Utica, N.Y. (1011/2011) – Junior running back Jake Larson (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove) of the Utica College football team was named the College’s Male Athlete of the Week for the first time in his career Monday. Larson rushed for a career-best 173 yards, including a career-long 62 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, to help the UC football team defeat RPI 38-28 for the second straight year Saturday. Larson played a major role in the Pioneers' 263 total yards rushing on the day.
173 yards rushing ranks fourth on the College’s all-time single-game list, and his 62 yard touchdown run was also the fourth longest run from scrimmage in school-history. Larson, who transferred to Utica from Mount Union, has come on strong as of late and he has now rushed for 100+ yards in two consecutive games.
He leads the team and ranks fifth in the conference in both rushing touchdowns (five) and rushing yards per game (86.0). He has rushed the ball 77 times for 430 yards over the course of the last five games and he has also caught eight balls for 82 yards.
UC will square off against visiting Hartwick College Saturday, Oct. 15th in the inaugural “Battle in the Valley” on the turf at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. The rivalry game was a concept proposed by the student-athletes and proceeds from this year's contest will benefit the Westside Soup Kitchen at St. Joseph & St. Patrick Church in West Utica.
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