SPRINGFIELD, Mass., September 26, 2006 – On the heels of his record-setting performance last Saturday during Springfield College’s 41-34 victory over Alfred University at SC’s Benedum Field, Chris Sharpe has been named the Empire 8 Football Offensive Player of the Week and the ECAC Division III Northwest Offensive Player of the Week.

Sharpe has now earned each of these awards twice in the past three weeks.

Chris had another outstanding game versus Alfred. The junior quarterback from Derry, N.H., rushed for 235 yards and five touchdowns during the win last Saturday which upped the Pride’s overall record to 3-0 and its Empire 8 Conference record to 1-0. Sharpe’s touchdown runs were of five, eight, 12, 50, and 15 yards.

As a result, Sharpe tied a school record for most rushing touchdowns scored in a single game. Also rushing for five touchdowns in a single-game was QB Kevin Cahill versus Cortland State on October 28, 2000, and FB Tim Lutgens vs. Norwich on Nov. 8, 2003.

Two weeks ago, Sharpe really cleaned up in terms of awards when he rushed for a school-record-tying 268 yards and four TDs during SC’s 38-30 victory over then-No. 11 Union College. In that game, Sharpe also established an SC single-game record with 375 yards of total offense.

In addition to being named Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week, Chris was also named ECAC Division III Northwest Offensive Player of the Week; winner of the prestigious Gold Helmet Award as presented by the Boston Globe and the New England Football Writers Association; to the D3football.com National Team of the Week; and to the Don Hansen’s Football Gazette National Team of the Week.

Springfield is now ranked 20th nationally in Don Hansen’s Football Gazette, and 25th in the D3football.com poll. In addition, for the second straight week, SC has been ranked #1 in the latest New England Division III Football Coaches Poll.

published: 09/26/2006