Nov. 19, 2007

Greeley, COLO. - The Big Sky Conference today announced the members of the 2007 football all-conference team and the University of Northern Colorado had eight players named to the three different teams.

 

Junior tight end Ryan Chesla becomes the first first-team selection for the Bears. Chesla started in 11 of the 12 games this season, missing the finale against Portland State due to a shoulder injury. He averaged 40.4 yards per game receiving to lead the team, catching 37 passes for 444 yards and scoring four touchdowns.

 

The lone second-team selection was junior linebacker Cristian Sarmento. He also started in 11 of the 12 games this year, missing the last game with an ankle injury. Sarmento led the team with 135 tackles, including 6.5 for loss. He finished the regular season ranked second in the conference against all opponents with 11.9 tackles per game and led the league against conference opponents only with 14.0 tackles per game.

 

Senior center Jake Gable, senior tight end Clint Wright, senior defensive back D.J. Craft, junior linebacker Joe Kenney, sophomore defensive end John Eddy and sophomore defensive back Ryan Lutz were all named honorable mentions. Lutz was honored for his play on special teams.

 

Eastern Washington quarterback Matt Nichols was named the offensive player of the year, while Montana defensive end Kroy Biermann was the defensive player of the year and Weber State quarterback Cameron Higgins was honored as the league's newcomer of the year. Both Montana and Eastern Washington have advanced to the NCAA FCS Playoffs from the Big Sky Conference and begin play on Saturday.

 

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

Wide Receivers - Aaron Boyce, Eastern Washington; Eddie Thompson, Idaho State; Tremayne Kirkland, Portland State

Tackles - Brent Russum, Montana; David Hale, Weber State.

Guards - Matt Alfred, Eastern Washington; J.D. Quinn, Montana

Center - Brennan Carvalho, Portland State

Tight end - Ryan Chesla, Northern Colorado

Quarterback - Matt Nichols, Eastern Washington

Running Back - Josh Barnett, Idaho State; Trevyn Smith, Weber State.

Fullback - Marcus Mailei, Weber State

Place kicker - Dan Carpenter, Montana

Return Specalist - Bryant Eteuati, Weber State.

 

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

Tackles - Dallas Mauga, Sacramento State; Bryce Scanlon, Weber State

Ends - Kroy Biermann, Montana; Greg Peach, Eastern Washington

Outside Linebackers - Loren Utterback, Montana; Mike Brannon, Sacramento State

Inside Linebackers - Bobby Daly, Montana State; Cyrus Mulitalo, Sacramento State

Cornerbacks - K.J. Gerard, Northern Arizona; Ricky Wilson, Northern Arizona

Safeties - Colt Anderson, Montana; Ty Sparrow, Weber State.

Punter - Tyson Johnson, Montana

 

SECOND TEAM  OFFENSE

Wide Receivers - Ryan Bagley, Montana; Alex Watson, Northern Arizona; Bryant Eteuati, Weber State.

Tackles - Zach Wasielewski, Eastern Washington; Daren Heerspink, Portland State

Guards - Jeff Hansen, Montana State; Dimitri Tsoumpas, Weber State

Center - Colin Dow, Montana

Tight end - Shaun Fitzpatrick, Northern Arizona

Quarterback - Cole Bergquist, Montana

Running Back - Lex Hilliard, Montana; Demetrius Crawford, Montana State

Fullback - Olaniyi Sobomehin, Portland State

Placekicker - Robbie Dehaze, Northern Arizona

Return Specalist - JD Ponciano, Idaho State

 

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

Tackles - Lance Witherspoon, Eastern Washington; Craig Metler, Montana; Aaron Papich, Montana State.

Ends - Dane Fletcher, Montana State; Cole Smith, Portland State

Outside Linebackers - Epikopo King, Montana State; JD Folsom, Weber State.

Inside Linebackers - Tyler Joyce, Montana; Cristian Sarmento, Northern Colorado.

