EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon kicker Atticus Sappington was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday, while outside linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei was announced as the Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
It is the second weekly conference honor of the season for Sappington, and first for Uiagalelei. Both players played key roles in Oregon’s 16-13 win at Wisconsin, which improved the No. 1 Ducks to 11-0 for the second time in program history.
Sappington scored 10 of Oregon’s 16 points in the win, matching his career high with three field goals. The Portland native made all three of his attempts, including a 42-yarder in the first quarter that tied his season long and a 24-yarder in the fourth quarter that proved to be the game winner.
On the season, Sappington has tied his career high with 13 field goals on 15 attempts. He has also kicked off 61 times with 47 touchbacks, including four touchbacks on five kickoffs at Wisconsin.
Uiagalalei was dominant in Oregon’s victory, finishing with five total tackles, a sack and a game-sealing interception in the fourth quarter. He picked off his first career pass with less than two minutes remaining after a deflection by defensive lineman Jamaree Caldwell, allowing the Ducks to run out the rest of the clock.
Uiagalelei ranks second in the Big Ten and 12th nationally with a team- and career-high 8.5 sacks, and he is fifth in the conference with a career-high 10.5 tackles for loss. The sophomore is the only player in the league’s top 15 for sacks to also have an interception.
The No. 1 Ducks (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) will have a bye this week before closing the regular season at home against Washington on Saturday, Nov. 30.
