Quartet of Mustang Football Players Honored by Big Sky Conference
11/23/2021 10:00:00 AM | Football
Junior Ryan Rivera earned second-team honors as a fullback, seniors Matt Shotwell and Myles Cecil landed on the third unit at linebacker and defensive tackle, and freshman defensive end Elijah Ponder received honorable mention praise.
Shotwell was a third-team selection in 2019 while Cecil was accorded honorable mention praise, also in 2019.
Rivera (6-3, 240, Tracy, Calif./Kimball HS/Army Prep) caught four passes for 46 yards and one touchdown, a two-yard pass from Spencer Brasch in the Idaho State game two weeks ago.
Shotwell (6-0, 225, Goleta, Calif./Bishop Diego High School) was Cal Poly's leading tackler for the fourth time this season, finishing with 127 stops, No. 5 all time for a single season at Cal Poly. His 345 career tackles ranks fourth in the record book and Shotwell notched 17 career games with double-digit tackles, including a career-high 19 against Idaho State.
The inside linebacker scored his only touchdown as a Mustang in the Idaho State contest with a 22-yard interception return and also recorded one sack among his five tackles for lost yardage, broke up two passes and recovered a pair of fumbles. He led the Big Sky with his 127 tackles (76 solo) and 11.5 tackles-per-game average.
Cecil (6-3, 285, Panorama City, Calif./La Salle HS) made 40 tackles (28 solo) this season, adding one interception against UC Davis, one quarterback hurry (Idaho State) and two sacks among his 6.5 tackles for lost yardage.
Ponder (6-3, 200, Pomona, Calif./Bishop Amat HS) led Cal Poly in sacks with eight and in tackles for lost yardage with 11. He also finished with 35 tackles (28 solo), four pass breakups, five quarterback hurries, a pair of forced fumbles and opened the season with a 75-yard interception return which sealed the victory at San Diego.
Eastern Washington senior quarterback Eric Barriere earned Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year honors while Montana State senior linebacker Troy Andersen was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year.
Named Newcomer of the Year was Montana junior defensive back Justin Ford, a transfer from Louisville, while Northern Arizona quarterback RJ Martinez was selected as the Freshman of the Year.
On Wednesday, Troy Taylor of Sacramento State was named Big Sky Coach of the Year. Taylor's Hornets are 9-2 overall and finished conference play a perfect 8-0 to win the program's second Big Sky football title. The Hornets won their final eight games of the season, marking the longest win streak in school history. Taylor also won the award in 2019 when the Hornets claimed their first Big Sky title.
Unanimous first-team selections include Barriere, Montana State running back Isaiah Ifanse, Idaho fullback Logan Kendall, Montana State offensive lineman Lewis Kidd, Weber State kickoff returner Rashid Shaheed and Sacramento State all-purpose player Asher O'Hara.
All 13 teams in the league had at least one player selected to one of the three teams. Weber State's 14 all-conference selections led the league.
The Big Sky All-Conference team and individual award winners were selected by all 13 head football coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.
Big Sky Sacramento State along with second-place Montana State, third-place Montana and Eastern Washington and fifth-place UC Davis will represent the conference in the FCS playoffs, which begin Saturday. Sacramento State, Montana State and Montana earned first-round byes and will host second-round games Dec. 3-4 while Eastern Washington will host Northern Iowa while UC Davis plays at South Dakota State in first-round games Saturday.
