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You know the saying: “Respect your elders.”
It seems like every year, underclassmen are becoming more and more prominent in the college game. In recent years, we’ve seen the younger crowd take home prestigious awards that had always been held down by juniors and seniors.
Here at Saturday Down South, we don’t overlook the old men of the college game. Let’s run down five of the best seniors from this past week:
CAMERON ARTIS-PAYNE
Auburn’s star tailback had another huge game in a critical win over Ole Miss last weekend, rushing for 143 yards and a touchdown in a 35-31 victory. Artis-Payne has now rushed for more than 100 yards in six of eight games this season, and he’s scored at least one touchdown in five of eight games on the season. Auburn boasts the SEC’s top rushing offense, and it’s been led by Artis-Payne, the SEC’s leader in carries per game.
SENQUEZ GOLSON
Golson recorded yet another interception in Saturday’s loss to Auburn, bringing his total to nine in nine games this season. Golson leads the SEC in interceptions and passes defended in 2014, and he was the lone bright spot in an otherwise disappointing performance by the Rebels secondary. Ole Miss allowed more than 250 yards through the air for just the third time this season, but Golson was tremendous as usual, adding five tackles and another pass defended in a losing effort.
AMARLO HERRERA
Georgia’s star linebacker led the Bulldogs with 11 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, in a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Florida Gators on Saturday. The Bulldogs allowed Florida to rush for more than 400 yards and score 38 points, but Herrera did his part to try and limit the damage on a struggling defense. He made plays from sideline to sideline, and found himself in UF’s backfield more often than any other Georgia defender.
NICK MARSHALL
Marshall had one of the best games of his career as a passer, completing 15 of 22 passes (68.2 completion percentage) for 254 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Ole Miss. He set a season high for yards and had his longest completion of the season on a 57-yard touchdown connection with Sammie Coates in the second quarter. Marshall also ran for 50 yards and two touchdowns in the win. His 304 yards represented 60 percent of Auburn’s total offense, and his four touchdowns represented 80 percent of Auburn’s points for the game.
BUD SASSER
Sasser starred for a struggling Missouri offense in a 20-10 win over Kentucky last weekend, catching six passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Tigers’ pass attack. Kentucky could not figure out how to contain Missouri’s most explosive receiver, letting him get inside position for an easy touchdown on a slant along the goal line for his first touchdown of the game, then letting him get open over the top in single coverage for another 26-yard touchdown catch later in the half. Those touchdowns would be all the points the Tigers needed to stave off Kentucky and reclaim first place atop the SEC East standings.
PRESTON SMITH
Smith added another fantastic performance to an already stellar senior season, recording five tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss in a 17-10 win over Arkansas last weekend. Smith did not record a sack, but he did lead the team with three quarterback hurries for the game, forcing Hogs’ quarterback Brandon Allen into quick decisions as the Arkansas offense remained out of sync for most of the night. Smith and the MSU defense held Arkansas to just 10 points, seven of which came off a turnover by the MSU offense in the first half of play. His numbers were average, but once again Smith played a huge role in another Mississippi State victory.
MARTRELL SPAIGHT
Spaight and the Razorbacks fell just short of an upset of the No. 1 ranked Bulldogs, but the Hogs’ senior linebacker was tremendous in defeat. He led his team, and all SEC defenders, with 15 tackles on the evening, and added a tackle for loss for good measure. Spaight and the defense limited MSU tailback Josh Robinson to his worst rushing numbers of the season, and they held Mississippi State to 17 points below its previous season low. Even in defeat, the Razorbacks’ defense had one of its best outings of the season, thanks in large part to Spaight’s brilliance.
BO WALLACE
Ole Miss lost for a second straight week, and Wallace fumbled inside the Auburn 5 yard line in the fourth quarter to contribute to the Rebels’ demise, but he did have one of his best games of the season in a losing effort. Wallace attempted a whopping 40 passes, and completed 70 percent of those throws for 362 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He also ran for 61 yards and a touchdown in one of his best rushing performances of the season, bringing his totals on the night to 423 total yards and three total touchdowns in the loss. Fans won’t soon forget Wallace’s costly fumble late in the game, but he put forth one of the best showings of his career in trying to keep the Rebels’ title hopes alive.
A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.
