East Carolina’s Zay Jones has the nation’s top four games for receptions after making 19 catches in a win over UConn, and he’s on track to break the Bowl Subdivision career receptions record.
Jones passed former Oklahoma receiver Ryan Broyles for second place on the career list and trails only former ECU teammate Justin Hardy. Jones has 355 catches; Hardy, now with the Atlanta Falcons, had 387 from 2011-14.
Jones is averaging 14.25 catches a game and has at least four games left to haul in the 33 passes needed to break the record.
Offensive coordinator Tony Petersen’s spread system emphasizes short, high-percentage passes, helping Jones rack up the receptions. He had 22 catches against South Carolina, 18 against USF and 17 against UCF. Trent Taylor of Louisiana Tech also had a 17-catch game.
Jones leads the nation with 114 catches in eight games. Taylor is second with 93 in nine games.
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Other statistical feats from the weekend:
THE BIG ONE
Toledo’s Logan Woodside and Jon’Vea Johnson teamed for the nation’s longest pass play — 98 yards for a touchdown — in a loss to Ohio. Woodside finished with three TD passes to extend his national lead to 31. Woodside has thrown for no fewer than three TDs in any game this season.
SACK STREAK
Dorance Armstrong of Kansas has recorded at least one sack in six straight games, sharing the longest streak in the nation with Alabama’s Tim Williams. The sophomore defensive end is a feel-good story for the struggling Jayhawks. He’s added 20 pounds to his 6-foot-4 frame since last year and is now listed at 246. He has eight sacks in eight games, a Big 12-leading 12 tackles for loss and a total of 28 tackles to lead all KU linemen.
FIELD GOALS APLENTY
Virginia Tech’s Joey Slye tied the school and ACC record and became the third kicker in the nation this season to kick six field goals in a game. He connected from 31, 21, 22, 26, 37 and 22 yards in a win over Pittsburgh. Slye also made three extra points, and his 21 points set the Tech record for a kicker. He’s made nine field goals in the last two games and is 16 of 20 for the season.
ZIPPING PAST AKRON, AGAIN
Buffalo’s Jordan Johnson turned in the weekend’s best rushing performance, running 24 times for 282 yards against Akron. The Zips have given up three of the top 11 rushing games of the season.
Other big outings: Oklahoma’s D’Onta Foreman, 32 carries for 250 yards against Baylor; Tulsa’s James Flanders, 33 for 249 against Memphis; Auburn’s Kamryn Pettway, 30 for 236 against Mississippi; San Diego State’s Donnel Pumphrey, 32 for 223 against Utah State; and Southern California’s Ronald Jones II, 18 for 223 against California.
Pumphrey has four 200-yard games and is the national rushing leader by 26 yards a game over Foreman.
CAN’T KEEP UP WITH JONES
Notre Dame’s Jarron Jones played one of the most dominant games of the season by a defensive lineman. His six tackles for loss against Miami were a season high nationally. He finished with seven stops, a sack and a pass breakup. On Miami’s first six plays from scrimmage, Jones had three tackles behind the line and one pass breakup.
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