Greensboro, NC (09/10/01) -- The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) selected Guilford's Marcus Ballard (Burgaw, NC/Pender) as its Offensive Football Player of the Week for games of September 8. The announcement marks Ballard's first Player of the Week prize and Guilford's first weekly offensive award since 1999.

Ballard, a 5-8, 180-pound running back, rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries in Guilford's 28-6 home win over Methodist last Saturday. The sophomore scored on a brilliant 29-yard run in the second quarter and added a third-quarter 20-yard scamper on fourth down, which led to another Quakers' touchdown. He also caught three passes for 15 yards. Ballard and junior running back Brandon Lockhart (Roxboro, NC/Person) each rushed for over 100 yards for the second time in three games and helped the Quakers to 330 total rushing yards, the fourth-best single-game effort in school history.

An honorable mention All-ODAC pick in 2000, Ballard ranks sixth among the league's rushing leaders this season with an average of 55.0 yards per game. Through 12 career contests, he has 707 rushing yards on 130 carries (5.4 yards per carry) with four touchdowns. He has two games with over 100 rushing yards.

Coach Mike Ketchum's Quakers (1-1) open their conference schedule this Saturday (9/15) at Washington and Lee (0-1). Kickoff in Lexington, VA, is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.