USAfootball

Upper Deck Team USA Alumni Report: Gurley’s 118 yards rushing guides Georgia to upset win

For most of the season, freshman running back Todd Gurley has been exceptional for Georgia.

On Saturday, Gurley came through for the Bulldogs when they needed him most.

The 2012 Under-19 U.S. National Team alum had a team-high 118 yards rushing and a touchdown in No. 10 Georgia’s 17-9 upset of previously unbeaten No. 2 Florida. Gurley added 23 yards receiving as well.

“He ran it 27 times and didn't fumble it, which is huge,” said Georgia coach Mark Richt. “I’m proud of him, no doubt. He's getting yards after contact, and he’s a very physical kid.”

Gurley's 10-yard touchdown run in the first quarter was his team-leading 11th TD of the season, with 10 rushing scores and one on a kickoff return. He now has 739 rushing yards for the year. Georgia improved to 51-5 under Richt when they have a 100-yard rusher.

“I had great blocking all day,” Gurley said. “I couldn't have done it without those guys.”

Quinton Dunbar (2010) caught three passes for 40 yards for the Gators.

Jordan Lynch piles up more than 400 yards and six more touchdowns

Northern Illinois signal caller Jordan Lynch (2009) continues to perform at an extraordinary level.

This week, Lynch accounted for 410 yards of total offense, 274 passing and 136 rushing, and six touchdowns as the Huskies held off Western Michigan, 48-34.

Lynch recorded his seventh consecutive 100-yard rushing game and his eighth of the 2012 season. He tied Garrett Wolfe (2004) for second place in the Huskies’ career record books for consecutive 100-yard rushing games.

“I think the guy should be on the Heisman list,” said coach Dave Doeren. “The guy’s close to breaking the all-time record for QB in rushing, throws four TDs, runs for two, averages 130-plus yards a game. He doesn't turn the football over, he’s playing so hard and the fourth-down throw shows you he’s a clutch player, too. I love the guy."

Lynch has racked up 1,984 passing yards and 17 TDs to go along with 1,185 yards on the ground and 15 rushing touchdowns. On Saturday, he averaged 6.5 yards per rush and 15.2 yards per completion, and averaged 8.4 yards per play on 49 offensive snaps.

Brian Fields (2009) had 20 yards on the ground and 37 yards receiving for the Broncos.

Elsewhere:

• Jaxon Shipley (2011) caught six passes for 66 yards for No. 23 Texas, including an 18-yard, fourth-down conversion late in the game, helping the Longhorns escape Kansas, 21-17. Joe Bergeron (2011) had 32 yards rushing and a score, while Daje Johnson (2012) had two yards rushing and four yards receiving. Josh Turner (2011) had four tackles and a fumble recovery and Bryant Jackson (2010) added two tackles in Texas’ win.


• Tommy Heffernan (2010) recorded seven tackles and forced a fumble in North Carolina’s 43-35 victory over NC State. Tony Creecy (2010) led the Wolfpack in rushing with 66 yards on the ground and caught three passes for 23 yards.


• Steele Divitto (2010) made four stops for Boston College in the Eagles’ 20-17 victory over Maryland.


• Zach Espinosa (2012) had one tackle and a forced fumble for the Rice Owls as they beat Southern Mississippi, 44-17.


• Josh Huff (2010) led No. 4 Oregon in receiving with 49 yards on four receptions as the Ducks pummeled Colorado, 70-14.


• Manoa Pikula (2011) made one tackle for BYU in the Cougars’ 41-17 victory over Georgia Tech.


• Mike Loftus (2009) had one punt for 39 yards for SMU as the Mustangs pulled away from Memphis, 44-13. Keiwone Malone (2010) caught three passes for 33 yards, including a 20-yarder, for the Tigers.


• Kenny Williams (2011) led No. 14 Texas Tech with 81 yards rushing on 15 carries and had one catch for seven yards as the Red Raiders fell to No. 3 Kansas State, 55-24. Chris Payne (2009) recorded one stop for Texas Tech.


• Duke’s Will Monday (2011) averaged 40.5 yards on 12 punts, including a long of 51 and four punts downed inside the 20-yard line, in a 48-7 loss to No. 12 Florida State.


• Brian Winters (2009) started at left tackle for Kent State as the Golden Flashes upset previously unbeaten and 15th-ranked Rutgers, 35-23. Savon Huggins (2011) had two carries for 11 yards for the Scarlet Knights.


• Pat Hinkel (2009) had six tackles, including a sack, and pass break-up for Miami (Ohio) in their upset victory over the No. 24 Ohio Bobcats, 23-20.


• Micajah Reynolds (2009) made two tackles for Michigan State in a win over No. 25 Wisconsin, 16-13, in overtime.


• Jordon Roussos (2009) got the start at right tackle for Bowling Green as the Falcons flew away from Eastern Michigan, 24-3.


• Ryan Simmons (2011) had one tackle, including a half-sack, for Oklahoma State in the Cowboys’ 36-14 win over TCU.


• Robert Bell (2009) had five tackles for Toledo, including a tackle for-loss, in the Rockets’ 25-20 win over Buffalo.


• Noel Grigsby (2009) hauled in six passes for 75 yards for San Jose State as the Spartans held off Texas State, 31-20. Matt Freeman (2011) started at center for the Bobcats in the loss.


• Michael Bennett (2011) had three tackles and broke up a pass for No. 9 Ohio State in a 35-23 victory over Penn State. Jack Mewhort (2009) started at left tackle for the Buckeyes, and Mike Hull (2010) made three stops, including a sack, for the Nittany Lions.


• Richard Leonard (2010) had one kickoff return for 27 yards for Florida International in a loss to Western Kentucky, 14-6.


• A.J. Tarpley (2010) made five stops, including a tackle for loss, and Alex Carter (2012) recorded four tackles and forced a fumble for No. 17 Stanford in their 24-17 win over Washington State. Kevin Hogan (2011) rushed four times for three yards for the Cardinal.


• Kiehl Frazier (2011) was 6-of-11 for 89 yards passing for Auburn in the Tigers’ 63-21 loss at home to No. 20 Texas A&M.


• Shamarko Thomas (2009) had a team-high nine tackles and a fumble recovery and Brandon Sharpe (2009) made three stops, including a tackle for-loss and one pass break-up, for Syracuse as they snuck by South Florida, 37-36.


• Tevin Reese (2009) had 55 yards receiving for Baylor, including a 49-yard touchdown, but the Bears fell to Iowa State, 35-21.


• Josh Allen (2010) started at center for Louisiana-Monroe in their 38-24 win over South Alabama.


• Stephon Tuitt (2011) tallied one tackle for No. 5 Notre Dame in their 30-13 victory at No. 8 Oklahoma. Adam Shead (2010) started at left guard for the Sooners.


• Imani Cross (2012) had four yards rushing for Nebraska as the Cornhuskers defeated No. 22 Michigan, 23-9. Royce Jenkins-Stone (2012) made one stop for the Wolverines in the loss.


• Josh Reese (2010) had one catch for 14 yards for Central Florida as they ran away from Marshall, 54-17. Aaron Dobson (2009) led the Thundering Herd with 68 yards receiving on five catches.


• Michael Hartvigson (2010) caught two passes for 33 yards for Washington, helping the Huskies upset No. 7 Oregon State, 20-17. Jordan Poyer (2009) had five tackles and one punt return for zero yards for the Beavers.

Upper Deck has been the official trading card partner of USA Football and Team USA since 2011. Each year, Upper Deck produces a USA Football trading card set which features players from USA Football’s Under-19 National Team. Click here to learn more.