It is Tuesday, and that means another edition of Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Alan Malamud.
Summaries
USC 19- Utah 3: Some games are masterpieces that stand the test of time. This game was ugly, it was an Elvis on black velvet that gets sold at the swap meet. However, the depleted Trojans got a great effort from their defense to smother the Utes at the Coliseum. The Trojan defense forced four turnovers, and held the Utes to just 201 total yards on the day. The star of the game was USC PK Andre Heidari, who hit four of five field goals to lift the Trojans to victory.
Telling Stat: 4+4= W; USC forced four Ute turnovers and kicked four field goals to get the win.
Stanford 20- Oregon State 12: This was a defensive struggle of a game as the Cardinal did what they do best. They hung on for a win with their rushing game and defense. It was the Tyler Gaffney show for Stanford as he racked 145 yards on 22 carries and all three Stanford scores. As for OSU, QB Sean Mannion threw for 271 yards and one TD in the loss.
Telling Stat: Passing on threes; Oregon State passed on three field goal opportunities to go for it on fourth down. They failed all three times.
Arizona 44- Colorado 20: The Wildcats ran over around and through Buffaloes up in Boulder. UofA RB Ka'Deem Carey was great again for the 'Cats running for 119 yards on 23 carries and scoring 4 TDs. However, QB B.J. Denker had a big day too. Denker threw for 265 yards and a score, but he also ran for 192 yards on just 15 carries. As for Colorado, Sefu Liufau threw for 212 yards and a TD in the losing effort.
Telling Stat: They ran 'em over; Most of UofA 's 670 total yards in this game came on the ground. The Wildcats ran for 405 yards on 50 attempts. That's a nifty 8.1 yards per rush.
Washington 41- California 17: After having their heads handed to them in the last two weeks by Oregon and Arizona State, the Huskies beat up the Golden Bears to get back in the win column. UW QB Keith Price had a big night, completing 20 of 32 aerials for 376 yards and a pair of TDs, while RB Bishop Sankey had a huge game. He lugged the leather 27 times for 241 yards and 2 TDs. That's a cool 8.9 yards per carry for those scoring at home. As for the Bears it was another week of big yards and no points as QB Jeff Goff threw for 336 yards and one TD.
Telling Stat: A lot in garbage time; 212 of Cal's 483 total yards and 10 of Cal's 17 points came after the Huskies had emptied the benches, up 38-7, late in the third quarter.
Oregon 42- UCLA 14: For three quarters, the bRuins hung with the Ducks. UCLA had kept the Ducks off balance for most of the day and trailed just 21-14 entering the fourth quarter. Three fourth quarter TDs later, the Ducks looked every bit like the #2 team in the land and UCLA looked bewildered. UO RB Byron Marshall proved to be a nightmare for the bRuins by rushing for 133 yards on 19 carries and hitting paydirt three times. Meanhwile, the Duck defense kept UCLA in check by holding UCLA QB Brett Hundley to just 64 yards passing with one TD and two interceptions.
Telling Stat: One and done; The Duck defense allowed 101 yards and one TD to UCLA in the first quarter. The Quacks then held UCLA in check the rest of the way, allowing only 172 more yards and one more TD.
Notre Dame 45- Air Force 10: ND QB Tommy Rees came back from a neck injury to lead the Fighting Irish to a blowout of the Falcons. Rees had a career day, completing 17 of 22 passes for 284 yards and 5 TDs. As for the flyboys form Colorado Springs, The Falcon offense was held in check by the ND defense. USAFA ran for 290 on the ND, but couldn't get anything going through the air, racking up a measly 49 yards passing.
Telling Stat: It was the defense; The ND defense created three turnovers, held for downs twice and forced four three-and-outs to make sure this game was never in doubt.
Observations
...Maybe they should use a courier; Kansas should just think about sending special couriers to deliver the message to their opponents that they have the schematic advantage. Because it was quite clear that Baylor did not receive the memo as they crushed KU, 59-14 last Saturday.
...Relax, Francis!; Alabama HC Nick Saban ripped student organizations which resulted in having their block seating in the student section revoked for the Crimson Tide's next home game because a good number of the students left during their 45-10 blowout of Tennessee. Seriously, doesn't Nick have better things to worry about?
...That'll kill that east coast audience; The Cal-Washington game didn't start until 8 PM last Saturday. Is the Pac 12 determined to make sure nobody watches the games?
