Eastern’s Bergstrom first-team All-Big Sky

Senior kicker Brett Bergstrom was the lone first-team selection from Eastern Washington as the Big Sky Conference announced its all-conference football team.

Overall, 13 Eagles were recognized Monday after a 3-8 season, 3-5 in league play.

Bergstrom, in his only season of kicking, is just the second Eagles kicker to be first team. The first was Alex Lacson in 1991.

“It was well-deserved,” coach Paul Wulff said in a school release. “He clearly had an all-conference season, maybe even an All-America-type of year. His accuracy was very good and he showed the ability to kick a long distance. He had a great year for us.”

Junior offensive guard Matt Alfred and junior offensive tackle Rocky Hanni were second team All-Big Sky selections, the third straight year both were recognized on the first or second team. Sophomore fullback Alexis Alexander was also voted to the second team.

Five seniors and four underclassmen earned honorable mention: Tight end Tim Calhoun, running back Ryan Cole, inside linebacker David Eneberg, outside linebacker (rover) Brandon Keeler, defensive tackle Keith Grennan, freshman wide receiver Tony Davis, junior offensive tackle Zach Wasielewski, sophomore defensive end Greg Peach and freshman special teams standout Nicholas Ramos.

Bergstrom made 15 of 18 field goals, tying the school record for makes in a season and the school record for accuracy among those making at least 12 field goals. The average of 1.56 field goals per game ranked sixth in I-AA. He was also good on 21 of 22 extra points.

The graduate of Mount Si High School in North Bend, Wash., who came to EWU from Shasta Junior College in California, had three of the longest field goals in school history. He connected from 56, 53 and 52 yards. The school record is 57. He is also one of only three kickers with three field goals beyond 50 yards and only the second to have three in one season.

Northern Arizona quarterback Jason Murrietta is the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year, Portland State linebacker Adam Hayward the Defensive Player of the Year and NAU running back Alex Henderson the Newcomer of the Year.

Idaho State fires coaching staff

Idaho State fired head football coach Larry Lewis and his entire coaching staff Monday, two days after the Bengals completed a 2-9 season.

“Decisions like this are never easy, and this was certainly true in this case,” said school athletic director Paul A. Bubb, who announced the firings with university president Arthur Vailas. “While I respect a number of things Coach Lewis and this staff have accomplished, the recent records have not met expectations.”

Lewis, a former Washington State assistant, had a 40-49 record in eight seasons, including a shared Big Sky championship in 2002 with Montana and Montana State.

This season’s 2-9 record is the Bengals’ worst since 1988 when the team went 0-11. The Bengals have had three consecutive losing seasons.