His to Lose: Newton Tightens grip on Heisman

Someone send a memo out to Oregon's LaMichael James. If he wants to keep pace with a fellow down on The Plains, he better lobby to Chip Kelly for as many carries as he can get.

Image Credit: Perfect Pose: Newton Continues to Be Prototype for Heisman (Kevin C. Cox-Getty Images) Someone send a memo out to Oregon's LaMichael James. If he wants to keep pace with a fellow down on The Plains, he better lobby to Chip Kelly for as many carries as he can get. Cam Newton turned in another brilliant performance on Saturday in #4 Auburn's 24-17 win over #6 LSU. He completed 10 of 16 passes for 86 yards and rushed for 217 yards and 2 TDs, including another highlight, run for the archives; a 49-yarder that he faked out two LSU defenders then dragged Patrick Peterson into towards the goal line while extending the ball for the touchdown. Newton helped spark an Auburn to 440 yards rushing, which is a school-record against SEC opponents. He also broke the SEC record for single-season rushing yards of 1,006 set by Auburn QB Jimmy Sidle in 1963. Newton has rushed for 1,077 yards for 14 TDs and passed for 1,364 yards and 13 TDs and is well on his way to being the 2nd player in FBS history to rush and pass for 20 TDs. The other guy? A player that Newton once hoped to follow as a starter called Tim Tebow. You think Urban Meyer wishes he had Newton to run the spread offense. It hasn't just been the stats that Newton has put up. It's the manner in which he's lead the Tigers to an 8-0 start and in the drivers seats for the SEC West and possibly a berth in the national championship game: Bringing the Tigers back to defeat Mississippi State 17-14; down 17-0 against Clemson and lead a comeback for a win in OT; Taking over the game against South Carolina to get past the Gamecocks; putting the team on his back in the face of a inspired Kentucky Team on a masterful final drive; back and forth with a game Arkansas squad that just lost its starting quarterback and then exploding in the fourth quarter for a victory. Now, Newton's latest masterpiece had the Tigers in a comfortable position to take the SEC West and head to Atlanta in December. He's continued to produce week by week as his competitors fall by the wayside. Denard Robinson against Michigan State, Terrelle Pryor against Wisconsin and seemingly Landry Jones and Demarco Murray last night against Missouri. Only James and Boise State's Kellen Moore appear to stand in Newton's way from a fateful night in December. For his team, Auburn seems to have its sight focused on a perfect regular season when they stroll on Nov. 27 in Tuscaloosa to face heated rival Alabama. If an undefeated Tiger squad can defeat Alabama in the Iron Bowl and Newton impresses again, he might be ready for a coronation in New York two weeks later. Meanwhile, he'll keep running and the rest of the field is just trying to keep up. This year's version of college football is proving to expect the unexpected and if Newton can continue on his pace, no one will keep pace with him and the Heisman will be his to lose.