COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- San Diego State football's Darren Hall and John Baron II have each been named a Mountain West Player of the Week, the league announced Monday. Hall was chosen as the MW Defensive Player of the Week for the first time of his career, while Baron was selected as the MW Special Teams Player of the Week for the second straight week and third time of his career.
The duo helped the Aztecs rally for a 23-20 overtime win over Eastern Michigan on Saturday night.
Hall, a redshirt freshman, came up big in the first significant defensive snaps of his career. Hall, who entered the game with just 22 career defensive snaps, including only one in 2018, recorded a career-high four tackles and picked up the first interception of his career. The interception came in overtime and allowed SDSU to kick the game-winning field goal on its ensuing drive. According to Pro Football Focus, Hall logged 43 snaps off the bench against the Eagles on Saturday night, allowing just 21 total receiving yards on four targets. Hall also allowed just a passer rating of 49.0 when targeted in coverage.
On the season, Hall has five tackles (four solo) with an interception in three games played.
Baron, meanwhile, became the first player to be named the MW Special Teams Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks since UNLV punter Logan Yunker accomplished the feat in 2013 (Sept. 23-30). Baron was 3-for-4 on field goal attempts and 2-for-2 on PATs. The senior hit a 34-yarder in the first quarter to put SDSU on top, a 50-yarder to tie the game at 20-20 with 1:16 left in the fourth quarter and a 38-yarder to win the game in overtime. Baron's 38-yard field goal in overtime was his first game-winner of his career. Baron also kicked off five times for 275 yards (55.0 avg.) and four touchbacks. If you take away the one squib he kicked off, he would've averaged a perfect 65.0 average (four for 260 yards) on the other four attempts.
On the season, Baron is 8-for-9 (.889) on field goal attempts and 7-for-7 on PATs, while recording 14 touchbacks in 21 kickoffs. He ranks in a tie for first in FBS in PAT percentage (1.000), tied for seventh in field goals per game (2.00) and tied for 20th in field goal percentage (.889). Baron is also one of three kickers with three field goals of at least 50 yards and one of two that is a perfect 3-for-3 from 50 or more yards.
For his career, Baron has made 41 of 47 field goal attempts. Among the active FBS kickers, Baron ranks first in field goal percentage (.872) and 13th in field goals per game (1.32). At SDSU, Baron ranks second in field goal percentage (.872), fourth in PATs (115), and fifth in field goals (41) and PAT percentage (.983).
The Aztecs (3-1), who are receiving votes in both the AP Top 25 and Amway Coaches Poll, are off this week from competition and kick off Mountain West play Saturday, Oct. 6 at Boise State.