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Oct. 29, 2012

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham University senior quarterback Ryan Higgins (Merrick, N.Y./Chaminade) and senior kicker Patrick Murray (Mahwah, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) were named Patriot League Offensive and Special Teams Player of the Week, respectively, it was announced today. It is the fifth weekly award of the season for Murray, his third straight, while Higgins picks up his first. Additionally, both players were also honored by the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) with Higgins being named honorable mention quarterback performer of the week and Murray being named honorable mention placekicker and punt performer of the week.

In a 36-32 win over Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., on Saturday, Higgins completed 38-of-56 passes for 407 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a score. He set career highs for completions and attempts and was six yards shy of his career best for passing yards in a game (his previous career highs for completions and attempts was 35 and 53, respectively, at Georgetown last year). Higgins' rushing touchdown put Fordham up 29-24 in the fourth quarter, and he completed 10-of-12 passes for 61 yards in Fordham's game-winning drive that ended with Carlton Koonce's one-yard touchdown with 11 seconds left.

Over the past four games, Higgins has completed 126-of-177 passes (71.2%) for 1,347 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. On the year, Higgins has completed 189 of 274 passes for 2,137 yards and ten touchdowns. He is ranked second in the Patriot League in passing yards/game (267.1) and passing efficiency (142.9) and third in total offense (251.1 yards/game). In the NCAA FCS rankings, he is 18th in passing yard/game, 25th in passing efficiency and 30th in total offense.

Patrick Murray

Murray had another strong day in all facets of kicking for the Rams, making all three field goals he attempted on Saturday, converting three-pointers from 36, 45 and 23 yards, his third straight game with three field goals. Murray also punted six times for 280 yards, an average of 46.7 yards/punt, with two punts being downed inside the Holy Cross 20. He also sent six of his seven kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.

Murray leads the nation with 18 field goals for the season (2.25/game), is second in the nation in punting average (46.4 yards/punt) and is tenth in scoring (9.50 points/game). His 18 field goals ties Matt Fordyce's single season school record set in 2002 while his punting average would also be a Fordham single season record.

Carlton Koonce (21)

In addition to Higgins and Murray, senior running back Carlton Koonce (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) was also recognized by the league, being named to the weekly honor roll. Against Holy Cross, Koonce carried 34 times for 175 yards and two touchdowns and caught seven passes for 64 yards. It was the fifth 100-yard game of the year for Koonce.

On the year, Koonce has gained 1,060 yards on 208 carries with seven touchdowns and has caught 34 passes for 197 yards and two scores. He became the seventh Ram to surpass the 1,000-yard plateau, the fourth on the NCAA FCS level, and his season total is already the seventh best single season in school history. Koonce is ranked second in the Patriot League and eighth in the NCAA FCS in rushing yards/game (132.3) and he leads the league and is eleventh in the nation in all-purpose yards/game (157.0).

The Rams return to action on Saturday, November 3rd, as they travel to Williamsport, Pa., to face the Bucknell University Bison in a matchup of Patriot League schools in Christy Mathewson Stadium at 1:00 p.m.