ST. PAUL, Minn. -- This Saturday, as the Golden Bears prepare to take on Wayne State on the road in Wayne, Neb., senior wide receiver Tyrone Ruffin (Plymouth, Minn.) prepares to etch his name into the CU record books. Ruffin is closing in on the career records for receiving yards and receptions and already holds the career receiving touchdown mark. Week 10 Release
With two games to play, Ruffin needs to average 6.0 yards per game and 10.5 receptions per game to break Joseph Mapson's (2001-03) career records of 200 receptions and 2,743 yards. He already broke Mapson's receiving touchdown record of 23 back in week two of the season. In his career, Ruffin has hauled in 179 receptions for 2,731 yards and 31 touchdowns. He already holds the school record for most touchdown receptions in a single season with 11, set last year which tied co-record holders Joe Mapson (2001) and Joseph Mapson (2002). Ruffin has also moved into fifth on the career scoring list with 186 career points, vaulting him ahead of Aaron Cawthorn's (2003-06) 180 points but still well behind James McNear (2002-05) with 226 points.
In Northern Sun competition, Ruffin has played in 32 games (with two left to play in 2008) with 140 receptions, 2,013 yards and 22 touchdowns. His 140 receptions rank fifth in career receptions in the NSIC and he is two shy of Chris Samp (2001-04, Winona State), seven shy of Joe Dittrich (1978-80, Southwest State) and 14 short of Joseph Mapson (2001-03, Concordia) for third place on the receptions chart. Of the top-10 on the receptions list, Ruffin's 22 receiving touchdowns are third and his 2,013 yards rank sixth.
Concordia faces a Wayne State team this Saturday that is currently in a three-way battle for the NSIC South Division Championship in the last week of divisional play. Wayne State is also ranked sixth in the region and on the verge of their first NCAA Playoff appearance. Concordia has defeated Wayne State six of the nine times they have met, including the last meeting in Wayne, Neb., a 27-24 win for Concordia at Memorial Stadium.
