Sept. 17, 2012

Patriot League Weekly Awards | CFPA Weekly Awards

Bronx, N.Y. -

Fordham senior running back Carlton Koonce (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week it was announced today. It is the first weekly honor for Koonce, who joins senior kicker Patrick Murray who was named Special Team Player of the Week the first two weeks of the season, in receiving weekly accolades from the conference.

In a 34-27 win over Cornell University on Saturday afternoon, Koonce rushed 31 times for a career-best 176 yards and two touchdowns. He saved his best for the end, gaining 85 of the yards in the final quarter, including 50 on the Rams' final drive of the day as Koonce scored on a ten-yard run with just under a minute left to seal the win for the Rams.

Koonce, who also caught four passes for 13 yards in the game, registered his second 100-yard game of the year in the Cornell game as he opened the 2012 season with a then career-high 146 yards in a 55-0 win over Lock Haven.

On the year Koonce has gained 358 yards on 59 carries, averaging 6.1 yards/carry and 119.3 yards/game, second best in the Patriot League and eleventh best in the NCAA FCS.

Koonce was also named Honorable Mention All-Purpose Performer of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) as was sophomore wide receiver Brian Wetzel.

Wetzel led all Fordham receivers with eight catches for a career-high 153 yards and one touchdown against Cornell. He surpassed his previous career-best of 118 receiving yards in the Georgetown game last fall.

On the year, Wetzel has ten receptions for 153 yards and one score.

The Rams will return to action on Saturday, September 22nd, as they venture into Manhattan to face the Columbia University Lions in the annual Liberty Cup game at the Baker Athletic Complex at 12:30 p.m.