Cats, Griz earn Big Sky accolades

The season is over for both the Montana Grizzlies and the Montana State Bobcats. But both teams had reason to celebrate Tuesday, as the Big Sky Conference announced its All-Conference Team and postseason awards.

The Grizzlies had 12 selections to the Big Sky Team, while the Bobcats had eight. And for the second year in a row, Montana State was home to the Big Sky Freshman of the Year, as running back/linebacker Troy Andersen earned the 2017 honors. Montana quarterback Gresch Jensen was second in the voting, and both players have been named finalists for the Jerry Rice Award, which goes to the top FCS freshman.

As for All-Conference selections, Montana senior OT David Reese was the Griz' only First-Team selection. Reese just wrapped up a career in which he made 46 consecutive starts for the Grizzlies. UM had three defensive players named Second-Team, led by linebacker Josh Buss, who was likely a First-teamer, but was snubbed. Buss is a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the FCS' top defensive player. LB James Banks and DE Tucker Schye were also on the Second Team, as was ST LB Dante Olson. Senior CB Ryan McKinley earned Third-Team honors, while Senior LB Connor Strahm was named Third Team Defense, marking the third time in the last six years that all three Grizzly starting linebackers were named All-Conference. Kicker Brandon Purdy was also named to the Third Team.

Honorable Mentions honors for the Griz included, WRs Keenan Curran and Jerry Louie-McGee (also HM return specialist), OG Robert Luke, C Cooper Sprunk and RB Jeremy Calhoun.

MSU senior LB Mac Bignell was the Bobcat's only First-Team selection, and he received All-Conference honors for the third straight year. OT Dylan Mahoney and punter Jered Padmos earned Second-Team honors. Senior safety Bryson McCabe was named to the Third Team.

Honorable mention honors for the Bobcats included, WR Mitch Herbert, C Alex Neale and DTs Zach Wright and Tucker Yates.

UC Davis WR Keelan Doss was named Big Sky Offensive MVP, while Weber State CB Taron Johnson was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year. UC Davis QB Jake Maier earned Big Sky Newcomer of the Year.

