Here's your Tuesday football fix, Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Alan Malamud.
Summaries
Oregon State 28- San Diego State 7: The Aztecs came out on their first possession of the game and swept right down field on the Beavers. It was a drive that covered 75 yards in just eight plays, and was capped off RB Donnel Pumphrey's two yard trip to the end zone. That was the end of the highlights for SDSU. The OSU offense sputtered at times, but managed to put this game away with a pair of nearly identical 11 play, 75 yards drives to open the third quarter. OSU RBs Storm Woods and Teron Ward provided the scoring punch for the Beavers with a pair of rushing TDs each.
Telling Stat: Dammed Aztecs; After scoring a touchdown on a 75 yard drive to open the game, SDSU was held by the OSU defense to zero points and just 130 total yards on their final 10 drives.
Colorado 21- Hawaii 12: Hawaii had their chances to beat CU, but just couldn't find the end zone in this tight game in Boulder. The Buffs ground out the win via the arm of QB Sefo Liufau. Liufau completed 29 of 45 passes for 287 yards and two TDs. Liufau's favorite target was WR Nelson Spruce who hauled in 13 passes for 172 yards and a TD. Meanwhile, the UH offense had its' problems as they shuffled through three QBs on the day, but did find a bright spot in RB Steven Lakalaka. He gained 123 yards on 19 carries filling in injured RB Joey Iosefa. PK Tyler Hadden accounted for the all UH scoring connecting on all four of his field goal attempts.
Telling Stat: Stymied on the doorstep; The Colorado defense forced field goals on all four Hawaii scoring drives, which included holding the Warriors out of the end zone after and interception handed UH a first-and-goal at the Buffalo seven-yard line.
Arizona 49- California 45: The Golden Bears went to Tuscon and whipped the Wildcats around for a full three quarters. Cal's Bear Raid passing offense had arrived and the Golden Bear defense had a bite to it for the first time in years. Then, it all came crashing down in the final stanza. The Wildcats had a fourth quarter for the ages that was capped off with a 47-yard Hail Mary from QB Anu Solomon to WR Austin Hill. In that fourth quarter, the Wildcats outscored Cal 36-12, with Solomon throwing four TD passes. Solomon's night ended up being a big one, completing 47 of 73 passes for 520 yards and five TDs. Solomon's two prime targets were WRs Cayleb Jones and Austin Hill who hauled in a total of 21 passes for 313 yards and five TDs. In the Staggering loss, Cal had two offensive stars. QB Jared goff threw for 380 yards and three TDs, while RB Daniel Lasco gained on 123 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown.
Telling Stat: A glorious fourth; In the fourth quarter, Arizona ran 29 plays, gained 261 yards and scored 36 points.
Utah 26- Michigan 10: A big foot, a punt return, a good defense, and flood waters at the Big House all factored into this big road victory for Utah. The big foot was Ute PK Andy Phillips who connected on field goals of 35, 38, 48 and 50 yards. The punt return was from WR/PR Kaelin Clay who stunned the Wolverine crowd with a 66-yard jaunt down the sideline that put the Utes up 10-3 early in the second quarter. The good defense was the Utah defense that forced four Michigan turnovers and kept the Wolverines offense out of the end zone all game. The flood waters were from a storm that caused a nearly three hour weather delay due to heavy rain and lightning. With UM behind, most of the 105,000 at the game did not wait out the delay. The Utah fans did stay and they were the only fans to be heard as they helped their team finish off the Wolverines when the final seven plus minutes were played.
Telling Stat: Not as close as it seemed; Michigan's only TD came off an interception return. Utah controlled this game from the opening kickoff to it's prolonged finish.
Washington 45- Georgia State 14: The Huskies hosted FBS newcomer Georgia State and the Panthers had the Husky Stadium crowd shocked as they took a 14-0 lead into halftime. The shocked Huskies of the first half returned for the second half as fired up Huskies and blew out the Panthers. The Dawgs put up 45 unanswered points to claim a harder than expected victory. QB Cyler Miles completed 19 of 27 passes for 154 yards and three TDs to lead the Husky attack. As for the Panthers, QB Nick Arbuckle threw for 194 yards and two TDs in loss.
Telling Stat: 2nd half shutdown at Montlake; While the Washington offense was busy lighting up the scoreboard in the final two quarters, the Husky defense didn't allow Georgia State to cross the 50-yard line, holding them to 37 total yards in the process.
Oregon 38- Washington State 31: A great effort by the Cougars to pull an upset of the Ducks fell short due to UO QB Marcus Mariota and an official swallowing his flag on a key third down. Despite being sacked seven times and having no running game to speak of, Mariota still managed to complete 21 of 25 passes for for 329 yards and all five of Oregon's TDs. Meanwhile, Wazzu QB Connor Halliday completed 43 of 63 passes for 436 yards and all four of Wazzu's scores. However, we never got to find out if Halliday had another TD pass in him that night. With 3:47 left to play, Wazzu faced a 3rd and 14 at the Oregon 38-yard line. Halliday took the shotgun snap and found WR Isiah Myers open on the near sideline. He fired the pass to Myers who was interfered with by Duck CB Dior Mathis. It was such an obvious pass interference that announcers said it was clearly PI. No flags were thrown. Instead of a penalty and first down deep in Duck territory, Wazzu was faced with a 4th and 14 situation. Halliday was sacked and Oregon took over on downs. The Ducks ran out the clock and the game was over.
