Quick Kicks

Heisman watch

With everyone’s frontrunner Peyton Manning of Tennessee out of action as the Vols took the day off, the only candidate to close the gap was Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf. With 23 completions in 46 attempts and a career-high 384 yards in WSU’s 35-34 overtime victory over Arizona, Leaf should remain the top-rated passer in Division I-A. He threw for three touchdowns and scored the game-winner in overtime on a quarterback sneak.

Auburn quarterback Dameyune Craig had his second consecutive un-Heisman game in the Tigers’ 26-21 victory over Arkansas. Still, his numbers were solid as he completed 13 of 25 for 244 yards and the game-winning touchdown - a 70-yard pass to Jaret Holmes.

Iowa running back Tavian Banks had averaged more than 200 yards in the Hawkeyes’ four previous victories, but in Saturday’s 62-0 thrashing of Indiana, he gained 107 yards.

Stars and stats

Pete Gonzalez, Pittsburgh, completed 27 of 42 passes for 470 yards and broke Dan Marino’s school record by throwing seven touchdown passes (five in regulation). The last TD pass came in the second overtime, to lead the Panthers to a 55-48 victory over Rutgers.

Wilkie Perez, Glenville State, broke West Virginia Conference records with nine TD passes and 642 yards on 44 of 58 passing in a 71-26 win over Concord.

John Dutton, Nevada, passed for 460 yards and four TDs as the Wolf Pack routed North Texas 65-10.

Chad Pennington, Marshall, was 34 of 50 for 361 yards and three TDs to set the Mid-American Conference record with his 26th TD pass of the season in a 48-25 win over Eastern Michigan. Also in the MAC, Chris Wallace, Toledo, threw a school-record five TD passes and Jose Davis, Kent, completed 16 of 28 passes for 299 yards with a Mid-American Conference-record seven touchdowns.

Darren Davis, Iowa State, rushed for a career-high 247 yards and two TDs as the Cyclones ended a 13-game losing streak with a 24-17 victory over Baylor.

Ricky Williams, Texas, the nation’s No. 2 rusher, ran for 201 yards and four TDs in a 47-30 loss to Colorado. It was Williams’ third straight 200-yard game and fourth of the season, extending his school record.

Tim Dwight, Iowa, returned a punt 92 yards for a TD in the No. 18 Hawkeyes’ 62-0 rout of Indiana. It was Dwight’s fourth punt return for a score, which ties four others for the Big Ten record. He also caught a pass for a touchdown and threw for another.

How bad can it get?

What does it take to lose 13 consecutive games? Consider this: Illinois, which is in the midst of the second-worst losing streak in school history, committed seven turnovers and allowed seven sacks in a 48-3 loss to Purdue.

However, even with Iowa State’s victory that ended a 15-game losing streak, Illinois is not at rock bottom. That distinction goes to Northern Illinois, loser of 15 in a row.

And then there’s the sad state of Indiana. Notre Dame’s failures have been highly publicized this season, but it’s Indiana that’s really awful. The Hoosiers have not scored a touchdown since September. The Hoosiers, who have lost 20 of their last 21 Big Ten games, haven’t scored a point in 10 quarters and have gone without a TD in the last 18.

Female kicker matches male teammate - 0-2

Liz Heaston, who kicked two extra points in Willamette’s 27-0 victory over Linfield, Ore., last week, was pressed into action Saturday after regular kicker Gordon Thomson missed his first two extra-point attempts.

But Heaston fared no better, missing her two tries, one to the right, one to the left. The misses weren’t critical, as Willamette beat Southern Oregon 41-27.

Rossum reaches return record

Notre Dame’s Allen Rossum tied the NCAA career record of eight returns for TDs with an 80-yard kickoff return in a 52-20 win over Boston College. Rossum has returned three punts, three kickoffs and two interceptions for TDs, matching the record set by Utah’s Erroll Tucker in 1984-85.

Ford honored by Notre Dame

Former President Gerald Ford, who played center for Michigan, was awarded an honorary Irish monogram Saturday before the start of the Boston College-Notre Dame game.

“I have the highest regard and great admiration for the University of Notre Dame, for its athletics as well as its academic achievements,” Ford said.

Ford was named to Sports Illustrated’s Silver Anniversary All-America team in 1959, and Michigan retired his number - 48 - in 1994.

Looking ahead to next Saturday

No. 10 Washington State, looking to draw closer to its first Rose Bowl berth in 67 years, plays at No. 23 Arizona State.

, DataTimes