Nov. 14, 2006

Washington, D.C. - For the third-straight week, Georgetown University freshman football player Charlie Houghton (Toronto, Ontario, Canada/Phillips (Mass.) Academy) has been named the Patriot League's Rookie of the Week.

Houghton was a standout for the Hoyas in a 45-14 league loss to Lafayette last Saturday. In his third game as the team's primary option in the backfield, the 6-0, 190-pound freshman carried the ball 20 times for a career-high 88 yards, including a 20-yard scamper. The 88 rushing yards were the most by a Hoya player this season.

On top of his rushing numbers, he caught two passes for 84 yards, including the Blue and Gray's first touchdown, a slant pass from junior quarterback Matt Bassuener (Fort Edwards, Wis./John Edwards) that Houghton turned into an 81-yard score.

In the last three games since moving into the starting lineup, Houghton has carried the ball 53 times for 388 yards, a 79.3 per game average. In addition, he has been Bassuener's favorite target in the passing game, catching 10 passes for 156 yards and three touchdowns, including the 81-yard scoring play against the Leopards.

Houghton started for the first time in his career during Georgetown's 24-10 loss at Charleston Southern on October 28. Appearing as the Hoyas' primary running back, he carried the ball 19 times for a season-high 79 yards. The first-year player also caught five passes for 46 yards, including the team's lone score, a three-yard pass from Bassuener in the third quarter. He also returned three kickoffs for 46 yards.

Houghton posted 114 all-purpose yards and a touchdown as the Hoyas came from behind to snap a six-game slide with a 24-21 decision over Marist on November 4. Houghton ran for 71 yards and pulled down a 14-yard touchdown in the second quarter to pull Georgetown within seven points after falling behind 14-0. The freshman also had three carries for 29 yards on the touchdown drive that cut Marist's lead to 21-16.

The Canadian has helped to lead a Hoya ground game that has revived itself in the last seven games. Georgetown had averaged only 74.7 yards on the ground in the first three games this season, but has gained 937 in the last seven games, a 133.9 per game average.

For the season, Houghton has carried the ball 67 times for 312 yards, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. He is fifth on the team with 16 receptions (201 yards) and has three touchdowns.

Georgetown (2-8 overall, 0-5 Patriot League) closes out the regular season on Saturday, November 18, traveling to New York to play league rival Fordham (2-8, 0-5).