Sports Briefs

Adams, ISU’s Arias in Payton battle

Eastern Washington junior quarterback Vernon Adams is one of three finalists for the 2014 Walter Payton Award, given to the Football Championship Subdivision’s top offensive player.

Adams, who was runner-up for the award in 2013, will battle it out with Idaho State’s Justin Arias and Villanova’s John Robertson. The winner will be announced Dec. 15 in Philadelphia. 

Adams and Arias waged a battle at “The Inferno” in Cheney on Oct. 4. Adams completed 23 of 35 passes for 354 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 79 yards and two more scores, much of the numbers after he suffered breaks in two metatarsal bones in his right foot.

Arias completed 27-of-41 passes for 421 yards, six touchdowns and an interception in that game, won by Eastern 56-53.

The winners of the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS outstanding defensive player), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman of the year) and Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) also will be revealed that night.

———

Brandon earns Big Sky player honor

Eastern Washington University point guard Drew Brandon, the 6-foot-4 senior point guard from Corona, Calif., earned Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honors announced Nov. 25 after having a career game against the famed Indiana Hoosiers with 27 points.

Brandon helped engineer EWU’s 88-86 upset victory that ended the nation’s third-best non-conference home court winning streak end at 43 games. The victory was the first-ever win over a Big Ten team in 14 tries for Eastern, and the first time a Big Sky team had knocked off a Big Ten team since 2006.

It is also believed to be the first time a Big Sky team has won a true road game against a Big Ten team. Indiana entered the game undefeated, receiving votes in both major polls,

———

Redmon nets Co-Big Sky player honor

 After recording the first triple-double by a male or female in Eastern Washington University history, sophomore guard Jade Redmon was named co-Big Sky Player of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday, Nov. 25.

It is the first such honor in Redmon’s career.

The Spokane native finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high 11 assists in EWU’s dominating 86-58 win over reigning Missouri Valley Conference champion Wichita State Nov. 18. Her’s was just the eighth triple-double in Big Sky history.

———