By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Western Colorado University quarterback Joisah Roy, Chadron State College linebacker Liam Blaser, and Colorado State University Pueblo return specialist Nyir Jones are the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Week 8 Football Players of the Week, announced Monday.
Roy threw for a career-high 348 yards and three touchdowns as Western Colorado stayed unbeaten in 2026 with a 42-10 win at Black Hills State. Blaser earned his second straight defensive honor after recording a pick-six for a second straight week to power the Eagles’ 59-17 win at New Mexico Highlands. Jones returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, his second kick-six in as many weeks, to help CSU Pueblo remain unbeaten with a 27-21 win at Fort Lewis.
Offensive
Josiah Roy, Western Colorado (5th Year, Quarterback, Colorado Springs, Colorado)
Roy threw for a career-high 348 yards in the Mountaineers’ 42-10 victory at Black Hills State. He completed 35-of-44 passes, averaging 9.94 yards per completion, and threw for two touchdowns while running for another. Roy’s seven-yard touchdown run extended the Western Colorado lead to 21-3 in the second quarter. He then added a touchdown pass to Ramon Ruiz in the third quarter and then a second scoring pass to Antwaun Jackon in the fourth quarter to cap a run of 35 unanswered points. Roy completed passes to 11 different receivers in the win.
Others Nominated: Kayden LaFramboise, Adams State; Jayden Williams, Black Hills State; Evan Powell, CSU Pueblo; Devon Rivers, Chadron State; Jaden Thermidor, Colorado Mesa; KhaVontae Paul, Fort Lewis; Gage Baker, South Dakota Mines.
Defensive
Liam Blaser, Chadron State (Senior, Linebacker, Duncan, Nebraska)
For a second consecutive week, Blaser led the Chadron State defense with a pick-six and a fumble recovery in a 59-17 victory at New Mexico Highlands. He recorded both takeaways on consecutive New Mexico Highlands drives in the second quarter. Blaser’s interception came two plays after a NMHU interception, but Blaser ran his back 25 yards for a touchdown, extending the CSC lead to 28-10. On the second play of the ensuing NMHU drive, he forced and recovered a fumble inside Cowboys territory, and Chadron State converted the turnover into another touchdown on the next play. He also had four tackles (all solo) with a sack.
Others Nominated: Roscoe Taylor, Adams State; Jack Gentile, Black Hills State; Jaylen Booth, CSU Pueblo; Jon Dowell, Colorado Mesa; Mo Russolillo, Colorado School of Mines; Elijah Portela, Fort Lewis; Charlie Johnson, South Dakota Mines; Iam Loomis, Western Colorado.
Special Teams
Nyir Jones, CSU Pueblo (Sophomore, Return Specialist, Camden, New Jersey)
Jones’ 89-yard opening kickoff return for a touchdown set the tone in the ThunderWolves’ 27-21 win at Fort Lewis. It is the second consecutive game that Jones recorded a kick-six, scoring a 91-yard kickoff return against New Mexico Highlands. He also became one of five Division II return specialists to return multiple kickoffs for touchdowns this season.
Others Nominated: Landon Bobo, Adams State; Bryce Coulson, Black Hills State; Shay Prichard, Chadron State; Kale Purvis, Colorado Mesa; Lucas LeSieur, Colorado School of Mines; Ethan Kercher, Fort Lewis; Sam Eccles, South Dakota Mines.
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 71 national championships. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the most historic athletic conference in the western United States and Division II.
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