Stanton Wins MWC Award

The Mountain West Conference announced on Monday, that University of Wyoming senior linebacker Jordan Stanton had been named the MW Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Wyoming’s home win over Air Force last Saturday.

Stanton, a native of Palmdale, Calif., was credited with 13 tackles, including nine solo tackles, 1.0 sack, 1.0 tackle for a loss and made the key defensive play in the game to help lead Wyoming to a 17-13, come-from-behind win over Air Force in Laramie.

Early in the fourth quarter, with Air Force leading in the game 10-7, the Falcons decided to go for a 4th and 1 from their own 42-yard line.  Just when it looked like Falcon fullback Broam Hart would pick up the first down, Stanton came up the middle to make a crushing hit, knocked the ball loose and Wyoming defensive tackle Patrick Mertens recovered the fumble.  Six plays later, Cowboy senior place-kicker Stuart Williams hit a 33-yard field goal to tie the game.

Stanton’s one sack of the day came in the second quarter on an Air Force drive that had advanced to the Wyoming 46-yard line.  On 3rd and 5 from the Wyoming 46, Stanton sacked quarterback Kale Pearson for four yards ending the Falcons’ promising drive and forcing them to punt.

This is the first MW Player of the Week honor that Stanton has received in his two seasons playing for the Cowboys.  He transferred to Wyoming in 2013 from Los Angeles Pierce Community College.

Stanton became the second Cowboy in as many weeks to earn the Defensive Player of the Week honor from the Mountain West Conference.  Fellow senior linebacker Mark Nzeocha earned the award last week for his play versus Montana.