News and Notes Part 1
By Phil Steele
Philsteele.com
One week after breaking the MAC record for comb’d TD’s (17) in a 63-60 loss to Northern Illinois, Toledo came right back and had 37-32 FD and 804-635 yd edges and beat W Michigan 66-63 in regulation, setting MAC records again.
Houston had a streak of 19 straight quarters with a score surprisingly end vs Tulane. Surprisingly, because the final was 73-17. In the 1Q UH had 1 poss and they got 2 FD’s and punted. TU had 15 and 8 pl drives but was int’d in the EZ and punted and it was scoreless. UH got a 72 yd TD run with :18 left in the half to go up 35-10 and had a 373-232 yd edge at the half. UH had a 70 yd PR TD by Edwards early 1Q, and in the 4Q a 76 yd PR TD by Payne. Backup QB Turner engineered scoring drives of 59 and 79 yards for UH and their final drive ended at the TU25 taking a knee.
Pittsburgh had 396-280 yd and 21-15 FD edges with Louisville’s TD’s coming on an 11 yd drive after a 7 yd punt, and trailing 21-7 they drove 71/7pl for a TD with :12 left. Pitt remains in the Big East race.
Tulsa piled up a season high 682 yds vs Marshall and finished with a 32-16 FD edge. TU actually had a 414-148 yd edge at the half and led 42-3 going through the motions in the 2H.
Vanderbilt got their biggest win over Kentucky since 1969 and matched their largest margin in an SEC game since 1971. VU finished with a 28-9 FD edge and in the 1H had a 278-41 yd edge. Kentucky bobbled a snap and was tkl’d at their own 3 on a punt and VU got a TD 3pl later and VU would lead 24-0 at the half.
South Carolina won its 6th SEC game for the first time since joining the league in 1992 but need Georgia to lose to Kentucky next week to get back to the SEC Title game. Florida led 3-0 when SC drove 62/11pl for a TD with 7:07 left in the half then rec’d a fmbl, converted on 4&1 with a 10 yd run and went 46/11pl for a 1 yd TD with :31 left in the half to lead 14-3. UF got it to 14-12 with 11:23 left but their 2 pt conv was int’d and SC got a 46 yd pass setting up a 28 yd FG for the final. UF punted with 5:34 left and SC got 3 crucial FD’s not punting until :42 remained. UF had a 17-16 FD and SC a 299-261 yd edge.
There was nothing fluky about Purdue’s win over Ohio St. OSU did not get a FD on their first 3 drives of the game and trailed 10-0 and at the half PU had a 242-97 yd edge and led 17-7. OSU did go on a 66/19pl drive for the apparent game winning drive and got a TD with :55 left but their xp was blk’d and PU won in OT after converting on 3&12 with a FD pass to the 1 and getting a TD on the next play.
Everyone says Texas Tech is an up-and-down team since they upset Oklahoma. That was really their only good game of the year. They had another poor performance last week when in their home finale, facing an OSU team whose D had been giving up a ton of points, were flat out dominated. Oklahoma St had a 332-151 yd edge at the half and led 49-0. TT scored their only TD on a FR TD and OSU finished with a 637-270 yd edge.
Joe Paterno started as an assistant at Penn St in 1950, took over as the HC in 1966 but after an incredible week where all the news in college football was focused on Happy Valley, he was fired. It was the first game he was not in charge of in a very very long time. Still, PSU finished with a 375-311 yd edge. PSU had a 176-167 yd edge at the half but actually trailed 10-0 and came up 3 pts short.
USC lost to Washington on last second FG’s in each of the last 2 years but this one was not close. USC had a 246-91 yd edge at the half and led 23-3 and after 3Q’s it was 37-10 with a 401-148 yd edge. UW took over with 3:07 left and went 69/10pl and on 4&4 got a garbage 20 yd TD pass to “only” lose 40-17.
Virginia actually snapped a 3 game losing streak to Duke. The game was tied at 14 and 21 when UVA got a TD with 6:52 left in the 3Q and a 29 yd FG and led 31-21 after 3Q’s. Duke missed a 35 yd FG with 5:50 left and was SOD at the UVA42 with 3:33 left and UVA got 1 FD and ran out the clock only finishing with a 356-337 yd edge.
