SDSU Freshman Sets All-Time Rushing Record

San Diego State University freshman Marshall Faulk, playing his second college football game, set an NCAA rushing record by gaining 386 yards Saturday night against the Univer sity of Pacific in front of 24,408 at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

Faulk scored seven touchdowns and a two-point conversion in the game, a 55-34 San Diego State victory.

With 37 attempts, Faulk, from New Orleans, La., surpassed the NCAA Division I-A record of 377 yards set by Anthony Thompson of Indiana in 1989 against Wisconsin. Thompson took 52 rushes to accumulate his yardage.

“I guess that all you do is dream of stuff like this,” Faulk said. “Tonight, it just happened to come true.”

He also surpassed the NCAA record for all divisions, which was 382 yards, set by Pete Baranek of Carthage against Northern Central on Oct. 5, 1985.

The best previous single-game performance by a freshman was 322 yards by Greg Allen of Florida State in 1981 against Western Carolina. Faulk’s seven touchdowns and 44 points are the most ever by a freshman in NCAA Division I-A competition.

Faulk also set several San Diego State records, including yardage gained, points scored and touchdowns.

At the outset, there was little hint Faulk would become a record-setter. He didn’t get his first carry until 3 minutes 55 seconds remained in the first quarter, when the Aztecs’ starting tailback, T.C. Wright, had to leave the game with a bruised thigh.

But Faulk had 323 yards by the end of the third quarter. He scored on touchdown runs of 9, 5, 61, 7, 47, 2 and 25 yards.

Faulk was one of three San Diego State recruits this year from Louisiana.