Patriot League Release | CFPA Release | College Sports Madness Release
 
Bronx, N.Y. (November 4, 2013) - Fordham University junior quarterback Mike Nebrich and junior linebacker Stephen Hodge were honored by the Patriot League today being named Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively, for their performances in the Rams' win over Holy Cross on Saturday. Additionally, Nebrich was named College Sports Madness Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week and College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) honorable mention quarterback performer of the week while Hodge was named honorable mention linebacker performer of the week and junior wide receiver Sam Ajala was named honorable mention wide receiver performer of the week by the CFPA.
 
Each student-athlete tied a Patriot League single-season record, with Nebrich receiving his fifth Offensive Player of the Week award and Hodge earning his third Defensive Player of the Week honor.
 
In a 32-30 win over Holy Cross on Jack Coffey Field  on Saturday, Nebrich set a school record, throwing for 524 yards. He completed 39 of 49 passes for the 524 yards with one touchdown and he also rushed for two scores. Nebrich shattered John Skelton's school record of 427 passing yards in a game, throwing for 524 yards and one touchdown, while also running for two more scores, and he also set a new school mark for total offense in a game, accumulating 556 yards, surpassing Skelton's record of 473. Both of Skelton's records were set against Holy Cross in 2009.
 
With his 524-yard passing day, the third best performance this fall in the NCAA FCS, Nebrich brings his season total to 3,111, the second best single season in Fordham history, 597 yards behind Skelton's school record of 3,708 set in 2009. He is the third Fordham quarterback to surpass the 3,000-yard mark in a season.
 
Nebrich's offensive outburst helped the Rams set new school records for passing yards and total offense in a game. The previous marks were 436 passing yards set against Marist in 1995 and 687 total yards set in 2009 by Old Dominion. The 700 yards of total offense is the ninth best single game so far this year in the NCAA FCS.
 
Nebrich, who leads the NCAA FCS in completion percentage (.749) and total offense per game (394.0)  and is fourth in completions per game (27.56) and passing efficiency (173.4) , has completed 248 of 331 passes for 3,111 yards and 22 touchdowns this fall while also gaining 435 yards on 121 carries with eight scores.
 
For the third consecutive week Hodge recorded double figures in tackles, making a career-high 15 stops against Holy Cross, 14 solo, including four for loss (16 yards). He also had a forced fumble, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.
 
On the year, Hodge, who is averaging 14.3 tackles. Game over the past three games, leads the Rams with 90 total tackles, 70 solo, including four sacks and a team-high 14 for loss. He also has four pass breakups, four forced fumbles, three quarterback hurries and has one fumble recovery. Hodge leads the NCAA FCS in solo tackles/game (7.8), he leads the Patriot League and is ninth in the NCAA in tackles for loss/game (1.6) and is third in the league and 20^th in the NCAA FCS in tackles/game (9.9).
 
Ajala caught 12 passes for 189 yards in the Holy Cross game, bringing his season totals to 64 receptions for 1,140 yards, becoming just the fourth Fordham player to record more than 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
 
The Rams, ranked sixth in the latest NCAA FCS Coaches poll and seventh in the Sports Network poll, return to action on Saturday, November 9, as they host the Bucknell University Bison on Jack Coffey Field at 1:00 p.m. in a battle of two Patriot League schools.