Rushing Yards

Tonight's games CLASS 3A Lackey (7-5) @ No. 5 Hereford (12-0) When -- 7 Outlook -- Hereford is undefeated behind an explosive wing T, triple-option offense that has scored 555 points and is averaging 46.3 points behind running backs Lonnie Liggins, D.J. Wacker, Hasani Cromwell, Nick Depaola and Eric Hemmeter, who each have scored at least four TDs. Liggins leads the attack with 1,103 rushing yards, 20 rushing TDs, two kick-return TDs and an interception return...

As Jason Corle became Towson's all-time rushing leader yesterday in front of 2,481 at Minnegan Stadium, the Tigers' defense made an even stronger statement during a 35-7 win over Lafayette.Having built the reputation of a patsy during its first two seasons in the Patriot League, the Towson defense held the Leopards to 45 rushing yards in the first three quarters and 95 for the game.That aided the Tigers in a game deemed important if they wanted to move out of the league's poorhouse. "We just wanted to win today, and I didn't care by how much," Towson coach Gordy Combs said, "We have to get into that next tier.

DENVER -- In a scene hauntingly familiar to last year's Super Bowl run, the Denver Broncos made amends for grievances past yesterday.That dreary regular-season loss to the Miami Dolphins last December? Atoned.Their defensive malaise the last month of the season? Gone.Shannon Sharpe's bulletin-board quote that the Broncos were 10 to 14 points better than the Dolphins? At least he had the right team."My prognostication was way wrong," Denver's agitating tight end said after the Broncos crushed the Dolphins, 38-3, in a shockingly lopsided AFC divisional playoff game at Mile High Stadium.

It was a record-breaking night Friday in county football. Some of the records that fell:State and county recordsAnnapolis 41, North County 24Most combined total yards: 942 (Annapolis, 488; North County 454)Most passes attempted, game: 58 (Mike Pfisterer, North County)Most completions, game: 38 (Pfisterer)Most pass receptions, game: 21 (Nat Randall, North County)School recordsRayvon Johnson, Annapolis, RB, vs. North CountyMost rushing yards, game: 330 (county, 5th highest)Most rushing yards, career: 3,638 (county, 2nd)

Class 4AEleanor Roosevelt (10-1)vs. No. 8 Patterson (10-1)When: 11 a.m. todayWhere: PolyOutlook: Roosevelt comes to Baltimore from Greenbelt having scored the most points (397) and given up the fewest (83) in Class 4A. The Raiders, in the playoffs for the third time in school history, are coming off a 19-13 quarterfinal win over Prince George's County rival Suitland, a 4A finalist the last two years. RB Edwin Rios (1,300 rushing yards, 386 receiving yards) leads Roosevelt, a state runner-up in 1996.

Who holds the NFL record for most rushing yards in a game?David V., 12New Providence, New JerseyWalter Payton of the Chicago Bears ran for 275 yards against the Minnesota Vikings on November 20, 1977. Walter carried the ball 40 times.Walter is also the NFL's career rushing leader. He ran the ball 3,838 times for 16,726 yards from 1975 to 1987. Walter is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

For the second time in a week, a prominent member of the Denver Broncos' offense said the defending Super Bowl champions are in need of an attitude adjustment.In the wake of a 26-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, quarterback Brian Griese reiterated Sunday what tailback Terrell Davis said after a Week 1 loss to Miami."We need a change in attitude," Griese said after getting benched in his second NFL start. "We need to come out and play like we come to dominate the other team."Instead, the Broncos, off to an unthinkable 0-2 start, are being dominated.

The Jacksonville Jaguars had scored under 20 points for three consecutive games. Critics said the offense had become too conservative with coach Tom Coughlin calling the plays instead of last season's coordinator, Chris Palmer, now coach of the Cleveland Browns.Coughlin's answer to his critics was that he was running the same offense as last season.And now that running back Fred Taylor is back in the lineup, people are starting to believe him.Taylor had five carries in those three games after suffering a hamstring injury.

The injuries are healed and the adaption time is over, meaning the Ravens are expecting running back Jay Graham, who enters his third year in the NFL, to resemble the back who starred at Tennessee."

MIAMI -- Ever in search of the perfect game, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Greg Robinson got a glimpse of what it might look like this month.In back-to-back victories over the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets, the Broncos surrendered a total of one touchdown (following a blocked Denver punt) and 28 rushing yards. Were it not for the 594 passing yards given up, perfection would have been achieved.For the second straight year, the Broncos' defense has dominated. While running back Terrell Davis and quarterback John Elway get most of the attention, the defense has been the most consistent element in Denver's postseason splash.

