Griz, Cats earn Big Sky honors

With the 114th Brawl of the Wild last Saturday in Missoula, the Big Sky Conference football season officially came to an end. And while Saturday didn’t go well for the Bobcats, Tuesday was a good day for both the Griz and Cats.

The Big Sky released its 2014 All-Conference Team and postseason awards. Montana had 21 All-Conference selections, while MSU was right behind the Griz with 20.

The Grizzlies also celebrated senior Zack Wagenmann being named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year. Wagenmann finished the regular season with 13.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss, and is UM’s career leader for sacks. He’s the first Griz to win the award since linebacker Caleb McSurdy in 2011. He’s also a three-time First-Team All-Conference selection.

MSU had five First-Team selections, while UM had four. For the Cats, offensive lineman J.P. Flynn, tight end Tia Salanoa, linebacker Alex Singleton and cornerback Deonte Flowers were named, as was Chad Newell on special teams. UM senior running back Jordan Canada also got the nod on offense, while Wagenmann, defensive tackle Tonga Takai and safety Matt Hermanson were named to the First Team Defense.

Second-Team honors for the Cats went to lineman Quinn Catalano, return specialist Shawn Johnson and defensive tackle Taylor Sheridan. For UM, wide receiver Jamaal Jones, linebacker Kendrick Van Ackeren and cornerback Josh Dennard made the Second Team. Montana also saw linebacker Jeremiah Kose make the Third Team, while the Cats got quarterback Dakota Prukop, linemen Joel Horn and John Weidnaar, Johnson at running back, linebacker Cole Moore and safety Rob Marshall named to the Third Team.

The Grizzlies also had 13 Honorable Mention selections, including quarterback Jordan Johnson, while the Bobcats had seven players named Honorable Mention.

For the second straight season, Eastern Washington quarterback Vernon Adams was named the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year.

Both the Bobcats and Grizzlies are preparing to host first-round FCS playoff games this Saturday.

2014 All-Big Sky Conference Team

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

Wide Receivers – Cooper Kupp, So., Eastern Washington; DeAndre Carter, Sr., Sacramento State; Madison Mangum, So., Idaho State

Tackle – Jake Rodgers, Sr., Eastern Washington; Ian Joseph, Sr., UC Davis

Guard – Aaron Neary, Jr., Eastern Washington; JP Flynn, So., Montana State

Center – Cornelius Edison, Sr., Portland State

Tight End – Tiai Salanoa, Sr., Montana State

Quarterback – Vernon Adams Jr., Jr. Eastern Washington; Justin Arias, Sr., Idaho State

Running Back – Xavier Finney, Jr., Idaho State; Jordan Canada, Sr., Montana

Fullback – Nick Butier, Jr., Northern Arizona

Placekicker – Brad Cornish, Jr., Sacramento State

Return Specialist – Alex Tillman, Sr., North Dakota

SPECIAL TEAMS

Chad Newell, So., Montana State

DEFENSE

Tackle – Tonga Takai, Sr., Montana; Lexington Smith, Sr., Northern Colorado

End – Zack Wagenmann, Sr., Montana; James Cowser, Jr., Southern Utah

Linebacker – Alex Singleton, Sr., Montana State; Cameron Ontko, Sr., Cal Poly; Nick Dzubnar, Sr., Cal Poly; Ronnie Hamlin, Sr., Eastern Washington

Cornerback – Deonte Flowers, Sr., Montana State; Marcus Alford, Jr., Northern Arizona

Safety – Tevin McDonald, Sr., Eastern Washington; Matt Hermanson, Sr., Montana

Punter – Kyle Loomis, Sr., Portland State

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Wide Receiver – Jamaal Jones, Jr., Montana; Nnamdi Agude, Jr., Sacramento State; Shaydon Kehano, Sr., Weber State

Tackle – Jim Bagley, Sr., Idaho State; Joe Gurski, Sr., Northern Arizona

Guard – Quinn Catalano, Sr., Montana State; Nick Enriquez, So., Cal Poly

Center – Christian Diehm, Jr., Idaho State

Tight End – Beau Gardner, Sr., Northern Arizona

Quarterback – Garrett Safron, Sr., Sacramento State

Running Backs – Kori Garcia, So., Cal Poly; Quincy Forte, Sr., Eastern Washington

