Quick Kicks
Heisman watch
Just when it seemed Virginia Tech’s Michael Vick might make a mockery of the Heisman race, several candidates have gained ground. For example:
LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, TCU: A career leading rusher among active players had his best game of the season Saturday against Hawaii, carrying 49 times for 294 yards and four touchdowns. His yardage is the I-A high this season.
Chris Weinke, QB, Florida State: In leading the Seminoles back from a 17-0 deficit to take the lead and nearly overcoming another deficit in the final minute, Weinke threw for a career-high 496 yards and connected for three touchdowns against Miami.
Drew Brees, QB, Purdue: Poor special teams had led to both Boilermakers losses this season and a missed field goal seemed to point to a third before Brees rallied Purdue to a 32-31 victory over Michigan. It was the first major Big Ten victory in Brees’ career and he passed for 286 yards and two touchdowns.
Woodrow Dantzler, QB, Clemson: With the Tigers securely in the top five of the polls, Dantzler has become the surprise Heisman candidate of the season. He entered Saturday’s game as the No. 3 passer and No. 11 rusher in the nation and turned in 103 yards rushing and 220 yards passing in a 34-27 win over North Carolina State.
Streaks snapped
Iowa’s win over Michigan State snapped the Hawkeyes’ 13-game losing streak… . Florida State’s loss to Miami snapped a 26-game regular season winning streak… . Ball State ended its 21-game losing streak, beating Miami of Ohio 15-10.
700 club
Zamir Amin of Menlo College set an NCAA all-divisions record, passing for 731 yards in the Division III school’s 37-32 loss to Cal Lutheran.
Amin, 39 of 66 with four TDs and three interceptions, broke the mark of 716 set by David Klingler of Division I-A Houston against Arizona State on Dec. 2, 1990.
It’s been a long time
Northwestern’s 52-33 victory over Indiana marked the Wildcats’ first 50-point output in 42 years. The 1958 Wildcats scored 55 against Michigan… . When Nebraska defeated Iowa State 49-27, it was the first time since Dan McCarney took over at Iowa State in 1995 that the Cyclones haven’t lost to the Huskers by at least 35 points… . TCU is 5-0 for the first time since 1942 and the Horned Frogs’ 10-game winning streak is their best since winning 14 straight in 1937-38… . Coincidentally, 1938 was the last time Oregon State was 5-0. The Beavers fell short of that mark, falling to 4-1 with a loss to Washington.
Division I-AA highs… and lows
Rickey Rahne threw four second-half touchdown passes to bring Cornell back from a 28-0 halftime deficit for a 29-28 victory over Harvard.
Wofford beat VMI 45-28, extending the Keydets’ losing streak against Division I-AA opponents to 38 games. VMI also has lost 29 consecutive conference games.
Kevin Quinlan ran for 241 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns as Massachusetts beat Northeastern 21-16.
Division I-A stars
300 yards passing
Patrick Ramsey, Tulane: 403 (3TDs)
Philip Rivers, N.C. State: 370 (3)
John Welsh, Idaho: 365 (2)
Sage Rosenfels, Iowa St.: 346 (2)
Ken Dorsey, Miami: 328 (3)
Carson Palmer, USC: 321 (1)
Bart Hendricks, Boise St.: 335 (4)
Jonathan Smith, Ore. St.: 314 (3)
Jared Lorenzen, Kentucky: 304 (1)
Ryan Schneider, C.Flor: 301 (2)
200 yards rushing
Dwone Hicks, MTSU: 311 (6TDs)
LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU: 294 (4)
Damien Anderson, N’western: 292 (4)
T.J. Duckett, Mich. St.: 248 (1)
William Green, B. College: 225 (3)
The double triple
Woodrow Dantzler, QB, Clemson: 103 rush, 220 pass
Eric Crouch, QB, Nebraska: 164 pass, 138 rush