Stat Night: 2011 Superlatives

With the season ending on Friday, I thought we'd spend tonight's update going over some of the more interesting tidbits from the season, stats wise.

1. Before the season, the general consensus was that this Wildcat team would be very good offensively, but would struggle defensively. In fact, several people stated (including myself) that we would have to outscore people to win. And other, than the playoff game, this was completely wrong. In fact, over the last 11 seasons, no Wildcat defense allowed less yards per carry than this year's defense. Opponents only averaged 3.7 yards per carry against the 2011 defense. (At this point, I only have access to certain stats from 2000 on. Over time, I hope the person or persons who have access to this information will allow me to use it, and/or copy it.) Furthermore, this defense returns six starters next season, including the two leading tacklers on the team.
2. Running back Rodriqueke Faulks ran for 1,050 yards this year. This is the first time since 2008 that a back has run for 1,000 yards. Over his whole career, Faulks was the second leading rusher this century, and the ninth leading rusher in school history. He ran for 1,952 yards and 20 touchdowns over his three seasons on the squad.
3. Again, since I do not have access to all the stats prior to 2000 at this point, I can only make a statement about this century, but Sam Cox, far and away, has been the best pass rusher for the Wildcats in the 21st century. Cox had 7 sacks this year, 2 more than any other player, and had 10 sacks for his career. Again, this leads all other players by 3. Perhaps there have been better in the past, but the numbers certainly point in Cox's favor.
4. Kicker Hunter Kennamer hit 54 extra points in a row over a two year span, far and away the most in school history.
5. The big negative stat for the year happened on Friday. Oneonta threw for 311 yards, the most given up by the Wildcats in a single game in school history. We are at season 98, and it was the first time Guntersville ever gave up 300 passing yards in a game. A rather inauspicious ending to a successful season.
6. Three small things, all of them I would need to have access to older records to check for sure. First, I fully believe that Clayton Daniel will hold most all passing records, and maybe even some running records, especially for quarterbacks, by the end of his tenure as the quarterback of the Wildcats. Second, the offense this year may have been in the top five ever as far as yards per play, but without access, I can't check it for sure. Third, Will Looney was one catch away from qualifying for yards per catch in the record book I am slowly compiling as I get more access. If he would have had that one more catch, he very likely would be first on the list for yards per catch in a single season.