Quick Kicks

Heisman watch, the quarterbacks

In a wide-open race for the Heisman Trophy, it’s the quarterbacks who have the longest list of candidates.

The true contenders:

Drew Brees, Purdue: Threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 39 TDs for a 9-4 team a year ago. The last QB to win this thing for a team that lost more than twice (during the regular season) was Jim Plunkett, almost three decades ago.

Chris Redman, Louisville: Should put up some serious numbers, for a unit that led the nation by averaging 559 yards a game. Needs to engineer a few serious wins. Just ask Tim Couch.

The hopefuls: Tim Rattay (Louisiana Tech), Chad Pennington (Marshall), and Tim Lester (Western Michigan) will certainly be among the passing yardage leaders, but their schools’ football programs are just too small. David Neill (Nevada) fits in this category, too, but he’s just a sophomore anyway.

Several quarterbacks will dazzle fans but won’t have the passing stats usually necessary to win votes. Expect that list to include Quincy Carter (Georgia), Antwaan Randle El (Indiana) and Joe Hamilton (Georgia Tech).

Other fine quarterbacks might be overshadowed by teammates who attract attention. Foremost on this list would be Chris Weinke (Florida State), who will likely see teammate Peter Warrick get at least as many votes. When he’s not passing, Tee Martin (Tennessee) will hand off to Jamal Lewis, who returns after suffering a season-ending knee injury during the fourth game of last season’s national championship run.

Heisman Trivia: A. Who is the only Heisman Trophy winner to win the award in consecutive years? B. Name the years.

Setting a record

Scott Pingel broke Jerry Rice’s NCAA career receptions record in leading Westminster to a 56-36 victory over Illinois College. Pingel tied Rice’s record of 301 catches on the first play of the game, then broke it later in the same series.

Scoring star

Travis Prentice ran for two scores to pass Marshall Faulk for third place on the NCAA career touchdown list as Miami of Ohio routed Northwestern 28-3. Ricky Williams (72) and Indiana’s Anthony Thompson (64) are 1-2.

Sacks

The Colorado State defense forced seven turnovers and had nine sacks against Colorado.

Tennessee recorded a school-record 13 sacks against Wyoming.

Sweet success

Ron Dayne, Wisconsin, rushed for 135 yards against Murray State. Dayne’s 135 yards gave him 4,698 for his career, moving him ahead of five runners - including Marcus Allen, Thurman Thomas and Marshall Faulk - into 14th place on the NCAA’s career rushing list.

Streaks

Washington & Jefferson defeated Emory & Henry 24-17, ending the longest home winning streak for all divisions at 37 games.

Swarthmore College ended the country’s longest losing streak with a 42-6 victory over Oberlin College. The Garnet had lost 28 consecutive games. With the loss, Oberlin has lost 20 straight and 60 out of its last 61.

Stars 300 yards passing

Tim Lester, W. Michigan: 405

Major Applewhite, Texas: 353

Chad Pennington, Marshall: 333

Chris Redman, Louisville: 324 (5 TDs)

200 yards rushing, or close to it

Ken Simonton, Ore. St.: 199

Kevin McDougal, Colorado St.: 190

150 yards receiving

Terrence Edwards, Georgia: 196

Anthony Lucas , Arkansas: 194

Cedrick Wilson, Tennessee: 183

Kwame Cavil, Texas: 180

Trivia answer: Ohio State running back Archie Griffin won it in 1974 and 1975.

The last word …

“I’ve never tackled anybody like him. We were just bouncing off him, and he just kept running.”

- Murray State defensive tackle Steve Williams on attempting to tackle Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne.