San Diego State lost to Army 42-35 Saturday in the Armed Forces Bowl, but the story of the day was Rashaad Penny, the Aztecs running back who carried only 14 times but racked up 221 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Penny’s performance would have been impressive in a vacuum, but it becomes even more incredible with a wide lens. Saturday marked the fifth straight game in which the running back gained 200 or more yards on the ground, tying him with Marcus Allen (1981), Barry Sanders (1988) and Jamario Thomas (2004) for the most consecutive 200-yard efforts.
Penny, who finished fifth in Heisman voting and could have placed higher, got started with an 81-yard touchdown dash in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, he carried 32 yards to reach the end zone once again.
In the third quarter, he scampered 49 yards for his third score.
His fourth and final touchdown came from only four yards out, but it was awfully impressive nonetheless.
Penny will not get a chance to post a sixth straight 200-yard game because he’ll now head for the NFL Draft, where he could be a first-round pick. Surely the nation’s leading rusher would have liked to lead San Diego State to victory Saturday, but he’ll have to settle for 200 yards and an extraordinary roster.