Nov. 11, 2002

LOGAN. Utah - Aggie quarterback Jose Fuentes was named Utah State Athlete of the Week for the third time this year, it was announced on Monday. The weekly honor is selected by a local media panel. Fuentes joins Aggie volleyball player Erin Cartwright in being named to the honor three times this year.

Fuentes, a senior from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., led Utah State to a 32-30 win against future Sun Belt foe New Mexico State. Fuentes completed 27 of 40 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns in his Romney Stadium finale. Fuentes' longest pass was a 46-yard touchdown reception by Kevin Curtis.

This year, Fuentes ranks 12th in the nation in average total offensive yards per game with 279.6 and has helped Utah State's passing offense rank 13th in the nation with an average of 296.4 yards per game.

Fuentes has not only done well this year, but has been consistent throughout his career, setting 14 USU football records. Fuentes' most recently captured record came in USU's game against Lousiana-Monroe when he added the career touchdown passes record as he threw his 53rd.

The Aggies' next action will be on Nov. 16 as they take on Troy State (4-7) for a game that has been moved to a 10 a.m. (Mountain time) kickoff.

Nominees From Other Sports

Volleyball -- Erin Cartwright... The junior led Utah State to a pair of Big West road wins against Cal State Fullerton and UC Riverside. Against the Titans, Cartwright recorded a career-high 26 kills to go along with nine digs and six blocks as she hit .375 in the match. Against the Highlanders, she recorded her third double-double of the season with 20 kills and 10 digs as she hit .567 in the match. For the week, Cartwright hit .442 and averaged 5.75 kills, 2.38 digs, 1.00 blocks and 0.38 service aces per game.

Previous Winners-Sept. 2 - Erin Cartwright, VolleyballSept. 9 - Lacey (Miles) Poulton, SoccerSept. 16 - Jose Fuentes, FootballSept. 23 - Mitch Zundel, Cross CountrySept. 30 - Amber Tracy, SoccerOct. 7 - Mike Nielson, Cross CountryOct. 14 - Erin Cartwright, VolleyballOct. 21 - Jose Fuentes, FootballOct. 28 - Erin Cartwright, VolleyballNov. 4 - Mitch Zundel, Cross Country