Bowling Green, Ky. - Thanks to his 206-yard, three-touchdown performance in WKU's 42-23 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday, Hilltopper senior running back Bobby Rainey was named the National Running Back of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards on Sunday afternoon.
Rainey put together the second 200-yard game of his career against he Cajuns, finding the end zone three times for the first time as a Hilltopper to help give WKU its first home victory since Sept. 20, 2008. The Griffin, Ga., native racked up 99 of his 206 yards in the fourth quarter, including consecutive runs of 56 and 24 yards to pick up his third score late in the game and seal the victory.
Thanks to his 206-yard effort, Rainey now ranks third in the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing, averaging 130.0 yards per game. That is nine spots higher than he ranked prior to Saturday. Rainey finished the 2010 season ranked third in the nation in rushing.
Rainey also climbed another chart as he jumped both Dickie Moore and Joe Arnold to take over fourth place on the WKU career rushing list. With 3,757 career rushing yard, he needs just 19 yards to pass Antwan Floyd for third place. He is also 90 yards away from his second consecutive 1,000-yard season.
Rainey and the Hilltoppers go in search of their fourth straight victory on Saturday when they visit Louisiana-Monroe for a 2:30 p.m. (CDT) contest at Malone Stadium.
-WKU-
