#23 Junior RB Craig Needhammer (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) |
Needhammer was outstanding for the Warriors, rushing just 16 times to rack up the 182 yards, an amazing 11.4 yards per carry while only playing in the first half. He scored on touchdown runs of 21, 23 and 36 yards, giving him four on the season and 19 in his career, which is tied for eighth in school history with Mike Santoleri (1979-82). Needhammer also outrushed the nation’s leading rusher in the game, as the Warrior defense held Jeff Puckett to 43 yards.
It was the second week in a row that Needhammer set a career high for yardage, as he posted 130 yards against Wilkes. He is the first Warrior to rush for more than 100 yards in back-to-back weeks since Josh Kleinfelter did it in five straight weeks in 2010.
With 398 yards through the first three games, Needhammer leads the MAC with an average of 7.2 yards per carry.
The Warriors get back in action on Saturday, Sept. 28, when they head to No. 24 Widener for a1 p.m. tilt.