▁in ▁the ▁Fort ▁W orth ▁Bowl . ▁ ▁Al ridge ▁was ▁approached ▁after ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁season ▁and ▁asked ▁if ▁he ▁would ▁be ▁interested ▁in ▁playing ▁significant ▁time ▁at ▁running ▁back . ▁ ▁Al ridge ▁agreed ▁and ▁finished ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁season ▁with ▁ 9 5 9 ▁r ushing ▁yards ▁and ▁eight ▁touch down s ▁on ▁only ▁ 9 5 ▁attempts ▁for ▁an ▁NCAA ▁Division ▁ 1 - A ▁leading ▁r ushing ▁average ▁of ▁ 1 0 . 1 ▁yards ▁per ▁attempt . ▁The ▁C oug ars ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁ear n ▁a ▁Conference ▁USA ▁championship , ▁and ▁played ▁against ▁the ▁SE C ' s ▁South ▁Carolina ▁Game co cks ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁Liber ty ▁Bowl . ▁ ▁As ▁a ▁junior , ▁Al ridge ▁shared ▁time ▁at ▁running ▁back ▁with ▁the ▁C oug ars ' ▁senior ▁Jack ie ▁Battle . ▁ ▁Battle ▁and ▁Al ridge ▁combined ▁for ▁ 1 , 7 6 2 ▁r ushing ▁yards ▁and ▁ 2 1 ▁touch down s ▁during ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁regular ▁season . ▁ ▁After ▁Battle ▁graduated ▁and ▁signed ▁a ▁free - agent ▁contract ▁with ▁the ▁Kansas ▁City ▁Chief s , ▁Al ridge ▁assumed ▁the ▁bulk ▁of ▁the ▁running ▁back ▁duties ▁for ▁Houston ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁and ▁r ushed ▁for ▁ 1 , 5 9 7 ▁yards ▁on ▁ 2 5 9 ▁car ries ▁( a ▁ 6 . 2 ▁per - car ry ▁average ) ▁and ▁scored ▁ 1