Johnson Keeps Rushing Towards Payton Award
10/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - With seven games done in the 2014 season, senior Gus Johnson continues to make his case for consideration for the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the top player at the FCS level.
In Stephen F. Austin's 59-27 victory over Houston Baptist Saturday evening, Johnson eclipsed the 100-yard plateau for the fifth time this season, rushing for 133 yards and three touchdowns on just 17 carries. It was the third three-or-more touchdown game of the season for Johnson as he now has six in his career, the most of any Lumberjack in program history.
For the season, Johnson has rushed 116 times for 986 yards and 16 touchdowns, sitting just 14 yards shy of becoming just the second SFA running back to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons (Johnson had 1,061 in 2013). His 16 rushing touchdowns in 2014 is already second all-time in program history, one score shy of Paul Hood's school record of 17 rushing touchdowns in 1979 and two shy of the 18 total touchdowns registered by Dominique Edison in 2008.
Against Houston Baptist Saturday, Johnson surpassed Andy Hopkins' (1967-70) 3,080 career rushing yards, moving into second-place all-time with 3,210 yards for his Lumberjack career. He now trails Leonard Harris, SFA's leading rusher who notched 3,771 yards from 1992-95, by 561 yards, meaning that if Johnson averages 113 yards per game over the final five games of the season, he will sit all alone as the Lumberjacks' all-time leading rusher (Johnson is averaging 140.9 ypg through the first seven games of 2014).
Johnson continues to rank among the national leaders in a handful of categories, including leading the nation with 16 total touchdowns. The Gilmer native ranks second nationally in both yards per carry (8.50) and scoring (13.7 ppg), fourth in total rushing yards (986) and is sixth in rushing yards per game (140.9). A dual threat player, Johnson also ranks 17th nationally in all purpose yards, averaging 153.29 yards per game.
In addition to rewriting the SFA record book, Johnson is also etching his name into the Southland Conference record book as well. With five games to play in 2014, Johnson currently ranks 10th all-time in conference history in rushing yards (3,210), is sixth all-time in rushing touchdowns (44) and tied for sixth in total touchdowns (45).
Johnson was named to the 2014 Walter Payton Award Watch List on September 30th, joining Southeastern Louisiana quarterback Bryan Bennett as the only Southland Conference players on the list. Named after the legendary NFL Hall of Fame running back, the Walter Payton Award is given each year to the top collegiate football player at the FCS level. Ballots will be sent to a national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries following the regular season. The top three vote-getters will be invited to the presentation of the award.
-SFA-
