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SALT LAKE CITY — The first week of college football has concluded and only Utah came away with a victory. The KSL Sports team has reviewed the weekend games and has selected Utah's freshman kicker, Andy Phillips, as week one's "Player of the Week."
Player of the Week:
Andy Phillips, K, Utah
It is only fitting that in our first ever ksl.com local "Player of the Week" that we pick a player that played his first ever organized football game. Ever. Freshman kicker Andy Phillips, a former U.S. alpine skier, was a perfect 3-3 on field goals — including one from 45 yards out — connected on all three PATs and executed an onside kick to perfection as the Utes held off Utah State 30-26 in Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Honorable mentions
Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU
Williams registered a career-high 33 carries for 144 yards, while adding two receptions for 25 yards, in BYU's 19-16 loss at Virginia. Williams' rush yardage total was only 11 yards shy of his career high, set in the Cougars' 2012 home win over Hawai'i.
Chuckie Keeton, QB, Utah State
Sure Utah State lost to Utah, but Keeton's performance was nothing less than jaw dropping. He threw for 314 yards and two touchdowns, while completing 31-of-40 pass attempts; that would be a 76 percent completion rate if you want to bring math into it. Not only was he phenomenal in the passing game, but he also led the Aggies on the ground with 85 yards on 15 carries.
If you want to ignore stats, he should be an honorable mention based on these three plays alone: picking up a first down without a shoe, escaping Trevor Reilly twice to complete this pass to Travis Reynolds and escaping all sorts of defenders to nearly score a touchdown on third and goal. I rest my case.
Contributing: Greg Wrubell (BYU), Robert Jackson (Utah) and Matt Glade (Utah State)
