Fresno State Athletics
Asparuhov Named WAC Player of the Week
10/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 15, 2001
DENVER - Nevada running back Chance Kretschmer and SMU running back ShanDerrick Charles were named the WAC's co-offensive players of the week, while Rice linebacker Joe Bob Thompson and Fresno State placekicker Asen Asparuhov were named the defensive and special teams players of the week, respectively.
Kretschmer, a freshman from Tonopah, Nevada (Tonopah HS), rushed for 242 yards and a touchdown in Nevada's loss against Louisiana Tech. Kretschmer set the school's freshman record for most rushing yards in a game and has now rushed for more than 100 yards in four straight games. He leads the WAC in rushing and is second in the nation with 155.0 yards per game.
Charles, a freshman from Port Arthur, Texas (Lincoln HS), gained 243 yards on the ground and scored a touchdown to help lead SMU to a 24-17 win at San Jose State, the first victory for the Mustangs this year. His total was one yard shy of the school single-game record and was a WAC-high this season. Charles entered the contest with just one rush for no yards on the season and did not get his first carry until the second quarter.
Thompson, a senior from Daingerfield, Texas (Daingerfield HS), tallied 17 tackles (10 solo) and had one sack in Rice's 21-13 win at Navy. The 17 tackles are a WAC-high this season, and Thompson now leads Rice with 54 tackles on the year.
Asparuhov, a junior from Plovdiv, Bulgaria (Grossmont College), converted all four of his field goal attempts, including two clutch kicks in Fresno State's 25-22 overtime win at Colorado State. In the third quarter, he made two field goals (24 and 33 yards) and then kicked a career-long 48-yarder as time expired in the fourth quarter. In overtime, he kicked the game-winner from 41 yards out. On the season, he is 15-of-18 in field goals and has made all 19 of his extra point attempts.
Other offensive nominees included sophomore quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie, Boise State, senior quarterback David Carr, Fresno State, freshman running back Mike Bass, Hawai'i, sophomore quarterback Luke McCown, Louisiana Tech, and sophomore quarterback Kyle Herm, Rice.
On the defensive side, nominees included junior free safety Quintin Mikell, Boise State, senior defensive tackle Alan Harper, Fresno State, junior linebacker Matt Wright, Hawai'i, freshman defensive lineman Chris Van Hoy, Louisiana Tech, and sophomore cornerback Jonas Rutledge, SMU.
Special team nominations included junior place kicker Nick Calaycay, Boise State, freshman place kicker Justin Ayat, Hawai'i, sophomore place kicker Josh Scobee, Louisiana Tech, freshman punt returner Marlon McLaughlin, Nevada, and freshman kick returner Jermaine Landrum, Tulsa.
