Northern Arizona defensive lineman Jarret Bilbrey and kicker/punter Andy Wilder are among five players recognized as ROOT SPORTS Big Sky Conference Players of the Week honors for games played on Sept. 8.
Bilbrey is the Defensive Player of the Week, while Wilder shares the Special Teams Player of the Week award with Sacramento State kicker Edgar Castaneda. The Offensive Player of the Week award was shared by Sacramento State quarterback Garrett Safron and North Dakota quarterback Marcus Hendrickson.
Bilbrey, a senior from San Diego, had 10 tackles in NAU's 17-14 upset of Nevada-Las Vegas. The Lumberjacks held the Rebels scoreless for the game's final 43 minutes to defeat a FBS team for the first time in 25 years.
“We knew what we were capable of and we knew if we kept working we would grind them down,” said Bilbrey following the game. “All we needed was to make some plays on defense to get the offense up. That is what we exactly did. We got the ball back to the offense and they went down and scored for us.”
Wilder, a junior from Scottsdale, kicked the game-winning 33-yard field goal for the Lumberjacks with 12 seconds to play. Wilder also handled punting duties, averaging 49 yards per punt on seven kicks. He had a long of 66, and pinned the Rebels’ inside their own 20-yard line four times.
"I missed one earlier but I put that one behind me," said Wilder about the game winner. "The team needed me and it was my turn to step up. I nailed it right through the pipes."
Hendrickson tied a school record with six touchdown passes in North Dakota’s 45-37 non-conference win over Portland State. Hendrickson, making his first collegiate start, completed 16-of-25 passes for 294 yards and also tied for the team lead with 50 rushing yards.
Castaneda made three field goals, including the game-winner from 30 yards out on the game's final play, in Sacramento State’s 30-28 upset of Colorado. Castaneda, a walk-on who was awarded a scholarship after the game, also made field goals of 28 and 31 yards and converted all three of his extra points.
Safron completed 25 of 37 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns in Sacramento State's win and drove the Hornets 85 yards in the final 2:26 of the game to put the Hornets in position to kick the winning field goal.