Ravens run offense vs. Titans run defense: : The Ravens, who had the NFL's fourth-best ground attack, had an effective running game against Tennessee earlier this season. RBs Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain combined for 115 rushing yards. McClain has taken over as the featured back the past seven weeks, averaging 86.5 yards and scoring six touchdowns. The Titans, who had the sixth-ranked run defense, get the right side of their line back with the return of DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (groin)

Ravens run offense vs. Dolphins run defense: : In Week 7 at Miami, the Ravens gained 139 rushing yards, the second-most yards allowed on the ground by the Dolphins this season. But NT Jason Ferguson, who missed the first meeting with a chest injury, will be in the middle this time. The Dolphins have allowed more than 120 yards on the ground in five of their past eight games. Suddenly disgruntled Willis McGahee has averaged 94.4 rushing yards in four games in his hometown of Miami. But Le'Ron McClain has taken over as the featured back the past six games.

Ravens run offense vs. Jaguars run defense: : Converted FB Le'Ron McClain has averaged 92.2 rushing yards in his past five games, scoring three touchdowns. It'll be interesting to see whether the Ravens will get the Willis McGahee from last game (103 yards) or the previous five games (a total of 76 yards). The Ravens, who have the NFL's No. 2 rushing attack, have gained at least 140 yards on the ground in nine of 10 wins this season. Jacksonville is 14th against the run but has looked stronger recently.

The last time the Lions started a season 0-12, they avoided 0-16 infamy with a Week 14 victory over the Vikings at the Pontiac Silverdome. Seven years later to the week, Detroit is 0-12 once again and welcomes Minnesota to Ford Field today with a chance to repeat history. The outlook is so grim that Lions coach Rod Marinelli showed players a team photo Monday and said they didn't want to wind up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as the first team to go 0-16. The Lions came from behind in 2001 to beat the Vikings, 27-24, on Cory Schlesinger's touchdown with 10 minutes left.

The best compliment an offense can receive is being described as unpredictable. And that's what makes the Ravens' running game so dangerous. Every week, any given running back can get the nod to carry the load. Even the coaching staff can't truly predict who it will be entering a game. Will it be Willis McGahee? Ray Rice? Le'Ron McClain? Ravens coach John Harbaugh said the team wanted to give each back about 10 carries in the Philadelphia Eagles game. But McClain was the hottest back and finished with 88 yards on 18 carries.

Ravens run offense vs. Giants run defense: : Willis McGahee is coming off a season-high 112 rushing yards. He is trying for his first back-to-back 100-yard games since November 2004. But that will be a challenge against the NFL's seventh-ranked run defense. In their past three home games, the Giants haven't allowed a back to rush for more than 61 yards. That includes: Marion Barber, Frank Gore and Julius Jones - all of whom failed to score a touchdown. The Ravens won't be as strong run blocking if Adam Terry has to replace Willie Anderson (ankle)

What Went Right For Navy The defense forced five turnovers, three in the first half, including two interceptions by senior cornerback Ketric Buffin. And sophomore quarterback Ricky Dobbs nearly led the Midshipmen to another comeback victory. What Went Wrong For Navy The offense had only 242 yards - including a season-low 178 rushing yards. The Mids failed to convert on their first 11 third-down opportunities, and the defense gave up 230 rushing yards. Defining Moment The decision at halftime by Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis to switch to a running game after quarterback Jimmy Clausen was intercepted twice and fumbled once in the first half.

Towson (3-7, 1-5 CAA) @Villanova (7-2, 5-1) Time: 1 p.m. Site: Villanova (Pa.) Stadium Radio: 1570 AM Outlook: The Tigers are coming off a loss at Delaware that pushed their losing streak to three games. The Wildcats had a big win over New Hampshire and are averaging 27 points behind sophomore RB Aaron Ball, who has 793 yards and seven TDs. Villanova has been using two quarterbacks this season, Chris Whitney and Antwon Young. Both have been effective of late, combining for 639 yards and six TDs in their past four games.

In one of the most bedeviling statistics of the NFL's first half, the Chiefs are demonstrating that a strong turnover margin doesn't always equate with winning. Kansas City has 18 takeaways, second most in the league, and is plus-seven in turnover margin, which ranks third in the NFL. The Chiefs also lead the NFL with 11 recovered fumbles. Yet, they are a woeful 1-7. The past two weeks are symptomatic of their struggles. They had seven takeaways against the Jets and Buccaneers and lost only one turnover themselves.

The numbers keep dropping. Ever since quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada left late in the first half at Wake Forest last month after reinjuring his hamstring, Navy's triple-option offense has slowly evaporated. The Midshipmen beat the then-No.16 Demon Deacons despite only 115 rushing yards in the second half, and they defeated Air Force with 206 rushing yards overall. Giving up a season-high 499 yards to Pittsburgh certainly factored significantly into Saturday's 42-21 loss to the Panthers at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, but so did a season-low 194 rushing yards and 251 yards overall.