Boise appeared to have the TCU game locked up as they led 35-28 and had the ball on 2&6 at the TCU35 in range for the game clinching FG and only 2:26 remained when they fumbled. TCU got a TD with 1:05 left and went for 2 and got it. BSU still went on a 9pl drive and were in the middle of the field for a 39 yd FG but it trailed off to the right and BSU’s perfect season came to a halt, also ending BSU’s streaks of 10 straight overall wins, 35 overall home wins, 47 straight conference wins, a 65 reg season home wins.
Northwestern had a 533-254 yd edge vs Rice getting a 90 yd TD pass in the 1H then 2 TD’s in the final 4:26. Rice took over with 6:07 left trailing 28-0 and went 62/5pl getting a TD with 4:16 left but NU got 2 FD’s to the Rice 11 running out the clock. Jeremy Ebert had 7 catches for 208 yards.
Miami Fl finished with a 383-259 yd edge vs Florida St and a 24-13 FD edge. FSU did not get its first FD until midway throughout the 2Q but benefitted from three 1H Miami TO’s. FSU got a 37 yd FG on a 9 yd drive and later got an 83 yd PR TD and led 17-7 at the half despite being outgained 203-79. UM got a TD with 1:27 left in the game but missed the xp, 23-19 and FSU rec’d the onside kick. It was the first time in 6 years the home team had won and the first time in 7 years there was not an outright upset.
Texas A&M blew 2 double digit leads. One in each half and it was the 4th game this year lost in which they had a DD lead. Collin Klein threw for a career high 281 yds passing in a 4OT shoot out. A&M had leads of 14-0 in the 2Q and 31-21 with 6:38 left. A&M did finish with a 482-411 yd edge but settled for a 20 yd FG in the 4OT and KSU got a 1 yd TD run for the 53-50 win.
Wisconsin now controls their own destiny in the Big Ten as they outgained Minnesota 461-156 with UM getting a 96 yd KR for a TD in the 3Q. UW got a TD with 9:07 left in the game after UM had been SOD on 4&1 at the 50. UM also scored on a fake FG for a TD but were outFD’d 29-9. UM QB MarQueis Gray had a bad back and his girlfriend had just given birth to twin boys on Friday and he hit 6-14-51.
Michigan St controls its destiny in the Big Ten and just needs to win in their final 2 games. MSU had a 19 yd drive after an int then after a 20 yd PR, drove 35 yds for a TD with 1:57 left in the half then Iowa fumbled the KO and MSU got a TD 2pl later for their commanding 31-7 HT lead. They did have a 269-153 yd edges at the half while Iowa finished with a 20-19 FD edge for the game.
Georgia just keeps getting better each and every week. Versus Auburn they had 30-10 FD and 528-195 yd edges. They now just need to beat Kentucky to find themselves in the SEC Championship game. Isaiah Crowell and Carlton Thomas (both susp’d LW) each topped 100 yards rushing and UGA led 35-7 at the half with a 328-89 yd edge.
It seemed a bowl was almost impossible for Navy but they’ve now pulled 2 straight upsets and only need to beat SJS and Army where they will be favored in each to get back to bowl eligibility at 6 wins. Navy has won 5 straight vs SMU. SMU finished with a 386-335 yd edge. SMU’s last 2 drives of the 1H went 74/13pl but on 3&gl from the 6 they were int’d in the EZ then went 79/14pl for a 28 yd FG, 10-3. SMU was SOD at the Navy 21 late 3Q and trailed 24-10 when they got a TD with 3:40 left but Navy converted on 3&7 and 3&4 for FD’s to run the clock.
Clemson finds itself in the ACC Title game after they overcame a 28-14 deficit vs Wake Forest and kicked a 43 yd FG on the final play for the win. CU finished with a 522-317 yd edge and led 14-7 when WF got a 50 yd PR TD and then after a fmbl a 25 yd drive for a TD and after an int, drove 44/4pl for a TD.
Memphis led UAB 35-17 after 3Q’s. UAB settled for a 24 yd FG, drove 70/9pl and 69/4pl for TD’s but the 2 pt conversion failed with 7:08 left and they still trailed by 2. UAB went 77/10pl and got a TD with 1:36 left. MEM got to the UAB43 after a personal foul but on 4&10 fired incomplete. UAB did finish with a 601-384 yd edge.
