FARMINGTON, Utah (November 1, 2021) – For the third time this season, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks locked up a pair of ROOT SPORTS Player of the Week honors from the Big Sky Conference, with
Kevin Daniels and
Morgan Vest earning the awards following Saturday's 38-31 victory in Moscow, Idaho.
Daniels broke off runs of 17, 18, 28 and 40 yards against Idaho, the longest coming on the Lumberjacks' game-winning drive with less than six minutes remaining. Tied 31-31 following a 29-yard field goal by the Vandals, the Lumberjacks quickly responded with a 4-play, 75-yard drive. Daniels, who finished with 177 rushing yards against Idaho, opened the drive with a 13-yard gain before breaking free for a 40-yard run to put the Lumberjacks at the Idaho 22. Two plays later, quarterback
RJ Martinez slipped his way into the end zone with some help from Daniels for the 1-yard touchdown run to take a 38-31 lead.
It's the first honor of Daniels' career, with the running back currently ninth in the FCS with 106.4 rushing yards per game. Named Co-Offensive Player of the Week alongside Portland State's Malik Walker, the two are the first non-quarterbacks to earn the honor this season.
Meanwhile, Vest continued to prove himself as not only one of the best defensive backs in the Big Sky, but also one of the best defensive backs in the nation. Recording 10 tackles, breaking up two passes and picking off two others, Vest proved to be a crucial part of the victory over the Vandals. Already having put a stop to one drive at NAU's own 20-yard line with an interception, Vest locked up the victory by coming down with a second pass by Mike Beaudry at the NAU 6-yard line with just one minute left on the clock. Preserving Northern Arizona's 38-31 lead, Vest moved into eighth in the nation with four interceptions this season and stands 30th in tackles per game.
Vest is the first defensive player to earn player of the week honors multiple times this season, with the first nine weeks of the season including nine different winners. Northern Arizona also has three defensive player of the week honors this season, more than any other Big Sky program, after
Harrison Beemiller won the award in September. Vest has now won three of the past 11 awards dating back to the spring season finale. Vest also earned College Sports Madness Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
Northern Arizona will host the UC Davis Aggies, a mainstay in the FCS Top 25 polls this season, on Saturday with kickoff scheduled for 1 P.M. MST in the Walkup Skydome.
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