Utah State kicker Dominik Eberle named Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week for second time this year

Utah State’s Dominik Eberle hits the game-winning field goal against Fresno State during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Fresno, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. | Gary Kazanjian, AP

LOGAN — He’s done it again.

For the second time this season, Utah State senior placekicker Dominik Eberle is the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week.

The league office announced the news Monday morning, in recognition of Eberle’s performance in Utah State’s 37-35 victory over Fresno State.

Eberle made field goals from distances of 25, 38 and 30 yards, the last of which was the game-winning kick.

WALK. IT. OFF!

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— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 10, 2019

“He’s prepared for those moments,” Utah State coach Gary Andersen said. “He’s trained. That crew (Eberle, long snapper Brandon Pada and holder Aaron Dalton), they’re a trio now. … It was the snap. It was the hold. It was there. That thing was drilled. It was right in the middle of the good hands thing that sits in the back of the net. It was fun to see it hit that net. He’s (Eberle) been through a lot of football games. He knows how to keep himself in the moment. It can happen at any time. He had an opportunity to hit a game winner, and he absolutely drilled it.”

Eberle also went 4 for 4 on point after attempts, finishing the game with 13 points scored.

He is now 14 of 16 on the season and 57 of 73 in his career on field goals.

His game-winning kick against the Bulldogs tied him with Utah’s Louie Sakoda (2005-08) for the most field goals made all-time in conference history.

Eberle is also the conference record holder for most the PATs made consecutively with 152, and is the Utah State record holder for points scored in a career with 323.

The award win is the fourth of Eberle’s career and the 29th weekly honor brought home by an Aggie since USU joined the Mountain West Conference in 2012.

In addition to his praise of Eberle, Andersen addressed a number of additional topics in his weekly press conference.

— On a bigger role on defense for linebacker Eric Munoz:

“Eric is going to have that opportunity at inside linebacker. He had it last game. It’s his show. It’s well-deserved in that situation and that opportunity. He got in a little bit in the last game. He needs to take advantage of this opportunity. He’s waited for it, so he’ll have that opportunity this week.”

— On the status of senior defensive end Tipa Galeai, who missed the Fresno State game with an undisclosed injury:

“I don’t know yet. We’ll have to see how it all goes. Hopefully, we can get him back. We could use that athleticism and that presence on the defense for sure.”

— On the improved play of USUs wide receiving corps:

“There were some contested balls and we made some catches, which was great to see. The one with Jordan (Nathan), there were a lot hands up in the air right there. His hands found a way to get the ball down. Siaosi Mariner’s catch in the end zone. He’s in, again, by an inch and makes a tremendous play with great concentration. Then, there are a number of those catches that were out there that were nice plays.”

— On quarterback Jordan Love’s performance against Fresno State:

“Jordan (Love) did a nice job of getting the ball out. It was great to see Jordan have that success. For all he’s been through this year and the battles that he’s been through, he’s never once batted an eye. It would be easy for him to go to the woe-is-me card and look at the guys around him. There’s not even a sniff of that. To see him have a game like that, with his family and friends in the stands was fun to watch. I’m really excited for Jordan. That was a special 3½ hours for him.”

Aggies on the air

Utah State (5-4, 4-1) vs. Wyoming (6-3, 3-2)

Maverik Stadium, Logan

Saturday, 2 p.m. MST

TV: ESPNU

Radio: KZNS 1280 AM

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