Fullback – Brandon Howe, Sr., Cal Poly

Placekicker – Jonathan Gonzales, So., Portland State

Return Specialist – Shawn Johnson, Sr., Montana State

SPECIAL TEAMS

Nick Butier, Jr., Northern Arizona

DEFENSE

Tackle – Tyler Kuder, Jr., Idaho State; Taylor Sheridan, Jr., Montana State

End – Samson Ebukam, So., Eastern Washington; Jaycee Totty, Sr., Sacramento State

Linebacker – Mario Jenkins, Fr., Idaho State; Kendrick Van Ackeren, Jr., Montana; Darnell Sankey, Jr., Sacramento State; Chinedu Ahanonu, So., Southern Utah

Cornerback – Joshua Dennard, Sr., Montana; Aaron Sibley, Jr., Portland State

Safety – Kyle Griffin, Sr., Northern Colorado; Miles Killebrew, Jr., Southern Utah

Punter – Jake Miller, Sr., Eastern Washington

THIRD TEAM

OFFENSE

Wide Receiver – Shaq Hill, Jr., Eastern Washington; Ify Umodu, Sr., Northern Arizona; Dimitri Stimphil, Sr., Northern Colorado

Tackle – John Weidenaar, Jr., Montana State; Aleksander Milanovic, Jr., Sacramento State

Guard – Eric Rodriguez, So., Northern Arizona; Derek Nielsen, Sr., Sacramento State

Center – Joel Horn, Jr., Montana State

Tight End – Josh Cook, So., Idaho State

Quarterback – Chris Brown, Jr., Cal Poly; Dakota Prukop, So., Montana State

Running Back – Gabe Manzanares, Sr., UC Davis; Shawn Johnson, Sr., Montana State

Fullback – Bo Bolen, Sr., Weber State

Placekicker – Reid Taubenheim, Fr., North Dakota

Return Specialist – Cooper Kupp, So., Eastern Washington

SPECIAL TEAMS

Nick Moyer, Sr., Cal Poly

DEFENSE

Tackle – Marcus Paige-Allen, So., Cal Poly; Dylan Zylstra, Sr., Eastern Washington

End – Austin Graves, Sr., Idaho State; Dustin Martin, Sr., Weber State

Linebacker – Cole Moore, Sr., Montana State' Dominick Sierra, Sr., Northern Colorado; Mitch Beckstead, Sr., Idaho State; Jeremiah Kose, Jr., Montana

Cornerback – Courtney Hall, Sr., Northern Colorado; LeShaun Sims, Jr., Southern Utah

Safety – Taison Manu, Jr., Idaho State; Rob Marshall, Sr., Montana State; Robbie Kendall, Sr., Sacramento State

Punter – Ryan Hawkins, Jr., Northern Arizona

HONORABLE MENTION

OFFENSE

Wide Receiver – Jordan Hines, Jr., Cal Poly; Chris Nicholls, Sr., Cal Poly; Kenny Mitchell, Sr., Cal Poly; Kendrick Bourne, So., Eastern Washington; KW Williams, So., Idaho State; Mitch Griebel, Jr., Montana State; Alex Holmes, Jr., Northern Arizona; Stephen Miller, So., Northern Colorado; Sean Leslie, Jr., Northern Colorado; Kasey Closs, Sr., Portland State; Chris Robinson, Sr., Southern Utah; Ramon Vargas, So., UC Davis; Cameron Livingston, So., Weber State.

Tackle – Weston Walker, Jr., Cal Poly; Clay DeBord, Jr., Eastern Washington; Terrence Carey, Jr., Idaho State; Leroy Guenther, Jr., Northern Arizona; Marcus Piechowski, So., Northern Colorado; Kyle Smith, So., Portland State.

Guard – Wesley Wingrove, Jr., Idaho State; Jordan Hines, Sr., G, Montana; Cam Keizur, So., Portland State; Dan Fleischman, Jr., Southern Utah; Joe Hawkins, Jr., Weber State.

Center – Stephen Sippel, Jr., Cal Poly; Jase Butorac, Sr., Eastern Washington; Logan Hines, Sr., Montana; Nick Nissen, Sr., Southern Utah; Parker Smith, Jr., UC Davis; Alex Land, Sr., Weber State.

