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Sports

Heinicke eyes another passing record this weekend

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

Norfolk, VA – Old Dominion sophomore quarterback Taylor Heinicke has had a season to remember to say the least.

In 12 games, he's thrown for 4,655 yards, 41 touchdowns and 13 interceptions while completing 68.6 percent of his passes. He's also rushed for 422 yards and 10 touchdowns on 118 carries.

Yes, everyone who follows FCS football will remember his record-setting performance against New Hampshire on Sept. 22, when he threw for a Division I record 730 yards in an amazing, 64-61 victory. Plus, he set a Division I record for total offense, adding 61 rushing yards and one touchdown, giving him 791 yards overall.

However, often overlooked is the fact that this was supposed to be his first year as a starter. It wasn't until Oct 1, 2011, versus Massachusetts when coach Bobby Wilder took away his redshirt due to injuries. He was thrust into the limelight, yet finished his freshman campaign with 25 touchdown passes and just one interception.

The Atlanta native who's flourished into one of the FCS's premiere signal- callers has a chance to add to his historic season Saturday at home versus Georgia Southern in the FCS quarterfinals.

He sits just 208 passing yards behind Steve McNair's 1994 single-season FCS record of 4,863 yards. If, and only if, Old Dominion can get past the dangerous triple option of Georgia Southern, Heinicke could enter some uncharted and unheard of FCS marks for the quarterback position.

Amazingly, Heinicke ranks seventh on the FCS active career leaders list for passing touchdowns with 66 in 21 career games. During his time in Norfolk, he's thrown for 7,040 yards and only 14 interceptions and averages 27.5 completions per game and 335 passing yards per game.

In the second round against Coastal Carolina last weekend, Heinicke set a new FCS playoff record by totaling 542 yards of offense. He tied a playoff record with six passing touchdowns.