The Commissioner is back from Palo Alto with another edition of Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Mel Durslag.
Summaries
Stanford 27- USC 10: The rookie coaching staff of USC got another lesson in football this season. This time, it was from the superior staff of the Stanford Cardinal. While Stanford ran a coordinated offense, USC looked like it was running plays that were drawn in the dirt. While Stanford's players played focused and the coaches made good adjustments, USC committed six false starts and didn't address that situation until the half. Stanford came out in the second half and basically played their game by killing the clock and limiting their opponent's possessions. USC didn't realize this and punted with a 4th and 6 at the Stanford 44, down three scores with nine minutes to play. Stanford put their players in position to win with scheme and adjustments. For the second of three weeks, USC failed to get the ball to its' best receiver. They also failed to stick to a running game that was working.
Telling Stat: 1-4; Since having the interim tag taken off after beating UCLA last year, HC Clay Helton is 1-4 with the Trojans not being competitive in any of those losses.
Nebraska 35- Oregon 32: The Ducks built up a 20-7 second quarter lead, but injuries and a determined Nebraska squad turned the tide win this one. Star UO RB Royce Freeman exited the game after the second series with a "right leg injury." Later in the game Olympian Devon Allen was lost for the year with a knee injury. Meanwhile, the Huskers ran well on the Ducks, QB Tommy Armstrong, Jr. Ran for 85 yards and a TD while throwing for 200 yards and three more scores to lead the Huskers offense. Oregon Still managed to run the ball well, but 13 penalties and a non-existent passing game did in the Ducks. QB Dakota Prukop completed only 14 of 23 passes for 146 yards. Despite this, Oregon still held a 32-28 lead with 2:29 to play. It was then that Armstrong, Jr. raced 34 yards for the game-winning TD for the Big Red.
Telling Stat: No air- No victory: Oregon's lack of a passing game cost them this win. Oregon didn't throw a TD pass, snapping a streak of 82 games with an aerial TD.
Arizona State 32- Texas San Antonio 28: Through three quarters, UTSA had held their Pac 12 foe in check as they had to other Pac 12 schools over the last couple of seasons. Then, just as in those past games, UTSA fell in the final period allowing ASU to escape with a win. The Sun Devils stayed within striking distance of the Roadrunners thanks to the leg of PK Zane Gonzalez who hit a pair of 54-yard field goals, a 45-yarder and a 26-yarder. The Sun Devils scored the game-winning TD with only 3:15 left on a 2-yard TD run by Kalen Ballage. In the loss, QB Dalton Sturm completed 19 of 37 passes for 229 yards and three TDs.
Telling Stat: They finished strong; ASU owned the fourth quarter shutting out UTSA 17-0 to pull out the victory.
Washington State 56- Idaho 6: The Pac 12's vendetta against the Vandals continued this week when the Cougars wiped out their neighbors from a few miles down the road. The Cougs scored on the ground (3 TDs), through the air (3 TDs), on defense (1TD) and on special teams (1TD) in this laugher. Wazzu QB Luke Falk had a light work day, completing 21 of 36 passes for 226 yards and three scores. RB James Williams ran for 126 yards in 14 carries and a TD for WSU to lead all rushers. For the soon to drop back to the FCS Vandals, QB Matt Linehan threw for 172 yards on the day.
Telling Stat: 76, now that's the spirit; Wazzu held Idaho to 76 total yards in the second half, 61 of those coming on one drive in this mismatch.
California 50- Texas 43: The Longhorns came to Berkeley and lost a shootout that ended with a bit of controversy in Strawberry Canyon. Cal QB Davis Webb is looking like the transfer of the year as the former Texas Tech Red Raider lit up Texas for 396 yards passing, four TDs and no interceptions. The Longhorn offense looked pretty good too with RBs D'Onta Foreman and Chris Warren III both rushing for 100 yards and scoring two TDs each. This game stood tied at 43-43 with 5:29 to play, then Cal's offense and the Big XII refs took control in the end. The Golden Bears had scored a TD to go ahead, 50-43 when Webb hit WR Chad Hansen with a 12-yard strike. Cal's defense held UT on the their next possession forcing a punt. The Golden Bears looked like they had put the game away when RB Vic Enwere broke through the line and raced 55 yards for an apparent TD. However, Enwere in his eagerness to celebrate, dripped the ball on the 1-yard line. After a few moments, a Texas player did pick up the ball in the end zone. With the play under review, many thought the play would be ruled a fumble with Texas recovering in the end zone,. That would set up Texas with one last chance to tie the game with a little over a minute to play. However, the officiating crew ruled that Texas did not recover the ball in a timely manner and that Cal would retain possession at the Texas 1-yard line. Call then just took a couple of kneel downs and left with the win.
Telling Stat: When they needed it; The much maligned Cal defense held Texas to a 3-and-out on their final drive which proved to be the difference in this crazy game.