Army got a TD with 14:02 left in the game but missed the xp and trailed Rutgers 13-12. Army was punting with 6:36 left and RU blk’d the punt and ret’d it 32 yds for a TD to make it 20-12. Army was SOD at the RU41 with 2:21 left. On 3&7 after Army had used 2 time-outs, so one FD would have ended the game, Jamison broke through a hole and raced 56 yds for a TD to give RU the 27-12 lead. Army was SOD at their own 26 and RU finished with a 314-305 yd edge, thanks to that 56 yd run.
NC State CB David Amerson extended his school record with his 10th int in the 1H and NCSt had a 267-190 yd edge. Boston College had a 92-88 yd edge at the half and led 14-3 on a very wind day where the winds affected FG’s and punts.
The winds gusted up to 60 mph for the Wyoming/Air Force game but surprisingly WY (more of a passing team) pulled out the win. Brett Smith hit 17-30-139. AF hit just 2-5-(-1) but don’t normally pass anyway. The goal posts were teetering, tents in the parking lot were toppled and the fighter jet fly over was scrubbed. A 12 yd punt with 3:22 left in the half set up WY for a 42/7pl TD drive and the lead, 12-7. They did trail 17-12 but got a TD with 7:40 left and AF fmbl’d at the WY24 and then fmbl’d and it was ret’d 48 yds for a TD with :25 left to make an 18-17 game a 25-17 final. WY finished with a 351-311 yd edge.
Colorado and Arizona was played in 45 mph winds which gusted up to 71 mph in the 4Q. Nick Foles still hit 35-53-352 yds but UA trailed by 24 points in the 3Q and CU had 273-60 yd edge.
Kansas led Baylor 24-3 in the 4Q. KU appeared on its way to a huge outright upset. BU got a TD with 11:45 left to pull within 24-10, a 36 yd TD with 7:58 left to make it 24-17 and then a 67 yd TD pass with 3:32 left to tie it. KU was nearly in FG range when on 2&10 from the BU39 they were int’d at the 25. In OT each team got a TD but smartly KU went for 2 but unfortunately did not get the 2 pt conversion.
San Jose St had a 30-21 lead and had the ball at the Utah St 7 when they settled for a 24 yd FG with 8:13 left which kept Utah St within 12. USt got a TD on 3&14 with 5:14 left and then a 21 yd TD pass with :41 left to escape with a 1 pt win. SJS did attempt a 67 yd FG on the final play but it was blk’d.
Colorado St lost QB Pete Thomas in the 2Q. He had taken every snap at QB this year and Garrett Grayson hit 6-15-26 yds in his place. Still, San Diego St took the lead 18-15 with 5:49 left and CSU’s final drive did get to midfield where they were SOD.
There could be bad news for Cincinnati who had the Big East in their control. QB Zach Collaros was on the sideline on crutches after being inj’d in the 2Q vs West Virginia. That injury changed the entire BE race. Bkp QB Legaux hit 10-21-144. Even with the bkp QB, UC which wore all red uniforms for the first time since 1993, had a shot at the win. They led 21-17 but gave up a 4Q TD and then UC had a FD at the WV22. On 3&3, Legaux ran for 1 yd and they went for the 31 yd FG for OT but it was blk’d.
Texas had 2 RB’s come into the game questionable but neither Malcolm Brown or Joe Bergeron played vs Missouri. Foswhitt Whittaker left with an ankle inj in the 1Q. UT was held without a TD for the first time since 2004 and lost to Missouri for the first time since 1997. UT went 77/12pl for a 27 yd FG and got into MO terr on their next drive but their offense slowed down and MO did enough for a 17-5 win finishing with a 338-247 yd edge.
News and Notes Part 1
By Phil Steele
Philsteele.com
LSU QB Jefferson started his 1st gm TY. He hit 8-14-168 yds and was tkl’d for safety. At the half LSU only led 14-7 with WKU even missing a 49 yd FG. It was 21-7 when WKU was SOD on 4&gl at the 1 with 6:46 left in the 3Q. LSU scored TD’s on 3 consecutive poss, plus one more with 5:45 left to give them some margin and WKU’s last threat was SOD at the LSU36.
