Football's Lester Ricard Named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week
Oct 9, 2006 | Football
Oct. 9, 2006
NEW ORLEANS, La. - After posting his second consecutive 300-yard passing day and tossing a season-best four touchdown strikes, Tulane University football standout Lester Ricard was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday.
In addition to Ricard's C-USA honor, head coach Chris Scelfo announced that junior running back Matt Forté and sophomore center Michael Parenton were named the team's co-Offensive Player of the Week while senior defensive end Billy Harrison and rookie cornerback Alex Wacha claimed Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week honors, respectively.
In Tulane's 38-24 win over Rice on Saturday in the Louisiana Superdome, Ricard completed 21-of-40 passes for 344 yards and four scores. The honor was the first of the season for Ricard and the second of his career dating back to Oct. 25, 2004 when he threw for 417 yards and a school and C-USA record six touchdowns against UAB. He also becomes the second Tulane student-athlete to earn C-USA Offensive Player of the Week honors in 2006, joining Forté, who claimed the honor on Sept. 18 after running for 170 yards and a touchdown against Mississippi State.
Ricard spread the ball around effectively on Saturday as eight different receivers hauled in at least one pass, including five with three or more receptions. Each of his touchdowns went to a different receiver as redshirt-freshman Jeremy Williams and sophomore Brian King hauled in passes of 21 and 27 yard in the first quarter, respectively, junior Kenneth Guidroz snared a 21-yard strike in the third quarter, and Forté had an eight-yard scoring reception in the final frame.
Ricard was even better on third downs, completing five of eight passes for 103 yards - all conversions to continue drives - and scrambled for another. His four touchdowns were the most by a Tulane player since Richard Irvin threw for five in a 35-31 win at TCU on Nov. 27, 2004.
Forté and Parenton shared Offensive Player of the Week honors after helping the offense set a season-high mark of 487 yards of total offense. Forté chipped in by galloping for a season-best 178 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries while snaring four passes for a 57 yards and another score.
Parenton, meanwhile, helped pave the way up front for Forté and company on the ground and provided protection for Ricard to find his receivers downfield.
Harrison claimed team defensive honors after posting three tackles, a sack and a pass break-up against the Owls. A starter at right defensive end, Harrison was part of a defensive line that contained Rice quarterback and reigning C-USA Offensive Player of the Week Chase Clement. Harrison and Co. held Clement to 41 yards rushing on 19 carries, sacking him three times and forcing several hurried passes.
Harrison posted a pair of tackles in the first quarter, a sack for an eight-yard loss in the third and swatted a Clement pass attempt on a fourth-and-two to thwart an Owls drive deep in Tulane territory with 4:58 left to play.
Wacha, meanwhile, was a demon on special teams for the Green Wave where he posted four solo tackles on the day, including three bone-rattling shots on kickoff returns. His play helped Tulane limit Rice to just a 17.0 yard average on six kickoff returns and a 6.8 yard average on four punt returns.
The Green Wave return to action on Saturday, Oct. 14, when they begin a two-week road trip in El Paso, Texas, where Tulane will battle UTEP at 8 p.m. From there, Tulane will play at Auburn on Oct. 21 before returning to the Superdome for Homecoming 2006 vs. Army on Oct. 28. Tickets for those game, and future Green Wave contests, remain for sale through the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office.
The Ticket Office is located on the first floor of the James W. Wilson, Jr. Center, and tickets can be purchased in person, via the telephone at (504) 861-WAVE or via the internet at www.TulaneGreenWave.com. In addition, single-game tickets are also available via Ticket Master at www.TicketMaster.com and at all Ticket Master outlets.
