Cougs Minshew, Harris earn conference honors

Two Washington State football players earned Player of the Week honors Monday from the Pac-12 Conference.

Quarterback Gardner Minshew and kick returner Travell Harris were recognized after the Cougars’ 59-24 home win over Eastern Washington.

- Minshew, a graduate transfer in his senior year of eligibility, completed 45-of-57 passes (78.9 percent) for 470 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and scattered passes to nine different receivers. The 470 passing yards is fifth-best among FBS quarterbacks this season.

Minshew leads the nation in passing average (401.0 ypg) and completions per game (39.0), is 14th in passing touchdowns (8) and 15th in completion percentage (70.9 percent).

- Harris, a redshirt freshman, totaled 125 yards and scored a touchdown on three kickoff returns and recorded a special teams tackle in Washington State’s Saturday win. He accounted for the Cougars’ third touchdown when he returned a kick 100 yards. It marked the first kickoff return for a touchdown for WSU since 2016 and he is one of 12 players in the country to return at least one this season.

Harris leads the Pac-12 in kick return average at 37.0 yards per game, which also ranks seventh nationally.

- The Big Sky Conference announced its ROOT SPORTS Big Sky Football Players of the Week on Monday: Cal Poly fullback Joe Protheroe. linebacker Landon Stice of Weber State, and Sacramento State punter Owen Hoolihan.

Protheroe became the first Big Sky player to eclipse the 200-yard rushing mark when he ran for 228 yards on 43 carries with three TDs in Cal Poly’s 44-15 win over Brown.

Stice, a senior for the Wildcats, had six tackles, a half sack, a fumble recovery for a touchdown, an interception and a quarterback hurry in helping lead Weber State to a 27-10 win over No. 22 South Dakota.

Hoolihan punted eight times during the game and managed to pin Northern Colorado inside the 20-yard line six times, as he helped Sacramento State secure the 28-25 road win.