Johnson Named C-USA Special Teams Player-of-the-Week
October 30, 2006 | Football
Oct. 30, 2006
IRVING, Texas - East Carolina junior Chris Johnson was named Conference USA Special Teams Player-of-the Week for his play against Southern Miss Saturday in the Pirates' 20-17 overtime win according to a release from the league media relations office Monday afternoon.
Johnson, a native of Orlando, Fla., recorded a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter to give ECU an early 10-7 lead. The return, which was the longest of his career, ranks as the sixth-longest in school history and longest since 1994 when Mitchell Galloway returned one for 97 yards against Tulsa on Oct. 22, 1994. It was also the first return for a score since Nov. 1, 2003 when Damarcus Fox ran one back 94 yards against Memphis.
In all, Johnson averaged 58 yards per kickoff return during the contest (2 for 116) and also contributed with 142 all-purpose yards (2 for 20 receiving and 2 for 26 rushing).
Johnson becomes the third Pirate this season to capture C-USA weekly honors following Kasey Ross (Sept. 18) and Ryan Dougherty (Oct. 9).
Joining Johnson as Players-of-the-Week were Lester Ricard (QB, Tulane) and Chris Chamberlain (LB, Tulsa).
The Pirates will be back in action this Saturday when they travel to Orlando, Fla. to take on UCF at 4 p.m. (EST) inside the Florida Citrus Bowl.
