By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner / Strategic Communications
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – New Mexico Highlands University running back Jeffery Jones, Fort Lewis College cornerback Jordan Thomas, and Colorado School of Mines punter Lucas LeSieur are the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Football Players of the Week following Week 1’s action.
Jones wins the league’s offensive award for a second consecutive week after setting the NCAA Division II freshman rushing record with 385 yards in a win against Western New Mexico. Thomas did a little bit of everything for the Skyhawks’ defense in a 58-10 victory at Arizona Christian. LeSieur’s debuted by averaging 45.5 yards per punt in Colorado School of Mines’ win at West Texas A&M.
Offensive
Jeffery Jones, New Mexico Highlands (Freshman, Running Back, St. Petersburg, Florida)
A week after debuting with 223 rushing yards and winning the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week award, Jones put his dominance on display with a 385-yard performance against Western New Mexico, which set the NCAA Division II freshman rushing record and is the second-most rushing yards in RMAC history. Jones finished the Cowboys' 69-55 win against Western New Mexico with 24 carries for 385 net yards and three touchdowns, including the game-sealing 52-yard touchdown with 1:45 left in the game. Behind Jones’ performances, New Mexico Highlands is 2-0 for the first time since 2018 after sweeping both Eastern and Western New Mexico in the same season for the first time since 2012.
Others Nominated: Ahmare Merrida, Adams State; TJ Chukwurah, Black Hills State; Roman Fuller, CSU Pueblo; Devon Dungren, Chadron State; Aiden Taylor, Colorado Mesa; Joseph Capra, Colorado School of Mines; Jacob Morris, Fort Lewis; Jacoby Ogbonna, South Dakota Mines; Drew Nash, Western Colorado.
Defensive
Jordan Thomas, Fort Lewis (Junior, Cornerback, Oro Valley, Arizona)
Thomas chipped in in all phases of Fort Lewis’ defensive effort in a 58-10 victory at Arizona Christian. He recorded three tackles (one solo), a pass breakup, an interception, and forced a fumble. His interception stalled an Arizona Christian drive inside Fort Lewis territory, helping keep ACU out of the end zone until an early fourth-quarter touchdown. Thomas led a defense that forced six turnovers and held Arizona Christian to 220 total yards with only 67 passing yards.
Others Nominated: Kellen Collier, Black Hills State; Gary Seidenberger, CSU Pueblo; Logan O’Brien, Chadron State; George Soppe, Colorado Mesa; Joel Diaz, Colorado School of Mines; Awsten Turnbow, New Mexico Highlands; William Lester, South Dakota Mines; Ian Loomis, Western Colorado.
Special Teams
Lucas LeSieur, Colorado School of Mines (Freshman (RS), Punter, Walnut Creek, California)
LaSieur’s debut went off without a hitch as he averaged 45.5 yards per punt and consistently bottled up West Texas A&M in Colorado School of Mines’ 33-31 victory. He placed three of his four punts inside the WTAMU 10-yard line, with one downed at the two-yard line and two more at the seven-yard line. One of those pins led to Colorado School of Mines’ game-winning safety early in the fourth quarter. Two of his punts went for 50-plus yards, including a 65-yarder and a 51-yarder that capped his performance.
Others Nominated: Braden Biller, Adams State; Bryce Coulson, Black Hills State; Chase Nelson, Chadron State; Kuba Betlinski, Fort Lewis; Alekzander Britt, New Mexico Highlands; Jadon Lemmons, South Dakota Mines; 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 #