Lakeland grad Coffey honored by Big Sky
Photo by Mary McAleese Idaho kicker/punter Cade Coffey, shown kicking earlier this season at Idaho State, earned Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week honors following his performance on Saturday during the Vandals’ home win over Southern Utah.
OGDEN, Utah — Idaho punter and kicker Cade Coffey was named the Root Sports Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week for games played Oct. 20, the league office announced Monday. Coffey converted all five of his scoring attempts and averaged 51.8 yards per punt on eight kicks Saturday, to help Idaho defeat Southern Utah, 31-12.
Coffey drilled a career-long 80-yard punt in the second quarter. It is the longest punt in the Big Sky this season and tied for the longest in the FCS. It was the second-longest punt in Idaho football history, behind only Flip Kleffner’s 82-yard boot in 1953.
Two more Coffey punts traveled more than 50 yards and three were downed inside the 20, while the Vandals netted 45 yards per punt. The Rathdrum, Idaho, native and former Lakeland High standout also made his only field goal attempt (18 yards) and connected on all four of his extra point tries.
The award is Idaho’s first Big Sky Football Player of the Week honor of the year. It is Coffey’s third career weekly conference award after earning two in the Sun Belt Conference last season. The Vandals have claimed at least one conference special teams player of the week each of the last 11 years.
Through seven games, Coffey has punted 34 times, averaging 46 yards per kick to rank No. 3 in the nation. Eleven of his kicks have traveled more than 50 yards.
The Vandals are now 3-4 overall and 2-3 in Big Sky play. Idaho hits the road this week to take on nationally-ranked Eastern Washington in the Root Sports Big Sky Game of the Week. Kickoff is noon Saturday in Cheney, Wash.
Other Big Sky Players of the Week were Idaho State wide receiver Michael Dean, who had six receptions for a career-high 210 receiving yards for the Bengals on the road versus Liberty, an FBS school; and Northern Colorado’s Luke Nelson, a linebacker who tallied nine tackles, a forced fumble and interception for the Bears during their first win of the season, a 42-14 win victory over Northern Arizona.