Oct. 15, 2012
Bronx, N.Y. -
Patriot League Weekly Awards | CFPA Weekly Awards | Murray's 55-Yard Field Goal (ESPN3)
For the fourth time this season, and the second straight week, Fordham senior Patrick Murray (Mahwah, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) was named College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) National Placekicker Player of the Week and Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week it was announced today.
In a 49-17 loss at #21 Cincinnati on Saturday, Murray set a school record, connecting on a 55-yard field goal, one of three field goals he hit on the night. He broke his former school record of 52 yards set in the season opener this year against Lock Haven. The 55-yarder came just before the half and pulled the Rams to within eight, 14-6, at the break.
Murray also connected on field goals of 46 and 38 yards, booting three field goals in a game for the second straight week.
Murray's exploits weren't limited to field goals as he also punted four times for 189 yards, an average of 47.2 yards/punt. Two of his punts were downed inside the Cincinnati 20, including one that was downed on the two. He also sent three of his five kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.
On the year, Murray is 15-of-18 in field goal attempts, with four field goals of 50 yards or longer. He is also averaging 46.3 yards/punt, with 13 punts of 50 yards or longer, and has 28 touch backs on 43 kickoffs. He leads the NCAA FCS in field goals/game (2.14), is ranked third in punting average, and is 18th in scoring average. He leads the Patriot League in all three categories.
Murray's 15 field goals this year is the second most in a season for a Fordham kicker and just three behind Matt Fordyce's school record of 18, set in 2002.
>Murray wasn't alone in earning weekly honors as sophomore wide receiver
Brian Wetzel (Dallas, Tex./Jesuit College Prep) was named Honorable Mention All-Purpose Performer of the Week by the CFPA.
In the Cincinnati game, Wetzel caught a game-high nine passes for 121 yards and one touchdown and he returned two kickoffs for 55 yards.
On the year, Wetzel leads the Rams with 41 receptions for 556 yards (13.8 yards/catch) with two touchdowns. He leads the Patriot League in kickoff return average (24.8), is second in the league in both receptions per game (5.9) and receiving yards per game (80.9) and is third in all-purpose yards per game (133.3). On the national level, Wetzel is 26th in receiving yard/game, 27th in kickoff return average and tied for 29th in receptions/game.
After a week off, the Rams will return to action on Saturday, October 27th, as they travel to Worcester, Mass., to face the College of the Holy Cross Crusaders in the annual Ram-Crusader Cup game at 1:00 p.m.
