Sept. 15, 2008
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of New Mexico senior cornerback Glover Quin and freshman kicker James Aho were named Mountain West Conference Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively, the conference announced this morning. Quin shares the defensive award with TCU’s Matt Panfil, while Aho shared special teams accolades with UNLV’s Malo Taumua. BYU’s Max Hall took home Offensive Player of the Week honors.
It’s the first time Quin and Aho have been recognized by the league. Quin joins Gabriel Fulbright (2003) as the only Lobo cornerbacks to earn the MWC defensive award and is the first New Mexico player to win it since linebacker Cody Kase in 2006.
Aho is the first UNM freshman honored by the MWC since running back DonTrell Moore in 2002. Lobo kickers have won eight of the last 21 MWC Special Teams Player of the Week awards since 2006 and 12 overall since 2000. Kenny Byrd was honored three times in 2006 and John Sullivan tied a program record with four awards in 2007. The 1999, 2002 and 2005 seasons are the only years New Mexico kickers have been shutout.
CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Glover Quin, NEW MEXICO
Senior, Cornerback, Summit, Miss./Southwest Mississippi CC
Glover Quin registered a season-high eight tackles, including a half tackle for loss, as well as an interception, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery in New Mexico’s 36-28 win over Arizona. In the third quarter, Quin recovered a fumble and returned it 29 yards to the Arizona 10 yard line, setting up a Lobo touchdown on the next play. In the fourth quarter, he broke up a pass on 4th-and-2 at the UNM 22. On Arizona’s next possession, the senior from Summit, Miss., intercepted a pass that led to a New Mexico field goal and a 36-21 Lobo lead.
MATT PANFIL, TCU
Senior, Defensive End, Fort Worth, Texas/North Crowley HS
Matt Panfil recorded five tackles, including four tackles for loss (minus 37 yards) and two sacks (minus 26 yards), in TCU’s 31-14 victory over Stanford. The senior from Fort Worth, Texas also collected a pass breakup, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery while keying a Horned Frogs defensive effort that limited the Cardinal to 193 yards total offense in the game.
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
James Aho, NEW MEXICO
Freshman, Placekicker, Roswell, N.M./Roswell HS
James Aho kicked five field goals and three PATs in the Lobos’ 36-28 win over Arizona, setting an MWC single-game record for most kicking points (18). His five field goals tied the MWC and New Mexico records for most field goals in a game and set a new MWC freshman mark. The Roswell, N.M., native kicked field goals from 24, 43, 48, 42 and 46 yards, becoming the first kicker in Lobo history to convert four field goals in a game from 40 yards or longer.
MALO TAUMUA, UNLV
Sophomore, Defensive Lineman, Honolulu, Hawaii/Aiea HS
Taumua blocked a potential game-tying field goal in overtime to secure UNLV’s 23-20 upset of No. 15/13 Arizona State in Tempe. With the Rebels holding a three-point lead following their opening possession of the overtime period, the sophomore from Honolulu, Hawaii, rolled through the middle of the line to block the Sun Devils’ 35-yard field goal attempt by 2007 Lou Groza Award winner Thomas Weber and secure the victory. Weber was a perfect 6-for-6 on the year and 30-for-31 on career field goal attempts before Taumua’s effort.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MAX HALL, BYU
Junior, Quarterback, Mesa, Ariz./Arizona State University
Max Hall completed 27-of-35 passes for 271 yards and seven touchdowns in only two and a half quarters of play, leading No. 15 BYU to a 59-0 shutout of UCLA. Hall’s seven touchdown passes sets a new MWC single-game record and tied the BYU mark. In the first half, the junior from Mesa, Ariz., completed 23-of-29 attempts (.793) for 237 yards and six touchdowns. Hall’s six touchdown passes in the first half set a new BYU record, while the Cougars’ 35 points in the second quarter fell one point shy of the MWC and BYU records of 36 points in a quarter. Hall left the game with 7:43 to play in the third quarter after leading BYU on a seven-play, 69-yard drive to give BYU a 49-0 lead.