Derek Fudge Named GLIAC Offensive Player Of The Week
Ferris State University junior tailback Derek Fudge (Gibsonston, Fla./East Bay) was selected the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's (GLIAC) Offensive Player of the Week Sunday (Sept. 8) for his efforts in the Bulldogs' 33-21 season-opening non-conference victory over Hillsdale last Saturday (Sept. 7) at FSU's Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids.
Fudge rushed for a game-high 148 yards on 29 carries to go along with three rushing touchdowns of three, two and one yard in the contest as the Bulldogs ended a five-game losing streak in season-opening contests. 
An all-conference second-team pick in 2000, Fudge was honored as the GLIAC's Freshman of the Year that season after eclipsing the conference's frosh single-season rushing mark with 1,161 yards.
For his career, Fudge has amassed 1,924 rushing yards on 421 attempts for a 4.6 yards per carry average to go along with 13 touchdowns in 21 career outings. He has presently compiled nine 100-yard plus single-game rushing performances during his career. In receiving, the 2000 GLIAC All-Academic honoree has 37 career receptions for 250 yards and two touchdowns.
With his 140-yard plus rushing performance versus Hillsdale, Fudge moved into 11th place on FSU's all-time rushing leaders list surpassing Benny Roe's (1992-95) 1,835-career yard total and needs 82 more yards to tie Delbert Littlejohn (1987-90; 2,006 yards) for 10th place.
The Bulldogs open GLIAC play this Saturday, Sept. 14, hosting nationally top-ranked and 2001 NCAA Division II National Championship runnerup the Grand Valley State Lakers at Top Taggart Field. Opening kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. (EDT) in Big Rapids.
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