Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eagles’ Meyer offensive MVP



 (The Spokesman-Review)

To the victors go the spoils, and today the Eastern Washington Eagles are spoiled.

Led by Offensive MVP Erik Meyer and freshman offensive guard Rocky Hanni as co-Newcomer of the Year, 23 Eagles were honored when the All-Big Sky Conference football team was announced Monday.

“I’ve thought about it. It’s always good to get awards, but it’s more of an accomplishment for what our team has done,” Meyer, a record-breaking 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior, said. “It’s not like I did everything. It’s my receivers making plays, my offensive line giving me time and even our defense coming up in big situations giving us momentum.”

It helps that the Eagles shared the league title with a 6-1 record and are heading to the playoffs with an 8-3 record.

Meyer is one of 11 Eagles on the first team, including record-breaking junior wide receiver Eric Kimble, who was a unanimous pick at wide receiver and return specialist. There are five Eagles on the second team and eight earned honorable mention.

Also on the first team offense are senior tackle Michael Roos, also a unanimous choice; senior running back Darius Washington; and freshman guard Rocky Hanni.

Defensive first-team picks are cornerbacks Isaiah Trufant, a junior, and Ryan Phillips, a senior; senior lineman Tom Finnerty; junior linebacker Joey Cwik; and sophomore safety Brandon Keeler, who switched from wide receiver in the off-season.

Meyer, a 2001 graduate of La Mirada (Calif.) High School, set the school record for completion percentage (67.2 percent), passing efficiency (175.5) and total offense (3,226 yards), while throwing for 3,037 yards and 28 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. For his career, he has a school-record 51 TDs against 10 interceptions.

“I know there were some other quarterbacks in our league that are deserving of that award, too. Very talented kids. But I think Erik is a step ahead of those guys and he had a great year,” Eagles coach Paul Wulff said. “He led the nation in pass efficiency, and probably the biggest statistic is the fact our offense converted 52 percent of third down conversions and the next closest in the conference was 38 percent. That has a direct correlation to your quarterback.”

Meyer is the third Eagle in the last four years to earn the honor and just the fourth overall in Eastern’s 18 seasons in the Big Sky Conference. Harry Leons won the award in 1997, EWU’s last season in the playoffs. Running back Jesse Chatman won in 2001 and quarterback Josh Blankenship in 2002. Meyer was Blankenship’s backup as a redshirt freshman.

Hanni is the first offensive lineman to earn the Newcomer honor in the 27-year history of the award. Blankenship won it for his only season at Eastern.

Hanni, from Sumner, Wash., started nine of 11 games, missing two because of an injury. He helped Eastern lead the league in offense at 468.9 yards, fifth in I-AA. The Eagles lead the league and are fifth nationally in scoring at 38.1 points a game.

Montana State had eight first-team picks and co-champion Montana had six. Quarterbacks Travis Lulay of MSU and Craig Ochs of UM are also on the first team.

The Defensive Player of the Year was split between Montana State senior linebacker Roger Cooper and Weber State junior defensive end Brady Fosmark. Also sharing the Newcomer honor are Sacramento State freshman running back Ryan Mole and Montana State junior wide receiver Ricky Gatewood.

Second-team picks for Eastern are junior center Kraig Sigler, freshman offensive guard Matt Alfred, fullback Lars Slind, defensive tackle Brandon Myers and freshman special teams player Gregor Smith. Special teams is a new category this year.

The honorable mention list included junior wide receiver Craig McIntyre, senior offensive tackle Paul Terrell, senior tight end Chris Cwik, senior running back Reggie Witherspoon, junior defensive tackle Garrett Quinn, senior linebacker Doug Vincent, junior cornerback Jesse Hendix and senior safety Javid Shoemaker.

The Cwik brothers, Finnerty and Slind, played at Mead; Smith is from Lakeside; Sigler from Coeur d’Alene.

A handful of other area players were recognized.

The first-team tight end is MSU senior Blake Wolf, who played at Colton. On the second team are UM defensive lineman Blake Horgan, a senior from East Valley; safety Kevin Edwards, a junior from Lewis; and Clark, and Portland State linebacker Joey King, a junior from Ferris. Honorable mentions are MSU sophomore center Zach Wolf, Blake’s brother, and Montana senior defensive lineman Jonny Varona of Medical Lake.