QUINCY, Ill. – Collin Parsons of Quincy University football has been named the QU Toyota Star of the Week for the second time this season after a career performance helped fuel the Hawks' incredible 34-31 comeback victory over Missouri S&T on Saturday in Rolla, Missouri.
The junior running back from Saint Peters, Missouri, and Francis Howell Central High School accounted for four touchdowns and 196 yards from scrimmage as Quincy erased a 21-point second-half deficit to earn its third victory of the season.
Parsons carried the ball 25 times for 111 yards and three rushing touchdowns, averaging 4.4 yards per attempt with a long run of 21 yards. He also made a significant impact in the passing game, hauling in a career-high 13 receptions for a career-best 85 receiving yards and a touchdown.
The four-touchdown performance marked the first of Parsons' collegiate career, while his 111 rushing yards gave him his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season and eighth of his career.
With Quincy trailing 17-0 late in the second quarter, Parsons helped spark the Hawks' offense on an 11-play, 53-yard touchdown drive. The junior accounted for 39 yards on the possession, including an eight-yard touchdown run with 1:38 remaining in the half to put Quincy on the board.
Missouri S&T extended its advantage to 31-10 midway through the third quarter, but Parsons and the Hawks refused to go away.
With 1:25 remaining in the third, Parsons capped a seven-play, 36-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown reception from Bradyn Little, cutting the deficit to 31-17 and beginning a stretch of 24 unanswered points for Quincy.
Following a blocked punt early in the fourth quarter that gave Quincy possession at the Missouri S&T one-yard line, Parsons punched it into the end zone on the first play of the drive to pull the Hawks within seven at 31-24.
His final touchdown came with just 1:12 remaining in regulation. Trailing by seven, Quincy marched 85 yards in 11 plays before Parsons powered his way into the end zone from three yards out, tying the contest at 31-31 following the extra point.
The Hawks completed the remarkable comeback when Joe Reif connected on a 36-yard field goal as time expired, securing the 34-31 victory.
Parsons' four touchdowns established a new single-game career high and marked his fifth multi-touchdown performance of the season and sixth of his career. He has now found the end zone in six consecutive games, continuing an impressive junior campaign.
Through eight games this season, Parsons has totaled 220 rushing attempts for 944 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading the Great Lakes Valley Conference in all three categories. His 944 rushing yards rank eighth nationally in NCAA Division II, while his 12 rushing touchdowns rank seventh in the country.
Parsons also leads the GLVC and ranks 10th nationally with 118.0 rushing yards per game. He has added 28 receptions for 228 yards and three receiving touchdowns, giving him 1,172 yards from scrimmage and 15 total touchdowns on the season.
Parsons and the Hawks return to GLVC action on Saturday, Oct. 31, when they travel to Indianapolis to take on the Greyhounds. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 PM CT from Key Stadium.
