The University of Montana’s Jordan Johnson and Matt Hermanson have been named the Big Sky Conference’s final ROOT SPORTS football Players of the Week for the 2014 season, the league office announced today.
Johnson shared the league’s co-Offensive Player of the week award with Idaho State running back Daniel McSurdy. Eastern Washington returner Shaq Hill and North Dakota kicker Reid Taubenheim were selected the Co-Special Teams Player of the Week.
Jordan Johnson. Photo by Mark Mesenko for Make it Missoula.
Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound senior from Eugene, Ore., accounted for 393 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in No. 13 Montana’s 34-7 win over No. 12 Montana State, securing a playoff bid for his team. It was Johnson’s 27th win as a starter – the fourth most in school history.
In last Saturday’s win, Johnson completed 22-of-36 passes for 313 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed for 80 yards, averaging 13.3 yards per carry. This is Johnson’s third career Player of the Week honor.
Hermanson, a 6-1, 198-pound senior from Sioux Falls, S.D, intercepted three passes to go along with eight tackles and a pass breakup in Montana’s 34-7 win over Montana State. Hermanson became the first Big Sky player since 2009 to intercept three passes in a game. His first interception at the MSU 39-yard line led to a Griz touchdown five plays later and a 10-0 lead. His second interception also led to a UM touchdown and a 20-0 lead in the second quarter. Montana’s defense forced seven turnovers and held MSU to 161 passing yards. This is Hermanson’s second career Player of the Week honor.
Matt Hermanson. Photo by Todd Goodrich, UM.
McSurdy, a 5-11, 196-pound senior from Boise, Idaho, rushed for a career-high 266 yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns in the Bengals’ 46-28 win over Weber State. This is McSurdy’s first career Player of the Week honor.
Hill, a 5-10, 180-pound junior from Stockton, Calif., returned a kick 90 yards for a touchdown to sew up the Big Sky title in EWU’s 56-34 win over Portland State to earn his second career Player of the Week honor. Taubenheim, a 6-1, 195-pound freshman from Farmington, Minn., made four field goals and three extra points in North Dakota’s 33-14 win over Northern Colorado for his second straight Player of the Week honor.
Montana’s nominee on special teams was junior kicker Daniel Sullivan, from Mill Creek, Wash., who kicked field goals of 42 and 29 yards and made 4-of-4 PATs in th win over MSU.
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