Dean Named NWC Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Senior quarterback Josh Dean (Dana Point, CA/Dana Hills HS) of Willamette University has been selected as the Northwest Conference Football Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week after leading the Bearcats in a 64-34 win against Hardin-Simmons University on Friday, Sept. 6 at McCulloch Stadium. Willamette amassed 506 yards against the Cowboys.

Dean completed 24 of 32 passes during the game (75.0%) for 342 yards and three touchdowns.

He tossed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Harman (Sr., WR, Philomath, OR/Philomath HS) in the first quarter, threw a 66-yard scoring strike to De'zhon Grace (Fr., WR, Castro Valley, CA/Bishop O'Dowd HS) in the fourth quarter and connected with Derek Traeger (Jr., WR, Mount Angel, OR/John F. Kennedy HS) on a 9-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

Dean also carried the ball nine times for 52 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown run that gave Willamette a 16-0 lead just three minutes into the game. In addition, he supplied the Bearcats with a quick-kick punt that covered 57 yards and was downed at the Hardin-Simmons 2-yard line in the third quarter.

Since becoming a starter in the season-opener a year ago, Dean has played in 11 games, while passing for 3,687 yards and 37 touchdowns. He has thrown for over 300 yards in 10 of the 11 games.

Against Hardin-Simmons, Dean helped the WU offense gain 26 first towns, including 14 on pass completions. The Bearcats averaged 6.3 yards per play overall.

Willamette will host Sewanee: University of the South on Saturday, Sept. 14 at McCulloch Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. (PDT).