ConferenceBig Sky

Big Sky Conference

Big Sky Conference Records

Top Single-Game Performances Rushing 409 Charles Roberts, Sacramento State vs. Idaho State 1999 Passing 660 Braden Hanson, North Dakota vs. Montana 2012 Receiving (Yards) 333 Greg Hardin, North Dakota vs. Montana 2012 Receiving (Catches) 21 David Pandt, Montana State vs. Eastern Washington 1985 21 Jerry Louie-McGee, Montana vs. Cal Poly 2016 Total Offense 655 Braden Hanson, North Dakota vs. Montana 2012 All-Purpose Yards 437 Ryan Fuqua, Portland State vs. Weber State 2007

Top Single-Season Performances Rushes: 386, Charles Roberts, Sacramento State 1998 Rushing Yards: 2,260, Charles Roberts, Sacramento State 1998 Average Per Rush: 8.4, Tim Lappano, Idaho 1975 Rushing Average Per Game: 205.5, Charles Roberts, Sacramento State 1998 Rushing TDs: 25, Archie Amerson, Northern Arizona 1996 Pass Completions: 386, Gage Gubrud, Eastern Washington 2016 Pass Attempts: 570, Gage Gubrud, Eastern Washington 2016 Passing Yards: 5,160, Gage Gubrud, Eastern Washington 2016 Completion Percentage: .689, Case Cookus, Northern Arizona 2015 Passing TDs: 55, Vernon Adams, Eastern Washington 2013 Average Passing Yards Per Game: 379.6, Dave Dickenson, Montana 1995 Passing Efficiency: 184.9, Case Cookus, Northern Arizona 2015 Total Offense Plays: 704, Gage Gubrud, Eastern Washington 2016 Total Offense Yards: 5,599, Vernon Adams, Eastern Washington 2013 Total Offense Avg. Per Game: 411.9, Gage Gubrud, Eastern Washington 2016 All-Purpose Yards: 2,430, Charles Roberts, Sacramento State 1998 All-Purpose Yards Per Game: 221.1, Archie Amerson, Northern Arizona 1996 Receptions: 117, Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington 2016 Receiving Yards: 1,850, Brandon Kaufman, Eastern Washington 2012 Receiving TDs: 21, Cooper Kupp, Eastern Washington 2013 Punts: 101, Tony Epperson, Weber State 2013 Punting Yards: 4,356, Tony Epperson, Weber State 2013 Punting Average: 48.2, Mark Gould, Northern Arizona 2002 Punt Return Average: 22.8, Carlis Harris, Idaho State 1970 Punt Return TDs: 4, Corey Smith, Montana State 2003 Kickoff Return Average: 33.9, Lamont Brightful, Eastern Washington 1999 Kickoff Return TDs: 3, Bashir Livingston, Eastern Washington 1998 3, Jesse Hoffman, Eastern Washington 2010 Interceptions: 11, Karl Stein, Montana 1969 Interception Return TDs: 3, Deion Harris, North Dakota 2016 Scoring: 172, Jesse Chatman, Eastern Washington 2001 Scoring (Kicking): 122, Chris Snyder, Montana 2003 Touchdowns: 28, Geoff Mitchell, Weber State 1991 28, Jesse Chatman, Eastern Washington 2001 28, Trevyn Smith, Weber State 2008 PAT Kicks Made: 74, Kevin Miller, Eastern Washington 2013 PAT Kicks Attempted: 79, Kevin Miller, Eastern Washington 2013 Field Goals Made: 26, Tony Zendejas, Nevada 1983 Field Goals Attempted: 33, Tony Zendejas, Nevada 1983

Longest Plays Rushing 98 Johnny Gordon, Nevada vs. Montana State 1984 98 TreShawn Garrett, Weber State vs. UC Davis 2017 Passing 99 John Bonds to Hendricks Johnson, No. Arizona vs. Boise State 1990 99 Jimmy Blanchard to Terry Charles, Portland St. vs. E.Washington 1999 Field Goals 60 Terry Belden, Northern Arizona vs. Cal State Northridge 1993 Pete Garcas, Idaho State vs. Cal State Northridge 1998 Punting 91 Jacob DeMaio, Weber State vs. Southern Utah 2016 Punt Return 95 Alex Tillman, North Dakota vs. Portland State 2014 Kickoff Return 100 Thirty-Four Players (Last: Malik Flowers (UM), Jaylin White (UCD)) 2018 Interception Return 100 Rob Pouliot, Montana State vs. Boise State 1988 Jacori Rufus, Idaho State vs. Southern Utah 1998 Ernie James, Idaho State vs. Northern Colorado 2003 D.J. Clark, Idaho State vs. Weber State 2007 Dustin Tew, Idaho State vs. Weber State 2010 Defensive PAT 100 Morgan Ryan, Montana State vs. Sam Houston State 1991

