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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Ryan Lindley (San Diego State), Jason Beauchamp (UNLV), James Aho (New Mexico) and Louie Sakoda (Utah) are Mountain West Conference Players of the Week for games through Sept. 28. Lindley earns the Offensive Player of the Week honor, while Beauchamp garners the Defensive Player award and Aho and Sakoda share Special Teams recognition. Sakoda collects his ninth career player of the week honor, while Aho claims his second career weekly accolade. This marks the first career weekly award each for Lindley and Beauchamp.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
RYAN LINDLEY, SAN DIEGO STATE
Freshman, Quarterback, Alpine, Calif./El Capitan HS)
Ryan Lindley completed 24-of-38 passes for 433 yards and four touchdowns with one interception in leading San Diego State to a 45-17 win over Idaho. The Alpine, Calif., native's performance set MWC and SDSU records for most passing yardage and passing touchdowns by a freshman, while his 433 yards marked the top passing effort by a freshman nationally and the sixth-highest passing total by a Bowl Subdivision player this season. His quarterback rating of 198.87 is the 16th-highest rating for a Bowl Subdivision quarterback with at least 25 passing attempts in a game this season and is the highest rating for a freshman (minimum 25 attempts) among all Bowl Subdivision teams this season.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JASON BEAUCHAMP, UNLV
Junior, Linebacker, San Diego, Calif./Steele Canyon HS
Jason Beauchamp registered a career-high 21 tackles, including 10 solo stops, 2.5 tackles for loss (-12 yards) and a sack (-8 yards) in UNLV's loss to Nevada, Reno. The junior from San Diego, Calif., also had a fumble recovery in the first quarter that led to a touchdown drive and gave UNLV an early 10-0 lead. Beauchamp, who entered Saturday's game with an 8.0 tackle average this season, now leads the MWC in tackles per game with 10.6, which ranks 13th nationally.
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
JAMES AHO, NEW MEXICO
Freshman, Place Kicker, Roswell, N.M./Roswell HS
James Aho scored 11 points by making all three of his field goal attempts and a pair of extra points in New Mexico's 35-24 win at New Mexico State. The true freshman from Roswell, N.M., converted field goals of 28, 42 and 22 yards and also had two PATs. Aho has made 10-of-11 field goals in his first five collegiate games while providing the winning margin for both Lobo victories this season.
LOUIE SAKODA, UTAH
Senior, Punter/Place Kicker, San Jose, Calif./Branham HS
Louie Sakoda went 3-for-3 in field goal attempts with four PATs while helping Utah to a 37-21 win over Weber State. The senior from San Jose, Calif., booted field goals of 33, 47 and 38 yards to finish with 13 points in the contest. He also punted twice for an average of 33 yards, landing one kick inside WSU's 20 yard line. Sakoda now has 238 career points and 45 career field goals, setting new school records for both categories.
