News and Notes - Week 9
By Northcoast Sports
The AP’s #1 team in the country had fallen for 2 straight weeks but Oregon faced UCLA at home so there was no such pressure. Their quick strike offense dominated UCLA which was playing without starting QB Prince. UCLA’s first 2 drives were solid but one resulted in an int at the 10 and the other was a 25 yd FG. Each drive was time consuming and Oregon basically used 2:00 drives all game and scored TD’s on their first 4 poss which included a 4&6, 25 yd pass to the 16. The Ducks led 32-3 at the half with a 357-136 yd edge. UO did get a 6/1pl TD drive after recovering a fmbl and later a 2/1pl drive after rec another fmbl with 4:46 left. UCLA scored a TD with 1:53 left for the final 60-13 margin...
Cincinnati’s defense has 8 soph starters, the youngest D in the BCS. The BJ Daniels-led USF offense hadn’t scored a TD in the last 2 games and while UC had 29-13 FD and 590-378 yd edges, USF had a couple of big plays incl a 70 yd TD pass and led by 2 scores for most of the 2H. UC QB Collaros was inj’d (check status) and Chazz Anderson came in for UC’s final drive. USF led 24-16 when UC was SOD at the USF30 and on the next play USF got a 70 yd TD pass to lead 31-16. They also led 38-23. UC got a TD with 5:28 left and USF conservatively ran it 3x and punted. UC with Anderson in at QB got to the USF16 needing a TD and 2 pt for the tie but on 4&5 under heavy pressure, he threw incomplete...
The situation greatly favored Ohio St last week. They were off a loss, were no longer playing with pressure of an unbeaten season so they could unleash the offense and were playing with legitimate revenge after losing only one B10 game the previous year and that was an upset loss to Purdue. As you would expect, the Buckeyes dominated. At the half they led 42-0 scoring TD’s on 6 of their 8 poss as they punted once and were int’d at the PU16. OSU had a 415-47 yd edge. OSU went through the motions in the 2H with backup QB’s Joe Bauserman and Kenny Guiton in but still added a TD on a 67/10pl drive with 7:24 left...
Rutgers’ top WR Mohamed Sanu, who was also the team’s leading rusher and operates the team out of the Wildcat offense, only had 1 rush att due to inj. Chas Dodd, in his first true road start hit 8-19-62 with an int and Dion Lewis got on track with 130 yards rushing and 7.6 ypc. Of course RU was playing with a heavy heart for DL Eric LeGrand and we are hopeful that he is able to make a full recovery after his injury vs Army. Pitt had 24-12 FD and 513-203 yd edges. At the half it was 247-93 but RU blocked a punt for a TD to set up the tie. Pitt scored 3 TD’s and 2 FG’s on their first 5 poss of the 2H to lead 41-14 and RU got a garbage TD with 1:30 left...
Ohio only had a 371-343 yd edge vs Miami but had a 6-2 TO edge. MU jumped out to a 7-0 lead but in the 1H would miss FG’s of 45 and 25 yards and OU led 13-7 despite MU having a 183-177 yd edge. MU fmbl’d early 3Q setting up a 48/1pl TD by OU. Trailing 27-13 MU was int’d at the OU40 then int’d at their own 25. The 2nd set up OU for a 25/5pl TD drive with 3:10 left. MU was SOD at the MU32...
Indiana actually had 21-14 FD and 388-289 yd edges. At the half IN had a 227-164 yd edge but a fmbl at their own 23 set Illinois up for a 2pl TD and Indy was also int’d and ret’d 68 yards for a TD and after a 63/12pl drive settled for a 19 yd FG and trailed 27-10 at the half. Ill blk’d 2 Indy punts to open the 3Q and while they fmbl’d after the first, they blk’d the 2nd for a safety to lead 29-10. IL closed the scoring with a 66 yd IR TD with :44 left...
Penn St was off a loss and off a bye which helped their LB corps get healthier. Minnesota was playing their first game under interim HC Horton and with President Obama scheduled to make an on campus appearance, the home attendance was announced at 48,479. It was smallest crowd in 12 games at TCF Bank Stadium and even appeared smaller than that. PSU QB Rob Bolden who came in with a 2-6 ratio the previous 5, at one point hit 9 straight passes but was inj’d in the 2Q. They bypassed backup Kevin Newsome (flu) for 3rd string Matthew McGloin. McGloin’s first pass was a 42 yd TD which made it 21-7. McGloin had an uneven game hitting 6-13-76 and was int’d on the next drive. PSU led 31-14 but UM got a TD with 5:01 left to pull within 12. PSU missed a 37 yd FG and UM did get to the PSU39 where they were SOD on 4&7...
