Cats, Griz touted by the Big Sky

The dust is now settled on the Big Sky Conference football season, and Tuesday the league released its 2018 All-Conference Team and postseason awards.

The Montana Grizzlies and Montana State Bobcats combined to put 21 players on the All-Conference Team, with the Griz getting 11 players named and the Cats 10.

Montana quarterback Dalton Sneed was named the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year. Sneed, originally from UNLV, was a 2018 junior college transfer for the Grizzlies and wound up second in the Big Sky and eighth in the FCS in total offense. Sneed was also named Honorable Mention All-Conference.

Montana State quarterback Troy Andersen was named First-Team All-Conference. Andersen finished fourth in the Big Sky in rushing. He was also the 2017 Big Sky Freshman of the Year.

The Bobcats, who host Incarnate Word in the FCS playoffs Saturday, also saw linebacker Bryce Sterk, defensive tackle Tucker Yates and defensive end Tyrone Fa'anono named to the Second-Team Defense, while offensive lineman Mitch Brott was named Second-Team Offense. Running back Isaiah Ifanse, linebacker Grant Collins, cornerback Greg Filer, and safeties Jahque Alleyne and Brayden Konkol were named Honorable Mention All-Conference.

For the Grizzlies, linebacker Dante Olson, who led the FCS in tackles this season and is a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, earned First-Team Defensive honors, but was snubbed for the Big Sky Defensive MVP. Big Sky Preseason MVP Josh Buss was named Second-Team Defense at linebacker, while WR Sammy Akem and PR Jerry Louie-McGee were also named Second Team. Jace Lewis was also named Second-Team Special Teams.

Defensive end Jesse Sims was named Third-Team Defense for the Griz, while Louie-McGee (WR), tackle David Shaw, DE Reggie Tilleman, S Robby Hauck and K Tim Semenza earned Big Sky Honorable Mention.

UC Davis QB Jake Maier was named Big Sky Offensive MVP, Eastern Washington DT Jay-Tee Tiuli earned Big Sky Defensive MVP and Weber State RB Josh Davis was named Big Sky Freshman of the Year.

The Big Sky Coach of the Year will be announced today.