Week 13 postgame, the players: Gerhart punches his trophy ticket

Sat, Nov 28, 2009

Tree-huggers can't get enough of Toby Gerhart; the Irish needed a saw to stop him. Tree-huggers can’t get enough of Toby Gerhart; the Irish needed a saw to stop him.

Sporting News’ Derek Samson covers the best and worst performances of Week 13 in college football.

Game balls

1. Toby Gerhart, Stanford RB. Gerhart likely punched his ticket to New York for the Heisman ceremony with another monster night: 205 rushing yards and three scores, an 18-yard touchdown pass and the game-winning touchdown with 59 seconds left to beat Notre Dame 45-38.

2. Riley Skinner, Wake Forest QB. Skinner’s college career ended in fitting fashion. He was the catalyst in Wake Forest turning around its miserable program (the Deacons returned to gloomy days this year, however). Skinner passed for a career-high 372 yards and a school-record five touchdowns to help Wake Forest defeat Duke 45-34. He was 28-of-38 passing and did not throw an interception.

3. Danario Alexander, Missouri WR. Alexander’s November was remarkable, as he added 15 catches and 233 receiving yards in Saturday’s win over Kansas. That gives Alexander 49 receptions for 820 yards and five TDs this month. And to think Alexander didn’t even put up the best receiving numbers in Saturday’s game. KU’s Dezmon Briscoe caught 14 passes for 242 yards.

4. Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech RB. Williams rushed for 182 yards and four touchdowns in likely sending Virginia coach Al Groh to the unemployment line (or a second career as a poet).

5. Frank Warren, Grambling State RB. Dipping into the I-AA ranks, Warren rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns to help Grambling State beat Southern 31-13 in the 36th Bayou Classic in the Louisiana Superdome.

6. Trevor Vittatoe, UTEP QB. Vittatoe threw for 517 yards and five TDs in the mauling of Marshall.