Football: Taua, Kaepernick make NCAA history, again

Colin Kaepernick and Vai Taua are now the best in college football history.

Once again.

The Wolf Pack's dynamic duo became the NCAA's all-time leaders for career rushing yardage for two teammates combined on Friday night during the Pack's 34-31 overtime victory over Boise State.

The two combined for 176 yards rushing against Boise State and now own the record at 8,285 yards, passing SMU's Eric Dickerson and Craig James, who ran for 8,193 yards from 1979-82.

With two games remaining in their college careers, Taua now has 4,350 yards and Kaepernick has 3,935. Taua ran for 131 yards on 32 carries on Friday and Kaepernick picked up 45 yards on 10 carries.

"It feels good to get that record," Taua said. "Once again, you have to give credit to the (offensive line). They do all the work. Kap and me, we just do our jobs."

Kaepernick, as he's done throughout his career, also refused to take full credit for his record.

"That's just a credit to all of the long hours of work our offensive line puts in," Kaepernick said. "They've done an amazing job. They do all the work and we keep getting the credit."

Kaepernick and Taua now own two NCAA records for teammates.

Two weeks ago against Fresno State, they combined for five touchdowns in a 35-34 victory to become the NCAA's record holder for career points scored by teammates. The two each scored against Boise State and now have combined for 108 touchdowns and 652 points (they've each also scored on one 2-point conversion in their careers).

Kaepernick also went over 1,000 yards rushing for the season (he now has 1,029 this year) for the third time in his career. He is now the first quarterback in NCAA history to pass for 2,000 or more yards and rush for 1,000 or more in the same season three times.

The 6-foot-6 Kaepernick threw for 259 yards against Boise and is also just 329 passing yards away from 3,000 this season. He is trying to become just the third player in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards and pass for 3,000 in a season. Texas' Vince Young (2005) and Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour (2007) are the only others to accomplish that milestone.

Kaepernick also currently ranks third on the NCAA's list for quarterback career rushing touchdowns with 56 behind Nebraska's Eric Crouch (59 from 1998-2002) and Florida's Tim Tebow (57 from 2006-09).

"Isn't that great?" said Pack coach Chris Ault when told Taua and Kaepernick made history Friday night. "What I like about it, they did it against the No. 2 defense in the nation."

Ault said he was proud of his two seniors.

"We don't think about (the records) and we don't talk about them," Ault said. "But it's pretty special.