FARMINGTON, Utah (October 4, 2021) – More than 400 yards of total offense and a pair of interceptions helped
RJ Martinez and
Morgan Vest earn ROOT SPORTS Player of the Week honors from the Big Sky Conference on Monday.
Martinez's honor is the first of his career and is the first Offensive Player of the Week award since
Hendrix Johnson earned the honor in the final week of the spring season. Vest's Defensive Player of the Week honor is the second during his time as a Lumberjack, with his first also coming in the spring finale.
The two earned the honors following Northern Arizona's 48-17 victory over the Idaho State Bengals in Saturday's Family Weekend game in the Walkup Skydome.
Martinez also earned the College Sports Madness Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week award as he led the Lumberjacks to their best offensive performance since the end of the 2019 season. Finishing his first career home start with 369 yards through the air and another 57 on the ground.
The 426 yards of total offense for Martinez is the most for a freshman quarterback since Case Cookus' 448 against Sacramento State in 2015. Completing 26-of-45 passes with three touchdowns and rushing for a 41-yard score, Martinez helped lead Northern Arizona to 30 straight points from the end of the first quarter into the third.
Three of Martinez's scores came from more than 30 yards out, with
Coleman Owen taking a pass across the middle down the right sideline for an 80-yard touchdown. Just two minutes after halftime, Martinez held onto the ball on a fourth-and-2 read option and sprinted 41 yards for the score. The freshman's fourth and final touchdown of the day came on a pass to
Jamal Glaspie in the end zone, dropping the ball in the right corner for a 34-yard score.
On the other side of the ball, Vest picked off Idaho State quarterback Hunter Hayes twice and became the first Lumberjack since Khalil Dorsey in 2018 to intercept two passes in a game.
The first pick came late in the second quarter, with Martinez connecting with Owen for the 80-yard score just one play later. Vest's second interception came with just 8:32 left in the game and effectively clinched the victory for Northern Arizona.
Also setting up a score, Vest's fourth-quarter interception brought Northern Arizona's second-string offense onto the field with
George Robinson rolling down the field for 41 total rushing yards including an 11-yard score to cap off the drive.
In nine career games, Vest has now helped force six turnovers. With two interceptions and a fumble recovery this season, Vest also finished the spring with two fumble recoveries and an interception.
Currently entering the bye week, Northern Arizona will host the Southern Utah Thunderbirds on Oct. 16 at 1 P.M. MST in the Walkup Skydome. The game will be held during Homecoming Weekend and stand as the final Big Sky Conference meeting with the Thunderbirds with the Grand Canyon Trophy on the line.
Stay up-to-date on all NAU Football news this season by visiting NAUAthletics.com and following NAU Football on
Twitter,
Instagram and
Facebook for updates throughout the fall season.
