DENVER - SMU running back Kris Briggs, Fresno State defensive end Nick
Burley and Fresno State placekicker Asen Asparuhov were named the Western
Athletic Conference offensive, defensive and special teams players of the
week, respectively.
Briggs, a senior from Carthage, Texas (Carthage HS), came off the bench to
rush for a career-high 198 yards and two touchdowns in the Mustangs’ 24-21
win against Tulsa. In the second quarter, he scored on a school-record run
of 96 yards which also was the third longest run in WAC history. Briggs
carried the ball 20 times to average 9.9 yards per attempt.
Burley, a senior from East Palo Alto, Calif. (St. Francis HS), led the
Bulldogs with 11 tackles (five solo) and had four sacks for a loss of 21
yards in Fresno State’s 19-16 win at San Jose State. Burley helped limit
San Jose State to just 72 yards in the second half of the game.
Asparuhov, a senior from Plovdiv, Bulgaria (Grossmont JC), hit four field
goals and an extra point to score 13 of Fresno State’s 19 points in the
victory at San Jose State. He connected on field goal attempts of 40, 35,
32 and 27-yards and hit the game-winner at 6:11 of the fourth quarter.
Other offensive nominees included senior running back Brock Forsey, Boise
State; junior wide receiver Jeremiah Cockheran, Hawai‘i; and senior running
back Joe Smith, Louisiana Tech;
On the defensive side, nominees included senior defensive tackle Tony
Altieri, Boise State; senior linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, Hawai‘i; and senior
linebacker Curis Randall, Louisiana Tech.
Special team nominations included senior punter Mat McBriar, Hawai‘i.