Northern Arizona quarterback Jason Murrietta was named Offensive Players of the Year. A freshman, Murrietta led the Lumberjacks to an 8-3 overall record and a share of the Big Sky title while throwing for 2,974 and 22 touchdowns. Montana State safety Kane Ioane garnered the Defensive Player of the Year award. Ioane was the leader of a MSU defense that led the Big Sky in total, pass and scoring defense. A senior from Billings, Mont., Ioane recorded 130 total tackles during the regular season. Montana junior running back Justin Green was named the Newcomer of the Year. Green rushed for 1,042 yards in the regular season to rank fifth in school history.

Amey becomes just the fourth player in school history to twice be named first team all-league. He joins running back Charles Roberts (three-time selection), tight end Chris Kelly and offensive lineman Jon Osterhout. This past season, Amey led the Big Sky with 98.9 receiving yards per game and 168.9 all-purpose yards. The Union City, Calif., native had at least 100 receiving yards in five of his 10 games, including a stretch of four-straight contests over the century mark. In his three seasons at Sacramento State, he has 2,283 receiving yards, 170 receptions and 24 touchdowns — all program records.

Seniors Marko Cavka and Ryan Kroeker were each named to the second team. Cavka, who was a four-year starter for the Hornets, earned honorable mention accolades last season. This past year, he started all 11 games for Sacramento State and has been invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game, the CSTV I-AA All-Star Game, the Gridiron Classic and the Las Vegas All-Star Game.

Like Cavka, Kroeker was also named honorable mention in 2002. As a senior, the linebacker led the team with 88 tackles. He also ranked second on the squad with 10 tackles-for-loss and also had one forced fumble.

Seniors Chris Frank, Ben Fox, Jeremy Johnson and Kenan Smith, junior Ramon Payne and sophomores Tyronne Gross and Dustin Nicolodi completed the selections by being named honorable mention.

Frank, an offensive guard, earned the honor for the third time in his four-year career. Johnson and Nicolodi were each named honorable mention in 2002.

Fox led the team with 8.0 sacks. The defensive end also recorded 32 sacks and recovered one fumble. Johnson started all 11 games at cornerback and ranked second on the team with 75 tackles and six pass breakups. Smith filled numerous rolls in his final season with the team. He started games at wide receiver and quarterback while also returning kicks and punts. As a receiver, he trailed only Amey with 38 receptions for 473 yards and four touchdowns.

Payne finished fifth on the team with 62 tackles and led the Hornets with 12 pass breakups. He also forced three fumbles and recorded one interception.

Despite missing the final three league games of the year, Gross still earned all-conference honors. The Stockton, Calif., native was leading the Big Sky in rushing before a knee injury forced him to the sideline in the first quarter against Eastern Washington. Gross averaged 101.5 rushing yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry. He also led the team with eight rushing touchdowns.

Nicolodi earned honorable mention accolades for the second-straight season. Just a sophomore, the Modesto, Calif., native has started all 23 games of his Hornet career on the offensive line. Last season, he was an all-league selection as a guard while this year he earned the award as a center.

---30---