Telling stat: One; One missed call cost Washington State a shot at overtime and a possible upset over Oregon.
Observations
...A Throwin' Buffalo; CU QB Sefo Liufau has quarterbacking in his blood. His uncle is former Wazzu QB great Jack Thompson. Always love a chance to reference the old "Throwin' Samoan."
...They are consistent; Never underestimate the ability of Clemson blow a game. To paraphrase the great Joe Pesci, "They could screw up a cup of coffee."
...An Aussie in paradise; Hawaii punter Scott Harding comes from an Aussie Rules background. The 28-year old Harding played for both the Brisbane Lions and the Port Adelaide Magpies of the Australian Football League. He punts with either foot and also plays some wideout for the Rainbow Warriors. It's fun to watch him play the American game.
...A perfect grand; Washington State and Oregon combined for exactly 1,000 yards of offense in their game. Oregon gained 501 yards, while Wazzu gained 499.
...A passing league; Only two Pac 12 teams rank in the top 30 in the FBS for rushing offense, while seven teams are ranked in the top 30 for passing offense.
...Nice work; One of the best signs I've seen so far this season reads, "The Big Ten: Bad Math and Bad Football"
...Ann Arbor blues; All the weather delay did in Michigan was make many Wolverine fans wish the flood waters carried away HC Brady Hoke.
...A real head shaker; Why was FSU QB Jameis Winston allowed to watch his team from the sidelines Saturday? A suspension is a suspension. To this intrepid reporter, it means that you aren't even allowed in the building. It was a joke.
...This just in; Pac 12 referees suck. The non-call of pass interference at the end of the Wazzu-Oregon game may have not only altered the finish of the game, but the course of the Pac 12 North this season.
...Columbus in their rear view mirror; Wasn't VaTech supposed to be incredible this year after upsetting Ohio State? Evidently, everyone forgot that big win was against a Big Ten team.
...Longhorns slaughter; Longhorn HC Charlie Strong has just kicked his ninth player off the Texas team this season. Wow.
Ugly Uniform of the Week: The California Golden Bears take this week's award. I know losing on a Hail Mary hurts a lot, but losing in this very ugly, all-gold ensemble makes it worse.
Departments
Blowout of the Week: Sioux City, IA- This game comes from the NAIA ranks where the Dordt College Defenders really didn't defend anything as they were crushed by the Morningside College Mustangs, 72-2. The Mustangs ran up 684 yards of offense in the rout. Mustang RB Brandon Wegher toted the rock 24 times for 216 yards and two TDs on the day. As for the Mustang defense they held Dordt to five first downs and 47 total yards of offense.
Close Game of the Week: Northfield, VT- With :05 left in the fourth quarter, PK Wesley Medeiros kicked a 22-yard field goal to lift the Norwich Cadets to a 10-7 win over the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Goats. Yes folks, the Goats.
Tulane Times: The Blue Devils were the team letting the good times roll in a 47-13 rout of the Tulane Green Wave. The Blue Devils whipped the Green Wave with defense. The Duke front seven spent a good portion of the day in the Tulane backfield where they forced five turnovers along the way. The last two of those turnovers were pick-6s. Tulane QB Tanner Lee threw for 160 yards with three interceptions on the day. Up next for Tulane is home date with Rutgers.
TCU Horned Frog Headlines: The Horned Frogs had a bye this past weekend and will travel to SMU to battle for the Iron Skillet this coming Saturday.
C.W. Post Press: North Andover, MA- The Pioneers dropped a 19-17 decision to the Merrimack College Warriors to fall 1-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play. After a late Merrimack TD pass from QB Joe Capobianco to WR Armond McRae, Post had one last shot to pull out a victory. However, Pioneeer QB Steve Laurino misfired on four straight passes and the game belonged Merrimack. Laurino finished with 229 yards passing and one TD in the loss. Next up for C.W. Post is road trip to Assumption College.
Razorback Report: The Hogs were rude hosts to MAC power Northern Illinois, whipping the Huskies, 45-14. The Razorbacks played a balanced game rushing for 212 yards and throwing 215 yards v. NIU. Arkansas QB Brandon Allen competed 15 of 22 passes for 199 yards and two TDs to lead his team to victory. For NIU, QB Drew Hare threw for 179 yards and two TDs in the losing effort.
This Weeks' Three Notes About Nothing
Hawaiian Punch Slurpees are really good.
There's is a special pleasure drawn from re-reading a great book.
Pumpkins on sale at the market mean's the best time of the year is at hand.
Until next week folks, remember your team can't get into a position where the refs can determine the outcome.
-The Commissioner
