Welcome to our roundup of Texas sporting events. Every day, we’ll highlight one or two big stories from across the Lone Star State and round up the stories you need to know.
A Texas kid looks at history
Ashton Gennaty wasn’t your typical Texas high school football player. And his college career certainly hasn’t played out in typical fashion.
The Lone Star High School graduate in Frisco is in contention for the Heisman Trophy with 2,288 rushing yards this season at Boise State, on the verge of breaking a 36-year-old record.
In 1988, Oklahoma State University legend Barry Sanders rushed for a Football Bowl Subdivision single-season record 2,628 yards. That leaves Giunty 340 yards short of Sanders’ mark as his No. 10 Broncos prepare to face No. 20 UNLV in Friday night’s Mountain West championship game.
Boise State is also scheduled to play in at least one bowl game, with the possibility of more if they can advance past the first round of the College Football Playoff.
Giunty is averaging 190.7 yards per game and is on pace to gain about 381 yards in two games. That’s enough to break Sanders’ record, but it won’t be an easy task as Boise State faces high stakes and high-caliber opponents this week. In the Broncos’ last meeting with the Rebels on Oct. 25, Giunty had a season-low 3.9 yards per carry. Boise State won 29-24.
However, it will not be easy for opponents to contain Genty. He has racked up at least 127 rushing yards in each of 12 games this season and has topped the 200-yard mark five times.
Seven years ago, Gianti played his first season of high school football in Italy, where his father was stationed in the U.S. Navy. Then he headed to Frisco. Then off to Idaho. And maybe he’s trying to make a record now.
Other news you should know:
— — SMU volleyball won in the first round of the NCAA Tournament behind outside hitter Maya Tabron’s 14 kills. Texas, Baylor and TCU also advanced in the bracket.
— The Cowboys announced that seven-time first-team All-Pro right guard Zach Martin will undergo ankle surgery during the season, putting the 34-year-old’s career future in jeopardy. Coach Mike McCarthy said Martin is “obviously a Hall of Fame player.”
–The University of Texas tells the SEC it has not been able to identify the person who threw a bottle onto the field during the Longhorns’ loss to Georgia in October. The Longhorns and Bulldogs will clash again on Sunday in Atlanta for the conference championship.
