By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner / Strategic Communications
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Western Colorado University quarterback Drew Nash, Fort Lewis College linebacker Jacob Penney, and New Mexico Highlands University kicker Alekzander Britt are the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Week 8 Players of the Week, presented by Genesee Nutrition, announced Monday.
Nash finished with 353 yards and four touchdowns of total offense in Western Colorado’s victory against Colorado School of Mines. Penney’s 21-tackle outing at Colorado Mesa was the second-best performance in Division II this season. Britt connected on a 45-yard field goal as part of an 11-point day in New Mexico Highlands’ win against Adams State University.
Offensive
Drew Nash, Western Colorado (Senior (RS), Quarterback, Torrance, California)
Nash amassed 353 yards and four touchdowns of total offense to lead the nationally-ranked Mountaineers past Colorado School of Mines, 40-17, on Saturday. He completed 21-of-32 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns and added a game-high 119 rushing yards and a touchdown on 13 carries (9.2 yards per carry). With Western Colorado trailing 17-13 at halftime, he led a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive to open the second half and gain the lead for good. Nash supplied an insurance touchdown late in the third quarter with a 63-yard run, before leading two more scoring drives in the fourth quarter.
Others Nominated: Aiden Taylor, Colorado Mesa; Tevita Valeti, New Mexico Highlands.
Defensive
Jacob Penney, Fort Lewis (Junior (RS), Linebacker, Sparks, Nevada)
Penney racked up a career-high 21 tackles (five solo), including two for loss, in Fort Lewis’ loss at Colorado Mesa on Sunday. His 21 total tackles are tied for second most in a Division II game this season, and the performance is one of 28 20-plus tackle performances at all NCAA levels this season. The effort catapulted him to the top of Division II’s tackles leaders with 109 stops this season, averaging 13.6 tackles per game. It is the first 20-tackle outing in the RMAC since 2022 – Colorado School of Mines’ Adrian Moreno with 20 tackles versus New Mexico Highlands.
Others Nominated: Gibson Leafgreen, Colorado Mesa; Lucas Lucero, New Mexico Highlands; Kaden Stewart, Western Colorado.
Special Teams
Alekzander Britt, New Mexico Highlands (Freshman, Kicker, Westminster, Colorado)
Britt scored 11 points, including two field goals, in New Mexico Highlands' 49-10 victory at Adams State on Saturday. He made two field goals, from 45 and 25 yards, and converted five PATs in the victory. Britt’s career-best 45-yard field goal put the Cowboys up 10-0 in the first quarter, and his 25-yarder pushed the advantage to 42-10 midway through the fourth quarter. It is the second straight game he has made two field goals, and he is 7-for-7 this season.
Others Nominated: Sullivan Moon, Colorado Mesa; Zac Grable, Western Colorado.
About the RMAC
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, headquartered in Colorado Springs, is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 institutions located in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. The RMAC currently competes in 22 NCAA Division II sports and has earned 67 national championships and 53 national runners-up since 1992. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the most historic athletic conference in the western United States and Division II.
# EverythingElevated #