Football

Old Trapper Mountain West Football Players of the Week - Oct. 5

LAS VEGAS – The Old Trapper Mountain West Football Players of the Week for games played in Week 5 were announced on Monday. UNLV senior quarterback Jackson Arnold has been tabbed as the MW Offensive Player of the Week, while North Dakota State junior linebacker Donovan Woolen was named MW Defensive Player of the Week. New Mexico senior Austin Brawley earned MW Special Teams Player of the Week honors, while New Mexico quarterback Toa Fa’avae was selected as MW Freshman of the Week.

It is the third career MW weekly honor for Brawley, second for Fa’avae and Woolen and first for Arnold.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JACKSON ARNOLD, UNLV
Senior, Quarterback, Denton, Texas / Auburn
  • Racked up five touchdowns in UNLV’s 39-31 victory over Cal.
  • Completed 11 passes for 177 yard and three touchdowns, while rushing for a game-high 110 yards and two scores.
  • First Rebel QB to surpass 100 yards rushing in a game since 2024.
  • Also used his legs for a successful two-point conversion in the fourth quarter. 
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
DONOVAN WOOLEN, NORTH DAKOTA STATE
Junior, Linebacker, Frisco, Texas / Wakeland HS
  • Led a North Dakota State defense which shutout Wyoming (28-0) in the Bison’s first home Mountain West contest.
  • Recorded a team-high nine tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks and an interception.
  • The interception came on the first play from scrimmage and was returned to the Wyoming 19-yard line, setting up a touchdown five plays later.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
AUSTIN BRAWLEY, NEW MEXICO
Senior, Safety, Massillon, Ohio / Ohio
  • Blocked a punt out of the end zone for a safety, marking New Mexico’s first blocked punt in 6,182 days.
  • The Lobos last blocked punt prior to Saturday was on Oct. 31, 2009.
  • New Mexico took the free kick and scored a touchdown, making Brawley responsible for 16 of the Lobos’ 61 points.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
TOA FA’AVAE, NEW MEXICO
Quarterback, Concord, California / De La Salle HS
  • Led New Mexico to a 61-7 victory over UTEP, the Lobos’ largest margin of victory in a Conference game since 2008.
  • Completed 15-of-19 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 12 yards.
  • Registered career highs in passing yards (249), completions (15), attempts (19) and passing touchdowns (3).