...They used all they had; How depleted was USC's roster against Utah? The Trojans fielded 48 scholarship players, walk-ons filled the depth chart at TE, and WR, and used an injured player for half the game. Safety Dion Bailey, who started the game in street clothes due to an injury a week earlier, went in at halftime, suited up and played the whole second half. Wow.
...Big number in little D-III; A shoutout goes to Western Connecticut RB Octavias McKoy who broke the NCAA all-divsion single-game rushing record with 455 yards on 43 carries in his school's 55-35 win over Worcester State. Somebody get that kid a whirlpool, a masseuse, and a case of Gatorade.
...Maybe they got the memo; It's widely known that the Pac 12 is a flag-happy conference. There was a lot of dialogue and outrage over how many flags are thrown in the league on the national level. Somebody must have listened at Pac 12 headquarters. Penalties were down this past weekend. Two weeks ago, on average, there were 12 penalties called for 109 yards in each Pac 12 game. This past Saturday there were 8 penalties called for 84 yards on average. Hmmmmm.
...That's an off day I'd sign my team up for; The talking heads on ESPN said how Oregon had an off day v. UCLA. I'll take off days that feature 555 yards of offense and 42 points anytime.
...And then there were five; There are five winless teams left in the FBS. They are Georgia State, Southern Mississppi, Hawaii, Connecticut, and Miami (OH).
...A surprise; When USC lined up in the inverted wishbone formation on Saturday, I was stunned. That was the team's first new formation in years.
Quietly making noise; Rice and Tulane are both 6-2 and 4-0 in C-USA play.
...Loud noises; Cal's offense makes a lot of noise yardage-wise. They just don't score, and in a football game, that's a problem.
...He was seven feet tall on Saturday; After three plus seasons as a walk-on on the scout team at Rice, little Jayson Carter got his big chance. Carter, who suffers from a genetic disorder that hinders his growth, is the smallest player in the FBS at 4-foot-9, 135 pounds. Late in the fourth quarter of Rice's 45-7 rout of UTEP, Carter was sent in. He took the handoff and nosed over right tackle for a 1-yard gain. To me, Jason Carter is a giant. Way to go, kid.
...A thriller in the ancient eight; In the I'll have a splash more tea before heading to the yacht club conference, there was an actual heart-stopping thriller of a game played. Princeton beat Harvard 51-48 in triple overtime. Princeton QB Quinn Epperly hit WR Roman Wilson from six yards out for the game-winning score. The Tigers now are in the driver's seat for the Ivy League crown.
Ugly Uniform of The Week
Well, an old friend, the Maryland Terrapins are back to claim the title! Check out this all red ensemble with the state flag helmet, sleeves and terrapin shell under layer. The weird team name strip on the leg doesn't help either.
Departments
Crazy Game of the Week: Abilene, TX: In a game that featured 1,401 combined total yards of offense, the West Texas A&M Buffs beat the McMurray University Chaps, 90-57. Yes, 90-57. The game featured 172 offensive plays, 68 first downs, 20 touchdowns, and 2 field goals. WTAMU QB Gabe Rodriguez threw for 344 yards and 5 TDs, while McMurray QB Dustin Vaughan threw for 452 yards and 6 TDs. This game was a statisticians nightmare.
Close Game of the Week: St. Paul, MN: The Washington (MO) Bears got a 15-yard run by RB Cody Ratterman wit just 4:55 to play and escaped with a 7-0 win over the Macalester College Fighting Scots.
Razorback Report: The Hogs had last week off and will host Auburn this Saturday.
Tulane Times: QB Devon Powell threw a pair of TD passes and the Green Wave got a hard fought 14-7 win over Tulsa. The win keeps the Green Wave atop the C-USA West standings. Up next for Tulane is a trip to Florida Atlantic.
Horned Frog Headlines: In a game that featured a delay of 3 hours, 6 minutes, the Texas Longhorns wiped out the Frogs, 30-7. Casey Pachall, threw for 139 yards and an interceptions in his return at QB for the Frogs. Up next for the Frogs is a date withWest Virginia.
C.W. Post Press: Easton, MA- The Pioneers dropped another one. This time it was a 38-28 loss to the Stonehill Skyhawks. Post QB Steve Laurino completed 36 of 60 passes for 404 yards and 2 TDs in the loss.Up next for Post is a trip to Saint Anslem College.
This Week's Three Notes About Nothing
The country gravy at our tailgate breakfast last Saturday was so good, it should be classified as a controlled substance.
Breakfast is always great at Pacific Diner.
Cake pops rock.
Until next week folks, remember that defenses do win championships. I hope everyone has a Happy Halloween!!!!!
-The Commissioner