2019 Big Sky Conference Statistics

Rushing (Yards per Game) Player G Att. Yards Avg./G TD Ulonzo Gilliam (UCD) 12 243 1,249 5.1 11 Antoine Custer Jr. (EWU) 12 195 1,228 6.3 16 Duy Tran-Sampson (CP) 11 235 1,037 4.4 8 Ty Flanagan (ISU) 10 173 895 5.2 5 Sirgeo Hoffman (PSU) 10 143 769 5.4 8 17. Jalen Hamler (CP) 11 194 522 2.7 9

Passing (Efficiency Rating) Player G PC-PA-I Pct. Yards TD Jalen Hamler (CP) 11 62-108-5 .574 1,167 12 Eric Barriere (EWU) 12 258-438-4 .589 3,712 31 Case Cookus (NAU) 12 290-481-7 .603 4,095 31 Dalton Sneed (UM) 12 287-438-14 .655 3,436 25 Davis Alexander (PSU) 12 211-370-8 .570 2,928 25

Receiving (Receiving Yards per Game) Player G Cgt. Yards Avg./G TD Jeff Cotton (UI) 10 87 1,134 113.4 7 Samori Toure (UM) 14 87 1,495 106.8 13 Brandon Porter (NAU) 12 85 1,198 99.8 10 Stacy Chukwumezie (NAU) 12 50 963 80.2 8 J.J. Koski (CP) 11 42 868 78.9 8

Scoring Player G TD FG PAT 2-PAT Points Avg. Marcus Knight (UM) 14 25 0-0 0-0 0 150 10.7 Joe Logan (NAU) 12 20 0-0 0-0 0 120 10.0 Luis Aguilar (NAU) 12 0 22-25 52-52 0 118 9.8 Antoine Custer Jr. (EWU) 12 16 0-0 0-0 0 96 8.0 Seth Harrison (ewU) 11 0 12-12 50-53 0 86 7.8

Punting Player G No. Yards Avg. LG DJ Arnson (NAU) 12 57 2,612 45.8 65 Jered Padmos (MSU) 14 66 2,971 45.0 76 Daniel Whelan (UCD) 12 57 2,512 44.1 62 Noah Sol (UNC) 12 38 1,660 43.7 65 Doug Lloyd (WSU) 15 82 3,558 43.4 72 9. Mitch Souza (CP) 11 54 2,291 42.4 58

Tackles Player G Solo Asst. Total Avg. Dante Olson (UM) 14 76 103 179 12.8 Tre Walker (UI) 12 74 64 138 11.5 Dehonta Hayes (EWU) 12 59 56 115 9.6 Christian Elliss (UI) 11 49 55 104 9.5 Jace Lewis (UM) 14 65 66 131 9.4 12. Matt Shotwell (CP) 11 57 32 89 8.1 20. Kitu Humphrey (CP) 11 46 27 73 6.6 28. Aaron Cooper (CP) 11 37 30 67 8.1

2019 All-Big Sky Conference Teams

Offensive Player of the Year: Kevin Thomsen, QB (Sacramento State) Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Dante Olson, LB (UM), Jonah Williams, DE (WSU) Newcomer of the Year: Marcus Knight, RB (Montana) Freshman of the Year: Nick Eaton, LB (UC Davis)

First Team

Offense: QB — Kevin Thomsen (UCD); WR — Samori Toure (UM), J.J. Koski (CP), Pierre Williams (SAC); RB — Josh Davis (WSU), Elijah Dotson (SAC); OL — Zach Larsen (SUU), Mitch Brott (MSU), Wyatt Ming (SAC), Spencer Blackburn (EWU), Chris Schlichting (EWU), Ty Whitworth (WSU), Cole Habib (NAU); TE — Charlie Taumoepeau (PSU); FB — Clay Moss (WSU); AP — Travis Jonsen (MSU); K — Luis Aguilar (NAU); PR — Jerry Louie-McGee (UM); KR — Nick Romano (UI).

