Dean Named NWC Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week

By Timothy Walsh, Athletics Communications Writer

SALEM, ORE. -- For the third time this year, Willamette University senior quarterback Josh Dean (Dana Point, CA/Dana Hills HS) has been selected as the Northwest Conference Football Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week. His latest honor comes after directing the Bearcats to a 62-20 road victory over the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Nov. 16.

Willamette rolled up 690 yards of offense against the Loggers, withDean contributing 437 total yards and four touchdowns against zero turnovers. Hecompleted 25 of 41 passes (61.0%) for 345 yards and a three touchdowns, while also carrying the ball 18 times for 92 yards and one touchdown.

After the Bearcats received the opening kickoff, Dean rushed twice for a total of five yards, then tossed a 25-yard completion to Tyson Giza (Sr., CB, Salem, OR/Sprague HS), who played on offense, defense, and special teams during the game. On the very next play, Dean again connected with Giza, this time for a 45 yard touchdown.

Dean's next score came on the ground, capping an impressive 10-play, 99 yard drive on WU's second possession. He was 5 for 5 passing for 55 yards on the drive, including a 37-yard toss to Derek Traeger (Jr., WR, Mount Angel, OR/John F. Kennedy HS) that brought the ball to the UPS 16. Two plays later, Dean scampered in from 13 yards out for a 14-0 Bearcat lead.

In the third quarter, Dean found Traeger in the end zone with a 14-yard pass that helped snuff out a brief Logger rally, and the two connected again with 9:56 left in the game on a 16-yard throw.

Dean concluded the year with 192 completions on 303 attempts (63.4%) for 2,489 yards and 28 touchdowns. In his career, which included just two seasons as Willamette's starting quarterback, Dean completed 468 passes on 729 attempts for 5,877 yards and 62 touchdowns.

In the Bearcats' two years starting Dean at quarterback, Willamette attained an overall record of 15-4 (.789), including 8-4 (.667) against NWC competition.

Willamette finished this season at 7-2 overall, including 4-2 (3rd place) in the NWC. Willamette outscored its nine opponents 370 to 266, averaging 41.1 points per game. WU gained 4,247 total yards on the year, averaging 471.9 yards per game.