Mississippi figured to be charged up for Louisiana Tech for a couple of reasons. First, Houston Nutt was fired during the week and second, they were an underdog to a WAC school that was actually in a WAC sandwich coming off a big win vs Fresno St with a bigger game vs Nevada on deck. UM played better than the final score as a couple of key plays changed this game. The Rebels appeared in control taking their 2nd drive 78/8pl for a TD (8:53). LT fmbl’d at their own 41 but MSU, 7pl later, missed a 36 yd FG (4:23). LT went 58/15pl. On 4&1 they were SOD but a face mask gave them a FD. They missed a 40 yd FG 4pl later. 2 punts. UM fmbl’d at their own 22 but LT missed a 35 yd FG. 3 punts. With UM punting from their own 7, LT got a 12 yd PR and went 37/4pl for a TD with 3:32 left 1H, 7-7. UM got 2 FD’s and punted with :35 left. LT was pinned at their 5 and just handed off to Lee but he took it 48 yards so they opted to go for a score and got 1 more FD and nailed a 43 yd FG to give them momentum at the half, 10-7 and that 70 yard drive gave them a 227-129 yd edge at the half. The 3Q opened with 3 punts. UM went 30/11pl but missed a 52 yd FG (5:46). LT got a 47 yd pass and 4pl later a 35 yd FG, 13-7 (4:38). LT then got a 33 yd FR TD 2pl later, 20-7 (3:49). LT blk’d a punt and recovered at its own 39 and went 39/10pl but was int’d at the 1. Two plays later LT got a 26 yd IR TD, 27-7 (11:08). UM was SOD at the LT39 and SOD at the 50.
Tennessee opened with a 48/13pl drive but on a windy night they faked a FG and the pass was incomplete. Arkansas went 75/13pl for a TD. After a UT punt, UA was int’d at the UT23 from their own 42 on the first play. UT went 3 & out and Adams retreated 15 yds and had a spectacular 60 yd PR TD on what originally looked like a bad play, 14-0. 3 punts. UA on 2&10 got a 71 yd TD run by Johnson, 21-0 (11:25). UT hit a 50 yd pass which was thrown up on the sidelines and had a solid catch by Neal then on 3&11 got a 17 yd pass. An 11 yd TD run made it 21-7 (9:26). UA went 57/8pl and missed a 40 yd FG. UT went 72/14pl. On 3&gl from the 5, Worley, under pressure, was int’d at the goal line and ret’d to the 8. At half Ark had a 213-208 yd edge. The 3Q opened with 2 punts. Ark went 52/5pl for a TD, 28-7 (7:07). UT went for it on 4&1 at its own 40 and was SOD and Wilson hit Adams with a 40 yd TD pass on the next play (4:17). UT was SOD on 4&2 at the Ark27. 2 punts. Ark went 53/3pl for a TD, 42-7 (10:58). Ark went 74/5pl with backup QB Mitchell in for a TD, 49-7 with 6:37 left. Ark fmbl’d at its own 47 on its final drive but UT didn’t get past the 50.
Miss St was in a great situation vs Alabama catching them off their big game vs LSU and in a bubble burst situation with the Tide’s undefeated season gone. Bama had their problems once again with a pair of missed FG’s and finished with a 386-131 yd edge and MSU’s only score came after a 68 yd KR when they drove 22 yds for a TD. Trent Richardson rushed for 127 yards. The first 4 poss were punts. Bama went 26/8pl but missed a 49 yd FG. MSU fmbl’d the punt snap on its own 31 and Bama missed a 31 yd FG. Bama went 52/5pl for a TD, 7-0 (9:59 2Q). 2 punts. MSU went 62/11pl and missed a 41 yd FG (2:50) but got an int 2pl later and ret’d it to the Bama 4. Alabama’s defense showed its strength forcing a 4th&gl at the 12 and MSU missed a 29 yd FG. At half Bama only had a 124-69 yd edge. Bama went 73/8pl for a 24 yd FG, 10-0 (7:32 3Q). Bama went for it on 4&inches at the 50 and was SOD but MSU was SOD on 4&7. Bama went 53/7pl for a TD. MSU ret’d the KO 68 yds to the Bama22 and 3pl later had a TD, 17-7 (12:03). Bama got 1 FD to the MSU46 and punted 44 yds for a TB (9:04). MSU converted on 4&inches to its own 30 but punted on 4&9. Richardson was then handed the ball 9 straight times where he gained 43 yds softening up the MSU D. Bama had a 3&7, MSU used their last time-out and Lacy ripped off a 32 yd TD run with 1:18 left for the final score, 24-7.
