2 Vandals Earn SBC Player of the Week Honors

Senior quarterback Brian Lindgren (inset) and sophomore middle linebacker Mike Anderson were named the Sun Belt's Players of the Week for their effort against New Mexico State on Saturday. From all of us at VandalVenue, congratulations on an outstanding honor!

Official Sun Belt Site Article (PDF)

Text below is from the University of Idaho Official Site article.


SUN BELT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Brian Lindgren, 6-4, 214, Senior, QB
Senior quarterback Brian Lindgren was chosen the Sun Belt Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Vandals to their thrilling 35-31 victory at New Mexico State last Saturday.

In earning the award, Lindgren overcame a somewhat shaky first half to lead the Vandals to throw for five second-half touchdowns as they had their highest point total of the season. He completed 28 of his 41 passes for 408 yards – the fourth 400-plus-yard game of his career.

The fifth touchdown drive, however, is the one that will be remembered. With only 67 seconds remaining, Lindgren and Co. were up to the challenge. Two passes to tight end Mike McCoy and another to Wendell Octave put the ball on the NMSU 7. Lindgren threw a scare into the Vandal faithful with a fumble that, fortunately, was recovered by senior tackle Jake Scott at the 6. The Vandals secured the victory on the next play when Lindgren hooked up with Jeff Stowe.


SUN BELT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Mike Anderson, 6-4, 238, Soph, MLB
Sophomore linebacker Mike Anderson quickly is making a name for himself.

Last Saturday, his actions spoke louder than they have all season when he was credited with 23 tackles as the Vandals snapped a nine-game losing skid to defeat New Mexico State in their Sun Belt Conference opener.

That monumental effort earned for him the Sun Belt Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week award.

While Anderson easily was having the best game of his career, it was his stop of an NMSU ball-carrier with 1:07 remaining that is most unforgettable. The tackle of Tony Joseph jarred the ball loose and UI’s Kody Kraus was able to cover it and give the Vandals one last chance at victory.

Anderson’s 66 tackles are a Sun Belt Conference high and his average of 11.0 per game leads the league. His efforts also are a factor in the Vandals’ having the league’s top-rated pass defense.