Week 11 Stats: 178 rushing yards, 17 rushes, 2 rushing touchdowns, 93-yard touchdown run (3rd longest in FCS), 39 receiving yards, 4 receptions
Howard set the tone early for Central Connecticut on Saturday against visiting Stonehill. Opening the game with a three-yard touchdown scamper on the first drive of the game, he propelled the undefeated Blue Devils to a wire-to-wire, 40-10 win that clinched at least share of the NEC regular season title for the second time in as many seasons. Accounting for 18 rushing yards and 19 yards through the air in Central Connecticut’s 12-play, 78-yard opening drive, the senior led all rushers with 178 yards while adding 39 receiving yards on the afternoon. In addition to delivering the game’s first score, Howard extended the Blue Devils’ game-opening run to 23-0 with a 93-yard touchdown run, a foot race that was the longest by an NEC player this season and the third-longest in the FCS this season. The Knoxville, TN native leads the NEC in conference play with 97.0 rushing yards per game, while his 89.7 rushing yards per game and eight rushing scores on the season are also league-best marks. This is Howard’s second NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Offensive Player of the Week award this year.