It was the Irish’s most lopsided loss vs Navy since 1963. It was a Navy home game in an NFL Stadium but ND had a healthy amount of the crowd. ND was playing without their top 2 WR’s, Theo Riddick and Michael Floyd and also one game earlier TE Kyle Rudolph was ruled OFY with inj. Two crucial int’s and an SOD changed the game. ND on their opening poss had a 4&gl at the 1 but were SOD. Trailing 14-10 they were int’d at their 30 with 1:59 left in the half setting up a Navy 5pl drive with the TD coming with :14 left in the half to lead 21-10. ND was also int’d at the Navy 27 and the Mids went 73/10pl for a TD to lead 35-10. ND was SOD at the Navy29 in the 3Q and Dayne Crist was replaced by Tommy Rees and Rees led a 76/10pl TD drive with 6:12 left. Navy went 37/10pl ending the game at the ND35 and beat the Irish for the 3rd time in 4 years having lost the previous 43...
Syracuse RB Delone Carter left the game in the 2Q with injury but backup Antwon Bailey rushed for 94 yds on 19 carries. WV finished with a 286-246 yd edge. WV jumped to leads of 7-3 and 14-10 and then rec’d a fmbl’d KO and had a 1st&gl at the SU8 but was int’d at the goal line. Geno Smith came in with a 17-3 ratio completing 68% but hit just 20-37-178 yd with 3 int and 5 sks. He was int’d on the 3rd play setting up an SU 28 yd FG. His 2nd int cost WV a chance to score and set up SU for a 19 yd FG. Smith was int’d a 3rd time in the 1H and ret’d 48 yds to the WV12 setting up a 22 yd FG. At the half WV had a 185-178 yd edge but trailed 19-14. The 2H was mostly punts and WV’s got to the SU20 with plenty of time but Smith took a sack on 2nd & 10 and on 4&22 was sk’d again...
Iowa St came in having allowed 52 and 68 points the previous 2 weeks. Texas lost their 2nd game as a big fav this year. After the game HC Paul Rhoads called their first ever win over Texas “historic” and ISU players were jubilant...
In the 1H Marshall had a 186-167 yd edge was tied at 10. MU had the ball but were int’d at the EC46 with 3:30 left in the half. EC went 65/7pl for a TD then after another int with :36 left added a 40 yd FG to lead 20-10. EC got a TD and FG to open the 3Q and MU was SOD at the EC11. EC went 89/9pl for a TD to put it away, 37-10...
There were some key plays in Iowa’s loss to Wisconsin. Iowa had a great situational edge in the fact that UW was off their upset of Ohio St and they were at home. In the 1H Iowa had an xp blk’d and on a 30 yd FG att with 3:13 left in the half, they bobbled the snap and didn’t get the kick off. UI led 13-10. The Hawkeyes led 27-24 when they got an int at the UW26 and had a chance to put the game away but settled for a 40 yd FG. UW’s P ran up the middle and got a 17 yd run to the 43 as UI peeled back to cover the punt. UW later converted on 4&4 and got a TD with 1:06 left. The final crucial mistake came when UI got a FD at the UW39 with :12 left. The officials stopped the clock to move the chains, UI lined up at the LOS and all they had to do was spike the ball to save their last time-out. Instead, they called their final time-out needing a FG to win. A short pass for a 4 yd gain was tkl’d inbounds and without the time-out the clock ran out...
Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez set a frosh record with 329 yards passing and threw a career high 5 TD’s. This came after not having thrown more than 150 yards in his first 6 starts. OSU’s Kendall Hunter rushed for 201 yards. Justin Blackmon had 157 yards in rec. In the 1H Oklahoma St actually had a 344-255 yd edge and led 27-24 when Nebraska got a TD with :55 left in the half. The 2H was controlled by NU...
Boston College lost 3 defensive starters to inj vs Maryland. TO’s also hurt them in the 1H. MD got drives of 38 and 22 yds for TD’s following TO’s as Antwine Perez had 2 int and a FR and led 21-7 at the half with a 117-110 yd edge. MD led 24-7 after 3Q’s. BC got 2 TD’s to pull within 24-21. On their final 2 drives they dropped a slant pass on 4&3 at the MD31 and after MD went for it on 4&1 at the BC35 with 1:50 left, BC was spotted inches short on 4&1 with 1:13 left. MD took a knee twice...
