By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner / Strategic Communications
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – New Mexico Highlands’ running back Tevita Valeti used a 200-yard, four-touchdown effort to claim the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week honor, highlighting the league’s Week 8 football awards announced Monday.
Black Hills State safety Nicc Quinones and Colorado School of Mines punter Blake Doud joined Valeti as the league’s defensive and special teams honorees, respectively. Quinones capped a 10-tackle day with an interception late in the fourth quarter to set up the Yellow Jackets game-winning drive. Doud pieced together the RMAC’s third-best punting average against Western Colorado.
Offensive Player of the Week:
Tevita Valeti, New Mexico Highlands (Fr., Running Back, Springville, Utah)
Veleti put together the RMAC’s second-best rushing performance this season, rushing for 200 yards in New Mexico Highlands’ 44-27 victory against Adams State. It is the second 200-yard rushing performance in the RMAC this season. Valeti also became only the third RMAC player this season to score four touchdowns, joining Week 2 award winner Landon Walker of Colorado School of Mines and Week 7 winner Josiah Ayon of Western Colorado. His first touchdown gave NMHU a 10-7 lead at halftime, but his next three were the entirety of the Cowboys’ 21-0 run that broke the game open in the second half. Valeti finished the game with 37 rushing attempts for 200 yards.
Honorable Mention: Cameron Goods, Black Hills State; DJ Ralph, Chadron State; Trek Keyworth, Colorado Mesa; Evan Foster, Colorado School of Mines; Braeden Hogan, Western Colorado.
Defensive Player of the Week:
Nicc Quinones, Black Hills State (R-Sr., Safety, Peoria, Arizona)
Quinones fourth-quarter interception helped Black Hills State escape with a 21-18 victory against Chadron State. With Chadron State driving and seeking to secure its 18-14 lead, Quinones intercepted a pass at midfield with 3:21 remaining, ending the threat and setting up the Yellow Jackets game-winning drive. It capped an outing that saw Quinones lead BHSU with 10 tackles and a pass breakup.
Honorable Mention: Dax Yeradi, Chadron State; Hunter Hamilton, Colorado Mesa; Adrian Bonilla, New Mexico Highlands; Jaydon Young, Western Colorado.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Blake Doud, Colorado School of Mines (R-Jr., Punter, Parker, Colorado)
Doud averaged 53.5 yards on his six punts in Colorado School of Mines’ loss to Western Colorado. He enjoyed a big day with three punts of 50-plus yards and three downed inside the 20-yard line. Doud boomed a 72-yard punt in the third quarter that was downed at the WCU two-yard line. The Mountaineers attempted returns on four of his punts but managed only six return yards. Doud’s 53.5 punting average is the third-best single-game average in the RMAC this season.
Honorable Mention: Trevor Allen, Adams State; Derek Webster, Black Hills State; Eli Keith, Colorado Mesa.
RMAC Football Week 8 Results
Western Colorado 38, Colorado School of Mines 28
Colorado Mesa 49, Fort Lewis 0
Black Hills State 21, Chadron State 18
New Mexico Highlands 44, Adams State 27
RMAC Football Week 9 Schedule
Saturday, Nov. 2
South Dakota Mines at Chadron State
Colorado School of Mines at New Mexico Highlands
CSU Pueblo at Western Colorado
Black Hills State at Colorado Mesa
Fort Lewis at Adams State
About the RMAC
The RMAC is a premier NCAA Division II conference located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with 15 member schools. The RMAC sponsors 22 varsity NCAA sports and has produced 65 NCAA Division II national champions and 52 national runners-up since 1992.
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