Sept. 13, 2010
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State freshman running back Ronnie Hillman (La Habra, Calif.) has been named the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the team's victory at New Mexico State, the league office announced Monday. Hillman becomes the first Aztec running back to earn the honor since Larry Ned in 2001.
Hillman scored four, second-half touchdowns to lead the Aztecs to a 41-21 victory in Las Cruces, marking the first time since 1994 that SDSU has started a season with a 2-0 record. Hillman first reached the end zone on the team's opening drive of the second half, putting together a spectacular, career-long 44-yard run to move the Aztecs ahead by 13 points at 20-7. He later scored touchdowns on four-, two- and one-yard runs, finishing the night with 22 carries for 150 yards, including 120 yards in the second half, for his first career 100-yard rushing game.
Hillman's four rushing TDs set a MWC freshman single-game record and are the most by a San Diego State player since Ned's four-touchdown performance against Wyoming in 2001. His four scores tie for fifth in school single-game history and tie him for No. 2 in the nation in 2010 in total points in a game. Hillman's 150 yards rushing are the most by a player in the MWC so far this season and rank 24th nationally.
On the year, the 5-10 running back has carried 37 times for 215 yards (5.8 ypc.) and five touchdowns. He is currently 27th in the nation in rushing yards per game (107.5).
Hillman is the first Aztec freshman to be named a MWC player of the week since Ryan Lindley in 2008, while he is the first ever true SDSU freshman to garner the honor.
San Diego State puts its 2-0 record on the line for its final non-conference road game of the regular season Saturday, when the Aztecs travel to Columbia, Mo., to take on the Missouri Tigers, starting at 4 p.m. PT.