Meyer on Payton short list

Two days after his career ended with a disappointing playoff loss, Eastern Washington quarterback Erik Meyer was voted one of finalists for the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in I-AA football.

“It would be a great honor to be recognized as the best player in Division I-AA; to be recognized with past award winners,” Meyer, from LaMirada, Calif., said. “It will also mean a great deal to me because I see that award as a team thing as well. I wouldn’t be in this position without great players around me.”

The two-time Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year will join New Hampshire sophomore quarterback Ricky Santos and Brown senior running back Nick Hartigan at the awards ceremony in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The winner will be announced Dec. 15, the night before the I-AA championship game.

Meyer finished fourth in the voting last year behind three seniors.

The voting was done before the playoffs. Meyer threw for 3,616 yards and 26 touchdowns in the regular season. Santos passed for 3,200 yards and 33 touchdowns for the top-ranked Wildcats. Hartigan led all I-AA players with 1,727 rushing and 20 touchdowns.

The vote total for the top three were not revealed. There were 113 ballots cast.

Portland State running back Joe Rubin finished eighth, Montana State quarterback Travis Lulay was ninth and Montana running back Lex Hilliard 16th. EWU wide receiver Eric Kimble received a write-in vote.