Clemson had their 3rd crack at the Georgia Tech’s option in 2 years and held GT to 242 rush yds, their lowest rush total of the season and about 100 below their season avg. CU controlled matters early as on their first 4 poss they got 2 TD’s and settled for a 2 short FG’s and missed one and led 17-0. CU led 24-6 when GT converted on 4&2 then on 4&6 got a 9 yd TD pass to make it 24-13. GT missed a FG with 11:04 left and CU went on a 7:36 drive of 64/15pl and settled for a 22 yd FG with 3:28 left to make it 27-13 and GT threw a desperation pass on its next play that was int’d...
Colorado QB Tyler Hansen hit 9-10 passes for 62 yds but left with inj. Cody Hawkins still had CU in good shape hitting frosh Paul Richardson with 3 & 60 yd TD passes. Richardson became the first frosh in school history to have 2 TD’s rec in the same game. CU led 24-14 but missed a 35 yd FG with 12:49 left and Texas Tech took its first lead of the game with a 36 yd FG with 2:08 left in their 27-24 win...Cam Newton is the clear-cut favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and had a big game vs LSU’s excellent D. Auburn had a 526-243 yd edge. LSU was int’d at the AU14 but AU missed a 39 yd FG with 2:45 left 1H and LSU on 3&gl got a 2 yd Jefferson TD run to tie it at 10. Newton may have won the Heisman on a spectacular 49 yd TD run to make it 17-10 but LSU had a RB pass from Spencer Ware to Rueben Randle go 39 yds for a TD with 12:16 left to tie it. Three times LSU’s punter pinned AU at the 1. AU had the ball at their own 30 and with LSU’s D keying on Newton, Onterio McCalebb took off 70 yds down the sideline for a TD with 5:05 left...
Ark’s Ryan Mallett hit 13-24-196 and the game vs Mississippi was delayed by weather twice. Mallett DNR after the 2nd delay. Arkansas had some big plays as they were outFD’d 21-16. Joe Adams got a 97 yd PR TD, the longest in school history, topping the record set by Ken Hatfield who had a 95 yd PR TD vs Tulsa in 1963. Arkansas did lead 24-3 early 3Q but Mississippi battled back to 24-17. On 2nd & 10, Davis got a 71 yd TD run to make it 31-17. UM got a TD with 9:04 left and UA answered with a TD with 7:15 left, 38-24. UM went 75/7pl but on 3&gl from the 3 fmbl’d costing them a shot at the cover. UA punted with 1:06 left and UM got to the UA27 but their final pass was incomplete...
UAB had a 24-18 FD edge vs Miss St but there were 6 key plays which cost them the game. The game was tied at 10 at the half but UAB had a 207-103 yd edge. The first key play happened when UAB had a 1st & gl at the 3 but settled for an 18 yd FG. UAB fmbl’d the punt at their own 35 setting up an MSU TD early 2Q. MSU was pinned at its 1 when they got a 55 yd punt and illegal blk which changed the field position with UAB taking over at their 26 mid-2Q. In the 3Q UAB trailed 20-17 when they were SOD at the MSU31. UAB got a TD with 10:16 left, 24-23. There was a pers foul on the KO so MSU started at the UAB42. The next key play happened when MSU on 4&4 got a 6 yd run for a FD which set up their go-ahead 39 yd FG with 6:53 left. MSU was trying to run the clock taking over with 5:31 left at their own 29 when another key play happened, a 51 yd run by Perkins on 2nd & 14. That set up a 28 yd FG with 1:48 left. UAB still had a shot but fmbl’d the KO at their own 33 and on 3&2 MSU got a 10 yd QB run to escape with a 29-24 win.
FRONTDOOR / BACKDOOR COVERS -
The situation was great for Northwestern LW but they blew some opportunities. NU controlled the game leading 17-0 but MSU took over with 6:07 left in the half and got a TD with 2:49 left to get back in it, 17-7. In the 3Q MSU had the wind at their back and after NU’s 32 yd punt, MSU drove 48/3pl for a TD. NU drove 80/15pl for a TD to lead 24-14 after 3Q’s. MSU on 4&6 took a delay pen and on 4&11 with Fitzgerald calling for a punt safe, MSU faked it. Their P’s pass was covered by NU’s starting CB but he turned to the sidelines as he normally does on punt safes to avoid being hit in the back by the punt. The receiver hauled in a 21 yd pass to the 15 and the Spartans got a TD on the next play. MSU took over with 7:18 left after an NU punt. On 3&4 they gained 14 yds and on 4&1 got an 8 yd pass. The TD came on a tipped pass which was hauled in by Cunningham for a 28-27 lead with 2:00 left. A crucial pers foul on NU made it 1st & 25 so on 4&12 they fired incomplete from their 31. On 3&15 with a FD basically ending the game got a 25 yd TD run by Baker with 1:07 left putting them ahead of the spread for the only time in the game...
