Football | 11/6/2023 9:00:00 AM
CHENEY, Wash. — Eastern Washington defensive end
Da'Marcus Johnson was named Big Sky Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, as announced by the conference office.
Johnson made the first of several game-changing defensive plays for the Eagles on Saturday versus the Cal Poly Mustangs, sacking quarterback Sam Huard and stripping the ball to secure the first of three Eastern takeaways in their 48-13 win. The Fresno State transfer added another forced fumble late in the game, tacking on 5 tackles and a quarterback hurry.
Eastern's defense turned in their most complete performance of the season, holding Cal Poly to just one offensive score and 288 total yards in wet conditions at Roos Field in Cheney, building a massive 45-11 halftime lead before cruising down the stretch.
Johnson is the first Eagle to secure Big Sky Player of the Week honors this season and the 149th in program history. He is the first EWU defender to earn the distinction since Nzuzi Webster on Nov. 12, 2018. Eastern took home Player of the Week once last season (QB Gunner Talkington) and seven times during the 2021 season (QB Eric Barriere, 6x Offensive; K Jackson Cleaver, 1x Special Teams).
A fifth-year senior out of Sacramento, Calif., Johnson has made an instant impact in his first year in Cheney, ranking first on the team with 3.5 sacks, tied for second in tackles for loss (6), fifth in total tackles (36) and first in forced fumbles (2).
Idaho defensive back Marcus Harris was also recognized as Co-Defensive Player of the Week this week. Montana QB Clifton McDowell won the Offensive award while Portland State kicker Gianni Smith picked up Special Teams accolades.
Eastern's next home game is Nov. 18 vs. Northern Arizona. It will be Senior Day at Roos Field in Cheney. Tickets for that game and all EWU Athletics events are available at goeags.com/tickets or via the EWU Athletics Ticket Office at 509-359-6059.
ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.
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