Football: Amaya named WAC defensive player of the week

DENVER - Boise State wide receiver Austin Pettis, Nevada safety Jonathon Amaya and Boise State kick returner Titus Young were named the Verizon Wireless Western Athletic Conference offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week, respectively.

Pettis, a junior from Anaheim, Calif. (Lutheran HS), caught eight passes for 123 yards and four touchdowns in Boise State's 63-25 win over Idaho. The four touchdown receptions tied a school record and gave him a nation-best 14 on the season, also setting a new school record. The touchdowns came from 4, 8, 20 and 14 yards with the first three coming in the first half. It was the first time a WAC player caught four touchdown passes in a game since Hawai'i's Jason Rivers did it against Washington on Dec. 1, 2007.

Amaya, a senior from Diamond Bar, Calif. (Diamond Bar HS), recorded a team-high eight tackles (5 solo), including one for a loss, and forced a fumble in Nevada's 52-14 win over Fresno State. The forced fumble stopped a Bulldog drive late in the third quarter at Nevada's 10-yard line. Amaya's play during the game helped hold the nation's fifth-best rushing offense to just 112 yards, 138 below their average entering the contest.

Young, a junior from Los Angeles, Calif. (University HS), returned three kickoffs for 130 yards in the game against Idaho. After Idaho had scored with 27 seconds left in the first half, Young took the ensuing kickoff deep in the endzone and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown. The return tied the school record set by John Broadous (also against Idaho) in 1981.

Others nominated on offense: junior wide receiver Greg Salas, Hawai'i; Nevada's offensive line; and sophomore running back Robert Turbin, Utah State.

Also nominated on defense: senior cornerback Kyle Wilson, Boise State; senior linebacker Blaze Soares, Hawai'i; sophomore linebacker Adrien Cole, Louisiana Tech; junior defensive back Davon House, New Mexico State; and junior safety Rajric Coleman, Utah State.

Other special teams nominations included: freshman punter Alex Dunnachie, Hawai'i; freshman kicker Matt Nelson, Louisiana Tech; and junior placekicker Ricky Drake, Nevada.