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Christian Washington Named MW Freshman of the Week

by Frank Mercogliano

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — True freshman Christian Washington made quite the impact on Friday night, returning two kickoffs, one for 31 yards and the other for 100 yards.  For that effort, Washington earned his first weekly honor as he was named Mountain West Freshman of the Week.  He becomes the first Lobo to earn a weekly honor this year, and the third to win Freshman of the Week in the last two seasons.

Washington’s 100-yard kickoff return was the ninth time a Lobo returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, and it was the first since November 11, 2017 when Elijah Lilly did it against Texas A&M.  That was the also the last kickoff return for a touchdown of any kind for the Lobos.

The other award winners from the league were Air Force running back Brad Roberts for offense, and then Wyoming took both of the other awards, with Shae Suiaunoa on defense and John Hoyland for special teams.

New Mexico hosts UTEP on Saturday night at 6 pm at University Stadium.  The game will feature the return and honoring of three former teams, the 1962 conference champs, the 1982 Justice Bowl champs and the 1997 division champs.  There will also be a postgame fireworks show after the game.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
BRAD ROBERTS, AIR FORCE
Senior, Running Back, Arvada, Colorado / Ralston Valley HS
• Led Air Force to a 41-10 victory over Colorado, rushing 24 times for 174 yards and tying a career high with three touchdowns.
• The 174 rushing yards are the second-most of his career.
• Eight of 24 carries went for first downs or touchdowns.
• Averaged 7.2 yards per carry.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
SHAE SUIAUNOA, WYOMING
Sophomore, Linebacker, Houston, Texas / Clear Lake HS
• In Wyoming’s 33-10 victory over Northern Colorado, recorded a career-best eight tackles, including one sack.
• Also intercepted a fourth-quarter pass and returned it to UNC’s three-yard line, setting up a Wyoming touchdown.
• Helped lead a Cowboy defense that held Northern Colorado to just 15 rushing yards and only 147 yards of total offense.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JOHN HOYLAND, WYOMING
Sophomore, Place-Kicker, Broomfield, Colorado / Legacy HS
• Connected on all four field-goal attempts in Wyoming’s 33-10 victory over Northern Colorado.
• Made field goals from 23, 41, 39 and 35 yards out.
• Four made field goals tied a career high.
• Also was a perfect three-for-three on PATs, scoring 15 of Wyoming’s 33 points.

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
CHRISTIAN WASHINGTON, NEW MEXICO
True Freshman, Running Back, San Diego, California / Helix HS
• Averaged 65.5 yards per kickoff return against Boise State, including a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
• It marked the 26th 100-yard kickoff return in Mountain West history and just the ninth in program history.
• First kickoff return was a 31-yarder.