San Diego State Freshman Sets Rushing Mark

Marshall Faulk, a San Diego State freshman running back who has yet to start for the Aztecs, set an NCAA rushing record Saturday night in his second collegiate game.

Faulk gained 386 yards in 37 carries during San Diego State’s 55-34 victory over Pacific before 24,408 in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

Faulk, from Carver High in New Orleans, surpassed the NCAA Division I-A record of 377 yards set by Anthony Thompson of Indiana in 1989 against Wisconsin. Thompson took 52 carries 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.”

Faulk also surpassed the NCAA record for all divisions, 382 yards, set by Kelly Ellis of Northern Iowa against Western Illinois on Oct. 13, 1979, and tied by Pete Baranek of Carthage against Northern Central on Oct. 5, 1985 .

And that was just the start:

* He surpassed the previous NCAA freshman rushing record of 322 yards set by Greg Allen of Florida State in 1981 against Western Carolina.

* His seven touchdowns and 44 points are the most by a freshman in NCAA Division I-A competition.

* His 386 yards were the most ever allowed to a running back by Pacific surpassing the previous record of 264 set by Mercury Morris of West Texas State on Sept. 30, 1987.

* He also set a San Diego State record with 44 points--seven touchdowns and a two-point conversion.

The previous Aztec record for points in a game was 36, held by Tim Delaney against New Mexico State in 1969.

It certainly didn’t start as a record-breaking evening. Faulk didn’t get his first carry until 3:55 was left in the first quarter, when Aztec starting tailback T.C. Wright had to leave the game because of a bruised thigh.

But Faulk, taking over in a one-back offense, had 323 yards by the end of the third quarter. He scored on touchdown runs of nine, five, 61, seven, 47, two and 25 yards.

San Diego State signed Faulk--one of three Aztec recruits this year from Louisiana--last February after he had taken recruiting trips to Miami, Louisiana State, Texas A & M and Nebraska.

Curtis Johnson, receivers coach and primary recruiter in Louisiana, said Faulk told him after his trip to San Diego that he planned to sign with the Aztecs.

But, Johnson said, Faulk told him two days before signing day that he was thinking of Nebraska. Johnson convinced him to change his mind.

“It came down to the wire,” Johnson said.

What helped the Aztec cause was that the two were fogged in together at the Houston airport for more than two hours on their way to San Diego, and by the end of the ordeal, Faulk had found a new friend.