It's another Tuesday and that means yet another edition of Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Alan Malamud.
Summaries
USC 38- California 30: The Trojans came out like they have all year and built up a good lead, only to have to hold on for dear life at the end. The Trojans held a 31-9 halftime advantage thanks to Three TD passes from QB Cody Kessler, a TD run by RB Justin Davis and a Field Goal by PK Andre Heidari. Then, the second half happened. The USC offense dropped off thanks to low production and three penalties that wiped TDs off the board, while the defense got gassed as usual. That lead to Cal outscoring USC 21-7 in the final two quarters. USC recovered an onside kick with 1:36 to preserve the win. Kessler would finish by completing 31 of 42 passes for 371 yards and four TDs, while WR Nelson Agholor hauled in 16 of those passes for 216 yards and two TDs. As for the Golden Bears, QB Jared Goff completed 29 of 47 passes for 279 yards and three TDs.
Telling Stat: 11; The win for USC marked their 11th straight over the California.
Oregon State 35- Arizona State 27: You can count me in as one of the handful of fans that stayed up to watch the end of this huge upset in frigid Corvalis. By halftime, it looked like ASU had escaped the cold and a feisty bunch of Beavers. ASU had fallen behind early 14-3, but seemed to have taken control of the game going on a 17-0 run which was capped off by a 36-yard fumble return by LB Antonio Longino to take a 24-14 lead into the break. However, the temperature and the ASU offense got really cold in the second half while the Beavers heated up. ASU was precariously holding onto a 27-21 lead to start the final period when OSU QB Sean Mannion hooked up with WR Jordan Villamin for a 67-yard TD pass and a 28-27 lead. From that point on, OSU completely controlled the game. OSU had the momentum and just physically took it to the Sun Devils. OSU LB Michael Doctor sealed the win when he intercepted a Taylor Kelly pass and took it back 35 yards for a TD.
Telling Stat: Six frigid minutes; With 8:52 to play, OSU went on a 10 play, 54-yad drive that chewed up exactly six minutes. Yes, the drive killed the clock, but it also kept that ASU offense on the sideline to get colder and colder as the temperature dipped into the low 20s.
Utah 20- Stanford 17 2OT: Well, this game was a total yawner until overtime. Stanford scored first on a 3-yard TD pass from QB Kevin Hogan to FB Lee Ward early in the first quarter. Then, Utah answered with a 2-yard run by QB Travis Wilson with 6:02 left in the second quarter. That was all the scoring until overtime. Yes, the game went to OT an 7-7. The teams then traded TDs in the first overtime as Utah's Wilson hit WR Kaelin Clay with a 25-yard strike for the Utes, only to have it answered with a 14-yard TD pass form SU's Hogan to TE Austin Hooper. In the second OT, the Utah defense stiffened, pushing the Cardinal back to where PK Jordan Williamson had to and then did connect on a 51-yard field goal. Utah got their chance to end this game and they did when Wilson found WR Kenneth Scott for the game-winning TD from 3 yards out. Wilson was efficient for the Utes in the win competing 21 of 28 passes for 177 yards and two TDs. Hogan threw for only 104 yards and two TDs in the loss for the Cardinal.
Telling Stat: All D until OT; This was a defense dominated game if there ever was one. There were 17 punts, and each team only had one drive of 10 plays or more.
Arizona 27- Washington 26: UofA PK Casey Skowron had a game for the Wildcats that kickers only dream of. Not only did the kid scamper 18 yards to paydirt on a successfully run fake field goal attempt, he nailed the game winner from 47 yards out to lift the Wildcats to victory over the Dawgs. Washington had this one won. They just had to run the final 1:30 off the clock after picking up a huge first down when RB Deontae Cooper fumbled. UofA recovered and then drove into position for the winning score. RB Nick Wilson led the offensive attack for the Wildcats, rushing for 104 yards on 30 carries and pair of TDs. As for UW, RB Dwayne Washington lugged the leather 19 times for 148 yards in the loss.
Telling Stat: The D kept them in it; Arizona's defense kept the Wildcats in this one in the fourth quarter forcing two Washington punts and creating the turnover that put their offense into position to win the game.
Northwestern 43- Notre Dame 40 OT: The Fighting Irish have been one of those teams that has played to the level of their competition this year. Navy and other teams have had chances to upset the Irish when they were double digit favorites. Northwestern broke through and made the ND pay for this style of play. Down 40-29 with 10:34 to play, the Wildcats scored 11 points to force OT. The big hero for the Wildcats was PK Jack Mitchell who hit a 45-yard field goal to send the game to force OT then hit a 41-yard field goal to win the game in OT. For Northwestern, QB Trevor Siemian threw for 284 yards and a TD while RB Justin Jackson ran for 149 yards and a a TD. As for ND, QB Everett Golson only threw one interception as he threw for 287 yards and three TDs.
Telling Stat: The D in ND was silent; In the last 10:34 of regulation plus OT, the Notre Dame defense gave up 154 yards and 17 points to Northwestern in this stunning defeat.
