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2007 - 2008 Heisman Trophy Watch
Texas quarterback Vince Young made a strong case
for the Heisman trophy this Saturday both on the
ground and in the air as he became just the
seventh player in NCAA history to tally 200+ yards
both running and passing. With the Longhorns down
26-12 at the half, Young led the team to score 35
unanswered points. He finished 15-of-30 passing
with 239 yards and 2 touchdowns to 1 interception.
On the ground he shredded the Oklahoma State
defense for 267 yards and two touchdowns on 21
carries. On the season, Young is now 120-of-190
passing with 1,835 yards, 16 touchdowns and 8
interceptions. Young also has 103 rushes, 725
yards, and 8 touchdowns.
Unlike Young and the Longhorns, USC and its two
Heisman shortlisters, QB Matt Leinart and RB
Reggie Bush, didn’t need to do any rallying. Ahead
28-6 after the first quarter, the Trojans blew out
the Washington State Cougars 55-13. Matt Leinart
threw for 364 yards, 3 TDs and 1 pick despite
sitting out the fourth quarter. On the season,
Leinart is 169-of-258 for 2,530 yards with 19 TDs
and six INTs and a couple of rushing TDs.
Fellow Trojan Reggie Bush’s numbers weren’t as
impressive though. With the passing game and the
other USC back LenDale White rolling, Bush wasn’t
the focus of the offense. He put up solid numbers:
17 carries for 97 yards and 4 catches for 40 yards
but didn’t find the end zone. Bush has 111 carries
for 910 yards and 10 TD this season. He also has
23 receptions for 285 yards and 2 TDs and a punt
return for a TD.
The performances of UCLA’s RB Maurice Drew and QB
Drew Olson were not overly impressive on paper but
gain some luster because of their late-game
heroics. Down 24-3 to Stanford in the fourth
quarter, the Bruins scored three unanswered
touchdowns, Olson led the Bruins on three drives
of 65, 72 and 66 yards, two of which were
punctuated by Maurice Drew TD runs. In OT, a 23
yard pass by Olson, set up the field goal that
would win the game.
Drew finished with 82 yards and 2 TDs on 18
rushes, and 87 yards on 6 catches. On the season,
Drew has 132 carries for 675 yards and 11 TDs, 25
catches for 370 yards and 4 TDs and 3 punt return
TDs. Olson went 24-of-35 for 293 yards and 2
touchdowns. On the season, Olson is 173-of-257 for
2,167 yards and 23 TDs with only three
interceptions.
Minnesota’s running back Lawrence Maroney was a
tale of two players in the team’s loss to Ohio
State. Maroney racked up 114 yards and a TD in the
first half but disappeared in the second,
accumulating a meager 13 yards on 9 carries. This
season, Maroney has 223 carries for 1,262 yards
and 9 TDs.
Notre Dame Quarterback Brady Quinn (season: 175
for 266, 2,352 yards, 20 TDs, 4 INTs) and Memphis
RB DeAngelo Williams (1375 yards rushing, 51 yards
receiving, 12 TDs) were off this week.
After his performance this week, Vince Young is
probably the front runner for the Heisman but Matt
Leinart and Reggie Bush both have realistic
chances at carrying home the hardware at season’s
end. While Vince Young and his Longhorns play no
ranked teams in their final regular season match
ups, USC plays #23 California, #21 Fresno State
and #7 UCLA. Young has an opportunity to put up
great numbers, but if Bush or Leinart can do the
same against very tough opposition, Heisman voters
will take notice.
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