Named WAC Special Teams Player of the Week

JUNIOR WIDE RECEIVER AND SPECIAL TEAMS STANDOUT JUSTIN HERNANDEZ, a product of Lapwai (Ida.) High School, was named this week's Western Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his effort Saturday at Virginia. For the second year in a row Hernandez was in on a blocked punt, and for the second year in a row the block resulted in an Idaho TD. This is Hernandez's first POW honor.

Against the Cavaliers Saturday afternoon Justin Hernandez blocked a punt in the fourth quarter deep in Virginia territory, which was scooped by fellow Idahoan Daniel Micheletti (Meridian's Mountain View High School) and returned four yards for the score. Idaho's offense, which struggled for much of the game, came out and added a two point conversion, knotting the score at 14-14 and propelling the game into overtime. Idaho would fall short in overtime, dropping a 21-20 decision when the Vandals failed on their second 2-point conversion of the game when they went for the win in the first overtime period.

Last year it was Hernandez that recovered a punt in the endzone following Brandon Artz' block against Western Michigan that helped propel Idaho to a 33-13 road victory.

For his career, Hernandez is a second year starter on several Special Teams units and also works into the Idaho wide receiver rotation. Last year as a sophomore he hauled in one pass for 17 yards against North Dakota after redshirting the 2008 season and working primarily on the scout team in 2009.

This is Hernandez' first Player of the Week honor at Idaho.