(Editor's note: Big Sky Conference release)
FARMINGTON, Utah -- The Big Sky Conference announced its ROOT SPORTS football players of the week on Monday. The ROOT SPORTS Offensive Player of the Week honor went to Sacramento State running back Elijah Dotson. Southern Utah cornerback Carlton Johnson earned ROOT SPORTS Defensive Player of the Week accolades, while Weber State kicker Trey Tuttle was named the ROOT SPORTS Special Teams honoree.
Dotson broke tackle after tackle to rack up a season-high 176 yards on the ground. He added a career-high-tying three rushing touchdowns in Sacramento State’s 38-14 win over Cal Poly. The junior was the catalyst for a Hornet rushing attack which amassed 348 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the game. Dotson registered touchdown runs of 19, 1 and 30 yards in the game. He also led the Hornets with five receptions for 50 yards. The 100-yard rushing performance was the eighth of Dotson’s career and the second this season.
The Thunderbirds’ Johnson registered a pair of interceptions in Southern Utah’s win over visiting Idaho State. On the first play of the game, Johnson intercepted the Bengals’ pass and returned it 16 yards to get the Thunderbird sideline fired up. The redshirt freshman went on to record a 51-yard pick-six late in the fourth quarter to help guide Southern Utah to its first conference win of the season.
Tuttle tied a Weber State school record with five made field goals in the Wildcats’ 36-20 win at No. 22 UC Davis. He was a perfect 5 of 5 on field goals and connected on field goals of 38, 38, 20, 27 and 39 yards. Tuttle connected on four-straight field goals during a stretch of the second and third quarters. He was also a perfect 3 of 3 on extra points, giving him 18 points on the day to account for half of Weber State’s 36 points. Tuttle added eight kickoffs for an average of 61.4 yards per kick and had two touchbacks. Tuttle’s five made field goals is tied for the most of any player in the country this season.
The ROOT SPORTS Game of the Week features Southern Utah at Montanan State. The game will kick off at 12 p.m. MT from Bobcat Stadium.
Others Nominated – Offense: Ty Flanagan, ISU; Tamarick Pierce, EWU; Case Cookus, NAU; Sirgeo Hoffman, PSU; Chris Helbig, SUU, Devon Cooley, WSU; Marcus Knight, UM;
Defense: Kody Graves, ISU; Calin Criner, EWU; Bryce Rodgers, UCD; Marcus Hawkins, SAC; Anthony Adams, PSU; Robby Hauck, UM; Jared Schiess, WSU;
Special Teams: Seth Harrison, EWU; Adam Wilson, UM; Judd Cockett, SUU; Cody Williams, PSU; Dewey Cotton, SAC; Jaylin White, UCD; Luis Aguilar, NAU.
