Oct. 5, 2009

Bronx, N.Y. - Two member of the Fordham University football squad were honored by the Patriot League today with senior quarterback John Skelton (El Paso, Tex./Burges) being named Offensive Player of the Week and freshman kicker Kevin Heinowitz (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) earning Special Teams Player of the Week honors. It is the first weekly honor this year for each player and the third career award for Skelton, who was named Offensive Player of the Week twice in 2007.

In a 34-29 Homecoming win over Old Dominion on Jack Coffey Field last Saturday, Skelton completed 28 of 42 passes for 402 yards and two touchdowns, helping Fordham compile a school-record 687 yards of total offense. The 402 passing yards ties Skelton with Gary Brennan for the second best single game in Fordham history (the school record is a 413-yard game by Joe Moorhead in 1995). Skelton led the Rams on a game-winning drive as Fordham took over on its own 19 with three minutes remaining, trailing 29-27. He completed all three pass attempts on the drive, beginning with a completion to Jason Caldwell for an 11-yard gain and then another to Brad Pierre over the middle for a big 47-yard pick-up.

Skelton, whose previous career high was 383 yards against Columbia earlier this year, has completed 95 of 160 passes for 1,337 yards and eight touchdowns on the year. He leads the Patriot League and is ranked third in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in passing yards/game (334.2). He leads the NCAA FCS in total offense (363.25 yards/game) and is ranked fourth in total passing yards (1,337) and seventh in completions/game (23.75).

Skelton's career stats are now 613 completions for 7,557 yards and 51 touchdowns, all school records and among the top ten all-time in the Patriot League.

Heinowitz connected on three of his four field goal attempts on the rainy day, converting kicks from 19, 23 and 35 yards. He hit two kicks in the first half as Fordham built an 18-7 lead at the break, and another in the fourth quarter to put the Rams up, 28-22. The three field goals were the first three of his collegiate career.

The Rams (1-3) will host Bryant University this Saturday, October 10th, on Jack Coffey Field at 6:00 p.m.