Idaho dominated New Mexico St in the 1H. They scored on 5 of their first 6 poss and led 31-0, the last score coming with :48 left in the half. NMSt got a 17 yd TD pass with :07 left to make it 31-7 at the half. NMS did miss a 43 yd FG in the 3Q and with 7:30 left in the game, trailing by 27, were stopped on 4&gl at the 1. NMS fmbl’d a punt at their 25 and Idaho got a 47 yd FG for a 37-7 lead and NMS punted with just 1:10 left but Idaho fmbl’d the punt at their 28 and on 3&10 NMS got a 28 yd TD pass with :19 left for the backdoor cover...
South Carolina had 25-11 FD and 484-250 yd edges vs Vanderbilt but actually trailed 7-0 when they took over with 1:03 left 1H. They went 59/7pl and got a TD on a 15 yd pass with :12 left to tie it at 7. In the 3Q SC went 93/12pl to lead 14-7 then went 56/9pl and had a 26 yd FG blk’d. It was still a one score game when SC took over with 7:34 left at their 28 and on 2nd & 10 they got a 72 yd TD pass to Jeffery to get ahead of the spread, 21-7. VU opted to punt on 4&6 from its own 20 with 5:34 left and its last drive was SOD at the SC48 with 1:25 left after a 5 yd run on 4&10.
MISLEADING FINALS - Florida Atlantic got an 80 yd TD pass to Jean to make it 13-9 and then had a TD in the EZ overturned and settled for a 36 yd FG to lead 16-9 in the 4Q vs Arkansas St. ASU did drive 69/6pl for a TD but then with the score tied at 16, Ark St got a 37 yd IR TD, ret’d a fmbl to the 1 setting up a TD and after an int drove 34/4pl for a TD. Their 3 TD’s came with a total of 39 yards offense making their 21 pt win very misleading...
It was misleading that BYU and Wyoming put up 45 points. BYU had a 293-173 yd edge. In the 1H WY had 3 plays that gained positive yards and in fact had -18 yds offense in the 1H. Despite their woeful offensive performance, WY had 10 pts as they got a 55 yd IR TD and after recovering a fmbl at the BYU20, lost 7 yards and got a 44 yd FG and only trailed 16-10. WY’s P twice used a rugby punts, but hit a WY players in the back and BYU recovered them the WY33 and WY24, the first setting up a TD. BYU finished with a 20-13 FD edge but didn’t have the game clinched until late as WY on 4&10 at the BYU25 had a pass batted in the air and caught by an OL for a 6 yd loss.
More News and Notes - Week 9
By Northcoast Sports
Auburn QB Cam Newton is now the Heisman frontrunner after his amazing performance against a good LSU defense last week but he has also had a direct effect on the fortunes of three teams this year. If you have been following the story of Newton, he originally was recruited by now Miss St HC Dan Mullen when he was the OC at Florida and eventually signed with the Gators. Due to some off the field problems, Newton transferred to Blinn JC where he had a sensational season (PS#2 JUCO). Newton was thought to be heading to Mississippi St this year with his former ties to Mullen but at the last minute decided to go with Auburn. Naturally Newton has had a huge impact on the Tigers and has been the main reason they are 8-0 (BCS #1) and have won 5 games by eight points or less. Take Newton off the team and you maybe looking at a 4-4 record for the Tigers. Meanwhile Miss St is having a great season at 6-2 and their only losses are by 3 pts to a Newton led Auburn team and to LSU on the road where the Bulldogs had a 267-262 yd edge but 5 TO’s by MSU QB’s being the difference. Put Newton on the Bulldogs this season and they maybe sitting at 8-0 and in the BCS Top 5. Finally going back to Newton’s original team Florida, they have struggled to a 4-3 start including two close home losses to LSU and Miss St. Had Newton stayed it might be a different story for the Gators this year adding more fuel to the possible scenarios for all three teams and the rest of the country this season.
