(This is a weekly article on Student Union Sports covering the most ridiculous stat lines of the week)
Week 7 brought us a very mixed bag of results. We had a close top-10 game in Wisconsin vs. Ohio State, a not-so-close top-10 game in Alabama vs. Tennessee, with some upsets (Syracuse and North Carolina) and other ranked games mixed in that shook up this weeks rankings. Looking at the new rankings make me feel like I’m living in the 80’s and 90’s with strong Washington, Nebraska, and Michigan teams again in the top 10. Outside of team performances, week 7 was also home to some eye-popping stats by individual players, including the most ridiculous stat line I have seen in years (see below). Watching these games still makes me long for the days of NCAA Football video games every year, but these video game stats will have to do. Enjoy these top performers for week 7:
Offense: WR Carlos Henderson, Louisiana Tech
Stats: 12 rec, 326 yards, 5 TD’s
Yes, you read that right. While Henderson’s stat line might have even been a winner if he was a quarterback, he did it as a wide receiver. Nothing I say can do justice to just how ridiculous Henderson was against UMass, so let me try anyway. 12 receptions for a wide receiver is good anytime, but the fact that he got 326 yards (27.2 yard average!!) is only 79 yards off the NCAA record of 402 by Trent Edwards. I am happy if my team even gets 326 yards total as a team at this point. But the most amazing part of this is the 5 touchdowns. 5 touchdowns would have him just outside the top 20 for the season in the NCAA, but he did it in a single game. But lets not discredit Henderson’s full season either: he is currently tied for the NCAA lead in touchdown receptions, third in yards, and 20th in receptions. He is also coming off of an 8 reception, 232 yard, 3 TD performance in week 6. While this article is titled video game stats, I am not even sure I could put up this stat line with any player I have ever had.
Defense: DE Randy Allen, South Alabama
Stats: 13 tackles, 4.5 for loss, 2 sacks
While Allen might be a little disappointed he doesn’t get to play LSU anymore (gee, thanks Mother Nature), he shouldn’t have an ounce of disappointment about his performance in week 7. His team could not pull off the win against Arkansas State, but it was not for lack of effort from Allen who checked in with an impressive 13 tackles, with 4.5 for loss and 2 sacks. He was able to break through the offensive line of the Red Wolves with ease, bringing his sack total to 7.0 on the season. After transferring to South Alabama from a JUCO school, Allen is now starting to see his name creep into the NFL draft discussions, and more performances like week 7 might sneak him in to a draft slot.
Special Teams: WR Quadree Henderson, Pittsburgh
Stats: 2 kick returns, 112 yards, 1 TD, 3 punt returns, 46 yards
No special teams player really stood out on the special teams side of the ball, but Henderson impressed on a 93 yard kick return touchdown that tied the game up in the late first quarter. He also had a nice 30 yard punt return that flipped the field and set the Panthers up for a field goal that stretched the lead to 17, a lead which Virginia would never be able to overcome. Again, Henderson may not have had as eye-popping of stats as I usually put on this list, but his 93 yard kick return separated him from the rest of the special teams pack.
I will see you next week for another edition of On the Ball: Video Game Stats!