Abdulqaadir Named Gateway Player of the Week Again

09/30/2002 | 12:00:00 | Football

Sept. 30, 2002

Saluki running back Muhammad Abdulqaadir outdid his splendid 264-yard rushing effort against West Virginia Tech last week with 312 yards against I-A foe Eastern Michigan Saturday. His performance earned him back-to-back Gateway Conference Player of the Week honors.

Abdulqaadir's 312 rushing yards was a league record and second in school history behind Andre Herrera's 319 yards against Northern Illinois in 1976.

The junior, making just his second career start for SIU, scored three touchdowns, including a 75-yarder.

Abdulqaadir has rushed for 576 yards in his last two games, a Gateway record for back-to-back games, and 744 yards in his last three.

The Salukis will host undefeated and 12th-ranked Western Illinois on Saturday at 1:30 in the school's homecoming game.