Temple rebounded from their loss to Northern Illinois in fine fashion. They outgained Buffalo 397-161, scored TD’s on their first 3 poss of the game and 4 of the first 5 poss and led 28-0 at the half. Buffalo did not cross midfield on offense until 7:34 was left in the 3Q. Temple had a 29-11 FD edge. In the 1H TU was also int’d in the EZ and missed a 33 yd FG. Each team gave a QB his first start as Mike Gerardi started for TU and Alex Zordich for Buffalo. Gerardi hit 9-15-131 while Zordich hit 11-26-99.
Duke had some drives early vs Virginia Tech. They had a 4&7 at the 35 and were sk’d and then allowed a 61 yd PR which set up a 19 yd TD drive, an int set up VT for a 24 yd TD drive and VT at the half led 27-0 with a 216-103 yd edge. VT dominated with 19-10 FD and 491-308 yd edges and ended the game at the Duke25 taking a knee in their 44-7 rout.
Iowa St came in having allowed 52 and 68 points the previous 2 weeks. Texas lost their 2nd game as a big favorite this year. After the gave HC Paul Rhoads called the win “historic” and ISU players were jubilant. ISU, on their 2nd poss, went 80/11pl for a TD. After UT settled for a 23 yd FG, ISU after a 33 yd punt went 38/7pl for a TD to lead 14-7. Texas had a 2&10 at the ISU17 but was int’d in the EZ and then went 55/18pl and missed a 37 yd FG and trailed 14-3 at the half despite a 162-132 yd edge. UT went on a 62/9pl drive but settled for a 21 yd FG. ISU then went 89/9pl for a TD and after the next 3 poss resulted in TO’s, ISU went 40/4pl for a TD and led 28-6. UT went 80/6pl for a TD and 53/9pl to the 37 but was int’d at the 3. UT went 59/8pl for a TD with 3:15 left. ISU punted with 1:03 left and UT started at their 10 but on 4&15 fired incomplete and ISU took a knee.
Taylor Martinez set a frosh record with 329 yards passing and threw a career high 5 TD’s. This, after not having thrown more than 150 yards in his first 6 starts. Kendall Hunter who we named 1st Tm Midseason AA, rushed for 201 yards. Justin Blackmon had 157 yards in rec. In the 1H Oklahoma St actually had a 344-255 yd edge and led 27-24 when Nebraska got a TD with :55 left in the half. The 2H was controlled by NU as they got a FG and TD on their first 2 drives to lead 41-27 and up 41-34, got a 45 yd FG with 11:39 left then drove 81/12pl for a TD with 4:29 left for a 51-34 lead. OSU converted on 4&3 and on 4&5 got a 25 yd TD pass to pull within 10 with 3:05 left but NU caught the onside kick, got 1 FD and took a knee.
Kent St was as dominant as the 30-6 final as they had a 351-135 yd edge. KSU did have some short drives set up by special teams in the 2Q. A 17 yd PR set up a 24 yd drive for a TD and a 20 yd punt by BG set up a 39 yd TD drive for KSU. KSU had a 226-44 yd edge and led 27-6 at the half but BG’s only score of the game came when their KR Gates appeared tackled by the KSU player. He was brought down on top of the tackler and the whistle had not blown. While everyone thought the play was over, he got up off the KSU players and raced 75 yds for a TD.
For the 2nd straight week Ball St blew a big lead, this time they jumped out to a 17-0 lead vs Toledo. TO’s were a key as BSU had 5 to UT’s 2. In the 1Q BSU had a FD at the UT18 but would fumble. In the 3Q, now trailing 24-17, BS had a 1st & gl at the UT2. On 2nd down RB Lewis gained 1 yard and fmbl’d into the EZ and UT rec’d for a TB. UT went 80/16pl to take a 31-17 lead with 7:44 left. BSU got a TD with :12 left, rec’d the onside kick but their Hail Mary pass was int’d at the 6.
San Diego St’s RB Ronnie Hillman missed most of the 2H with injury. The Aztecs were int’d at the NM5 with 2:54 left in the half but tipped a punt with :05 left and it only went 11 yards. On the last play of the 1H Lindley hit Sampson with a 40 yd TD pass for a 17-6 lead. SDS led 27-13 in the 3Q. The teams would have 7 consecutive punts and NM fmbl’d at their 38 with 6:54 left and SDS added a 31 yd FG with just 2:54 left. NM gained 81/11pl on a drive for a garbage 18 yd TD pass with :14 left to make the final 30-20.