Washington 41- Portland State 3: The Huskies continued their three games of comfort to start the season with an easy win over Portland State, The Vikings had no answer for Husky QB Jake Browning who completed 12 of 19 passes for 163 yards and four TDs before taking the rest of the game off. RB Myles Gaskin got in some light work for the Dawgs as well, rushing for 93 yards on 13 carries and a TD.
Telling Stat: On them early; Washington took the ball to start the game, went down the field quickly to go up, 7-0. Then the Dawgs forced a Portland State fumble on the ensuing kickoff. They turned that mistake into another quick TD and were up 14-0 with 12:12 left in the first quarter. Portland State never recovered.
Oregon State 37- Idaho State 7: The Beavers picked up their first win of the season with a workmanlike win over a pesky Idaho State squad. Behind three field goals from PK Garrett Owens and a pair of TDs runs from QB Darell Garretson and RB Ryan Nall, the Beavers built up a 23-0 halftime lead. Idaho State did show some signs of life when Jakori Ford raced 75 yards to cut the Beavers lead to 23-7. However, OSU answered with a 92-yardTD jaunt by RB Victor Bolden, Jr. that snuffed out any hope that Idaho State would really maker a game of it in Corvallis. Garrison finished with 172 yards passing, 46 rushing and that one TD to lead the Beaver offense.
Telling Stat: Bad aerials; Idaho State did move the ball on Oregon State, but the Beavers forced five turnovers, four of those being interceptions, to turn what could have been a close game into a closer than it looks win.
UCLA 17- BYU 14: In a game carried by the defenses, UCLA's was better and the bRuins walked out of Provo with a tough win. UCLA built up a 10-0 lead at the half behind a 6-yard pass from QB Josh Rosen to FB Cameron Griffin and a 24-tyard field goal by J.J. Molson. The bRuins then added a second TD pass from Rosen. This one was to WR Darren Andrews and UCLA took a 17-0 lead over the Cougars. BYU;s offense finally showed some signs of life when RV Jamaal Williams hit paydirt from one yard out late in the third quarter, but the Cougars never seriously threatened again until very late in the contest. Rosen finished the game with 26 completions in 40 attempts for 307 yards and a pair of TDs. BYU QB Taysom Hill threw for 250 yards and a score in the defeat.
Telling Stat: 91 too late; UCLA held BYU to 273 total yards with 91 of those coming on the Cougars final drive which made this game look a lot closer than it really was.
Utah 34- San Jose State 17: It's safe to say this year that Utah's defense has carried the load, while the offense has done just enough to win. Saturday night was no exception. The Ute defense sacked SJSU QBs 10 times and forced three turnovers to set the stage for the offense to do enough to win. The RB tandem of Zack Moss and Armans Shyne each carried the ball 12 times and each scored a TD while rushing for 95 and 92 yards respectively to spearhead the Utah attack. Meanwhile the Spartans offense never got untracked. QBs Josh Love and Kenny Potter combined to throw for 249 yards and two TDs, but the SJSU running game was non-existent, gaining just 56 yards on 32 carries of the game.
Telling Stat: Just keep grinding; While the Utah defense held San Jose State in check, Utah offense just kept grinding and gradually pulled away, out scoring the Spartans 28-14 over the final three quarters to earn the win.
Arizona 47- Hawaii 28: After coming out slow in their first two games, the Wildcats started fast and never looked back as they whipped the Warriors. UofA scored the first three times they had the ball to jump out to an early 20-0 lead on the strength of two TDs runs by by QB Brandon Dawkins and RB Tyrell Johnson. Hawaii did finally answer with a score of their own, a 15-yard TD pass from QB Ikaika Woolsley to WR John Ursua, but UofA put two more TDs on the board and took a 34-7 lead into the half. Hawaii did mount a second half comeback with the offense scoring three straight TDs, but the Warriors couldn't dig out of the hole they were in as UofA traded scores with Hawaii to keep them at bay. Dawkins finished the game with 235 yards passing and a TD to go with 118 yards rushing on 15 carriers and three big TDs for the Wildcats. RB Steven Lakalaka crossed the double stripe twice for the Warriors in the loss.
Telling Stat: 3L's= $$$; Hawaii has taken beatings from Cal in Australia, Michigan in Ann Arbor, and Arizona in Tuscon for three fat paychecks for the athletic department.
Michigan 45- Colorado 28: A determined bunch of Buffaloes owned the first quarter, jumping out to a 21-7 lead over the Wolverines at the Big House in Ann Arbor. However, a game has four quarters and Michigan won the final three quarters and the game. CU QB Sefo Liufau torched the Wolverine defense with 16 of 25 passing for 246 yards and three TDs. The Buffs did hold a 28-24 lead over UM early in the third quarter, but the Michigan defense shutout CU the rest of the way. Up 38-28. UM put this game way when their All-Everything player, Jabrill Peppers returned a punt 54 yards for a TD. UM QB Wilton Speight had a typical day for a Harbaugh offense, completing 16 of 30 passes for 229 yards and a TD.
Telling Stat: Bottled up after 1; Michigan allowed Colorado to score 21 points and 200 yards of offense in the first period. In the final three periods, The Wolverines allowed only 125 total yards and one TD to give their offense a chance to win the game.
