The right leg of junior kicker Diego Nunez-Smith provided nine points and the game-winning field goal for the Minot State University (MSU) football team this past weekend, a performance honored by the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) on Monday, September 16.

Nunez-Smith, who kicked three field goals in the Beavers’ 17-14 comeback win over Northern State University (NSU) for Homecoming on Saturday, September 14, was named the NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week.

The honor is the first for Nunez-Smith and the second for the Beavers. Defensive back Nalu Cordeiro was named Defensive Player of the Week last week.

Nunez-Smith got the Beavers on the board in the final seconds of the first quarter with a 23-yard field goal, his second of the season, which opened the game’s scoring.

He matched the longest kick of his career with a 38-yard field goal in the third quarter.

Then with the game tied 14-14 and 1:46 left on the clock, Nunez-Smith booted a 25-yarder which proved to be the game-winner.

Nunez-Smith is now 4-for-4 on the season in field-goal attempts.

Nunez-Smith and the rest of the undefeated Minot State football team hit the road this weekend for a first-place battle at No. 4-ranked Minnesota State University, Mankato on Saturday.