ST. GEORGE — Thanks to Saturday night’s 48-36 homecoming win over in-state rival Southern Utah, Utah Tech players swept all three Western Athletic Conference football weekly honors on Monday.
Junior wide receiver Rickie Johnson was named WAC Offensive Player of the Week after he broke one school record and tied another in the victory. Johnson caught a career-high nine passes for a school-record 277 yards and a school-record-tying three touchdowns, according to a news release from Utah Tech Athletics.
He racked up 213 yards after the catch thanks in part to a 79-yard first-quarter TD reception, which was UT’s longest scoring play of the year, and a 75-yard third-quarter catch-and-run for his third touchdown of the night.
In addition, Johnson’s 277 yards receiving were the second-highest single-game total in NCAA Division-I ranks this season in both FCS and FBS subdivisions.
Sophomore defensive lineman Syrus Webster garnered WAC Defensive Player of the Week honors after he racked up a career-high 3.0 sacks and had four total tackles, one forced fumble and one QB hurry on Saturday night. Webster recorded two sacks in the second quarter, then salted away the Trailblazers’ win with his third sack of the night on SUU’s final offensive play from scrimmage.
Sophomore placekicker Connor Brooksby, a Pine View High School alum, collected WAC Special Teams Player of the Week accolades after hitting all six PAT attempts and went 2-for-2 in field goal tries, including a school record 55-yarder. Brooksby also became UT’s career leader in made field goals (20-for-30; .667) and moved into third place on UT’s career PAT list (49-of-50) in the victory.
Utah Tech will wrap up its 2022 home schedule this Saturday afternoon with a Senior Day matinee vs. WAC foe Tarleton State. Kick-off inside Greater Zion Stadium is set for 1 p.m.
Photo Gallery
Utah Tech football players who won Westeran Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors inlcude defensive lineman Syrus Webster, wide receiver Rickie Johnson and placekicker Connor Brooksby, Nov. 8, 2022 | Photos by Alex Santiago, Utah Tech Athletics, St. George News Utah Tech defensive lineman Syrus Webster | Photo by Alex Santiago, Utah Tech Athletics, St. George News Utah Tech wide receiver Rickie Johnson | Photo by Alex Santiago, Utah Tech Athletics, St. George News Utah Tech placekicker Connor Brooksby | Photo by Alex Santiago, Utah Tech Athletics, St. George News Connor Goolsby kicked a career-long school-record 54-yard field goal during Utah Tech's 48-36 homecoming win over Southern Utah on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022 | Photo by Stan Plewe, Utah Tech Athletics, St. George News Wide receiver Rickie Johnson hauls in one of the nine passes he caught for 277 yards during Utah Tech's 48-36 homecoming win over Southern Utah on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022 | Photo by Stan Plewe, Utah Tech Athletics, St. George News Defensive lineman Syrus Webster applies pressure during Utah Tech's 48-36 homecoming win over Southern Utah on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022 | Photo by Stan Plewe, Utah Tech Athletics, St. George News