The situation greatly favored Utah St last week as they were at home, in the altitude, off a bye vs a Hawaii team that had back-to-back outright upsets over Fresno St and Nevada. The game was played in heavy rain but that didn’t slow down UH’s offense which piled up a 605-181 yd edge. Surprisingly it was 14-7 at the half as UH was int’d in the EZ twice. Leading just 14-7, two TO’s broke it open. Utah St’s P Caldwell mishandled the punt and UH’s Graves grabbed it out of his hands and returned it 7 yds for a TD. After an int, UH got a 36/1pl TD run by Green. UH went 74/10pl, 73/5pl and 80/3pl for 2 TD’s and a FG on their next 3 poss to go up 45-7 in the dominating road win.
For the 2nd straight week vs a weak foe Fresno St got out to a big lead and then let up. FSt led 20-0 mid-3Q and 27-3 after 3Q’s of play. They yielded a 46 yd TD pass with 10:19 left. San Jose St faked a punt and was SOD at their own 23 and FSt settled for a 37 yd FG, 30-11. SJS got a 63 yd TD pass 2pl later after a 15 yard QB run on 3&12. FSt recovered the onside kick and got a 29 yd FG then returned an int 51 yds to the 9 with 1:08 left. They ran the ball for 2 yards but then took a knee.
Colorado St had three drives into Utah territory in the 1H. The first they recovered a fumble at the Utah16 and got a 27 yd FG. On their 2nd they drove 72/8pl but settled for a 26 yd FG. On the 3rd they had a 4&7 at the Utah 48 but gained 2 yds. Utah led 24-6 at the half and had a 266-162 yd edge. Utah went 87/6pl for a TD to open the 3Q and after recovering a fumble went 23/4pl for a TD then went 89/6pl and led 45-6 after 3Q’s. Utah brought backup QB Terrance Cain in and went 62/10pl for a TD, 52-6. CSU got to the Utah36 but was int’d at the 3 on 4&4 and then Utah, after 2 FD’s on 3&13, got a 72 yd TD run by Sausan Shakerin for the 59-6 final and that run helped Utah to a 648-213 yard edge and 27-13 FD edge.
Arizona was without starting QB Foles vs Washington but Scott had a fine game hitting 18-22-233 and rushing for 65 yards on 7 carries. Arizona fmbl’d on the fourth play at the end of an 11 yard pass and UW went 64/4pl for a TD and actually led 7-0. Arizona would go 62/7pl, 56/8pl and 92/10pl for 2 TD’s and a FG to lead 17-7. UW went 52/7pl and made it 17-14 with 7:15 left 2Q but Arizona got a 78 yd TD run by Antolin and went 54/8pl for a TD and led 30-14 at the half with a 356-178 yd edge. UW fmbl’d on the 3rd pay of the 3Q and Arizona drove 26 yards for a TD. Later Arizona added a 75/8pl drive and finished with a 467-290 yard edge.
The Virginia/Eastern Michigan game was a lot closer than the final score. At the half it was just 17-14 with UVA only having a 262-223 yd edge. EM got a 53 yd TD run with 7:47 left 3Q to pull within 24-21. UVA then got a 70 yd KR TD. Early 4Q UVA faked a punt and it went 56 yards for a TD on 4&7, 38-21. Two plays later UVA got an int and went 15/2pl for a TD, 45-21 with 13:07 left. UVA would then drive 54/12pl and got a 31 yd FG with 2:56 left to win 48-21.
UTEP QB Vittatoe was very questionable during the week and was clearly not 100% as he hit just 10-21-102. The game was tied at 10 at the half with Tulane having a 167-119 yd edge. TU even missed a 40 yd FG in the 1Q. After a 29 yd IR, UTEP went 26/5pl for a TD to lead 17-10. Tulane then went 80/11pl for a 7 yd TD pass and Vittatoe at the end of a 7 yd run, fumbled. TU went 56/7pl for a TD to lead 24-17. Vittatoe did hit a 28 yd TD pass at the start of the 4Q to tie it. After 2 punts, TU got a 43 yd TD pass with 5:30 left then after a Vittatoe int on the next play, took over at the UTEP29 and got a 20 yd FG with 2:12 left. UTEP got to TU’s 30 but Vittatoe was int’d in the EZ for a TB.
