Quick Kick
Heisman watch
It’s time to quit ignoring Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel. Heck, after Saturday’s surprising thrashing of Nebraska, he’s practically become the favorite - especially with Michael Vick and Woodrow Dantzler slowed by injuries.
Heupel was 20 for 34 for 300 yards and a touchdown and has the Sooners poised to take over the top spot in the major polls and BCS standings.
The other candidates that did the most to get votes Saturday were Purdue quarterback Drew Brees and TCU running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
Brees was 39 for 65 for 455 yards and three touchdowns as No. 16 Purdue beat No. 12 Ohio State 31-27.
Tomlinson ran for 200 yards and two touchdowns as No. 11 TCU beat Rice 37-0.
Bowers takes bows
R.J. Bowers of Division III Grove City College broke the NCAA all-division career rushing record, gaining 128 yards on 26 carries in a 20-14 win over Bethany College. Bowers broke the record of 6,958 yards set by Brian Shay of Division II Emporia State from 1995-98. Bowers has 6,999 yards rushing.
Milestone for Simonton
Oregon State’s Ken Simonton became the first running back in Pacific-10 history to gain at least 1,000 yards as a freshman, sophomore and junior. Simonton set the mark against Washington State on a career-long 53-yard run on his second carry in the first quarter.
Sidelined
Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick sprained his right ankle late in the first half against Pittsburgh and did not return to the game. He was helped off the field and taken to the Student Health Center for X-rays, which showed no break.
Division I-AA highlights
Ryan Helming threw for 410 yards and four touchdowns as Northern Iowa beat Southwest Missouri State 31-13.
Stephan Lewis ran for 245 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead New Hampshire to a 24-16 win over Massachusetts.
Marvin Royal ran for a school-record 302 yards and four touchdowns in Sacred Heart’s 46-7 victory over Iona.
Dave Corley was 22 for 33 for a schoolrecord 426 yards and scored two touchdowns in William & Mary’s 26-15 victory over Northeastern.
Grayland King rushed for 225 yards and four touchdowns as Delaware State beat South Carolina State 57-32.
Drake rolled up a school-record 734 yards total offense, beating Butler 62-41.
Division I-A stars 300 yards passing
Drew Brees, Purdue: 455 (3TDs)
George Godsey, GaTech: 454 (3TDs)
Joey Harrington, Oregon: 434 (6TDs)
Jeff Krohn, ASU: 432 (5TDs)
Luke McCown, LaTech: 418 (3TDs)
Kliff Kingsbury, TTech: 405 (4TDs)
Lon Sheriff, SDSU: 393 (1TD)
Byron Leftwich, Marshall: 393 (2TDs)
Bart Hendricks, Boise St.: 375 (3TDs)
Craig Ochs, Colorado: 336 (2TDs)
Dylen Smith, Kansas: 327 (2TDs)
Aso Pogi, OkState: 313 (1TD)
John Turman, Pitt: 311 (4TDs)
Patrick Ramsey, Tulane: 301 (2TDs)
Josh Heupel, Oklahoma: 300 (1TD) 200 yards rushing
Marcus Merriweather, Ball St.: 257 (3TDs)
Damien Anderson, N’west: 230 (2TDs)
William Green, B.C.: 223 (2TDs)
Ennis Haywood, Iowa St.: 214 (2TDs)
Emmett White, Utah St.: 209 (2TDs)
LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU: 200 (2TDs) 200 yards receiving
Kelly Campbell, GaTech: 209 (1TD) Double triple
Eric Crouch, Nebraska: 103 rushing, 133 passing.
The last word
“It really hasn’t hit me yet, but I’m sure that on the ride home, I’ll say to myself, `I’m the nation’s all-time leading rusher.’ But I won’t pinch myself because I’m too beat up for that.” - R.J. Bowers.