UCLA played their first regular season snow game since 1964. There were some flurries in the EagleBank Bowl in Washington DC but this was the first snow on the ground. The game was much closer than the final score as UCLA had a 295-291 yd edge and in fact at the half UCLA had a 115-75 yd edge but trailed 7-3. Utah was SOD at the LA30 then fmbl’d a punt on its own 17 and LA got a 30 yd FG, 3-0 (3:19 1Q). 4 punts. Utah, after LA punted from its EZ, drove 39/7pl for a TD with 5:34 left in the half, 7-3. LA went 58/15pl but missed a 47 yd FG on the last play of the half. Utah opened the 3Q with a 74/10pl drive for a TD, 14-3 (9:29). LA was int’d at the Utah37. 2 punts. Utah went 47/3pl and a White 22 yd TD run made it 21-3 (3:18). LA went 54/11pl for a 35 yd FG, 21-6 (13:12). LA went 36/4pl but from the Utah44 was int’d and ret’d 67 yds for a TD (9:03). LA was SOD at their own 45 on 4&11 with 6:58 left and Utah got 2 FD’s and added a 38 yd FG, 31-6 (4:05). LA got to the Utah25 but was SOD with 1:48 left and Utah gained 30 yds on the final 3 plays.
This is technically a Notre Dame home game but being played 12 miles from Maryland’s stadium. ND still had the crowd edge. The Irish wore a shamrock on their helmet and MD wore their state flag uniforms. MD lost starting QB Danny O’Brien for the season (broken arm). ND was pretty much in control from the start. They took their opening drive 67/8pl for a TD. 3 punts. ND went 57/11pl for a Ruffer career long 52 yd FG, 10-0 (2:47). 3 punts. ND, running the no huddle offense, went 80/7pl and got a 19 yd TD pass, 17-0 (8:29). MD went 61/9pl with O’Brien going 5-5 on the drive. A bubble screen went 13 yds for a TD, 17-7 (5:18). The Irish went 70/13pl and on 4&inches, Gray walked into the EZ for a TD, 24-7 with :29 left in the half. The Irish had a 292-144 yd edge. ND got a 3&17 draw play for 19 yds keying an 84/14pl drive for a TD, 31-7 (8:48). MD got 2 FD’s but was int’d and ret’d 57 yds for a TD, 38-7 (7:18). 2 punts. Brown came in at QB for MD and they went 97/10pl and got a 24 yd read option TD by Brown, 38-14 (14:02). 2 punts. ND went 77/7pl and got a 34 yd TD pass with 5:31 left, 45-14. MD converted on 4&3 and 4&gl on a 67/13pl drive for a garbage TD with :37 left for the 45-21 final. ND had a 511-297 yd edge prior to the final drive.
As you can tell by the final score, this one was a shoot out. New Mexico St opened with a 59/6pl drive for a TD (12:08). On their next poss NMSU only got off an 8 yd punt and Fresno St went 46/7pl for a TD, 7-7 (4:30). FSU fmbl’d at their own 12 and NMSU got a TD 3pl later, 14-7 (14:11). FSU went 71/12pl settling for a 20 yd FG, 14-10 (8:15). Rogers ret’d the KO 99 yds for a TD for a 20-10 NMSU lead (7:59). FSU got 2 FD’s and punted and NMSU was int’d on a deep pass. FSU went 66/5pl capped by a 20 yd TD pass to pull within 20-17 (2:00 2Q). NMSU went 61/8pl for a 39 yd FG on the final play of the half on FD, 23-17. At the half FSU had a 229-182 yd edge. FSU opened the 3Q with a 76/5pl drive for a TD then after an NMSU punt, FSU got a 59/1pl TD pass to Saunders, 31-23 (10:34). NMSU went 68/11pl for a TD and 2 pt conv, 31-31 (6:40). FSU got a 64/1pl TD pass to Saunders, 38-31 (6:22). NMSU went 84/12pl for a 6 yd TD run, 38-38 (3:50). NMSU went 59/8pl but settled for a 25 yd FG and the lead, 41-28 (13:54). FSU went 71/10pl for a 2 yd TD run and the lead, 45-41. NMSU went 48/8pl but on 4&5 was SOD at the FSU24 with just 4:24 left. FSU went 3 & out and Lee got off an 18 yd PR to the 44. NMSU got 1 FD and then on 3&7 FSU blitzed and Christian hit Rogers with a 37 yd TD pass with 1:50 left for the lead, 48-45. FSU on 4&10 fired incomplete and NMSU on 3&6 got a 6 yd run for a FD to run out the clock.
