Hey All,
The first week of the season is under our belts and here's the column that makes Tuesdays worth waking up for, Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Alan Malamud.
Summaries
USC 19- Minnesota 17: USC started off with QB Matt Barkley hooking up with WR Robert Woods for three TDs in the first half. All looked good with USC up 19-0 in the second quarter. Then, everything fell apart for the Trojans and they ended up holding on for a two point win. Dropped passes, missed blocks, and many missed coverages left the Trojan faithful with little to celebrate. One thing is clear though, Robert Woods is a special player. He set a USC record with 17 receptions for 177 yards and three TDs on the day. Minnesota couldn't cover him. However, the Golden Gophers almost got the win with some late heroics by QB Max Shortell. He engineered the drive that put Minnesota within striking distance of SC midway through the fourth period. He had a chance to win the game, but threw a pick with under a minute to play and USC escaped with the win.
Telling Stat: Mr. woods had an incredible day. He had 17 receptions. The Golden Gophers caught 14 passes as a team.
Sacramento State 29- Oregon State 28 1-OT: The Beavers were missing a few starters for this one. Notably missing from the squad was WR James Rodgers who is rehabbing from knee injuries. Also missing from this game was a Beaver win. Sac State QB Jeff Fleming completed 22 of 35 passes for 257 yards an 3 TDs. He also hit WR Brandon Reed with the game-winning two- point conversion in the first overtime period. The Hornets held a 14-3 halftime lead and never trailed in the send half. OSU did mount a furious comeback, scoring 15 fourth quarter points to force overtime. OSU also found a new running back. True freshman Malcolm Agnew gained 223 yards on 33 carries and scored 3 TDs on the afternoon.
Telling Stat: They had no drive. OSU went three-and-out on offense on 6 of their 13 drives in the game.
Arizona State 48- UC Davis 14: It was 108 degrees at 7:15PM for the kickoff of this glorified scrimmage. Soon after the opening kickoff it was evident that the only team that could stop ASU was ASU. The Sun Devils built up a 41-0 lead through three quarters then emptied the bench the rest of the way. ASU QB Brock Osweiler completed 19 of 26 passes for 262 yards and 2 TDs. The Aggies undersized defense never came close to touching him. In fact, the only pain he suffered all night came from the cramps that felled him in the extreme heat. Seven different RBs toted the leather for ASU with Kyle Middlebrooks leading all rushers with 62 yards on 10 carries, while Cameron Marshall made the most of his seven carries by scoring 2 TDs in the winning effort. As for UC Davis, they did manage to put up 243 yards on ASU and score 14 points, but most of the yards and the two TDs came long after the game was decided.
Telling Stat: There was no drive in these Aggies. On their first 10 possessions, UC Davis gained 58 total yards and punted 9 times. Their other drive ended when the clock ran out to end the first half.
LSU 40- Oregon 27: LSU came out and physically pounded the Ducks for four full quarters in this one. The Tigers held the Ducks to a 95-yards rushing, while knocking out UO's top two running backs. The game turned in the third quarter when UO true freshman RB De'Anthony Thomas fumbled twice. Both of them led to LSU TDs and this game was over. As for LSU's offense, they only gained 273 total yards. The Tigers jut didn't to go far on drives as they took advantage of short fields after each of UO's four turnovers.
Telling Stat: 2 for 4 is great in baseball. It's not great for UO's De'Anthony Thomas who fumbled on two of his four carries against LSU.
Utah 27- Montana State 10: The Utes went into this game wondering just how would QB Jordan Wynn's surgically repaired shoulder hold up in his first game back. Wynn's shoulder held up as he turned in a workmanlike effort, completing 15 of 23 passes for 101 yards and 2 TDs. Utah's offense didn't show much this game, but they may have found a running back. Los Angeles Harbor College transfer John White IV carried the ball 19 times for 150 yards and a TD. The Utes built up a 24-7 halftime lead. Then, the Ute offense sputtered for most of the second half. However, the Utah defense gave up some yards, but never let the Bobcats mount any serious threats.
Telling Stat: A boom, then a fizzle; Utah gained 128 yards and scored 24 points in the first 18:07 of the game. Then, they gained 164 yards and scored 3 points in the final 41:53 of the game.
