Sarmento Named Co-Defensive Player of the Week

Northern Colorado senior linebacker Cristian Sarmento was today named the Big Sky Co-Defensive Player of the Week, marking the second straight week a Bear defender has shared the honor (Max Hewitt, Safety).

Sarmento, a 6-1, 230-pound senior from Lakewood, Colo., registered 17 total tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a pass breakup in Northern Colorado's 17-10 loss to No. 18 Weber State. Sarmento finished with eight solo stops. He led a UNC defense which forced four turnovers and 17 points. Sarmento has amassed at least 15 tackles three times this season. He leads the Big Sky and ranks fourth nationally in tackles with an average of 12.7 per game.

He shares the honor with Eastern Washington defensive back Ryan Kelley. Kelley, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound senior from Los Angeles, intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown in Eastern Washington's 34-17 road win over Montana State. Kelley, who spent the 2004 and 2005 seasons at Montana State, picked off a Cody Kempt pass and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, giving the Eagles a 14-7 lead. Earlier in the second quarter, Kelley picked off a Kempt pass at the Montana State 30-yard line. Kelley also had five total tackles, including three solo tackles.

Montana quarterback Cole Bergquist is the Offensive Player of the Week, while Weber State returner/wide receiver is the Special Teams Player of the Week.

Bergquist, a 6-2, 206-pound senior from San Clemente, Calif, had a nearly perfect day in eighth-ranked Montana's 43-7 victory over Sacramento State. Bergquist completed 17-of-19 passes for 290 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed nine times for 39 yards, scoring on a 14-yard run. Bergquist finished with an efficiency rating of 287.2. Bergquist fired TD passes of 31 and 73 yards to Mike Ferriter, and of 24 and 46 yards to Marc Mariani.

Eteuati, a 5-foot-7, 160-pound senior from Layton, Utah, finished with 187 all-purpose yards in Weber State's 17-10 win over Northern Colorado. Eteuati had 79 yards on punt returns, including a 36-yarder. He also had 16 yards on a kick return. Eteuati caught five passes for 79 yards, and had one rush for 18 yards.