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BIG SKY FOOTBALL KICKOFF: EWU picked to finish third, Vandals eighth

| July 27, 2021 1:25 AM

SPOKANE — The Big Sky football coaches and media both picked Eastern Washington to finish third in the 13-team league this fall, and Idaho to finish eighth.

Weber State, which won the league title last spring, was picked to win the conference by the coaches and media.

COACHES POLL

(First-place votes in parentheses)

  1. Weber State (7)
  2. Montana (2)
  3. Eastern Washington (2)
  4. Montana State (1)
  5. Sacramento State (1)
  6. UC Davis
  7. Northern Arizona





  8. Idaho
  9. Idaho State
  10. Portland State
  11. Southern Utah
  12. Cal Poly­
  13. Northern Colorado

MEDIA POLL

  1. Weber State (14)
  2. Montana (4)
  3. Eastern Washington (3)
  4. Montana State (3)
  5. Sacramento State
  6. UC Davis
  7. Northern Arizona





  8. Idaho
  9. Idaho State
  10. Portland State
  11. Southern Utah
  12. Northern Colorado
  13. Cal Poly

Preseason all-conference team

SPOKANE — Linebacker Tre Walker and fullback Logan Kendall of Idaho were named to the Big Sky Conference football Preseason All-Conference Team on Monday.

Eastern Washington's selections were quarterback Eric Barriere, wide receiver Talolo Limu-Jones, tackle Tristen Taylor and defensive end Mitchell Johnson.

Quarterbacks

Eric Barriere – Eastern Washington

Running Backs

Elijah Dotson – Sac State

Josh Davis – Weber State

Fullbacks

Logan Kendall – Idaho

Wide Receivers

Samuel Akem – Montana

Talolo Limu-Jones – Eastern Washington

Tanner Conner – Idaho State

Tight Ends

Marshel Martin – Sac State

Tackles

Tristen Taylor – Eastern Washington

Conlan Beaver – Montana

Guards

Ty Whitworth – Weber State

Taylor Tuiasosopo – Montana State

Centers

Connor Pettek – UC Davis

Placekicker

Luis Aguilar – Northern Arizona

Return Specialist

Rashid Shaheed – Weber State

Defensive Tackles

Jared Schiess – Weber State

Bryce Rodgers – UC Davis

Defensive Ends

Mitchell Johnson – Eastern Washington

George Tarlas – Weber State

Outside Linebackers

La’akea Kaho’ohanohano-Davis – Southern Utah

Troy Andersen – Montana State/Conner Mortensen – Weber State (tie)

Middle Linebackers

Tre Walker – Idaho

Jace Lewis – Montana

Cornerbacks

Anthony Adams – Portland State

Eddie Heckard – Weber State

Safeties

Morgan Vest – Northern Arizona

Robby Hauck – Montana

Punter

Daniel Whelan – UC Davis­­

Longsnapper

Matthew O’Donoghue - Montana

Two on the 'U': As part of the Big Sky's new media rights deal with ESPN, two football games this fall are scheduled for prime time on ESPNU.

Those games are Montana at Eastern Washington on Oct. 2, and Montana State at Weber State on Oct. 15. The MSU-Weber State game was moved from its original date to Friday, Oct. 15, to accommodate that selection.

Kickoff times for the pair of ESPNU contests will be announced at a later date.

Still something to Root about: Root Sports announced four football games to be featured on its network this season.

All game dates are subject to change and times for the ROOT Sports games will be announced at a later date.

Root Sports games are:

Oct. 9 — Cal Poly at Montana State

Oct. 16 — Idaho at Eastern Washington

Oct. 30 — Southern Utah at Montana

Nov. 20 — Montana State at Montana