Tight end – Zach Wimberly, So., Eastern Washington; Mitch Saylor, Sr., Montana; Zach Adler, Jr., North Dakota; Chris Broadnax, Sr., Sacramento State; Mark Martindale, Sr., UC Davis.

Quarterback – Jordan Johnson, Sr., Montana; Sean Rubalcaba, So., Northern Colorado; Ben Scott, So, UC Davis.

Running Back – Mario Brown, Sr., Eastern Washington; Travon Van, Sr., Montana; Gunnar Brekke, So., Montana State; Jer Garman, Sr., North Dakota; Casey Jahn, Jr., Northern Arizona; Robert Holland, Sr., Northern Colorado; Steven Long, Fr., Portland State; Jordan Robinson, So., Sacramento State.

Fullback – Jamal Wilson, Jr., Montana; Chad Newell, So., Montana State; Dwayne Pecosky, Sr., North Dakota; Quinn Zamora, So., Northern Colorado; Dalton Turay, Sr., UC Davis.

Placekicker – Tyler McNannay, Jr., Eastern Washington; Daniel Sullivan, Jr., Montana; Luke Daly, Fr., Montana State; Ryan Hawkins, Jr., Northern Arizona.

Return Specialists – John Nguyen, So., Montana; Gunnar Brekke, So., Montana State; Ellis Onic II, Fr., Northern Colorado; Bo Bolen, Sr., Weber State.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Cody Hecker, Sr., Eastern Washington; Nick Albano, Sr., Idaho State; Russell Smith, So., Sacramento State; Mike Sharp, So., Southern Utah.

DEFENSE

Tackle – Chris Lawrence, Sr., Cal Poly; Matt Sommer, So., Eastern Washington; Trevor Rehm, Sr., Montana; Deon Young, Fr., Northern Arizona; Spencer Cummings, Sr., DT, North Dakota; Joe Lopez, Sr., Portland State; Junior Alexis, Jr., Portland State; Robert Torgerson, So., Southern Utah; Connor Myers, Sr., Weber State.

End – Josh Letuligasenoa, So., Cal Poly; Chris Judge, Sr., Cal Poly; Zack Johnson, Sr., Eastern Washington; Tyrone Holmes, Jr., Montana; Odin Coe, Jr., Montana State; Brandon Dranka, Fr., North Dakota; Siupeli Anau, Jr., Northern Arizona; Mikhail Dubose, Jr., Northern Colorado; Kyle Todd, Sr., Northern Colorado; Brandon Tobias, Sr., DE, Portland State; Ben Cowger, Sr., Sacramento State; Andrew Eide, So., Southern Utah

Linebacker – Miquiyah Zamora, So., Eastern Washington; Herbert Gamboa, Jr., Montana; Cody McCarthy, Sr., Eastern Washington; Na'a Moeakiola, Sr., Montana State; Will Ratelle, Jr., North Dakota; Austin Hasquet, Sr., Northern Arizona; Jeremy Lutali, Jr., Portland State; Henry Fernandez, Sr., Sacramento State; Emmett Tela, Fr., Weber State.

Cornerback – Chris Fletcher, Jr., Cal Poly; Karlton Dennis, Jr., Cal Poly; Victor Gamboa, Fr., Eastern Washington; Vai Peko, Sr., Idaho State; Nate Harris, Jr., Montana; Alex Tillman, Sr., North Dakota; Blake Bailey, Sr., Northern Arizona; Brandon Lenoir, So., Northern Colorado; Xavier Coleman, So., Portland State; Deon'tae Florence, Sr., Weber State.

Safety – Jordan Williams, Sr., Cal Poly; Dave Douglas, Sr., Cal Poly; Zach Bruce, So., Eastern Washington; Justin Whitted, Sr., Montana; Darius Lewis, Jr., Northern Arizona; Taylor Risner, So., Northern Colorado; Charles Boyett, S, UC Davis; Josh Burton, So., Weber State.

Punter – Trevor Bolton, Jr., Montana State; Colby Wadman, So., UC Davis; Blake O'Neill, Jr., Weber State.