Yes, Kansas suffered another blowout loss but there were a couple of interesting things to come out of the game. First of all, Texas A&M went to backup QB Ryan Tannehill after getting up to a 17-3 lead. Tannehill’s first possession ended on a punt but he stayed in. On 3&15 roughing the passer gave them a FD and they would go 71/7pl for a TD to lead 24-10. KU went on a 67/13pl drive and on 3&6 from the 7 was not only int’d in the EZ but returned 83 yds. Tannehill hit a 12 yd TD pass 3pl later, 31-10. At the half KU trailed by 21 but had a 253-250 yd edge. Johnson QB’d the first 2 drives of the 2H but on 4&3 from the KU23 was sacked for a 16 yd loss. Tannehill QB’d the rest of the game and after guiding a 3&out, They went 80/5pl for a TD with a 39 yd TD pass and 2 possessions later went 57/3pl for a TD to lead 45-10. KU after an 11 play drive was SOD at the A&M32 with 7:55 left and A&M went on a 12pl drive eating up the remainder of the clock, kneeling at the KU23.
TJ Yates came in with the best % of td-int ratio in the NCAA and had a streak of 95 in a row without one but had 2 vs Miami. NC actually led 10-3 and it could have been worse as Yates hit a pass to Elzy but he fumbled going into the EZ for a TB with 2:40 left in the 1Q. UM battled back with a 10pl drive for a FG and a 55/9pl drive for a TD to lead 13-10 at the half. In the 3Q NC was int’d at the UM25, SOD at the UM33 and trailed 19-10. UM went 67/7pl for a TD. NC was int’d 8pl later at the UM44 and UM went 54/8pl for another TD, 33-10. UM took over with 6:53 left and went on a 48/10pl drive taking a knee at the NC23.
Connecticut suspended QB Endres for the rest of the season and he left the team. Even with Zach Frazer available, they went to Michael Box who was their starting QB vs Louisville. Connecticut’s first drive did go 60/12pl but a FG hit the upright. UC fmbl’d the punt setting up a Louisville TD then was int’d at the 30. UL did have a 91 yd PR TD called back on a hold and led 13-0 at the half. UL got a 74 yd TD pass but settled for 26 and 24 yd FG’s to lead 26-0 and their final drive took over with 6:51 left and went 50/10pl taking a knee at the UC35. UL had a 20-11 FD edge and 355-195 yd edge.
Western Kentucky broke the nation’s longest losing streak, which was 26 games and did so in convincing fashion. WKU’s first 2 drives were 48/11pl and 58/10pl but resulted in just 3 points. They made up for that as UL went on a 42/10pl drive but fmbl’d and WKU returned it 69 yards for a TD to lead 10-0. It was 27-7 at the half and 33-14 late 3Q when they got a 43 yd TD pass. WKU added a 62 yd IR TD then after an int drove 47/5pl for a TD and actually led on the road vs Louisiana, 54-14. UL went on a 71/11pl drive getting a garbage TD with 1:45 left and that allowed them to go from a 409-280 yd deficit to 409-351.
Every year TCU’s defense with its speed, shuts down Air Force’s option. That was the case again this past weekend. AF actually opened with an 89/10pl drive for a TD which tied it at 7 but had just 42 yds offense the rest of the 1H and punted on their first 3 poss of the 2H while TCU, which led 17-7 at the half, scored TD’s on their only three 2H poss going 80/8p, 70/9pl and 91/13pl. AF gained 42 of their 231 yards on their final 10pl drive once they were down 38-7 in the last 6:00.
Stanford has won 6 of their first 7 for the first time since the 1970 team, which was led by eventual Heisman winner Jim Plunkett. Washington St made a game of it for a while. In fact mid 2Q it was 10-7 after a WSU TD but SU went 73/9pl and 80/6pl for TD’s and led 24-7 at the half with a 256-127 yd edge. WSU was int’d at the SU16 and SU went 67/12pl for a TD, 31-7. After 2 punts, each team went on a TD drive, 38-14. WSU got a TD with 3:46 left then forced a punt with 2:13 left. On 3&10 WSU got a 74 yd TD pass with :35 left to close the scoring.
