Complete 2009 All-Big Sky Conference Football Team in pdf format
Three Portland State football players have earned All-Big Sky Conference honors for their play during the 2009 season and all three come from the state of Oregon. Senior fullback Bobby McClintock and freshman kicker Zach Brown earned first team All-Big Sky Conference honors, while senior outside linebacker Ryan Pedersen was named second team All-Big Sky in a vote or league coaches released today.
McClintock, from Coos Bay's Marshfield High School, earned first team honors for the second time in his career. He was also named first team All-Conference as a freshman in 2006. A knee injury knocked him out of action in 2007, and he earned honorable mention honors in 2008.
McClintock had a fine career at Portland State as a runner, blocker and receiver (though he will petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility). With a career-high 93 rushing yards and a touchdown in his final game, McClintock led the Vikings in rushing for the second year in a row (87 carries, 420 yards, two touchdowns). He added 29 receptions for 240 yards and one touchdown receiving on the year. The 240-pound fullback was perhaps more renowned for his blocking ability.
Brown, from Keizer's McNary High School, was recruited to Portland State as a wide receiver and backup kicker. But, in 2009 he took over all kicking duties as a redshirt freshman and turned in the finest season ever by a PSU kicker.
Brown set a new school record with 18 field goals (in 25 attempts), breaking the previous mark of 15. He had a streak of nine straight field goals made at one point and finished the year making 14 of 16, with both misses being 50+ yards. He led the Big Sky Conference and ranked sixth in the nation in field goals made per game (1.64). Further, in the 63-year history of Portland State football, there have been seven field goals of 50 yards or longer. Brown has two of those kicks.
Overall in 2009, Brown was 18-25 on field goals, 21-21 on extra points and averaged 65.5 yards on kickoffs. Twice he was named Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Week (Sept. 14, Oct. 12) for his kicking.
Zach Brown (19)
Pedersen, from Beaverton's Southridge High School, was given second team honors after being honorable mention All-Big Sky each of the last two seasons. He made 57 tackles this season, 9.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and forced two fumbles. Pedersen led the Vikings in career numbers with 176 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and six forced fumbles. He also started a team-leading 30 straight games over the last three seasons.
Ryan Pedersen (53)
Nine other Vikings earned honorable mention honors. They include: SR OT Matt Leunen, SR C Tyler Staley, SR OG Moses Punzal, SR KR Aaron Woods, SR ILB Erik Pedersen, SO ILB Ryan Rau, SO CB Deshawn Shead, SO FS Cody Worthen and SO ST Nick Kalpin.
Woods set new school records for kick returns in a season (53) and a career (88), as well as kick return yards for a season (1,314) and a career (2,222). Woods ranked fourth in the nation in all-purpose yards per game this season with 175.4.
Rau led the Vikings in tackles (72), tackles for loss (10), sacks (4) and also returned a fumble for touchdown this season.
Shead was the Vikings' leader in interceptions for the second straight year (3), and had a total of four takeaways.
Worthen ranked second on the team with 60 tackles. He also had three pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
Big Sky Coaches named quarterback Matt Nichols of Eastern Washington as the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Defensive end Dane Fletcher of Montana State was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year. Safety Zach Schrader of Sacramento State was selected as the Newcomer of the Year.