Southern Miss had a 519-364 yd edge vs UCF but settled for 5 FG’s as Coach Fedora said, “we kept shooting ourselves in the foot.” UCF did open with a 44/9pl TD drive (9:01). 2 punts. SM went 96/7pl for a TD, 7-3 (1:55). 3 punts. SM went 80/8pl but settled for a 28 yd FG, 10-3 (7:35). UCF went 39/8pl for a 38 yd FG, 10-6 (3:40). SM went 67/10pl. They had a 1st&gl at the 9 but settled for a 22 yd FG, 13-6 (:08). At the half SM had a 277-146 yd edge. The 3Q opened with 2 punts. SM went 50/9pl for a 44 yd FG. UCF went 42/8pl for a 41 yd FG. SM got a FD to the UCF43 but after 3 holds, punted, but UCF fmbl’d the punt at their own 25 and SM settled for a 46 yd FG, 19-9 (13:40). They tried a pooch kick off and Murray returned it 69 yds for a TD, 19-16 (13:28). SM got a 42 yd pass then a 48 yd FG, 22-16 (11:56). UCF went 56/8pl for a 13 yd TD pass and the lead, 23-22. SM went 80/8pl and got a 4 yd TD pass and 2 pt conv, 30-23. UCF got 1 FD and was int’d at their own 30. SM appeared to have a chance to win by more than a TD. They had a FD at the 12 yd line but on 2&8, fmbl’d and UCF rec’d at the 11 with 2:47 left. UCF went 89/12pl. On 4&6 they threw up a Hail Mary that went 25 yds for a TD. They opted to go for 2 being on the road and it was batted down in the EZ.
This was a sellout and Stanford had a shot at playing in the National Title game and had been dominant winning 8 of their games by 20+ pts. Oregon only had 1 FD in the 1Q as the first 4 poss were punts. SU was int’d and ret’d 30 yds to the SU20 (5:53 1Q). UO got 1 FD and a 4 yd TD pass then went for the 2 pt conversion on the swinging gate and got it 8-0 (4:12). SU went 78/13pl for a 16 yd TD pass but their bkp K missed the xp (13:51). UO15 went 85/6pl with a 58 yd TD run by James (11:49). UO got 1 FD and then Thomas, after a FD run, fmbl’d at the SU45 (8:13). SU went 36/7pl for a 37 yd FG, 15-9 (4:57). UO got 2 FD’s and then got a 41 yd TD pass to Thomas on a wheel route, 22-9 (2:52). Luck led SU 84/8pl for a 13 yd TD pass 22-16 (:24). It was the first time SU trailed at half since 2009. UO opened the 3Q with a 74/4pl drive and Huff sped past the D for a 59 yd TD 29-16 (13:23). UO fumbled the punt at their own 34 but Fleener dropped a FD pass and they settled for a 48 yd FG and missed (10:08). Luck was sacked and fumbled at his 12 and on 4&2 the Ducks got a 4 yd TD run, 36-16 (7:41). SU went 71/10pl for a TD, 36-23 (2:38) but UO went 69/10pl for a TD, 43-23 (14:02). SU went 63/11pl for a 1 yd TD run, 43-30 (9:37). UO went 47/8pl for a 40 yd FG on 4&8, 46-30 (5:09). Luck had his 3rd TO, this time on 2&5, a 40 yd IR TD, 53-30 (4:28). SU fumble’ the KO at their own 30. UO was SOD on 4&18, only gaining 12 yds (1:55). SU got a 14 yd run but fmbl’d (1:35) and the Ducks took a knee.