It happened a 2nd straight week. Last week Ohio St was #1 in the AP poll. They traveled to face a rank team and ESPN Gameday was on hand for the nighttime game and the crowd was excited. Wisconsin returned the opening KO for a TD and OSU lost. Oklahoma was #1 in the BCS rankings. Gameday was on hand, the game was moved from 3:30 to nighttime for ABC. The frustrating part of last weeks game was 3 blown opportunities for the Sooners, plus the KR TD. Just like the previous week, Missouri got an 86 yd KR TD to lead 7-0. OU answered back to tie it at 7. OU was driving to take a 14-7 lead and had a FD at the 12 but Jones was int’d by DE Smith who returned it 57 yds in what was basically a 14 point swing. Missouri went 28/6pl and instead of trailing 14-7 they led 14-7. The Sooners tied it with 4:08 left in the 1H and Missouri got a 36 yd FG to lead 17-14 at the half. At the half OU had a 301-99 yard edge. OU had a FD at the Missouri 11 early 3Q but settled for a 30 yd FG and missed it. Missouri got a 30 yd FG and then OU went 69/12pl for a TD to lead 21-20 after 3Q’s. Missouri took advantage of an OU DB going for the knockout hit and the WR spun off him and went 38 yards for a TD to lead 26-21. OU was int’d again on the next drive at their own 22 and Missouri got a 23 yd FG. With OU tackling the football, Missouri got a 38-yard run and went 77/5pl for a TD, 36-21. OU got an 81 yd KR setting up a TD but then went for 2 and failed and when they did so They were 2 scores down, 36-27 with 6:06 left. Amazingly, Bob Stoops, after they got the ball back on 4&10 from his own 7 with 2:17 left, opted to punt basically waiving the white flag and Missouri punted it back with :02 left.
The 1H was not easy for Alabama. In fact, on the 2nd poss Tenn got a 59 yard TD run by Tauren Poole to lead 7-0. Bama went 56/10p and 59/9pl for a 36 yd FG on an TD to lead 10-7. Bama missed a 25 yd FG but made a 25 yarder to lead 13-7 with :52 left but UT went 66/10pl for a 33 yd FG, 13-10. The Tide rolled to start the 2H and went 70/4pl, after UT missed a 52 yd FG, two plays later Richardson got a 65 yd TD run, 27-10. UT went 53/9pl but on 3&10 from the 11 was int’d in the EZ and Bama went 80/9pl and 80/8pl for TD’s for their 41-10 win.
Houston got back into the CUSA chase winning at SMU. SMU missed a 46 yd FG and UH went 72/14pl for a TD to lead 7-0. The game was then delayed about 3 hrs. When they returned SMU went 63/8pl for a TD. UH got a TD on 3&12 with a 30 yd pass early 2Q and after they recovered a fumble added a 23 yd FG to lead 17-7 with 8:46. SMU went on an 8pl drive for a 31 yd FG with 4:44 left but UH went 75/9pl for a TD with 1:46 left. At the half UH had a 255-169 yd edge and led 24-10. SMU got a TD on their 2nd 3Q poss to pull back within 7 but UH got a 91 yd KR TD. SMU got a 42 yd FG with 12:38 left but UH went on an 80/14pl drive for a TD to ice it, 38-20. They then got a 36 yd IR to the SMU19 and got a TD 5pl later with 2:42 left for the 45-20 final.
The stats were misleading in the Georgia/Kentucky game. If you look at the stat sheet, UK had a 423-290 yd edge and 22-13 FD edge but UGA led comfortably throughout the game. After allowing a UK FG of 41 yards, UGA got a 100 yard KR TD to lead 14-3. UGA missed a 47 yard FG but then went 39/7pl for a TD after UK went for it on 4&1 at their own 37 to make it 21-3. They extended it to 28-3 with 6:47 left in the half before UK went 71/10pl to get a TD to make it 28-10 at the half. UGA opened the 3Q with a 70/7pl drive for a TD, 34-10. They got a TD with 13:53 left to lead 41-17. UK got a TD with 10:52 left on a long drive and UGA settled for a 30 yd FG after a 67 yd drive to lead 44-25 with just 2:47 left. UK gained 59/7pl getting a TD with 1:23 left.
As you can tell by the score, Kansas St and Baylor was an offensive game. KSU punted twice in the 1H and Baylor was int’d once at the KSU12. Those were the only non-scoring drives and in fact, the other 7 first drives of the game were all TD’s until BU settled for a 22 yd FG and led 31-21. KSU fmbl’d to open the 3Q and BU got a 30 yd FG but KSU got a 100 yd KR TD to pull within 34-28. BU appeared ready to score again when Findley got an 82 yd run by fmbl’d into the EZ for a TB. BU scored a TD on their next poss and KSU was SOD on 4&2 at the BU23. BU added another TD and led 47-28 with 14:53 left. KSU would get a 67 yd TD pass from Daniel Thomas to Aubrey Quarles on a HB option with 14:36 left. BU’s first punt of the game came with 12:01 left in the game. KSU on 4&24 punting with 6:55 left and BU got 2 FD’s running off 4:04. KSU took over with 2:41 left and went 90/13pl and got a 1 yd TD run but with just :07 left and BU rec’d the onside kick.