Armon Johnson celebrated his most prolific week as a Nevada player by being named the WAC Player of the Week.
Johnson, Nevada's second-year point guard, averaged 25 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in a 62-48 win over Southern Illinois and a 75-66 loss to California.
Johnson scored a career-best 33 points against Cal, 27 coming in the second half. Thirteen of those 27 came in the final 2:26 to keep the game close down the stretch.
It's the first WAC honor for Johnson.
FOOTBALL AWARDS
Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick, running back Vai Taua, center Dominic Green and defensive end Kevin Basped walked off with the big football awards at Nevada's recent awards banquet.
Kaepernick, who was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year, won the team's Golden Helmet Award which is given annually to the team's MVP. Kaepernick passed for 2,479 yards and 19 scores and rushed for 1,195 yards and 16 scores.
Taua was named the team's outstanding player with 1,420 rushing yards and 14 scores. He shared that award with Green, whose blocking paved the way for one of the most potent running games in the country. Nevada averaged 291 yards a game rushing.
Green and Taua also shared the Striker Award which is given for dominating play over a period of time.
Basped was honored as the team's top defensive player. The speedy defensive end had 18.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, including a team-best 10 sacks.
Kicker Brett Jaekle was named the team's top special teams player. Not only did Jaekle do an outstanding job as a place-kicker, but has filled in as the team's punter since Brad Langley suffered a season-ending injury.
Senior Mundrae Clifton won the Nevadatude Award, which is given annually to the player who best represents the beliefs and ideals of the program.
Linebacker Jerome Johnson, who finished with 35 tackles, won the Blackout and Firemen's awards.
SIX WINNING TEAMS
With the nonconference schedule winding down, conference teams have put together some victories, and there are now six teams with winning records.
Utah State leads the way with an 8-1 mark, while Boise State is 7-3. Fresno State and Nevada are 6-5, Hawaii is 5-3 and San Jose State is 4-3.
OLIVER SHINES
San Jose State is the only team in the conference that returned all five starters, all of whom averaged double figures a year ago.
Well, the Spartans unveiled another offensive weapon recently in Adrian Oliver. The former University of Washington player scored 27 points in a 89-78 win over Northern California.
WAC SPIKERS HONORED
Five conference volleyball players earned All-America honors this season from the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
Hawaii outside hitter Jamie Houston was a second-team selection while teammate Kanani Danielson was a third-team selection. Houston averaged 4.05 kills per game and 1.78 digs. Danielson averaged 3.02 kills per game and 2.91 digs per game.
Hawaii's Aneli Cubi-Otineru and Dani Mafua were honorable mention honorees along with New Mexico State's Krystal Torres. Cubi-Otineru averaged 2.41 kills and 2.27 digs per game, Mafua led the WAC with 11.20 assists per game and Torres averaged 4.41 digs per game.
- Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com, or by calling (775) 881-1281