Defense: DT — Jared Schiess (WSU), Dariyn Choates (SAC); DE — George Obinna (SAC), Jonah Williams (WSU); OLB — Troy Andersen (MSU), Christian Elliss (UI); ILB — Dante Olson (UM), Jace Lewis (UM), Josh Hill (MSU); DB — Daron Bland (SAC), Brayden Konkol (MSU), Devon King (UCD), Khalil Dorsey (NAU), Anthony Adams (PSU); P — DJ Arnson (NAU); ST — Emmanuel Daigbe (PSU). Second Team (Cal Poly Only)

Offense: OL — Tyler Whisenhunt, FB — Duy Tran-Sampson.

Defense: None.

Cal Poly’s Big Sky Conference Championship Teams

2012 Big Sky Champs

• Big Sky champion in first year as a member of the conference • Fifth conference championship in last nine years • Earned third NCAA Division I FCS playoff berth in last eight years • Ninth winning season in last 10 years • Won first seven games of season for first time since 2004 • Broke Big Sky record for rushing yards in a season (3,890) • Deonte Williams No. 2 all-time at Cal Poly with 1,506 rushing yards • Williams 11th Mustang in last 11 years to play in all-star game • Andre Broadous passed for 18 touchdowns, rushed for nine scores • No. 1 in FCS in passing efficiency (175.73) • No. 3 in FCS in rushing offense (324.4 yards per game) • No. 7 in FCS in scoring offense (38.6 points per game) • No. 8 in FCS in sacks allowed (10 sacks in 12 games) • Finished No. 11 in coaches poll and No. 12 in media poll • Unbeaten at home (5-0) for first time since 2005 • Williams and linebacker Kennith Jackson first-team All-Big Sky • Williams, Jackson and Nico Molino earn All-American honors • Head coach Tim Walsh named Big Sky Co-Coach of the Year • Win over Wyoming was Cal Poly’s fourth against FBS in last 10 years • Won nine games in a season for the third time in the last nine years • Did not give up 100 yards to a running back until final game of season • Against FCS runner-up Sam Houston State in second round of play- offs, Cal Poly allowed just 18 points (second-lowest total scored by the Bearkats in 2012) and 241 total yards (the Bearkats' lowest of the year)

August Saia Fonongaloa 3 Ethan Rodriguez 8 Chuby Dunu 10 Bradley Mickey 19 September Ryan Rivera 3 Dylan Krauss 3 Steve Walpole 4 Michael Roth 6 Dawson Hurst 8 Wade Willet 10 Connor Heffler 10 Jackson Pavitt 13 Nicolo DiFronzo 16 Conor Bruce 17 Colton Theaker 19 Cole Powers 21 Mohab Wahdan 21 Duy Tran-Sampson 22 Cruz Rubio 24 Hunter Raquet 26 Dustin Grein 30 October Isaiah Robinson 1 Julian Reed 4 Jalen Hamler 5 Trevor Owens 8 Andrew Cokley 14 Mitchell Souza 22 Brandon Davis 24 David Meyer 31 November Mike Mercep 5 John Smolenski 8 Hunter Jones 10 Grant Anderson 11 Matthew Stuppiello 12 Mitch Anderson 20 Xavier Moore 23 Leonte Huerta-Moore 28 December Ethan Bronson 6 Aaron Cooper 9 Freddie Gaines 10 Austin Anderson 12 Seth Robasciotti 13 Nick White 14 Patrick Roberg 14 Myles Cecil 16 Juanie Campbell 16 Cameron Crump 19 Lepi Lataimua 23 D’Angelo McKenzie 25 Richard Watkins 28 DeMarcus Oandasan 29

Birthdays in Season

2020 Big Sky Composite Schedule

(All Times Pacific) Saturday, February 27 Eastern Washington at Idaho 2:05 p.m. Weber State at Idaho State 3:05 p.m. Southern Utah at Northern Arizona12:05 p.m. Cal Poly at UC Davis 1:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 6 Northern Arizona at Eastern Washington 1:05 p.m. UC Davis at Idaho 11:05 a.m. Idaho State at Southern Utah 11:05 a.m. Weber State at Cal Poly 12:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 13 Eastern Washington at Idaho State TBA Idaho at Northern Arizona 12:05 p.m. Southern Utah at Cal Poly 12:05 p.m. UC Davis at Weber State 12:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 20 OPEN WEEK

Saturday, March 27 Cal Poly at Eastern Washington 1:05 p.m. Southern Utah at Idaho 11:05 a.m. Idaho State at UC Davis 1:05 p.m. Northern Arizona at Weber State 12:05 p.m.

