COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Air Force senior fullback Emmanuel Michel has been tabbed the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week, while Fresno State senior defensive back Carlton Johnson has been named MW Defensive Player of the Week. UNLV senior placekicker Jose Pizano earned MW Special Teams Player of the Week honors, while Rebels quarterback Jayden Maiava was selected as MW Freshman of the Week.

The weekly honors are the first in the careers of all four players.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
EMMANUEL MICHEL, AIR FORCE
Senior, Fullback, Lawrenceville, Ga. / Archer HS

  • Rushed a career-high 28 times for 106 yards and a career-best three touchdowns in the Falcons’ 39-21 win over Utah State to open league play.
  • Accounted for 20 of Air Force’s points on the evening.
  • Gave Air Force a lead it would not relinquish with his first TD of the day, also scoring the two-point conversion after the touchdown.
  • Nine of his carries went for first downs or touchdowns.
  • Carried the ball eight straight times on the Falcons’ final drive, which took 8:43 off the clock.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
CARLTON JOHNSON, FRESNO STATE
Senior, Defensive Back, Moreno Valley, Calif. / Rancho Verde HS / Southern Utah / Riverside CC

  • Had three of Fresno State’s eight takeaways in a 29-0 win at Arizona State, intercepting three different ASU quarterbacks.
  • His three interceptions tied the program and MW records and are tied for the most in a single game by an FBS player this season.
  • Also added three tackles on the day.
  • Helped Fresno State to its first shutout over an Autonomous 5 opponent since 1986.
  • Helped Fresno State run its current winning streak to 12 games, the second-longest active streak in the FBS behind only Georgia’s 20-game run.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JOSE PIZANO, UNLV
Senior, Placekicker, Lehi, Utah / Lehi HS / Missouri State

  • Accounted for 16 points in UNLV’s 40-37 win over Vanderbilt, tying the school record for kicking points.
  • Went 4-for-5 on field-goal attempts, converting from 27, 31, 34 and 36 yards, with his last one coming with five seconds left in the contest to lift the Rebels to the win.
  • His four made field goals tied for second-most in a game in program history.
  • Also went 4-for-4 on point-after tries.
  • Helped UNLV improve to 2-0 against Vanderbilt all-time.

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
JAYDEN MAIAVA, UNLV
Redshirt Freshman, Quarterback, Las Vegas, Nev. / Liberty HS

  • Came on in relief of injured starter Doug Brumfield in the first quarter with UNLV trailing 10-0 and helped lead the Rebels to the 40-37 win over Vanderbilt.
  • Went 19-for-33 for 261 yards and a touchdown through the air and rushed for 29 yards and a touchdown as UNLV stormed back from a 17-0 deficit for the win.
  • Scored his first career rushing TD on a 24-yard run in the third quarter before adding a 48-yard passing touchdown to put UNLV up 37-30 in the fourth quarter.
  • After Vanderbilt tied it at 37 late in the fourth, Maiava keyed a five-play, 62-yard drive with a 48-yard pass to the Vanderbilt 18-yard line that set up the winning field goal with just five seconds left.

 

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