Written by Brent Yarina, BTN.comBTN.com has a new staple every Saturday night. It’s called “United States Marine Corps: Leaders of the Week,” and it’s a feature designed to honor the best from every weekend of Big Ten action. Find the top performances, quotes and tweets from a wild Week 10 in this post.
Marcus Coker, Iowa – One week after going for a career-high 252 rushing yards, Coker racked up 132 yards and a pair of scores – his fourth straight game with two touchdowns – in a 24-16 win over Michigan.
Da’Jon McKnight, Minnesota – McKnight busted out of a season-long slump in a big way, with nine receptions for a career-high 173 yards and three touchdowns, which tied a career-high, in Minnesota’s 31-24 defeat at Michigan State.
Kirk Cousins, Michigan State – Cousins bounced back from his worst performance of the season with a 296-yard, two-touchdown performance in a 31-24 comeback victory over Minnesota. For the day, the senior completed 23 of 34 passes (68 percent), with no interceptions.
USMC Leaders of the Week
Boom Herron, Ohio State – With 148 rushing yards in Ohio State’s 34-20 win over Indiana, Herron eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the third consecutive contest since returning from a six-game suspension. The senior back averaged 10.6 yards per carry and added a touchdown.
Braxton Miller, Ohio State – Miller continues to struggle through the air, but the true freshman quarterback made up for it on the ground, running for 104 yards and a pair of scores, including an Ohio State quarterback record 81-yard scoring run, in Ohio State’s third straight win.
Kain Colter, Northwestern – Colter did it all in Northwestern’s upset victory at Nebraska, leading the Wildcats in passing (4 of 6, 115 yards, 1 TD) and rushing (57 yards, 2 TDs) and was the second leading receiver (3 rec., 57 yards).
Montee Ball, Wisconsin – When Ball reaches a career-high, you know it was a big day, and that’s what happened when the Badger back torched Purdue for 223 rushing yards, on just 20 carries, in Saturday’s 62-17 bounceback win over Purdue. He also scored three touchdowns, his fourth game with at least three rushing scores this year.
Russell Wilson, Wisconsin – Efficient as ever, Wilson completed 15 of 20 passes for 205 yards and two scores, with no interceptions, and added 76 yards and a score on the ground in Wisconsin’s 62-17 win over Purdue.
Chris Borland, Wisconsin – Borland notched 11 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss, forced two fumbles and picked off a pass to spearhead Wisconsin’s defensive effort in the blowout win over Purdue.
QUOTES
“We can’t leave the game to the officials. We’ve got to do it ourselves.” – Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, on Michigan’s narrow defeat at Iowa.
“I was playing with emotion and got frustrated.” – Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins, on his rare 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
“I think at the end of the game, the kid was physically exhausted. He gave everything he had but that’s how you learn.” – Minnesota coach Jerry Kill, on MarQueis Gray’s performance in a loss at Michigan State.
“We’re growing every week. We’re getting better every week.” – Indiana QB Tre Roberson, on the Hoosiers following their seventh straight loss.
“We needed this. “Badly.” – Wisconsin RB Montee Ball, on Wisconsin 62-17 win over Purdue following two straight last-minute defeats.
“He’s right up there with Denard Robinson as far as his ability to extend plays.” – Purdue linebacker Joe Holland, on Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson.
“We got beat. It’s that plain and simple. They outplayed us, they outcoached us. What are you going to say?” – Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, on unexpected home loss to Northwestern.
“I said it after last week, that if we wanted to make this season special we had to make it a November to remember.” – Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, on his team’s big upset win at Nebraska.
TWEETS
It's the BIG 10, Nebraska. There are no easy games. #GoCats—
Seth Meyers (@sethmeyers21) November 05, 2011
Northwestern is 4-5, still alive for a bowl, with games left vs. Rice, Minnesota and Michigan State–all at home. That Wildcats may do it.—
Tom Dienhart (@BTNTomDienhart) November 05, 2011
We are not NU. NU is Northwestern. They earned it.—
(@CornNation) November 05, 2011
People don't go into Memorial Stadium unranked and win.—
Tim Doyle (@BTNTimDoyle) November 05, 2011
Thank you Northwestern! #SpartanDawgs now we have to do our part. Let's go #SpartanNation.—
Larry Caper (@Lcaper_22) November 05, 2011
That's a very good win for #NW coach Pat Fitzgerald. Needed some momentum to get ship back in right direction—
Mark Schlabach (@Mark_Schlabach) November 05, 2011
Montee Ball has 159 rushing yards so far in the first half. It's most rushing yards he has had in any half in his career #Wisconsin—
ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 05, 2011
Montee Ball has 2 or more touchdowns in 13 consecutive regular-season games #badgers—
Dave Heller (@dave_heller) November 05, 2011
That's two winning plays from Trenton Robinson late in this game. Huge hit to stop forward progress and force a punt.—
Joe Rexrode (@joerexrode) November 05, 2011
KIRK COUSINS JUST GOT AN UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT PENALTY. WORLD .. ENDING.—
Joey Nowak (@joeynowak) November 05, 2011
Just the fourth time in #OhioState history that 3 backs had 100+ yards rushing (1989 Nwestern, 1970 Duke, 1956 Indiana) #Buckeyes—
Rob Kunz (@Rob10TVSports) November 05, 2011
The Big 10 has some real good running backs but I think Marcus Coker of Iowa is the best of them all because of how young the offensive line is and he is just sophmore……