Oct. 31, 2005

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University outside linebacker Shane Simmons received Great Northwest Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors for Oct. 23-29.

Simmons (Kent/Kentlake High School graduate), a sophomore transfer from the University of Idaho, was credited with nine tackles, including four solos, in Western's 31-28 loss to arch-rival Central Washington last Saturday. He had a 10-yard quarterback sack and shared another tackle for a two-yard loss.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Simmons had a turnover hat trick, with an interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery to go along with a pass breakup. Those takeaways set up two of Western's four first-half touchdowns.

Simmons is the Vikings' second-leading tackler this season with 59 stops, 6.5 of them for loss.

Western (4-5 overall, 3-2 league) concludes its season against Western Oregon on Saturday (1 p.m.) at Civic Stadium.