DENVER Nevada running back Luke Lippincott, New Mexico State defensive back Davon House and Fresno State punter Kyle Zimmerman were named the Western Athletic Conference offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week, respectively.
Lippincott, a junior from Salinas, Calif. (Palma HS), rushed for a career-high 241 yards and two touchdowns in Nevada’s 31-28 win at Utah State. It is the highest total for a WAC player this year and tied for the sixth highest in the nation. He had a career-high 36 carries (averaging 6.7 yards per attempt) and also caught four passes for 20 yards to give him 261 all-purpose yards. Nevada trailed 21-14 at halftime but opened the third quarter with a 13-play, 87-yard drive capped by Lippincott’s second touchdown of the day. On the drive, he carried the ball 10 times for 73 yards including a stretch of six plays in a row.
Lippincott’s 241 yards of rushing eclipsed the total offense production by Utah State (212). He is the first Nevada back to hit the 200-yard mark since Matt Milton had 224 yards against San Jose State on Oct. 19, 2002. Lippincott is the third Wolf Pack player to top the 200-yard mark since Nevada joined the FBS (Division I-A) in 1992. The other two are Milton and Chance Kretschmer (twice). The 241 rushing yards is the ninth-highest total by a Nevada back since 1977 and the third-highest total by a Nevada back since the school joined the FBS (Division I-A) in 1992. Lippincott now has seven career 100-yard rushing games, the second highest total among current WAC running backs.
House, a freshman from Palmdale, Calif. (Palmdale HS), made his first career start, made three tackles and intercepted two passes in New Mexico State’s 45-31 win over Idaho. In the second quarter, with Idaho trailing 17-14 and a third down at the Aggie six-yard-line, House intercepted a pass and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown. He had a total of 164 yards in interception returns after a 64-yard return on his second interception at the end of the half.
This is the second time in Lippincott's career that he has won a POW award. The first honor came last season, also against Utah State.
Zimmerman, a senior from Visalia, Calif. (Golden West HS), punted four times for a 49.8-yard average in Fresno State’s 30-0 win over San Jose State. He had a career-long punt of 61 yards and downed two inside the Spartans’ 20-yard-line, including one at the four. San Jose State entered the game 10th in the nation in punt returns but didn’t have a single return against the Bulldogs.
Others nominated on offense: sophomore wide receiver Jeremy Childs, Boise State; freshman running back Ryan Mathews, Fresno State; sophomore running back Daniel Porter, Louisiana Tech; and senior wide receiver Derek Dubois, New Mexico State.
Also nominated on defense: junior linebacker Dallas Dobbs, Boise State; senior linebacker Marcus Riley, Fresno State; senior linebacker Mark Dillard, Louisiana Tech; and senior linebacker Nick Fuhr, Nevada.
Other special teams nominations: freshman punter Brad Elkin, Boise State; junior place kicker Brett Jaekle, Nevada; and senior return specialist Kevin Robinson, Utah State.
