Sept. 24, 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 second consecutive Patriot League 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 20-13 Liberty Cup win at Columbia University on Saturday afternoon, Koonce rushed 35 times for a career-best 250 yards and one touchdown and he also caught an 18-yard scoring strike from Ryan Higgins to account for both of Fordham's touchdowns. The 250-yard game is the third longest in Fordham history, second best in the NCAA FCS level, and the 15th-best rushing performance in League annals.
Koonce got the game off to a fast start, scoring on a 92-run run in the first quarter, setting a Patriot League mark for longest scoring run and marking the longest run for a any league player since 1998.
The game was Koonce's first career 200-yard rushing game and his third 100-yard game of the year. His previous career best was a 176-yard game against Cornell on September 15th. Koonce opened the season with a then career-high 146 yards in a 55-0 win over Lock Haven.
On the year Koonce has gained 608 yards on 94 carries, averaging 6.5 yards/carry and 152.0 yards/game, tops in the Patriot League and fifth best in the NCAA FCS. He also leads the league and is ninth in the NCAA FCS in all-purpose yards, averaging 170.75/game.
Koonce was also named Honorable Mention Running Back Performer of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) as was senior placekicker
Patrick Murray (Honorable Mention Placekicker Performer of the Week) and senior linebacker
Michael Martin Honorable Mention Linebacker Performer of the Week).
In the Columbia game, Murray connected on two field goals, including a 51-yarder - his third 50-yard field goal of the year, punted seven times for a 43.6 average, with three being down inside the 20, and sent all four of his kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.
On the year, Murray is six-for-seven in field goal attempts and is averaging 44.18 yards/punt. He leads the Patriot League and is tied for third national with his average of 2.0 field goals/game and leads the league and is seventh in the NCAA FCS in punting average.
Martin recorded seven tackles at Columbia, including six solo and one sack. He also forced two fumbles, recovering one, and notched a quarterback hurry.
On the year, Martin leads the Rams with 37 tackles, 25 solo, including 6.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks, both team-highs. He also has three quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and one pass deflection.
The Rams will return to action on Saturday, September 29, as they open their Patriot League schedule by traveling to Bethlehem, Penn., to face the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks in Goodman Stadium at 12:30 p.m.
