Carden Takes Home Third American Conference Weekly Honor
October 27, 2014 | Football
PROVIDENCE, RI - For the third this season, East Carolina senior Shane Carden has been named the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player-of-the-Week according to a release for the conference office Monday.
The Houston, Texas native led No. 21 East Carolina (6-1, 3-0 American) to its fifth-straight win defeating Connecticut 31-21 Thursday night inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
Carden guided an East Carolina offense that ran 100 plays and reeled off 580 yards against a Connecticut squad that was leading the league in total defense prior to the Pirates' win. He accounted for 477 yards of offense alone completing 38 of 64 passes for a season-high 445 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 32 yards on the ground on nine carries.
For Carden it was his fourth 400-yard game of the season, which ranks second nationally behind Connor Halliday's (Washington State) six and it's the seventh time he has reached the 400-yard mark in his career.
Fellow classmate Justin Hardy earned his fourth American Conference Honor Roll selection following his 14-catch, 186-yard game - both season highs. The Vanceboro, N.C. native caught his sixth TD pass of the season (31st career) on a 13-yard route in the first quarter against the Huskies on the Pirates opening possession of the night.
Hardy, who already owns school records for receptions (327), yards (3,826) and receiving TDs, moved into sole possession of second place on the FBS all-time receptions list, which is currently held by Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles (349/2008-11).
East Carolina, who ranks fourth nationally in total offense (566.9 ypg) and 13th in scoring (39.6), has produced 500-plus yards of offense five times this season including a school-record 789 against instate foe North Carolina on Sept. 20th.
Below are Carden's honors and accolades this season:
- American Athletic Conference Honor Roll (9/15) ...
- American Athletic Conference Player-of-the-Week (9/22, 10/6, 10/27) ...
- Athlon Sports American Athletic Conference Player-of-the-Week (9/14, 9/21) ...
- CBSSports.com National Player-of-the-Week (9/15) ...
- College Football Performance Awards Honorable Mention (9/22) ...
- College Sports Madness AAC Player-of-the-Week (9/21, 10/27) ...
- Davey O'Brien Co-Quarterback-of-the-Week (9/16) ...
- Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Player-of-the-Week (9/16) ...
- Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Honorable Mention Player-of-the-Week (9/23) ...
- ECAC Offensive Player-of-the-Week (9/16, 9/22) ...
- ESPN.com's game ball from Brett McMurphy (9/13) ...
- ESPN Helmet Sticker (9/13) ...
- Heisman Aspirant Watch List ...
- Manning Stars-of-the-Week (9/15, 9/22) ...
- Phil Steele Mid-Season All-American Conference First-Team selection ...
- Senior CLASS Award Candidate (9/18) ...
- Three-time ESPN.com Game Ball recipient (VT, UNC and UConn) ...
East Carolina will return to action this Saturday, Nov. 1 when it travels to Philadelphia, Pa. to take on Temple (4-3, 2-2 American) at Lincoln Financial Field. Kickoff is set for 12 noon (EDT) and will be nationally televised on ESPNews.
