By Martin Harris
BYU''s Luke Staley was named Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Week Monday, Oct. 8.
Staley led the BYU offense to a win against Utah State last Friday, Oct. 5. Staley ran for 207 yards on 23 carries, averaging 9.0 yards per attempt.
Staley is the first Cougar running back to run for 200 yards since Ronney Jenkins totaled 250 yards against San Jose State in 1998. Staley''s rushing performance is the fifth best ever in a game by a Cougar.
'It was a nice game,' Staley said following his performance against the Aggies. 'I haven''t had a day like that since high school.'
Staley credited his performance to the offensive line, but his teammates recognize his athletic abilities.
'He (Staley) is a good football player,' BYU quarterback Brandon Doman said.
Staley also accumulated 44 yards receiving, 49 yards on a kick return and threw a pass for 11 yards, for a total of 311 all-purpose yards.
'He was ready to go,' BYU head coach Gary Crowton said about Staley''s performance. 'He was very focused and excited.'
Staley tied the record for touchdowns and points scored in a game - five and 30 respectively. He already scored 12 touchdowns this year. With eight games remaining, Staley is only four away from the season record of 16 touchdowns set by Waymon Hamilton in 1981.
As a junior, Staley has 32 career touchdowns. With eight more, he will tie the Cougar career touchdown scoring record of 40, set by Jamal Willis.
Staley is also on pace to break the season rushing mark for the Cougars. He has 597 yards and needs 790 yards to break the all-time mark set in 1972 by Pete Van Valkenburg. He could become the sixth Cougar ever to rush for 1000 yards in a season.
Staley''s career year coincides with BYU''s best start since 1984 when the Cougars won the national championship.
BYU players have been named MWC players of the week three times this year. Ryan Denney and Doman were named defensive and offensive players of the week after the game against California. This is the second time in his career that Staley has been named MWC Offensive Player of the Week.