UM’S GOODWIN NAMED SPORTS NETWORK NATIONAL “PLAYER OF THE WEEK” & BIG SKY’S POW ON DEFENSE

GRIZ CORNERBACK ANTHONY GOODWIN EARNS NATIONAL & BIG SKY CONFERENCE RECOGNITION

MISSOULA, MONTANA (10/7/13) – TheSports Network selected University of Montana cornerback Anthony “Chief” Goodwinas its co-national “Player of the Week” on defense, while the Big Sky Conference namedGoodwin as its ROOT SPORTS football Player of the Week on “D” for games played on Saturday, Oct. 5.

Goodwin, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior from Murrieta, Calif., intercepted two passes, had seven pass breakups and three tackles in No. 10 Montana’s 55-27 victory over Portland State. Both of Goodwin’s interceptions led to Montana touchdowns. His first pick came in the first quarter and he returned it nine yards to the Portland State 36-yard line. His second interception came in the third quarter at Portland State 45-yard line.

Goodwin’s seven pass deflections are the most by a player in a game in the FCS this season, and he leads the nation with 2.8 passes defended per game.

Sharing the national award withGoodwin was Yale defensive back Cole Champion. Champion had a game-high 14 tackles, a fumble recovery, and two interceptions in his team’s 24-10 win at #18 Cal Poly.

The Sports Network’s co-offensive players of the week were Fordham quarterback Michael Nebrichand Towson running back Terrance West, while the special teams recipient was Montana State returner Shawn Johnson. SN tabbed James Madison linebacker LB Gage Steele as its Freshman of the Week.

Nebrich completed 26-of-36 pass attempts for a career-high 384 yards and four touchdowns is a 52-34 win over Lehigh. West carried the ball 28 times for 238 yards and three touchdowns in Towson’s 44-28 victory over New Hampshire. Steele recorded 13 solo stops and a sack in JMU's 40-13 win over Albany.

Montana’s Big Sky nominee on offense was senior tight endClay Pierson, from Twin Bridges, who had 3 catches for 71 yards, and three touchdowns (36, 25, 10).The Grizzlies’ nominee for league POW honors on special teams was sophomore linebackerKendrick Van Ackeren from Bellevue, Wash., who had 4 tackles on the kickoff coverage team.

The other players recognized by the Big Sky were Sacramento State quarterbackGarrett Safron as the Offensive Player of the Week, while MSU’s Johnson and North Dakota returnerGreg Hardin shared the Special Teams Player of the Week award.

Safron, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound junior from Santa Monica, Calif., completed 26-of-39 passes for 312 yards and three TDs in Sacramento State’s 37-21 win over Northern Colorado. Hardin, a 5-11, 177-pound senior from Bellevue, Neb., returned a kick 99 yards for a touchdown in North Dakota’s 28-25 win over Idaho State. Johnson, a 5-9, 175-pound junior from Bakersfield, Calif., returned a kick 100 yards for a touchdown in MSU’s 36-7 win over Northern Arizona.