Cal Poly's All-Big Sky First-Team Selections
2012 — Deonte Williams (Slotback) and Kennith Jackson (inside linebacker)
2013 — *Sullivan Grosz (defensive tackle), Lefi Letuligasenoa (offensive lineman). Akaninyene Umoh (fullback) and Alex Hubbard (safety)
2014 — Nick Dzubnar (inside linebacker) and Cameron Ontko (outside linebacker)
2015 — Joe Protheroe (fullback)
2016 — Joe Protheroe (fullback), Matt Fisher (offensive lineman), Joey Kuperman (offensive lineman) and Chris Santini (inside linebacker)
2017 — Jared Mohamed (fullback)
2018 — Joe Protheroe (fullback)
2019 — J.J. Koski (wide receiver)
*Big Sky Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year
2021 Big Sky Football Individual Award Winners Offensive Player of the Year: Eric Barriere*, QB, EWU Defensive Player of the Year: Troy Andersen, LB, MSU Newcomer of the Year: Justin Ford, DB, Montana Freshman of the Year: RJ Martinez, QB, NAU
* - Unanimous selection
First Team All-Big Sky Offense QB: Eric Barriere*, EWU RB: Isaiah Ifanse*, MSU; Ulonzo Gilliam, UC Davis FB: Logan Kendall*, Idaho WR: Talolo Limu-Jones, EWU; Lance McCutcheon, MSU; Pierre Williams, Sac State TE: Marshel Martin, Sac State OL: Lewis Kidd*, MSU; Braxton Jones, SUU; Tristen Taylor, EWU; Thomas Parker, Sac State; Noah Atagi, Weber State; Jake Parks, UC Davis
First Team All-Big Sky Defense DT: Jared Schiess, Weber State; Chase Benson, MSU DE: Daniel Hardy, MSU; Josiah Erickson, Sac State OLB: Patrick O'Connell, Montana; Conner Mortensen, Weber State MLB: Troy Andersen, MSU; Tre Walker, Idaho DB: Justin Ford, Montana; Eddie Heckard, Weber State; Robby Hauck, Montana; Anthony Adams, Portland State; Jordan Perryman, UC Davis
First Team All-Big Sky Special Teams K: Kyle Sentkowski, Sac State P: Brian Buschini, Montana KR: Rashid Shaheed*, Weber State; Malik Flowers*, Montana PR: Rashid Shaheed, Weber State ST: Trevin Gradney - Montana AP: Asher O'Hara*, Sac State
Second Team All-Big Sky Offense QB: Davis Alexander, Portland State RB: Kevin Daniels, NAU; Dennis Merritt, EWU FB: Ryan Rivera, Cal Poly WR: Andrew Boston, EWU; Beau Kelly, Portland State; Tanner Conner, Idaho State; Rashid Shaheed, Weber State TE: McCallan Castles, UC Davis OL: Connor Pettek, UC Davis; Kooper Richardson, Sac State; Grant Stephens, UNC; Taylor Tuiasosopo, MSU; Brandon Weldon, Sac State; Conlan Beaver, Montana
Second Team All-Big Sky Defense DT: Alex Gubner, Montana; Bryce Rodgers, UC Davis DE: George Tarlas, Weber State; VJ Malo, Portland State OLB: David Hoage, UNC; La'akea Kaho'ohanohano-Davis, SUU; Marte Mapu, Sac State; Callahan O'Reilley, MSU MLB: Jace Lewis, Montana; Marcus Hawkins, Sac State DB: Greg Filer III, Sac State; Ty Okada, MSU; Preston Smith, Weber State; Morgan Vest, NAU; Jaylin White, UC Davis
Second Team All-Big Sky Special Teams K: Isaiah Gomez, UC Davis P: Daniel Whelan, UC Davis KR: Lan Larison, UC Davis PR: Isaiah Thomas, UC Davis AP: Trent Tompkins, UC Davis
Third Team All-Big Sky Offense QB: Jake Dunniway, Sac State RB: Cameron Skattebo, Sac State; Roshaun Johnson, Idaho WR: Efton Chism III, EWU; Freddie Roberson, EWU; Terez Traynor, Idaho TE: Hayden Meacham, Weber State OL: Hunter Mayginnes, Montana; Logan Floyd, Idaho; Jonas Leader, NAU; Wyatt Musser, EWU; Terren Carey, Idaho State
Third Team All-Big Sky Defense DT: Josh Jerome, EWU; Myles Cecil, Cal Poly DE: Mitchell Johnson, EWU; Francis Bemiy, SUU; Charles Akanno, Idaho MLB: Matt Shotwell, Cal Poly; Jack Sendelbach, EWU DB: Calin Criner, EWU; Jerone Jackson, UNC; Kobe Singleton, SUU; Tre Webb, MSU; Malik Jeter, Sac State
Third Team All-Big Sky Special Teams K: Blake Glessner, MSU P: Sam Clark, Sac State
Big Sky Honorable Mention Team WR: Kassidy Woods, UNC; Mitch Roberts, Montana; Nate Bennett, Portland State; Coleman Owen, NAU; Hendrix Johnson, NAU TE: Cole Grossman, Montana; Jared Scott, Idaho State DT: Semise Kofe, Portland State; Noah Ellis, Idaho; Doug Schiess, Weber State; Jett Stanley, Sac State DE: Carson Taylor, NAU; Joe Babros, Montana; Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly; Joe Golden, UNC; Justin Belknap, Montana; Amandre Williams, MSU MLB: Sherwin Lavaka, Weber State; Jace Bobo, UNC; Ty Graham, EWU; Tristen Vance, NAU; Harrison Beemiller, NAU DB: Marque Collins, Weber State; Jeffrey Manning Jr., MSU; Jayden Dawson, Idaho State; Tyrese Dedmon, Idaho P: Kevin Ryan, Idaho State; DJ Arnson, NAU
