Fresno State Athletics
Mathews, Malone Honored by WAC
10/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 19, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - For the second time this season, Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews, the nation's leading rusher, was selected the WAC Offensive Player of the Week.
Bulldog punter Robert Malone earned special teams honors by the WAC, the second time in his career that he's been selected.
Mathews, a junior from Bakersfield, Calif., rushed for 233 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries in Fresno State's 41-21 win over San Jose State on Saturday. Mathews averaged 11.7 yards per carry and scored on a 59-yard run during the second quarter. It was the eighth best single-game performance by anyone in the nation this year and one yard shy of tying his career-best set earlier this year against Boise State.
He leads the NCAA in rushing yards, and is just 26 yard shy of 1,000 for the year. His performance was the fourth-best in Bulldog history.
"I've said before, Ryan Mathews is a special, special player," said head coach Pat Hill. "I've never been around a guy with that kind of talent and I've been doing this 37 years. He has the perfect combination of power and speed. He's got such a strong lower body and great balance. He's very strong. His stiff arm is such a weapon. He doesn't just push guys away, he pushes them to the ground."
Malone, a senior from Riverside, Calif. (Martin Luther King HS), punted four times for a 54.0-yard average in the game against San Jose State. That performance ties for the sixth best by any punter in the nation this year. He had a 69-yard punt, the longest by any WAC player this season, and none of his punts were returned. Fresno State improved to eighth in the nation in net punting. He was also honored in 2008 after a strong performance against Wisconsin.
Aaron Lavarias, a junior from Idaho was named the Defensive Player of the Week after the Vandals' win over Hawaii.
Others nominated on offense: sophomore running back Doug Martin, Boise State; senior running back DeMaundray Woolridge, Idaho; senior tight end Dennis Morris, Louisiana Tech; junior running back Vai Taua, Nevada; and junior quarterback Diondre Borel, Utah State.
Also nominated on defense: junior defensive end Ryan Winterswyk, Boise State; senior safety Moses Harris, Fresno State; junior defensive end Kevin Basped, Nevada; and senior safety James Brindley, Utah State.
Other special teams nominations included: junior kicker Kyle Brotzman, Boise State; freshman safety Gary Walker, Idaho; freshman kicker Matt Nelson, Louisiana Tech; and junior punter Brad Langley, Nevada.
"We Are Your Team" - Your Fresno State Bulldogs will be heading south to take on the New Mexico State Aggies on Saturday, October 24 at 7:15 p.m. This intense match up can be seen on ESPNU. They will return home on October 31 to take on Utah State Aggies at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for as low as $16 at the Bulldog Ticket Office, by calling 278-DOGS or online at GoBulldogs.com.