Observations
...They were available; Marnatha Baptist canceled their game with Kentucky Wesleyan College last week. For the second time this year Maranatha did not play a game due to too many injuries. So, what did Kentucky Wesleyan do? They found another game for this coming week. Ohio Midwestern College agreed to a game this week after their game with Alfred State last weekend was cancelled because the officiating crew never showed up. Let me say that again, the officials never showed up. So, Kentucky Wesleyan will host Ohio Midwestern this coming week.
...Exasperation; Just reading across the ESPN crawl that Penn State is bowl eligible is galling.
...The cost of winning; Arkansas was fined $25,000 by the SEC for not keeping control of their field after beating LSU last week. The SEC doesn't like it when fans storm the field after a big win. I'm shocked at this. I didn't know the SEC observed any rules ever.
...The right choice; RF Giancarlo Stanton just signed a 13-year, 325 million dollar deal with the Miami Marlins. I remember how disappointed I was when he made the choice to play baseball over football. Back when he was just Mike Stanton and a senior LB at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, he had committed to play for USC. I guess he made the right call.
...Just a rumor; There's is no truth to the rumor that "The Boot" rivalry trophy from the LSU-Arkansas game was seen in several bars in Fayetteville after the Hogs 17-0 win.
...Returns accepted; A few weeks back, the Nebraska coaching staff gave their defensive players the right to wear their vaunted Black Shirts for practice because they were playing so well. Ummm, another color will most likely be hanging in those lockers this week.
...A staggering number; Just how staggering is Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon's 408 yards rushing v. Nebraska? Pretty staggering, he out rushed every other Big Ten team on Saturday. He also rushed for 68 times more yards than Maryland did v. Michigan State. The Terps rushed for a whole six yards vs. the Spartans.
...Simple Pac 12 South math; USC needs to beat UCLA and an ASU loss to win the division, UCLA needs to beat USC and Stanford to win the division.
...Bo Must Go!; That's the thinking many Husker fans have nowadays. I think it is a forgone conclusion that Nebraska will fire Bo Pellini at season's end.
...Wigs on the Green; there were at least seven instances of helmets coming off players heads during the USC-CAL game. Crazy.
...This just in; Indiana sucks. Yup, they alway suck in football, but this year is a new low for Hoosier football. Not, only are they 0-6 in the Big Ten, but they are already 0-2 v. conference newbies Maryland and Rutgers.
...Northern Blues; It's possible that Oregon could be the only Pac 12 North team with a winning record at the end of the season.
...Worth watching; The stunned looks on the faces of ND HC Brian Kelly and ASU HC Todd Graham as their teams were being upset by decided underdogs was priceless. Graham's deer-in-the-headlights look as the Oregon State defense was teeing off on his offense was especially satisfying to see.
Going Bowling
Heading into this coming weekend, there are 61 bowl eligible teams for the 76 available bowl slots with 29 other teams on the bubble for bowl eligibility. It looks like there may be enough teams to fill the slots this year after all.
Ugly Uniform of the Week: These Yellow jerseys and helmets from Minnesota take the prize.
Ugly, Ugly Helmet of the Week: Miami wins for this just horrible metallic orange disaster.
Departments
Low Score Game of the Week: Ewing, NJ- Rowan University RB Wilther Marcelin scored on TD runs of 16 and 4 yards to lift the Rowan Profs to a 14-6 win over the College of New Jersey Lions. The win handed Rowan a share of the New Jersey Athletic Conference crown. Marcelin was a workehorse in the win, carrying the ball 41 times for 225 yards on the day.
Blowout of the Week: Sam Houston State crushed Houston Baptist, 76-0. The Kats raced out to 35-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. The Kats as a team rushed for a school record 601 yards. That broke the school record by 100 yards. Houston Baptist has now given up 70 or more point four times this season.
C.W. Post Press: Springfield, MA- The Pioneers trailed 23-17 with 5:50 to play in the third quarter of their Northeast 10 title match with American International College. From that point on, Post dominated the game scoring 35 unanswered points to claim a 52-17 victory and the Northeast 10 crown! Post QB Steve Laurino was brilliant again, completing 30 of 57 passes for 413 yards and five TDs. He also ran for another score. The win vaulted Post into the Division II Playoffs. The Pioneers will travel to Petersburg, VA where they will take on the Virginia State Trojans in an opening round game. The Pioneers are true underdogs here being the sixth seeded team in a six seed Super Regional. A win would earn Post a trip to #2 seed Bloomsburg.
Tulane Times: The Green Wave were beaten down at home by the Memphis Tigers, 38-7. The Green Wave helped facilitate the beatdown by committing five turnovers. Tulane QB Tanner Lee threw three interceptions on the day and no TDs. Two of his interceptions were returned for TDs. Up next for the Green Wave is a trip to East Carolina.
Razorback Report; The Hogs SEC nightmare is over. Arkansas snapped its' 17-game SEC losing streak in grand fashion by blanking LSU, 17-0. The Hogs physically dominated the Tigers from start to finish in this one, allowing the Bayou Bengals only 123 total yards of offense. Meanwhile, Arkansas RBs Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins each crossed the double stripe en route to the win. Up next for the Hogs is a home date with Ole Miss.
This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...
Thanks all those who informed me of just how much wood is in a cord of wood.
I learned all about snap presses this week.
There's a sewing machine in my house.
Until next week folks, remember that running the ball and stopping the run is still the key to winning games.
-The Commissioner
