By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – New Mexico Highlands University running back Owen Smith, Western Colorado University linebacker Ian Loomis, and Chadron State College kicker Triston Hite claimed the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Football Player of the Week awards for Week 10, announced Monday.

Smith became the sixth Division II athlete to score five touchdowns in a game this season, running for two and catching three, in the Cowboys’ win against Adams State University. Loomis provided a 25-yard pick-six to highlight the Mountaineers’ strong defensive outing in a 41-20 victory against Colorado School of Mines. Hite averaged 49.2 yards on his five punts and had two downed inside the 20-yard line in the fourth quarter of the Eagles’ 31-19 win at Black Hills State Univesrity.

Offensive

Owen Smith, New Mexico Highlands (Freshman, Running Back, St. Petersburg, Florida)

Smith became the first RMAC athlete with five touchdowns in a game this season – and the sixth in Division II – leading the Cowboys to a 42-34 victory against Adams State. He ran for two touchdowns in a 20-carry, 150-yard performance that included a go-ahead 27-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Smith also had four receptions for 55 yards and three touchdowns, including a victory-securing 31-yard touchdown reception. He opened the game’s scoring with a 16-yard touchdown reception and closed the first quarter’s scoring with a five-yard touchdown reception, giving NMHU a 14-11 lead. Smith then added a one-yard TD run in the third quarter before providing touchdowns on back-to-back NMHU drives in the fourth.

Others Nominated: Frank Arcuri, Adams State; Kade Weber, Black Hills State; Dedrek Taylor-Akins, CSU Pueblo; Aidan Thompson, Chadron State; Cole Hansen, Colorado Mesa; Pierce Richards, Colorado School of Mines; Solomon Latimer, Fort Lewis; Dawson Dunbar, South Dakota Mines; Josiah Roy, Western Colorado.

Defensive

Ian Loomis, Western Colorado (Senior, Linebacker, Loveland, Colorado)

Loomis’ 25-yard pick-six highlighted a standout defensive effort by the Mountaineers as they downed Colorado School of Mines 41-20.  He finished the day with seven tackles (six solo), one sack, and his interception return for a touchdown. Loomis closed the game’s scoring with his 25-yard pick-six, and two drives later he added a tackle for loss on a 2nd-and-10 play that ultimately led to a turnover on downs with 5:24 remaining, allowing WCU to run out the clock.

Others Nominated: Joshua Sparks, Adams State; Jack Gentile, Black Hills State; Carter Daniels, CSU Pueblo; Griffin Clubb, Chadron State; AJ Adams, Colorado Mesa; Luke Johnson, Colorado School of Mines; Trenton Sullivan, Fort Lewis; Kaleb Sells, New Mexico Highlands; Evan Hatton, South Dakota Mines.

Special Teams

Triston Hite, Chadron State (Fifth Year, Kicker/Punter, Grant, Nebraska)

Hite averaged 49.2 yards on his five punts, helping bottle up Black Hills State as the Eagles claimed a 31-19 road victory. His first punt set the tone for the day, going for 58 yards and flipping the field, with Chadron State scoring on its next possession thanks to improved field position. Hite then added a 49-yard punt near the end of the first quarter and a 41-yarder in the second quarter. He started the third quarter with a 46-yard punt that went to the BHSU 2-yard line. Hite finished his day with a 52-yard punt with the returner downed inside the 20-yard line.

Others Nominated: Anthony Arnusch, Adams State; Bryce Coulson, Black Hills State; Sean Conway, CSU Pueblo; Kale Purvis, Colorado Mesa; Preston Kyle, Colorado School of Mines; Ethan Kercher, Fort Lewis; Daniel Estrada, New Mexico Highlands; 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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