Washington State 64- Idaho State 21: 60 points or more have been put up on the old scoreboard a lot in Pullman lately, but for the first time in a long time, the Cougars were the ones putting up the big numbers. The Cougs slapped around the Big Sky doormat Tigers by scoring on their first four possessions en route to a 40-0 lead at the half. However, the win did come with a price. Wazzu QB Jeff Tuel was pulled from the game in the middle of the first quarter with a broken clavicle. His backup, Marshall Lobbestael hit on 14 of 19 throws for 230 yards and 2 TDs. Meanwhile, the Cougar rushing game saw a trio of backs carry the ball for an average of 10 yard per carry and 4 TDs. As for ISU, their QB, Kevin Yost threw for 386 yards and a TD in the losing effort.
Telling Stat: They got a lot done in garbage time. ISU gained 361 yards and scored their 21 points after Wazzu had already built up a 47-0 lead.
Stanford 57- San Jose State 3: Up on "The Farm" Andrew Luck began his run at the Heisman with a 171 yard, 2 TD day against the other team in bay area that wears blue and gold. Luck's arm wasn't need much as the Cardinal rushing game just overpowered the SJSU defense. Stepfan Taylor led all Cardinal backs with 68 yards rushing and 2 TDs. Couple that with a defensive effort that held SJSU to 27 yards rushing and forced three turnovers and the rout, as they say, was on.
Telling Stat: They had short fields. SU's average starting field position for this game was their own 40 yard line.
Washington 30- Eastern Washington 27: The Huskies lost their status as one of the few FBS teams left that had never played an FCS team on the kickoff with EWU. Then, four quarters later, they almost lost the game. Eagle QB Bo Levi Mitchell, (an SMU transfer), torched the UW secondary. He completed 39 of 69 passes for 473 yards and 3 TDs. As for UW, Jake Locker's replacement, Keith Price hit on 17 of 25 tosses for 102 yards and 3 TDs of his own. Chris Polk led the Husky rushing attack with 125 yards on 23 carries just a couple weeks after having his knee 'scoped. Meanwhile, PK Nick Folk nailed three field goals for the Dawgs. All his kicks were over 40 yards with the longest covering 53 yards. The Huskies did put 30 on the board, but the Eagles stood poised to at least tie the game with a first down on UW 25 with under a minute to play. It was then UW sealed the game with an interception by Desmond Trufant in the endzone.
Telling Stat: Turnovers kill. EWU whipped the Dawgs in almost every statistical category, yet lost the turnover battle (4-0), and in turn, the game.
Arizona 41- Northern Arizona 10: The Wildcats came out and ran up a 14-0 first quarter lead. They then took the second quarter off. Then they came out and dominated the second half for an easy win. UofA showed no running game to speak of as QB Nick Foles hit on 34 of 42 passes for 412 yards and 5 TDs. The Wildcat defense held the Lumberjacks in check for most of the night, despite being on the field for nearly 37 minutes.
Telling Stat: You gotta convert to score. NAU went 2 for 12 on third down conversions with the 2 conversions coming in the second quarter where they scored all their points.
California 36- Fresno State 21: The Fresno State moral victory tour got in full swing for 2011 with a sloppy penalty filled loss to the Golden Bears. CAL spotted FSU a 7-0 lead when QB Zach Maynard threw a pick on his own goal line to open the game. CAL then controlled the game the rest of the way, building up a 36-14 lead before giving up a garbage time TD to the Bulldogs. Maynard didn't have great day for the Bears. He only completed 16 passes, but he did throw for 2 TDs. The CAL defense harassed FSU QB Derek Carr all day. The Bears didn't rack up a bunch of sacks, but they did hurry and hit Carr all game long. The Bears defense only gave up one real scoring drive and that came after CAL had the game well in hand.
Telling Stat: They had no O. FSU's average drive lasted 4 plays and covered 14 yards.
Hawaii 34- Colorado 17: Hawaii is known for their incredible passing attack, but it was what their QB did with his legs that devastated the Buffaloes. QB Bryant Moniz ran 14 times for 121 yards and 3 TDs he also there for 178 yards and a TD as well. So, Moniz accounted for 299 of UH's 343 total yards. There were no such heroics on the CU side, but QB Tyler Hansen did throw for 223 yards and 2 TDs in the losing effort. However, the biggest moment in the game came after CU closed within a TD of UH late in the third quarter. Hawaii HC Greg McMackin then called two time outs in a row before the ensuing kickoff, so he could chew his team out. The chewing out must have worked as Hawaii then shutout the Buffs the rest of the way.
Telling Stat: They faced a green curtain? Hawaii held Colorado to 17 yards rushing on 28 attempts. That's a cool 0.6 yards per carry.
