PAC-12 ANNOUNCES FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Pac-12 Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Quarterback Mike Bercovici of ARIZONA STATE, safety Stefan McClure of CALIFORNIA and punter Matt Haack of ARIZONA STATE have been named offensive, defensive and special teams Pac-12 Players of the Week in football.
Bercovici, a senior quarterback from Calabasas, Calif., led the Sun Devils to a 38-23 road win over No. 7 UCLA on Saturday at the Rose Bowl. Bercovici accounted for three touchdowns, including two passing and one rushing, and 310 total yards, including 273 passing yards and 37 rushing yards. He was 27-for-44 passing and connected with seven different receivers. His career-long 34-yard touchdown run in the third quarter pushed ASU’s lead to 12, 22-10, with just over 11 minutes to play in the quarter. It was the Sun Devils’ longest touchdown run this season. Bercovici converted 17 first downs in the win, including four first downs in the final 10 minutes of the game. The win marked ASU’s first road win over an AP Top-25 team since 2002 and was the second win over an AP Top-10 team in head coach Todd Graham’s four seasons at ASU.
McClure, a senior safety from Vista, Calif., helped California to a 34-28 win over Washington State and marked the Golden Bears’ fifth-straight victory. McClure recorded six tackles including his first career sack for nine yards. He also ran a 45-yard fumble return for a touchdown on fake punt in the third quarter that was Cal’s first fumble return for a score since the 2011 season opener. Both his fumble return and sack came in the third quarter at key moments of the game, as the fumble return cut the Washington State lead to 21-20. McClure’s third-down sack moved the Cougars back nine yards to attempt a 40-yard field goal that was missed which would have increased their lead to 31-20.
Haack, a junior punter from West Des Moines, Iowa, dropped a career-best five of his eight punts inside the 20-yard line and finished with 345 yards (43.1 average), including a long of 63. His previous career-high was three punts inside the top-20. Haack’s final kick of the game was one of the key plays of the game, as he pinned UCLA at its own one-yard line with five minutes remaining in the game. ASU picked up a safety on UCLA’s ensuing drive, and the Sun Devils scored the final touchdown of the game on their next drive. The only punt of Haack’s eight that was returned was his first of the game, and netted a negative of three yards.
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week: Jared Goff, QB, CAL; Bralon Addison, WR, ORE; Christian McCaffrey, RB, STAN; Thomas Duarte, WR, UCLA; Also nominated for Defensive Player of the Week: Alex Balducci, NT, ORE; Blake Martinez, LB, STAN; Isaako Savaiinaea, UCLA; Also nominated for Special Teams Player of the Week: Stefan McClure, S, CAL; Matt Wogan, KO, ORE; Conrad Ukropina, STAN; Ka’imi Fairbairn, PK; UCLA
2015 Pac-12 Players of the Week
Week Offensive Defensive Special Teams
Sept. 7 Josh Rosen, UCLA Justin Thomas, UTAH Dante Pettis, WASH
Sept. 14 Luke Falk, WSU Gionni Paul, UTAH Bralon Addison, ORE
Sept. 21 Kevin Hogan, STAN Kenneth Olugbode, COLO Cory Butler-Byrd, UTAH
Sept. 28 Travis Wilson, UTAH Kyle Kragen, CAL Tom Hackett, UTAH
Oct. 5 Mike Bercovici, ASU Stefan McClure, CAL Matt Haack, ASU
