southern Utah; Jacob Julian, Fr., Northern Arizona

Guards: Cornelius Edison, Jr., Portland State; JP Flynn, Fr., Montana State; Trevor Poole, Jr., Montana

Center: Gavin Farr, Sr., Southern Utah

Tight: End Zack Gehring, Sr., Eastern Washington

Quarterback: Jordan Johnson, Jr., Montana

Running Backs: Gabe Manzanares, Jr., UC Davis; Quincy Forte, Jr., Eastern Washington

Fullback: Jamal Wilson, So., Montana

Kicker: Brady Stuart, So., UC Davis

Return Specialist: Greg Hardin, Sr., North Dakota

THIRD TEAM DEFENSE

Tackles: Tonga Takai, Jr., Montana; Chima Ike, Sr., Northern Arizona

Ends: Anthony Larry, Sr., Eastern Washington; Jake Irwin, Jr., Cal Poly

Outside LBs: Matt Holley, Jr., Southern Utah; Mike Dosen, Sr., Northern Arizona

Inside LBS: Nick Dzubnar, Jr., Cal Poly; Austin Hasquet, Jr., Northern Arizona; Anthony Morales, Sr., Weber State

Cornerbacks: Tyree Mills, Sr., Southern Utah; Jonathan Perkins, Sr., UC Davis

Safeties: Tevin McDonald, Jr., Eastern Washington; David Edgerson, Sr., Portland State

Punter: Andy Wilder, Sr., Northern Arizona

THIRD TEAM SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS

Ellis Henderson, So., Montana

HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE

Wide Receivers – Cole Stanford, Sr., Cal Poly; Cory Mitchell, Jr., Eastern Washington; Shaq Hill, So., Eastern Washington; Chad Hansen, Fr., Idaho State; Cam Warren, WR, Montana; Brian Flotkoetter, Jr., Montana State; Kenny Golladay, So., North Dakota; Jesse Brantley, Sr., Northern Arizona; Nick Cole, Sr., Northern Arizona; Dimitri Stimphill, Jr., Northern Colorado; Will Jefferson, Jr., Northern Colorado; Shane Harrison, So., Sacramento State; Fatu Moala, Sr., Southern Utah; Tom Hemmingsen, Sr., UC Davis; Erik Walker, Sr., Weber State.

Tackles – Cassidy Curtis, So., Eastern Washington; John Schmaing, So., Montana; Quinn Catalano, Jr., Montana State; John Weidenaar, So., Montana State; Joe Kleason, Sr., North Dakota; Kyle Smith, Fr., Portland State; Ian Joseph, Jr., UC Davis.

Guards – Matt Fisher, Fr., Cal Poly; Brandon Murphy, Sr., Eastern Washington; Terrance Carey, So., Idaho State; Brandon Anderson, So., North Dakota; Jake Solomon, Sr., Northern Colorado; Tyler Olker, Sr., Northern Colorado; Nick Nissen, Jr., Southern Utah

Center – Stephen Sippel, So., Cal Poly; Mitch Gaulke, Sr., Portland State; Tyson Tiatia, Sr., Weber State; Jay Luchetti, Jr., UC Davis.

Tight Ends – Josh Cook, Fr., Idaho State; Clay Pierson, Sr., Montana; Austin Wilbers, Sr., Northern Colorado; Anthony Norris, So., Southern Utah; Taylor Sloat, Sr., UC Davis.

Quarterbacks – DeNarius McGhee, Sr., Montana State; Seth Lobato, Sr., Northern Colorado.

Running backs – Xavier Finney, So., Idaho State; Jordan Canada, Jr., Montana; Tromaine Dennis, Sr., Northern Colorado.

Fullbacks – Dalton Turay, Jr., UC Davis; Quinn Zamora, Fr., Northern Colorado.

Kicker – Kevin Miller, Sr., Eastern Washington; Ben Worst, Fr., Montana; Zeb Miller, Sr., North Dakota; Andy Wilder, Sr., Northern Arizona.

Return Specialist: Alex Hubbard, Sr., Cal Poly; Lucky Dozier, Sr., Northern Arizona; Nate Tago, Fr., Portland State; Charles Boyett, Jr., UC Davis; AJ Coney, Fr., Weber State

HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE

Tackles – Chris Lawrence, Jr., Cal Poly; Nick Leyden, Sr., Cal Poly; Will Katoa, Sr., Eastern Washington; Dylan Zylstra, Jr., Eastern Washington; Tyler Kuder, So., Idaho State; Taylor Sheridan, So., Montana State; Lexington Smith, Jr., Northern Colorado; Joe Lopez, Jr., Portland State; Junior Alexis, So., Portland State; Robert Torgerson, Fr., Southern Utah; Toi Taufa, So., Southern Utah; James Washington, Jr., Weber State

Ends – Andrew Alcaraz, Sr., Cal Poly; Evan Day, Jr., Eastern Washington; Austin Graves, Jr., Idaho State; Tyrone Holmes, So., Montana; Steven Garcia, Sr., Northern Arizona; Gavin Miller, Sr., Northern Colorado; Jeremy Boone, Sr., Portland State; Darnell Sankey, So., Sacramento State; Andrew Eide, Fr., Southern Utah

Outside Linebackers: Cameron Ontko, Jr., Cal Poly; Cole Moore, Jr., Montana State; Leilon Willingham, Jr., Northern Colorado; Max Flores, Jr., Northern Colorado; Chad Hansen, Sr., Southern Utah

Inside Linebackers: Cody McCarthy, Jr., Eastern Washington; Mitch Beckstead, Jr., Idaho State; Alex Singleton, Jr., Montana State; Ryan Reardon, Sr., Northern Arizona; Garrison Goodman, Sr., North Dakota; Jaycob Shoemaker, Sr., Portland State; Steven Pitts, Jr., UC Davis

Cornerbacks – Bijon Samoodi, Sr., Cal Poly; Vante Smith-Johnson, Sr., Cal Poly; Ronald Baines, Sr., Eastern Washington; Nate Harris, So., Montana; Marcus Alford, So., Northern Arizona; Courtney Hall, Jr., Northern Colorado; Aaron Sibley, So., Portland State; Markell Williams, Sr., Sacramento State; LeShaun Sims, So., Southern Utah; Shamawn Wright, So., UC Davis

Safeties - Allen Brown, Sr., Eastern Washington; Cody Sorensen, So., Idaho State; Bo Tully, Sr., Montana; Steven Bethley, Sr., Montana State; Cam Kuksa, Fr., North Dakota; Blair Wishom, Sr., Northern Arizona; Dean Faddis, Sr., Portland State; Miles Killebrew, So., Southern Utah

Punters – Stephen Shaw, So., Montana; Rory Perez, Sr., Montana State; Brock Miller, Sr., Southern Utah; Colby Wadman, Fr., UC Davis; Tony Epperson, P, Weber State

HONORABLE MENTION SPECIAL TEAMS

Nick Albano, Jr., Idaho State; Anthony Hughes, Sr., Northern Arizona; Dominique Bennett, Sr., North Dakota; Hayden Plinke, So., Portland State.