Houston 38- UCLA 34: Last year vs. the bRuins, Houston QB Case Keenum tore knee ligaments in a 31-13 loss. This year, the surgically repaired knee held up as he threw for 310 yards and 2 TDs to beat the bRuins. UCLA got off to a poor start. They gained just 29 yards in the first quarter and found themselves in a 10-0 hole before they could breathe. Then, a couple of minutes into the second quarter, UH CB D.J. Hayden upended UCLA QB Kevin Prince. The hit knocked him out with a concussion. Richard Brehaut came in to run the bRuins and led them to within three of the Cougars late in the game. However, the bRuins missed a game-tying field goal attempt, then surrendered the game-winning TD with 9:31 left in the game.
Telling Stat: A poor start equals a loss. UCLA gained 525 yards and scored 34 points in the final three quarters of the game. Their 29 yard, scoreless first quarter cost them the game.
South Florida 23- Notre Dame 20: This game had many big stories associated with it. For starters, USF's HC Skip Holtz was making a return to his Alma Mater with his squad. Secondly, the weather became a factor as the game was delayed twice for a total of three hours due to lightning. Then lastly, ND couldn't hold onto the ball. Those three stories added up to an ND loss. The Irish turned the ball over five times on the day/night. ND QB Tommy Rees had a good day filling in for the ineffective Dayne Crist and threw for 296 yards and a pair of TDs. However, he also threw two big interceptions. Meanwhile, USF QB B.J. Daniels wasn't great as he only threw for 128 yards and a one TD. The best thing about Daniels was that he kept the offense moving and didn't turnover the ball.
Telling Stat: Turnovers kill- Part II. ND's five turnovers lost them this game. Period.
Observations
...ASU has no uniform sense. The Sun Devils came out for their game v. UC Davis sporting Maroon jerseys in the 108 degree heat in Tempe. Wouldn't it have made sense to wear white jerseys at home in the heat? It's not like the Sun Devils didn't know about the heat. August was the hottest month in recorded history in Tempe. The daily temp was 109 degrees. However, it was a dry heat.
...Washington did it in style. Hey, if you're gonna start playing FCS schools, you might as well start at the top. Eastern Washington is the defending FCS National Champions. They came one play away from embarrassing the Huskies at home.
...Which Kelly will stroke out first? After watching the Notre Dame and Oregon HCs go nuts on the sideline, I think ND's Brian Kelly has the edge here. It just may happen at Michigan this week.
...Note to Lane Kiffin: The forward pass was legalized over a century ago! Laterals are for rugby.
...No BCS for you, TCU! They went from being the 2011 Rose Bowl Champs to that team that gave up 50 in a loss to Baylor last week. Somewhere, Grant Teaff is smiling.
...Nothing like being in the hole in your own league on Labor Day. Miami in the ACC, New Mexico from the Mountain West and North Texas from the Sun Belt all opened up the season with conference losses.
...It's all down hill from here, Broncos! Boise State spanked Georgia and will now have three months to get ready for a BCS bowl.
...It's funny now. Oregon State's loss to Sacramento State was fun to watch, but that loss will just destroy the Pac 12 down the line in the computer rankings when BCS bowls are handed out.
...Best referee call of the weekend came out of Waco. The ref in the TCU-Baylor game called a false start on TCU declaring "False start; everyone but the center moved." Sounds like the Center blew the snap count there.
...The weather delays around the country sure played havoc with a lot of games, but one thing keeps bugging me. If ND had been ahead at the half, do you think they would have resumed the game?
...Just stop it, Fresno. Your "us-against-the-world act" has grown tired and stale.
...Looks like the hot seat just got hotter down at Ole Miss for Houston Nutt. The Rebels blew a 13-0 lead in the final minutes and lost to BYU, 14-13. It didn't help that Mississippi's only TD came off an interception return, either.
...Does anybody really think Joe Paterno does any coaching anymore? I think he was listening to his iPod in the booth last week.
...UO HC Chip Kelly said that if his team lost to LSU, then their season would be over. I guess it's over, Chip.
...Is it basketball season, yet? There have been 12 upsets by FCS teams over FBS teams in the last three seasons. Duke is the only one to have been the victim twice in those 12 upsets. Both losses are to Richmond.
...If you ever get the chance to go to Dallas, take it from me, pass it by. Two times the BCS title game loser has opened the following season at new Texas Stadium. They've lost both times. Oklahoma lost to BYU in 2009 and Oregon lost to LSU this past weekend.
...Pining for a bygone era; I still miss the Pac 8, Southwest Conference, and the Big Eight.
...Long road trip of the week; San Diego State plays at Army.
Until next week folks, remember that you have pick up anyone that comes into your area when dropping back on a zone blitz.
-The Commissioner
