Williams, Jackson named to All-Big Sky First Team

Posted: Nov 20, 2012 11:14 AM by Andrew Masuda
Updated: Nov 20, 2012 11:01 PM

Cal Poly football scores Big Sky Conference honors

Four Cal Poly football players earned All-Big Sky Conference honors on Tuesday. The postseason honors were selected by the league's thirteen head coaches.

Senior linebacker Kennith Jackson and slotback Deonte Williams were All-Conference First Team selections. Williams enjoyed an historic senior season with the Mustangs. He has rushed for 1,458 yards, the second most in a single season in program history, and scored 12 touchdowns. He leads the Big Sky and ranks 7th in the nation in rushing yards and set a program single-season record with 10 games with 100 yards or more. He needs 121 yards to break James Nobles' program record for most rushing yards in a single season. Williams is also one of twenty finalists for The Sports Networks' Walter Payton Award, which is essentially the FCS Player of the Year honor.

Jackson ranks second on the team with 95 total tackles. He has 1.5 tackles for lost yardage, 2 interceptions and 2 pass breakups. His 95 tackles rank 9th in the Big Sky.

Defensive tackle Sullivan Grosz and linebacker Johnny Millard were named to the Second Team Defense. Grosz, a junior, leads the team with 5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for lost yardage. Grosz has racked up 53 tackles, 5 quarterback hurries, recovered 2 fumbles and forced 3 fumbles. Millard, a junior, has 66 total tackles in 10 games. He has 5.5 tackles for loss, including 2 sacks to go with 1 interception.

Quarterback Andre Broadous, receiver Willie Tucker, slotback Cole Stanford, offensive linemen Giovanni Sani, Lefi Letuligaseno and Geoff Hyde, linebacker Nick Dzubnar, cornerbacks Nico Molino and Vante Smith-Johnson, Chris Judge and Bobby Zalud were honorable mentions. Paso Robles High graduate Mitchell VanDyk, a junior offensive lineman at Portland State, also received honorable mention.

Cal Poly head coach Tim Walsh was named the Co-Head Coach of the Year. He guided Cal Poly to a 7-1 mark in its first season in the Big Sky and a share of the conference title.

Montana State quarterback DeNarius McGhee was named the Offensive Player of the Year, while MSU linebacker Jody Owens earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. Montana State, Eastern Washington and Cal Poly finished 7-1 in conference to share the Big Sky title. All three received first round byes in the FCS playoffs.