Saturday, April 3 Eastern Washington at UC Davis 1:05 p.m. Idaho at Idaho State TBA Cal Poly at Northern Arizona 1:05 p.m. Weber State at Southern Utah 1:05 p.m.

Saturday, April 10 Idaho at Eastern Washington 1:05 p.m. Idaho State at Weber State 12:05 p.m. Northern Arizona at Southern Utah 3:05 p.m. UC Davis at Cal Poly 12:05 p.m.

Saturday, April 17 OPEN WEEK

Saturday, April 24 NCAA FCS Playoffs (First Round)

Saturday, May 1 NCAA FCS Playoffs (Quarterfinal Round)

Saturday, May 8 NCAA FCS Playoffs (Semifinal Round)

Sunday, May 16 NCAA FCS Championship Game (at Frisco, Texas)

Cal Poly Selected to Finish 10th in Big Sky

Cal Poly was selected finish 10th in the 13-team Big Sky Conference football standings in the fall of 2020, according to preseason polls of head coaches and Big Sky media.

The 13 head coaches gave Cal Poly 46 points while the 44 media members who participated awarded the Mustangs 206 points.

The polls were announced during the Big Sky's virtual Football Kickoff in July.

Top six teams in both polls are the same, with Weber State on top with seven first-place votes from the coaches and 28 first-place votes from the media.

The Wildcats have won at least a share of the regular season crown the past three seasons and made their third consecutive Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoff appearance last fall, reaching the semifinals. The Wildcats have recorded three straight seasons of 10 or more wins and finished 2019 ranked No. 3 in the FCS polls.

Finishing second through sixth in both polls are No. 2 Montana, No. 3 Montana State, No. 4 Eastern Washington, No. 5 Sacramento State and No. 6 UC Davis.

In the media poll, Montana received eight firstplace votes, Montana State six and Eastern Washington and UC Davis one each. In the head coaches poll, Montana earned three first-place votes and Montana State, Eastern Washington and Sacramento State one each.

Cal Poly captured the Big Sky championship in its first season in the conference (2012), has compiled a 32-32 record in its first eight years in the Big Sky, has claimed five conference titles in the last 16 years, including four in the eight-year existence of the Great West Conference (2004-11), and earned its fourth NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth in 2016.

Big Sky Conference Preseason Polls Coaches 1. Weber State (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135 2. Montana (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128 3. Montana State (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121 4. Eastern Washington (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118 5. Sacramento State (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 6. UC Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 7. Northern Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 8. Portland State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 9. Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 10. Cal Poly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 11. Idaho State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 12. Southern Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 13. Northern Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Media 1. Weber State (28) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .546 2. Montana (8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .496 3. Montana State (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .493 4. Eastern Washington (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .438 5. Sacramento State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .389 6. UC Davis (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .325 7. Portland State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .274 8. Idaho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .273 9. Northern Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .238 10. Cal Poly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .206 11. Idaho State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133 12. Southern Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105 13. Northern Colorado . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88 Number in parentheses indicates first-place votes.

NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs Expanded to 24 Teams

Frisco, Texas, will be the host site for the NCAA Division I Football Championship game for the 11th straight year. Frisco emerged from a pool of several cities that submitted bids to serve as the host site for the championship game for three years, beginning with the 2010 season, and the contract has been extended twice. Hosted by the Southland Conference, the 2020 championship game will be played at Toyota Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021.

The championship game is the culmination of an expanded 24-team championship bracket. As a result of the expansion to 20 teams seven years ago, the game is played a few weeks later than in years past. Cal Poly qualified for the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs in 2005, 2008, 2012 and 2016. Eastern Washington earned the 2010 title in the first game since the championship was moved from Chattanooga, Tenn., and reached the finals again in 2019 while North Dakota State has captured eight of the last nine FCS titles, defeating James Madison 2820. The Bison defeated Eastern Washington 38-24 in the 2018 title game.

The Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) includes the conferences and institutions that compete in the NCAA Division I Football Championship, in addition to two conferences who choose not to participate in the football championship, the Ivy League and the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The FCS embodies a tradition of excellence through high-level competition, student-athlete character and sportsmanship throughout the regular season and the championship experience.

