Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University senior running back Bobby Rainey continues to bring in the honors following his performance against Louisiana-Lafayette. On Monday morning, Rainey was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career.
Helping lead WKU to a 42-23 Homecoming victory over Louisiana-Lafayette, Rainey rushed for 206-yard and three touchdowns against the Ragin' Cajuns. The Griffin, Ga., native also completed a 31-yard pass on a Hilltopper scoring drive early in the second quarter.
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. He 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's performance on Saturday has not gone unnoticed around college football. Late Saturday night, he received a helmet sticker on ESPN's College Gameday Final, and on Sunday was named the College Football Performance Awards' National Running Back of the Week. Fans can also go to www.facebook.com/AllStarFootball this week to vote for Rainey's performance against ULL as the Running Back Performance of the Year.
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-
