Nov. 5, 2007
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State sophomore linebacker Luke Laolagi (defensive) and senior punter Michael Hughes (special teams) have been named Mountain West Conference Football Co-Players of the Week for their performances in the team's 27-24 win over Wyoming, the league office announced Monday.
Laolagi (Reseda, Calif.) recorded a career-best 10 solo tackles, including four for a loss, and his first career sack. The team's starting middle linebacker had entered the Wyoming contest with just two tackles for loss in his previous 17 career contests. Laolagi logged 10 or more stops for the third-straight outing and currently ranks third in the Mountain West in tackles per conference outing with a 9.8 mark.
The sophomore was a key part in limiting the Wyoming offense to just 250 yards of total offense and 91 net yards rushing, including just 80 total yards in the second half. All 10 of his tackles resulted in gains of four yards or less, while four of his final six tackles on the night were behind the line of scrimmage.
Hughes averaged 48.1 yards on 10 punts against Wyoming, including three kicks of 50 yards or more. His final punt of the night was a season-best 75-yarder to pin the Cowboys deep in their own territory, leading to a three-and-out series that preceded SDSU's game-winning drive. Hughes' 75-yarder ranks fifth-longest in school history, making him the first Aztec punter with two kicks of 75 or more yards in his career.
The three-year letterwinner's 10 punts tie for seventh in the school's single-game record book, while his 481 yards are fourth-best in school and fifth-best in league history. Hughes, who has 13 punts of 50 or more yards this year, raised his season punting average from 41.8 to 43.2 and currently ranks 20th nationally.
Hughes and Laolagi both picked up their first career weekly honor. They are the second and third Aztecs to be recognized by the league this season, joining linebacker Russell Allen (Vista, Calif.), who was tabbed for the defensive award following his school-record 22-tackle performance at Utah on Oct. 13. This is the third time in the two-year Chuck Long era that two SDSU players have garnered the player of the week award on the same date.
San Diego State heads out on the road for two straight conference contests, beginning this Saturday with an 8 p.m. contest at UNLV in Las Vegas, Nev.
Mountain West Conference Football Players Of The Week (Nov. 5)
Offense: Chad Hall (AFA)
Defense: Luke Laolagi (SDSU), Stephen Hodge (TCU)
Special Teams: Michael Hughes (SDSU), Ryan Harrison (AFA)
2007 SDSU Mountain West Conference Players of the Week
Oct. 15 - Russell Allen (Defensive)
Nov. 5 - Luke Laolagi (Defensive), Michael Hughes (Special Teams)