Laurinaitis and Trapasso Named Big Ten Players of the Week Following Ohio State’s Win Over Texas – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 11, 2006
OFFENSE:
Matt Trannon, Michigan State, SR, WR, Flint, Mich./Northern
Trannon shattered the Michigan State record for single-game receptions by hauling in 14 passes for a career-best 151 yards while adding two receiving scores and one touchdown pass in a win over Eastern Michigan. The senior wideout broke the school single-game mark previously held by Plaxico Burress, who had 13 receptions against Florida in the 2000 Citrus Bowl. Trannon caught a 17-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and then delivered a scoring strike on MSU’s next possession, throwing a 35-yard touchdown to A.J. Jimmerson to boost the hosts to a 24-3 advantage. Trannon added a seven-yard receiving score in the fourth quarter. The Flint, Mich., native recorded the second 100-yard receiving game of his career and climbed to eighth place on Michigan State’s career list with 122 receptions. This is the first weekly honor of his career.
DEFENSE:
James Laurinaitis, Ohio State, SO, LB, Hamel, Minn./Wayzata
Laurinaitis led the Buckeyes with a career-best 13 tackles and added a tackle for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception to boost Ohio State to a road victory over Texas, the defending national champion. The Buckeyes defense, which replaced nine starters this season, held a Longhorns offense that had scored at least 40 points in 12 straight games to a single touchdown. Laurinaitis, one of those new starters, collected 10 solo stops on the night and recorded a pair of game-changing plays. After Texas drove to OSU’s seven-yard line in the first quarter, the sophomore linebacker forced a fumble that was recovered by defensive back Donald Washington and returned to the 50-yard line. The Buckeyes needed only five plays to score a touchdown for a 7-0 lead. In the third quarter, Laurinaitis intercepted a pass and returned it 25 yards to the Texas 21-yard line to set up an OSU field goal and a 17-7 advantage. This marks the first weekly accolade of his career. SPECIAL TEAMS:
A.J. Trapasso, Ohio State, SO, P, Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington
Trapasso helped Ohio State win the field position battle by averaging 50.8 yards per punt and placing a pair of boots inside the 20-yard line in a victory at Texas. The sophomore punter recorded six punts for 305 yards as his 50.8 average ranked as the third-best single-game performance in school annals. Four of his punts went 53 or more yards, including a long of 59 yards on his first kick of the day. His shortest punt went 39 yards and was downed at the Longhorns’ six-yard line. Trapasso leads the Big Ten with an average of 49.7 yards per punt this season. He picks up the first conference weekly laurel of his career.
