LOCAL WATCH: Sandpoint’s Brandon Casey named First Team All-Big Sky
Sandpoint's Brandon Casey stands with his parents, Bart and Anne Marie Casey, after No. 2 Montana defeated No. 4 Montana State, 37-7 to clinch the Big Sky football title. Casey, a junior offensive lineman for the Grizzlies, was named to the All-Big Sky First Team for his efforts this season.
(Courtesy Photo)
MISSOULA — Former Sandpoint offensive lineman, Brandon Casey was one of 17 Montana Grizzlies who received Big Sky conference honors for their efforts on the field this season.
"It wasn't something I was initially thinking about too much, but it's nice to be recognized and know that my hard work is paying off," Casey said.
Casey was also named the team's offensive player of the game after Montana’s 34-7 win over No. 7 Sacramento State on Nov. 4.
When asked about how it feels to have won the Big Sky football title with Montana, Casey said it felt great.
"I have been here for four years, and ever since I got here that has always been the goal ... I have received tons of support from the Sandpoint community with lots of friends and family reaching out to me. I am thankful for my family and all of their support and for the guys I get to play with every Saturday. It would not be the same without all of the support."
Overall, Montana finished the regular season 10-1 and will face the winner of Delaware/Lafayette on Saturday, Dec. 2 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium at 6:00 p.m. (PST) in round two of the Division I FCS football playoffs.
ALL-BIG SKY FOOTBALL
* - Unanimous Selection
2023 Individual Award Winners
Offensive Player of the Year: Lan Larison, RB, UC Davis
Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Gubner, DL, Montana
Newcomer of the Year: Clifton McDowell, QB, Montana
Freshman of the Year: Eli Gillman, RB, Montana
Coach of the Year: Bobby Hauck, Montana*
First Team All-Conference Offense
QB: Gevani McCoy, Idaho
RB: Lan Larison, UC Davis; Anthony Woods, Idaho
FB: Derryk Snell, Montana State
WR: Efton Chism III, Eastern Washington*; Hayden Hatten, Idaho*; Chedon James, Idaho State; WR: Junior Bergen, Montana
TE: Marshel Martin, Sacramento State; Treyton Pickering, Montana State
OL: Noah Atagi, Weber State*; Marcus Wehr, Montana State; Rush Reimer, Montana State; Brandon Casey, Montana; Jordan Ford, UC Davis; Jackson Slater, Sacramento State
AP: Sean Chambers, Montana State
First Team All-Conference Defense
DL: Alex Gubner, Montana*; DL: Brody Grebe, Montana State; Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly; Zach Kennedy, UC Davis; Eloi Kwete, Northern Arizona
LB: Braxton Hill, Montana; Winston Reid, Weber State; Armon Bailey, Sacramento State; Nolan Askelson, Montana State; Jack Kelly, Weber State
DB: Marcus Harris, Idaho; Maxwell Anderson, Weber State; Cameron Broussard, Sacramento State; Marlon Jones Jr., Eastern Washington ; Corbin Walker, Montana; Trevin Gradney, Montana
First Team All-Conference Special Teams
K: Ricardo Chavez, Idaho
P: Brendan Hall, Montana State
KR: Abraham Williams, Weber State
PR: Junior Bergen, Montana
ST: Garrett Graves, Montana
Second Team All-Conference Offense
QB: Tommy Mellott, Montana State
RB: Eli Gillman, Montana; Julius Davis, Montana State
FB: Andrew VanBuren, Portland State
WR: Jermaine Jackson, Idaho; Coleman Owen, Northern Arizona; Jared Gipson, Sacramento State
TE: Hayden Meacham, Weber State; Blake Gobel, Eastern Washington
OL: Jonny Bottorff, Northern Arizona; Shiloh Ta’ase, Portland State; Garrett Weichman, Cal Poly; Jordan Lutui, Weber State; Omar Aigbedlion, Montana State; AJ Forbes, Montana
AP: Trent Tompkins, UC Davis
Second Team All-Conference Defense
DL: Jett Stanley, Sacramento State; Sebastian Valdez, Montana State; Brayden Wilson, Weber State; Dino Kahaulelio, Portland State; Chubba Maae, UC Davis
LB: Evan Tattersall, UC Davis; Teddye Buchanan, UC Davis; Levi Janacaro, Montana; Riley Wilson, Montana; Nick Eaton, UC Davis
DB: Rex Connors, UC Davis; Alex McLaughlin, Northern Arizona; Donovan Saunders, Cal Poly; Calvin Pitcher, Idaho State; George Steele, Northern Arizona; Tizell Lewis, Northern Colorado
Second Team All-Conference Special Teams
K: Gianni Smith, Portland State
P: Ricardo Chavez, Idaho
KR: Michael Wortham, Eastern Washington
PR: Jermaine Jackson, Idaho
ST: Sean McCormick, Idaho
Honorable Mention (at least 3 votes)
QB: Kekoa Visperas, Eastern Washington
RB: Marcus Fulcher, Sacramento State; Devon Starling, Northern Arizona
WR: Jermaine Braddock, Portland State; Hendrix Johnson, Northern Arizona
OL: Chris Walker, Montana; Ivan Garza, Sacramento State; Journey Grimsrud, Montana; Nathan Mejia, Sacramento State; Ayden Knapik, Idaho ; Austin Lawrence, Northern Colorado; Justus, Perkins, Montana State; Jake Parks, UC Davis
AP: Quincy Craig, Portland State
DL: Keyshawn James-Newby, Idaho; David Rowe, Idaho State; Marcus Howard, Northern Colorado; Mark Ho Ching, Northern Arizona; Dallas Afalava, Idaho
LB: Tre Thomas, Idaho; Parker McKenna, Portland State; Xe’ree Alexander, Idaho; Jacob Stanton, Northern Colorado
DB: Tommy McCormick, Idaho; Jehiel Budgett, UC Davis; Rylan Ortt, Montana State; Naseme Colvin, Weber State; Dillon Juniel, Sacramento State
K: Hunter Ridley, UC Davis
P: Cal McGough, Sacramento State; Hunter Green, Northern Colorado; Jack Burgess, Weber State
KR: Jermaine Jackson, Idaho
PR: Haze Hadley, Weber State
ST: Hendrix Johnson, Northern Arizona