Timberland’s Montee Ball breaks NCAA career touchdown record

On Saturday, Nov. 24, running back Montee Ball, a 2009 graduate of Timberland High School, broke the all-time career touchdown record in FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) college football. Ball rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown in Wisconsin’s 24-21 overtime loss to the Penn State Nittany Lions in University Park, Pa.

“It’s not the way you want it to happen,” Ball said about earning the record during a loss. “I guess, for your own personal goals, I look on the bright side, I’m glad I have them. I’m blessed. It could obviously be a lot better.”

Ball’s 17-yard touchdown run in the first quarter was the 79th of his career, breaking the 13-year-old record set by Miami (Ohio) running back Travis Prentice in 1999. On his way into the record books Ball passed former All-American running backs like Marshall Faulk, Ron Dayne, Cedric Benson and Ricky Williams.

“It is pretty crazy to think that one of the best running backs of all time went to Timberland,” THS junior Alex Preckel said. “I was going crazy when he scored that touchdown.”

Ball set the St. Louis Metro area career rushing record in 2009, and finished his high school career with 7,109 yards and 88 touchdowns. During his senior year at Timberland he was also named the Class 5A Player of the Year by the Missouri Football Coaches Association.

In 2011 Ball tied the NCAA record for most touchdowns in a season with 39, held by Barry Sanders, and was also nominated as a Heisman Trophy finalist.

Despite the loss, the Wisconsin Badgers will still advance to the Big Ten championship game where they will take on Nebraska for a chance to play in the Rose Bowl.