Rhodes, Austin Earn Big South Conference Weekly Awards
October 24, 2011 | Football
CHARLOTTE - Running back Ricky Rhodes and kicker Trever Austin each earned Big South Conference weekly awards Monday following Gardner-Webb's 26-24 win at Coastal Carolina.
Rhodes was named Big South Offensive Player of the Week after carrying a career-high 33 times for 143 yards - helping the Runnin' Bulldogs pile up 223 yards as a team on the ground in a key victory. Rhodes added a five-yard touchdown pass out of the wildcat formation. His 43-yard run on the first play of the third quarter set up a go-ahead touchdown for the 'Dogs.
The Richmond, Ky., native recorded 202 all-purpose yards Saturday, catching three passes for 20 yards and excelling on kickoff returns. His return into CCU territory set up the game-winning field goal on Gardner-Webb's final possession.
The 5-foot-7, 175-pounder recorded six offensive plays of 10 yards or more. His 33 carries were nearly as many as he had in the season's first six games (36).
Austin (Shelby, N.C. / Crest HS) earned Big South Freshman of the Week honors for the third time in 2011, tying a Big South record with four field goals in four attempts, including the game winner from 31 yards away as time expired.
His 14 points set a new season-high for Austin, and his field goal barrage put him in the Big South Conference lead with nine so far in 2011. Austin also had field goal makes from 22, 22 and 32 yards in the game. His first triple tied the score, 3-3, and his second gave GWU a 6-3 lead in the second quarter. His third field goal pushed Gardner-Webb's lead to 23-17 with just over two minutes to play in the game.
Gardner-Webb (2-5, 1-2 Big South) will look to build on its wave of momentum this weekend with another Big South Conference game. Charleston Southern (0-7, 0-2 Big South) visits Spangler Stadium on Saturday, October 29, at 1:30 pm. The last time GWU and CSU played in Boiling Springs, the Runnin' Bulldogs used a late touchdown run from Patrick Hall to take a 27-20 win in 2009.