Cornerbacks - Chris Clark, Montana; Michael Beach, Montana State

Safeties - Torrey Thomas, Montana; Bryan Jarrett, Eastern Washington

Punter - Dan Zeidman, Idaho State.

 

Honorable Mention Offense

Wide receivers: Brynsen Brown, Eastern Washington; Jaron Taylor, Idaho State; Clyde Logan, Idaho State; Eric Allen, Montana; Mike Ferriter, Montana; Kenneth Mackins, Portland State; Ryan Coogler, Sacramento State; Tony Washington, Sacramento State; Tim Toone, Weber State

Tackles - Evan Dietrich-Smith; Cody Balogh, Montana; Peder Jensen, Montana State; Nick Posey, Northern Arizona; Ryne Holstrom, Northern Arizona; Ray Navar, Sacramento State

Guards - Chris Carlsen, Eastern Washington; Bryce Metcalf, Idaho State; Dan Carter, Montana; Tim Reader, Northern Arizona; Matt Lemley, Sacramento State

Center - George Yarno, Idaho State; Jon Toailoa, Northern Arizona; Jake Gable, Northern Colorado; Kyle Leitzke, Sacramento State; Kyle Mutcher, Sacramento State.

Tight end - Tom McAndrews, Eastern Washington; Trevor Messersmith, Idaho State; Dan Beaudin, Montana; Steven Pfahler, Montana; Elliott Barhart, Montana State, Brandon Bostick, Montana State; Clint Wright, Northern Colorado.

Quarterback - Lance Kriesien, Northern Arizona; Cameron Higgins, Weber State.

Running Back - Dale Morris, Eastern Washington; Lionel Scott, Northern Arizona; Alex Henderson, Northern Arizona; Bryan Hillard, Sacramento State.

Fullback - Kevin Klaboe, Montana

Place-kicker - Juan Gamboa, Sacramento State.

Return Specalist - Jody Johnson, Sacramento State; Mark Mariani, Montana

 

Honorable Mention Defense

Tackles - Shawn Powell, Eastern Washington; Villiami Akoteau, Idaho State; Kelly Kain, Montana; Phillip Humphrey, Portland State; Derek Johnson, Weber State

Ends - Jason Belford, Eastern Washington; Geo Simmons, Idaho State; Mike Stadnyk, Montana; Blair Boynton, Northern Arizona; Drew Hoffman, Northern Arizona; John Eddy, Northern Colorado;  Casey Tyler, Portland State; Blaine Jackson, Sacramento State; Kevin Linehan, Weber State

Outside Linebackers - Anthony Dotson, Eastern Washington; Sterling Mennear, Idaho State; Brad Rife, Idaho State; Muckie Foreman, Montana; Joe Kenney, Northern Colorado; K.J. McCrae, Portland State; Ryan Pederson, Portland State; Mike Hickman, Sacramento State; Brad Stewart, Weber State.

Inside Linebackers - Makai Borden, Eastern Washington; Jared Khul, Eastern Washington; Ryan Phipps, Idaho State; Kyle Ryan, Montana; Cody Dowd, Northern Arizona; Jordan Senn, Portland State; Andy Schatz, Portland State.

Cornerbacks - Ira Jarmon, Eastern Washington; D.J. Clark, Idaho State; Quinton Jackson, Montana; Kory Austin, Motnana State; Brandin Williams, Weber State

Safeties - Terrance Calloway, Idaho State; Kevin Retoriano, Montana State; Cyrus Igono, Northern Arizona; Josh Luck, Northern Arizona; D.J. Craft, Northern Colorado; Micheal Dorsey, Portland State; Brett Shelton, Sacramento State; Brent Webber, Sacramento State.

Punter - Robbie Dehaze, Northern Arizona; Mike Snoy, Weber State.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER

First team - Cyrus Igono, Northern Arizona

Second team - Bryant Eteuati, Weber State

Honorable Mention - Adam Macomber, Eastern Washington; Klint Knickrehm, Idaho State; Brandon Dwyer, Montana; Ryan Lutz, Northern Colorado, Logan Dose, Portland State