Observations
...Plays from a hat; The USC offense looks like random plays are drawn from a hat and they run them no matter what.
...Smiling for Riley; it was fun to watch Mike Riley finally get a win over Oregon.
...The caissons are rolling along; Army just smashed UTEP, 66-14 to go 3-0 on the season.
...Classy Ducks; Oregon placed a bouquet of green and gold flowers on the 27-yard line on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln to pay respects to Cornhusker Punter Sam Foltz who died in a car crash this summer. He wore number 27.
...1-2 punchless; I don't think anybody expected USC, ND, and Oklahoma to all be 1-2 right now.
...Just no excuse; USC blamed their multiple false starts on Stanford's D-line mimicking their snap cadence. That's poor mental discipline on SC's part. Even in my meager athletic career, every scouting report I ever received told us what the opposing team's cadence was and our defense would always try to disrupt it. What's worse is that it took SC's brilliant coaching staff an entire half to switch to a silent count.
...Upside/Downside; Upside for Colorado is that they showed the nation how much better a team they are with the way they played at Michigan Saturday. Downside for Colorado is that they showed the nation how much better a team they are with the way they played at Michigan Saturday.
...Sure BK, whatever you say; ND HC Brian Kelly said that a staffer that runs his official twitter account made an error and accidentally liked a tweet form a fan calling for his DC to be fired after the Irish lost to Michigan State.
...Long-horned by the refs; Let me get this straight. Cal's RB fumbles going into the end zone, the refs call it a TD. Texas was still the first team to pick up the fumbled ball in the end zone after the supposed TD. However, they didn't pick it up in a "timely manner" according to the Big XII officiating crew and Cal keeps the ball at the Texas one-yard line. SMH.
...Eight man football; Just how bad has USC football become? After Stanford's Christian McCaffrey torched the Trojans on a 54-yard TD reception, USC managed to only send out eight players for the PAT that followed. Go ahead, take a look, USCfootball.com's Shotgun Spratling numbered them for us to see.
...Not the man; UQ QB Dakota Prukop does not have the talent to put the team on his back and carry them to a win.
...Defense wins games; Just ask Utah and UCLA, their defenses have carried them this year.
...Not a surprise; Nobody should be surprised that Iowa got beat by North Dakota State. It shouldn't even called an upset.
Ugly Uniform of the Week
This week Syracuse wins for just not getting Orange and Blue right. I remember when Syracuse had good uniforms.
Low Score Game of the Week: Springfield, MA- PK Chris Boetler connected on a 21-yard field goal attempt with 9:23 to play in the first quarter and that would be all the American International College Yellow Jackets needed in a 3-0 defeat of the Pace College Setters. AIC blocked a Pace FG attempt in the first half to snuff out the Setters only scoring threat of the day. AIC held pace to 133 total yards with just 47 of those yards coming through the air.
Blowout of the Week: Martin, TN- The Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks lit up the scoreboard in an 84-6 rout of the Bacone College Warriors. The Skyhawks scored 12 TDs despite gaining only 347 total yards. Field position dictated by the Skyhawks defense and incredibly poor punting by Bacone meant that UT-M statred most of their drives in Bacone territory. Skyhawk QB Troy Cook completed 10 of 12 passes for 167 yards and four TDs in the rout.
C.W. Post Press: Easton, MA- The Post Pioneers moved to 2-0 in Atlantic 10 Conference play with a 51-20 beating of the Stonehill Skyhawks. Post owned the second half in this game, out scoring Stonehill 28-3 to turn a close game at the half into a rout. Post QB Joe Kidd had a great day. He completed 21 of 26 passes for 309 yards and a three TDs. He also ran for 102 yards on eight carries and another score. Post's defense really shutdown Stonewall down the stretch allowing only 67 total yards in the final 25 minutes of the game. Up next for Post is a home game with Bentley University.
Georgetown Gridiron News: The Hoyas were off this week, but will host the Fighting Blue Lions of Columbia as their homecoming opponent this Saturday.
Razorback Report: The Hogs came home after their exciting win over TCU and easily dispatched the Texas State Bobcats, Arkansas raced out to 35-0 halftime lead and turned the final 30 minutes into a glorified scrimmage. QB Brandon Allen completed 16 of 21 tosses for 241 yards and two TDs in a little over one half's work for Arkansas. Things get serious again for the Hogs this week as they take on Texas A&M at the Death Star in Dallas.
This Week's Five Notes about driving the 5 and other highways in California
Drove by a roadside brush fire that has just started on highway 152 near Gilroy. Pretty scary.
Didn't know there were so many oil wells in the state until I drove the 33.
Drove through Taft. Didn't find Reno Hightower or Jack Dundee, but did see couple of guys that looked like Arthur and Earl.
The Harris Ranch house rub is still the best as far as I am concerned.
Yes, I did eat at a place called Jose's Country Kitchen on the 101. It was pretty darn good.
Until next time, remember that the game is played with 11 men on a side.
-The Commissioner
