FARMINGTON, Utah — Sacramento State running back Rodney Hammond, Jr., was named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Week, it was announced today. The honor is the first for Hammond this season and comes four weeks after he earned the conference's Special Teams Player of the Week award.
 
In the 52-24 win at Portland State, Hammond rushed 17 times for 191 yards and two touchdowns. He did most of his damage in the third quarter, amassing 131 yards on five carries. That total included a career-best 87-yard run which led to a touchdown as well as a 41-yard touchdown run of his own. The 87-yard run came with the team backed up on its own 5-yard line and matched the longest run in Sacramento State's Div. I history.
 
Hammond also had one reception for 29 yards and a kickoff return of 20 yards during the game to finish the contest with 240 all-purpose yards.
 
The senior from Norfolk, Va., has rushed for 953 yards this season with 11 rushing touchdowns. His average of 95.3 rushing yards per game places him third in the Big Sky and 13^th in the FCS while his touchdown total ranks second in the league and 13th nationally. Hammond has found his stride in conference play where he is averaging a Big Sky-leading 133.0 yards per game with nine touchdowns.
 
Sacramento State, which has won four of its last five games and six of its past eight, will play its final regular season home game on Saturday, Nov. 15, against Idaho at 6 p.m.