Four USU football players earn accolades after Colorado State win
Today, the Mountain West Conference named juniors Savon Scarver and David Woodward Special Teams and Defensive players of the week, respectively. Additionally, the Palm Beach County Sports Commission also named senior kicker Dominik Eberle as Lou Groza star of the week and Pro Football Focus acknowledged senior defensive lineman Devon Anderson on its national team of the week.
Saturday, the Utah State Aggies faced the Colorado State Rams in what can only be described as a cold and torrential rainstorm. The rain led to a mistake strewn game, but as expected by many, the Aggies won against its conference opponent. However, the team not only recorded another game in the win column this week, it also had three players gained well-deserved recognition across the country.
Scarver received the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week award for his stellar play against Colorado State. He undoubtedly earned this award for his electrifying kick return which came with 7:02 left in the first quarter, in which he received the ball eight yards deep in the endzone, cut to the sideline, and used his speed, a fantastic block, and a hard cut to run untouched into the endzone.
It was recorded as 100 yards, which is tied for the longest kick return in Mountain West history.
Eberle received a Lou Groza star of the week nomination, which is presented by the Orange Bowl to the three best college kickers of the week. Eberle scored a total of 10 points on the day, notching 4 extra points and two field goals (42 and 48 yards respectively). His performance added to his already illustrious resume, bringing his extra point totals to 140 of 140, and total points to 290. He is now the all-time scoring kicker for the Aggies and trails only Robert Turbin in points by 18.
Anderson finished the game against Colorado State with five total QB pressures up the middle on just 23 pass-rushing snaps. Additionally he finished with one of Utah State’s two sacks and four tackles. Saturday was the best game of the season statistically for Anderson, accounting for over half of his tackles on the season.
David Woodward, whose legend seems to grow with every opposing snap, received the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week award. Woodward had an excellent day on the field, recording 14 tackles. He also recorded two forced fumbles, the most memorable of which coming with 9:42 left in the 4th quarter. Colorado State was on its own 4-yard line and ran its back between their left tackle and left guard. Kinsey soon found himself being tackled by what seemed to be the entirety of the Aggies defense.
Woodward then came in and simply ripped the ball out of Kinsey’s hands and returned it eight yards into the endzone. Woodward had a similar play in the Aggies’ first game of the season against Stony Brook. Then, as now, he stripped the ball from the offensive player and returned it for a touchdown. Unfortunately, the play was called back due to a dubious penalty. On that week he was awarded, paradoxically enough, the National Defensive Player of the Week Award, but not the Mountain West Player of the Week award.
The Mountain West seems to have come to its senses in the intervening weeks.
This was the first occasion Utah State has been honored with Mountain West Player of the Week in 2019, although some of its players have had noteworthy performances in the young season. This past season, the 11-2 Aggies had an athlete honored with Mountain West player of the Week nine times. Junior quarterback Jordan Love received the most of those accolades with five selections.
Utah State’s performance on Saturday was short of perfection. The team had a few miscues, and allowed Colorado State far too many chances, but the noteworthy play of Scarver, Eberle, Anderson and Woodward allowed the Aggies to overcome the Rams, and come away with a solid victory despite the wind and rain.