Big Sky teams have made 14 total appearances in the Football Championship Subdivision national title game. The Big Sky has been represented in the playoffs by at least two teams in 34 of the past 36 years.

Pronunciation Guide

Ryan Boehm BAYM Juanie Campbell juh-WAN Andrew Cokley COKE-lee Chuby Dunu duh-NEW Aarmon Euwing Arr-MON Ewing Pono Faaagi POH-no faa-AH-gee Jojo Falo FALL-low Vatulele Finau VAW-tu-lay-lay fin-NOW Saia Fonongaloa SIGH-uh FAWN-on-guh-LOW-ah Dustin Grein Rhymes with grind Ben Hakimi Hah-KEE-me Ryan Hannoun Huh-NOON Shakobe Harper Shuh-KO-bee Jamarri Jackson Juh-MAR-ree Isaiah Jernagin JER-nuh-ghin Lepi Lataimua LEPP-ee LIE-tau-MOO-uh Caden McCloughan Mc-CLEW-un Judaea Moon Jew-DAY-uh Xavier Moore ZAY-vee-ur DeMarcus Oandasan Oh-un-DAW-son Laipeli Palu Lie-PELL-ee Puh-LOO Jackson Pavitt Rhymes with rabbit Hunter Raquet Ruk-KAY Seth Robasciotti Robe-uh-SHOT-tee Will Semone suh-MOAN-knee Sawyer Sobelman SEW-bull-mun D.J. Stuckey duh-JOHN Dominic Stellini-Splan Stell-LEAN-ee Splan (Plan) Matthew Stuppiello Stew-pee-EL-low Colton Theaker THEE-kurr Lance Vecchio VECK-key-oh Mohab Wahdan MO-habb Wuh-DON Garrett Weichman WIKE-mun Wade Willet WILL-let

2019 Big Sky Conference Summer Football Kickoff

The 2019 Big Sky Conference Summer Football Kickoff was held July 14-15 in Spokane, Wash.

The event, which for the first six years was held in Park City, Utah, began with meetings and media interviews Sunday and wound up with Root Sports production shots, video components and more media interviews Monday.

Wide receiver J.J. Koski and defensive back Kitu Humphrey, both seniors last fall, represented Cal Poly. Player and head coach interviews were video streamed live on Pluto TV Channel 551 and WatchBigSky.com. The players also played bowling the night before the Summer Kickoff began. Koski posted a 108 and 155 with six total strikes while Humphrey checked in with four strikes and scores of 116 and 89. Dalton Sneed of Montana was the individual winner with a 164 and 160.

The Big Sky Conference preseason coaches and media polls as well as the preseason all-conference team were released on the final day and Big Sky Commissioner Tom Wistrcill led a media roundtable to wrap up the two-day event.

The Spokane Sports Commission assisted in running the Big Sky Summer Football Kickoff.

Andre Broadous represented Cal Poly at the 2012 Big Sky Summer Football Kickoff, held in Park City, Utah, while Sullivan Grosz attended the 2013 event, Nick Dzubnar in 2014, Chris Brown in 2015, Joseph Gigantino in 2016 and Joe Protheroe in 2017. The Big Sky Summer Kickoff was moved to Spokane in 2018 and two players were invited from each school. Cal Poly was represented by Khaleel Jenkins and Harry Whitson. The event was held virtually in 2020 with linebacker Matt Shotwell representing Cal Poly. The Big Sky had a different look in 2019. The conference welcomed back Idaho, a member of the Big Sky in football from 1965-95. Departing the league after the 2017 season was North Dakota, but the Fighting Hawks still played a Big Sky schedule through the 2019 season. Their results, however, did not count in the league standings as they were an independent, but the opponents counted the result. North Dakota becomes a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2020. After 23 years in Ogden, Utah, the Big Sky Conference on August 1 moved its offices to Farmington, Utah, closer to Salt Lake City International Airport.

“Ogden has been a wonderful home to the Big Sky since 1995,” said Wistrcill. “We are grateful to the city of Ogden and would like to thank the community for welcoming us with open arms and joining us in rooting for Big Sky sports teams over the years.”

Farmington will be the fourth home in the league’s history, as the league office was located in Pullman, Wash., from 1963-71 and Boise, Idaho, from 1971-95.