COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --- Safety Austin Brawley, who returned from missing the past eight games and 10 weeks after breaking a bone in the season opener against Michigan, and placekicker Luke Drzewiecki have been named the Mountain West Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively, by league officials.
Along with Brawley and Drzewiecki, running back Caleb Ramseur of Nevada was the Offensive Player of the Week, and quarterback Carter Jones of Nevada was the Freshman of the Week.
Brawley recorded two interceptions along with three tackles (1.5 for loss) in his first game back from being injured in the first half of the season opener as UNM won a defensive battle 20-17 over Colorado State for its first win over the Rams since 2009.
He made his second start of the season, and on the second drive of the game, he blew up a 3rd-and-2 play on a blitz, resulting in a four-yard loss, forcing a punt. Later, with the score 0-0 in the second quarter, on 4th-and-2 from the UNM 21, he shared a TFL with Jaxton Eck for a turnover on downs, and UNM scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive.
Brawley recorded an interception on CSU's opening second half drive, his first of the season, and in a 10-10 game in the fourth quarter and with CSU in field goal range, Brawley intercepted his second pass at the Lobo 22-yard line and returned it 57 yards, setting up the go-ahead score with 10:32 to go in the game.ย Brawley now has the UNM team lead in interceptions with 2.
Drzewiecki, who was the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week after UNM's last game, a 40-35 win over UNLV, earned the honor again after another perfect and record-breaking week.
He was 2-for-2 on extra points and 2-for-2 on field goals, hitting a fourth quarter field goal that was the difference in UNM's 20-17 win over Colorado State.
He hit a 45-yard field goal at the end of the first half to become the all-time kick-scoring leader at UNM with 247 points (he would end the day with 251). In the fourth quarter, he connected onย a 35-yard field goal with 8:46 to go to give UNM a 20-10 lead on the way to the 20-17 win.
He also hit two extra points to move to 32-for-32, and overall, he now has 68 points with 12-for-13 on field goals. Drzewiecki is now tied for second in career field goals at UNM with 45, and he is second all-time in scoring with his 251 points.
ย