Eastern Washington University safety Matt Johnson intercepted four passes on this weekend versus Portland State, tying the Big Sky Conference record shared by two other players.
As a result, he was selected as the Sports Network National Defensive Player of the Week and won the same honor for the league after leading Eastern to a 47-10 victory.
Three other Eagles have been honored nationally this season -- quarterback Matt Nichols, linebacker J.C. Sherritt and running back Taiwan Jones.
The four picks were the most interceptions in a game by a Big Sky player in 20 years and the most by an Eagle in 23 years. But Johnson's performance wasn't a school record as he came one pick short of five set in 1986 by Mark Cordes against Boise State -- a year before Eastern became a league member.
Johnson now has six interceptions this season to rank seventh in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision with an average of .67 per game. His total ranks sixth on EWU's single season leaders list, and coupled with four interceptions as a freshman, he already ranks eighth on the career list. Eastern's career record is 18 set by Mike Richter (1971-75).
He is wearing the No. 10 jersey in honor of his twin brother Zach Johnson, who is out for the season because of a blood clot that developed before the start of preseason practices in August.
