By Chad Ryan
Riley Leonard drops back to pass. Riley Leonard pulls it down and scrambles right. Riley Leonard takes off up the middle, fakes Florida State defensive back Kevin Knowles II out of his cleats, scoots down the left sideline then dives over Shyheim Brown for the score.
Leonard’s electric 34-yard touchdown run was the highlight clip from a MVP performance that included 70 yards rushing on 11 carries, two touchdowns on the ground, another through the air and 215 yards passing.
“Really, I just kind of run until they tackle me,” Leonard said. “Actually there were some pretty good blocks on that play, so I’ll give the credit to those guys. Kris Mitchell made a big time one down at the goal line. So it was a good play by (everyone).”
Leonard came into the game one rushing touchdown behind Alabama’s Jalen Milroe in the race for most quarterback rushing touchdowns, but Milroe ran for four scores in the Crimson Tide’s 42-13 dismantling of LSU Saturday. Going into next weekend, Leonard ranks second in rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, three touchdowns behind Milroe. With 13 now on the season, he is one away from tying the all-time ND season record. Brandon Wimbush ran for 14 touchdowns in 2017.