As I expected, BYU dominated Idaho. UI’s offense has struggled all year and BYU was off a bye and had 30-10 FD and 505-241 yd edges despite losing starting QB Riley Nelson after the 1st TD. BYU opened with a 41/8pl drive but missed a 35 yd FG (11:34). BYU went 64/6pl for a 32 yd TD pass and Nelson broke a rib and did not return (8:26). That brought Jake Heaps (15-20-185) off the scrap pile and he guided the team 78/9pl for a 17 yd TD run by Kariya, 14-0 (1:18). BYU went 75/13pl for a TD, 21-0 (6:49). UI had gotten 2 FD by penalty but got their first actual FD on a 3&10 QB draw and added 1 more FD and punted (1:16 2Q). BYU went 70/6pl and got a 21 yd TD pass with :13 left in the half, 28-0. BYU had a 298-63 yd edge at the half incl 199-(-2) passing. BYU opened the 3Q with a 57/3pl TD drive (12:31) while UI went 3&out and BYU went 43/7pl but was int’d at the UI8 (8:12). UI was int’d 3 plays later and BYU went 22/3pl for a TD, 42-0 (5:37). UI’s only TD came on 3&12 when they ran a draw play to McCarty. He was just trying to get yards and then broke to the left and there was nobody there at the sidelines and he raced 82 yards for a TD avoiding the shutout, 42-7 (3:56). With 3rd string QB Lark in, BYU went 59/14pl but missed a 47 yd FG. UI brought in Reader and went 59/9pl to the BYU11 but he was int’d in the EZ and ret’d 48 yds (3:33).
East Carolina came in banged up on the O-line. While UTEP finished with a 429-254 yd edge, EC was winning midway through the 4Q before 1 big play. UTEP went 56/8pl but was SOD at the 1 (9:28) on their 1st series. UTEP fumbled the punt and EC went 34/7pl for a TD, 7-0 (5:11). UTEP QB Lamaison had a groin inj and Meger (18-27-155) would QB the rest of the game. 2 punts. Edwards got a 32 yd PR to the EC37 and UTEP got 1 FD and missed a 35 yd FG. EC got 1 FD but then Davis was int’d and ret’d 44 yds for a TD, 7-6 (11:51, xpng). EC went 3&out and Edwards’ 41 yd PR set up UTEP for a 34/4pl drive for a TD, 13-7 (9:08). EC got 1 FD and punted with 6:03 and UTEP went 70/15pl getting a 46 yd FG with :34 left in the half, 16-7. At half UTEP had a 202-85 yd edge. EC took its opening 3Q poss 54/7pl capped by a 10 yd TD pass, 16-14 (11:36). UTEP went 48/9pl but on 4&3 was SOD at the EC32.EC went 66/16pl and had 1st & gl at the 6 but settled for a 19 yd FG, 17-16 (1:09). UTEP went 68/10pl but on 2&5 fmbl’d at the EC12. EC got 2 FD’s and punted with 7:47 left and the key play happened when Banyard got a 77 yd TD run 2pl later to make it 22-17 (7:04, 2ptng). EC went 3&out punting on 4&13 and UTEP, after a 29 yd punt, started at the EC46 and got 1 FD and on 4&4 gained 2 yds with 2:49 left. EC on 3&10 was int’d and ret’d 17 yds to their 30 and UTEP on 3&6, got a 6 yd FD run and took a knee.
UNLV has been traditionally one of the poorest road teams in the country but amazingly Las Vegas had them favored by a TD on the road vs New Mexico. NM got an 80 yd TD pass on the first play to Long, 7-0 (14:51). LV went 80/10pl and got a 45 yd TD by Bradford, 7-7 (8:50). NM went 80/14pl. On 4&5 a pass interference gave them a FD to the LV30 and 6pl later they got a 1 yd TD run by Rogers, 14-7 (:32). LV got 2 FD’s and punted and NM went 38/7pl but missed a 37 yd FG. NM went 59/14pl but on 4&gl from the 1 was SOD with 1:39 left in the half so NM only led 14-7 but had a 249-155 yd edge. NM fmbl’d at the LV39 after a 16 yd run for a FD (12:02 3Q). 4 punts. LV went 72/9pl and got a 4 yd TD run by Cornett, 14-14 (14:22). NM went 43/9pl but had a 46 yd FG blk’d. 2 punts. LV got 1 FD and on 2&5 Barnhill gained 7 yds but fmbl’d. NM got a 27 yd pass to Solomon to the 7 and 2pl later a 2 yd TD run made it 21-14 with 1:15 left. UNLV was SOD on their own 19 on 4&3 (:32).