2017 Big Sky Football All-Conference Team

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE

Wide Receiver Elijah Marks Senior Northern Arizona

Wide Receiver Keelan Doss Junior UC Davis

Wide Receiver Mitch Gueller Sophomore Idaho State

Tackle Iosua Opeta Junior Weber State

Tackle David Reese Senior Montana

Guard Skyler Phillips Senior Idaho State

Guard Tyler Shank Senior Northern Arizona

Center Zach Larsen Sophomore Southern Utah

Tight End *$Andrew Vollert Senior Weber State

Quarterback $Case Cookus Sophomore Northern Arizona

Running Back %John Santiago Junior North Dakota

Running Back James Madison Junior Idaho State

Fullback Jared Mohamed Senior Cal Poly

Kicker Trey Tuttle Freshman Weber State

Returner Rashid Shaheed Freshman Weber State

FIRST TEAM DEFENSE

Tackle McKay Murphy Senior Weber State

Tackle Anu Pole'o Senior Southern Utah

End Ben Sorenson Senior Sacramento State

End George Obinna Junior Sacramento State

Outside Linebacker %Michael Needham Senior Southern Utah

Outside Linebacker Mac Bignell Senior Montana State

Inside Linebacker Mario Jenkins Senior Idaho State

Inside Linebacker LeGrand Toia Junior Weber State

Cornerback *Taron Johnson Senior Weber State

Cornerback Jarmaine Doubs Senior Southern Utah

Safety Wes Sutton Junior Northern Arizona

Safety Mister Harriel Junior Sacramento State

Punter Jordan Dascalo Senior Eastern Washington

Special Teams Brady May Junior Weber State

SECOND TEAM OFFENSE

Wide Receiver Nic Sblendorio Senior Eastern Washington

Wide Receiver Alex Wesley Junior Northern Colorado

Wide Receiver Andre Lindsey Junior Sacramento State

Tackle Dylan Mahoney Senior Montana State

Tackle Marquez Tucker Junior Southern Utah

Guard Pailake Aiono Senior Sacramento State

Guard Tyshon Mosley Senior Portland State

Center Spencer Blackburn Junior Eastern Washington

Tight End Charlie Taumoepeau Sophomore Portland State

Quarterback Gage Gubrud Junior Eastern Washington

Running Back Antoine Custer Sophomore Eastern Washington

Running Back James Felila Sophomore Southern Utah

Fullback Brady May Junior Weber State

Kicker Devon Medeiros Junior Sacramento State

Returner Dre'Sonte Dorton Sophomore Eastern Washington

SECOND TEAM DEFENSE

Tackle Augustino Elisaia Senior Cal Poly

Tackle Robert Torgenson Senior Southern Utah

End Albert Havili Senior Eastern Washington

End Tucker Schye Senior Montana

End Jonah Williams Sophomore Weber State

Outside Linebacker Josh Buss Junior Montana

Outside Linebacker Landon Stice Junior Weber State

Inside Linebacker James Banks Senior Montana

Inside Linebacker Chinedu Ahanonu Junior Southern Utah

Cornerback Xequille Harry Senior Weber State

Cornerback Khalil Dorsey Sophomore Northern Arizona

Safety Kam'ron Johnson Junior Northern Arizona

Safety Jordan Preator Junior Weber State

Punter Jered Padmos Sophomore Montana State

Special Teams Dante Olson Sophomore Montana

THIRD TEAM OFFENSE

Wide Receiver Nsimba Webster Junior Eastern Washington

Wide Receiver Michael Dean Sophomore Idaho State

Wide Receiver Darnell Adams Senior Portland State

Tackle Jon Blade Senior Sacramento State

Tackle Chase Collins Senior Idaho State

Guard Baron Bruce Junior Weber State

Guard PJ Nu'usa Sophomore Southern Utah

Center Blake Porter Senior Northern Arizona

Tight End Wes Preece Sophomore UC Davis

Quarterback Jake Maier Sophomore UC Davis

Running Back Cory Young Junior Northern Arizona

Running Back Treshawn Garrett Junior Weber State

Fullback Sefesi Vaa'ivaka Senior Southern Utah

Kicker Brandon Purdy Sophomore Montana

Returner Xequille Harry Senior Weber State

THIRD TEAM DEFENSE

Tackle Tank Harris Junior North Dakota

Tackle James Walton Senior Northern Arizona

End Kiefer Morris Junior Northern Colorado

End Taylor Pili Senior Southern Utah

Outside Linebacker Tanner Palmborg Junior North Dakota

Outside Linebacker Marcus Bruce Junior Sacramento State

Inside Linebacker Taylor Nelson Senior Southern Utah

Inside Linebacker Manoah Pearson Junior Sacramento State

Inside Linebacker Connor Strahm Senior Montana

Cornerback Dre Terrell Junior Sacramento State

Cornerback Ryan McKinley Senior Montana

Safety Mitch Fettig Junior Eastern Washington

Safety Bryson McCabe Senior Montana State

Punter Jake DeMaio Senior Weber State

Special Teams Anfernee Gurley Freshman Eastern Washington

Honorable Mention

Wide Receiver - Keenan Curran, Montana; Jerry Louie-McGee, Montana; Mitch Herbert, Montana State; Isaiah Hennie, Sacramento State; Landen Measom, Southern Utah; Drew Batchelor, Weber State.

Tackle - Brian Fineanganofo, Idaho State; Cole Habib, Northern Arizona; Randin Crecelius, Portland State; Kyle Sulka, UC Davis; Tyler Downs, Weber State.

Guard - Tristen Taylor, Eastern Washington; Robert Luke, Montana; Wyatt Ming, Sacramento State; Julian Bertero, UC Davis.

Center - Joey Kuperman, Cal Poly; Cooper Sprunk, Montana; Alex Neale, Montana State.

Tight End - Logan Parker, Southern Utah.

Quarterback - Patrick Tyler, Southern Utah.

Running Back - Sam McPherson, Eastern Washington; Ty Flanagan, Idaho State; Jeremy Calhoun, Montana; Brady Oliveira, North Dakota; Joe Logan, Northern Arizona; Jay Green, Southern Utah.

Placekicker - Reid Taubenheim, North Dakota.

Return Specialist - Jerry Louie-McGee, Montana; John Santiago, North Dakota.

Tackle - JonRyheem Peoples, Idaho State; Zach Wright, Montana State; Tucker Yates, Montana State; Khairi Bailey, Northern Colorado; Dariyn Choates, Sacramento State.

End - Clarence Smith, Northern Arizona; Chance Bearnson, Southern Utah; Brandon Weaver, UC Davis.

Outside Linebacker - Darren Adjei, Cal Poly; Beau Duronslet, Portland State; Immanuel Anderson, Sacramento State; Kyle Tauili'ili, Southern Utah.

Inside Linebacker - Byron Evans, Northern Arizona; Taylor Powell, Northern Arizona; Henry Stelzner, Northern Colorado; Ryan Bua, UC Davis.

Cornerback - Josh Lewis, Eastern Washington; Maurice Davison, Northern Arizona; Marshaun Cameron, Northern Colorado; Donovan Olumba, Portland State; Vince White, UC Davis.

Safety - B.J. Nard, Cal Poly; Stone Kane, Northern Colorado; Tyler Collett, Southern Utah; Mitch Dalley, Southern Utah.

Punter - Casey Sublette, Cal Poly; Rashaan Miller, Southern Utah.

Special Teams Player - Andy Whittier, Idaho State; Mitchell Thompson, Portland State.

* - Unanimous All-First Team Selection

$ - Two-Time All-Big Sky First Team Selection

% - Three-Time All-Big Sky First Team Selection