Hunter, Way get Big 12 honors



Oklahoma State’s Kendall Hunter was picked as the Big 12 football Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday, sharing the honor with Kansas State’s Daniel Thomas.

Hunter’s 257 yards on 21 attempts is the best in the country through the first weekend of play. Hunter became the first Cowboy since Barry Sanders in 1988 to run for 200 yards in a half. His four rushing touchdowns is second only to Sanders for a single-game at OSU.

Also, Oklahoma punter Tress Way has been named Co-Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week, sharing that honor with Kansas State kicker Anthony Cantele.  The sophomore had eight punts for an average of 46.6 yards with three downed inside the 20. He boomed an 85-yarder, which was the longest in Big 12 history and the third-best in OU history. It was the longest punt for the Sooners since 1970.

The Tulsa product also kicked off six times. Utah State’s average return was 21.8 yards and their average starting field position was their own 25-yard line.





Boise up, OU down in polls



Boise State gained seven first-place votes and closed in on No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Ohio State as the top three teams in the first regular season Associated Press football poll released on Tuesday held their spots from the preseason.

The Broncos remained third after a thrilling 33-30 victory against Virginia Tech on Monday night, receiving eight first-place votes and 1,399 points from the media panel, 13 points behind the Buckeyes. Ohio State received four first-place votes and 1,412 points. Alabama had 47 first-place votes, down seven from the preseason poll, and 1,484 points.

TCU from the Mountain West Conference moved up two spots to No. 4, marking the first time since the Bowl Championship Series was implemented in 1998 that two teams from conferences without automatic BCS bids have been in the top five. Boise State is the defending Western Athletic Conference champion. Texas remained No. 5 and received one first-place vote. No. 10 Oklahoma fell three places after narrowly defeating Utah State 31-24. The Sooners are also 10th, down two spots in the coaches poll.

Also in the coaches poll, Boise leapfrogged Texas, which stayed put at No. 4. Alabama and Ohio State remained 1-2.