Nevada finished with a 528-307 yd edge and Bryant Moniz suffered a right leg injury in the 1Q and did not return. Shane Austin hit 17-38-246 yds. Hawaii opened with a 33/6pl drive for a 35 yd FG (12:54). 4 punts. UNR went 81/9pl for a 4 yd TD run 7-3 (1:18 1Q). UNR went 84/11pl for a 13 yd TD pass, 14-3 (10:54 2Q). 2 punts. UH got 1 FD to the UNR47 but a deep pass was int’d in the EZ and ret’d 16 yards. UNR got 2 FD’s and was sacked and fmbl’d on their 42 and UH got 1 FD and a 38 yd FG, 14-6 (2:30). UNR21 went 3&out and UH blk’d the punt for a TD to tie it at 14 (2pt, 1:27). UNR went 64/6pl and got an 8 yd TD pass with :21 left. At half UNR had a 290-114 yd edge but only led 21-14. UNR fumbled the opening KO at their 19 and UH had a 1st & gl at the 1 but fmbl’d and a PF pushed it out to the 22. UNR went 78/9pl for a 25 yd TD run by Fajardo, 28-14 (9:35). UH went 54/8pl and got a 3 yd TD run, the key a 3&17 18 yd pass to the 9, 28-21 (6:14). 2 punts. UNR went 55/8pl for a 5 yd TD pass, 35-21 (14:16). UH went 77/8pl and got a 21 yd TD pass, 35-28 (11:01). UNR went 80/13pl. They faked a 32 yd FG and got a 15 yd TD pass, 42-28 (4:18). UH got 2 FD’s but was int’d at the UNR6 (3:13). After UNR got 1 FD and punted (2:06), UH got 1 FD to the UNR31 but was int’d at the 26 and ret’d 11 yds (1:18).
Washington St lost starting QB Marshall Lobbestael to injury and frosh Connor Halliday hit 27-36-494 yds and WSU rolled up a 590-411 yd edge. The game was played in a mix of rain and snow and temps in the 30’s which aided the NW team vs the team from the desert. Arizona St got a 95 yd KR to open for a 7-0 lead (14:47). 4 punts. On Halliday’s first pass, it was an 85 yd TD to Wilson, 7-6 (6:35, bad snap on xp). WSU got 1 FD and fumbled. ASU went 37/10pl for a 39 yd FG, 10-6 (14:51). WSU got a 31 yd pass on a 51/6pl drive and settled for a 39 yd FG, 10-9 (12:32). 2 punts. ASU went 52/9pl. On 4&8 they got a 17 yd pass and a roughing the passer moved them down to the 6 and but they settled for a 22 yd FG, 13-9 (7:15). 2 punts. WSU went 74/8pl and got a 23 yd TD pass, 16-13 (1:15). ASU went 56/5pl and got a 2 yd TD run with :13 left in the half to retake the lead, 20-16. At the half WSU had a 300-194 yd edge. The 3Q opened with 2 punts. WSU got a 44 yd pass then on 4&1 an 8 yd pass for a FD and then a 19 yd TD pass on the next play, 23-20 (6:40). ASU got a KR to the WSU40 and 6pl later a 16 yd TD pass and were in the lead again, 27-23 (4:11 3Q). ASU went 57/9pl but on 4&1 was SOD at the 10. WSU went 89/9pl and on 3&14 got a 17 yd TD pass for the lead, 30-27 (8:55). ASU went 71/9pl. They dropped a pair of TD’s then missed a 21 yd FG with 5:45 left. WSU on 3&9 got a 25 yd pass. On another 3&8 a 29 yd pass to the 1 and a 1 yd TD run capped the 80/11pl TD drive with 1:50 left. ASU fmbl’d the KO at their own 26 and WSU took a knee.