Porter Connors earns Big Sky and national awards for performance at Cal
In other news, is a 76-0 blowout worth $500,000?
PORTER CONNORS HONORED BY BIG SKY ... After accounting for half his team's points against Cal in one fell scoop, UC Davis linebacker Porter Connors was honored as the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week and the FCS Nation national Defensive Player of the Week.
With the Aggies trailing 7-0, Cal took over at its own 2-yard-line after a UCD drive stalled, but on the Bears' first play from scrimmage, running back Kadarius Calloway was crushed by the Aggies' Kavir Bains, forcing a fumble that Connors picked up at the 6 and waltzed into the end zone untouched.
"He made a great tackle and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time," Connors said humbly.
However, Connors' overall game performance was such that even without his easy scoop-and-score, he still likely would have earned Big Sky and national honors.
In total, the junior from Pleasant Grove, Utah had a game-high 13 tackles, including five solo stops, tying him for third-most in the nation after Week 1 of the season. Connors also had a sack and one tackle for loss.
Noted Aggie head coach Tim Plough, "I'm really pleased for Porter. He always gives relentless effort and has a fanatical focus on playing hard every down."
HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW ... Ironically, Cal's leading tackler in Saturday's win was none other than Teddye Buchanan, who was wearing Aggie Blue and Gold last year.
Buchanan had two solo tackles and nine overall as he proved he was ready to play at the next level in his first game in an FBS uniform.
