By Staff Reports
Arizona Daily Wildcat
September 23, 1997

Salavéa earns player of the week honors after OSU game

Robert Henry Becker Arizona Daily Wildcat UA defensive tackle Joe Salavéa (56) attempts to rip the ball from Ohio State wide receiver David Boston in Saturday's game. Salavéa recorded a career-high 11 tackles and had three sacks as the Arizona defense forced four turnovers.

From staff reports

Arizona defensive tackle Joe Salavéa and California wide receiver Bobby Shaw were named Pacific 10 Conference players of the week for their perfomances over the weekend.

Salavéa had a career-high 11 tackles, three of them quarterback sacks, in Arizona's 28-20 loss at Ohio State. He also blocked a field goal that led to a Wildcat touchdown.

The senior from Leone, American Samoa - who passed up pro football when he was granted his fourth year of eligibility as a partial qualifier who graduated in four years - anchors an Arizona defense that ranks fifth nationally. Salavéa and the rest of UA defense limited Ohio State to 70 yards rushing, their lowest total in four years, and forced four turnovers.

"Their No. 56 (Salavéa) is one of the best defensive lineman we have faced in a long time," Ohio State head coach John Cooper said.

Salave'a leads the Pac-10 in sacks (6) and tackles for a loss (8).

"He did a terrific job," UA head coach Dick Tomey said. "He's is such a positive force, a great leader on our defense. He never stops attacting."

It was the second award in three weeks for Shaw, who caught two touchdown passes, including the game-winner, in California's 40-36 victory over Oklahoma on Saturday. Shaw caught 11 passes for 158 yards and leads the nation in receptions and receiving yards per game.

Oregon State's DeShawn Williams, who returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown against Stanford, was named the conference's top special teams player. It was the second-longest kickoff return in Oregon State history.

Also nominated for offensive player of the week was Arizona wide receiver Brad Brennan. Brennan, a former walk-on from Redwood City, Calif., led all Wildcat receivers against OSU with six catches for 106 yards and one touchdown.