It's time for the column that makes your Tuesdays a little more fun, Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Jim Murray.
Summaries
Texas 37- USC 14: So much to delve into here in this embarrassment in Austin. First, there's the fact that SC jumped out to a 14-3 lead on the Longhorns and many of the home folks feared being blown out by the Trojans. Then, there was the missed tackle by SC Safety Ajene Harris that let Texas back in the game and close their deficit to just 14-10. Then, there was the whole sequence at the end of the first half where:
1. USC didn't opt for the easy field goal up 14-13 on the road. They failed on 4th and goal thanks to a bad play call in which not all of the O-line knew the play and the TE whiffed on a key block.
2. The Trojan defense came in and stuffed Texas, recording a safety that everyone in the universe except for the Big XII officiating crew and replay crew failed to acknowledge.
3. USC still forced a punt from UT's end zone where they then roughed the punter and handed The Longhorns a first down. Note: USC eschewed great field position and went for the block while their punt returner fair caught the kick at the Texas 40-yard line. OUCH!
4. The USC defense forced another punt, but the offense, with great field position, lost 16 yards due to inept play calling and poor OL play.
5. USC's punter, the one we are told has a strong leg, tops off the horrible drive with a 13-yard punt which set up Texas for the go-ahead field goal on the final play of the half.
Funny, even after that epically poor end to the first half the Trojans were still in the game! However, USC made no adjustments as usual at the half, had their top defender ejected on a targeting call to start the second half, and then had a field goal attempt blocked and returned for a TD to put an end to any hopes of a win.
Telling Stat: Not fans of the Lone Star State; USC is 0-3 in their last three visits to Texas and has been outscored 113-27 in those three embarrassing losses.
Oregon 35- San Jose State 22: San Jose State played maybe their most inspired football of the season, but the Ducks still managed to sweep aside their MWC foe with a less than overwhelming performance. Quack QB Justin Herbert threw for 309 yards and three TDs while RB Cyrus Habibi-Likio found the end zone on two short bursts to account for UO's other scores. QB Josh Love competed 15 of 31 passes for 238 yards and a TD in the defeat for SJSU.
Telling Stat: 3-0; That's all that matters to Duck fans as they head into their matchup with Stanford next week.
Nevada 37- Oregon State 35: Nobody saw this crazy affair in the Biggest Little City in the World. I say that because it only aired nationally on ESPN3 which has lower ratings than The Ocho. What everyone, including this intrepid reported, missed was OSU getting drilled and falling behind in the second quarter before switching QBs and mounting a great comeback that fell short at the end. So, here's my summation of what I read so you can now read it. The comeback started after OSU starting QB Conor Blount was hit and fumbled. Nevada's Malik Reed scooped up the fumble and raced to paydirt to stake the Wolfpack to a 30-7 lead. Blount was then replaced by Jake Luton who hadn't played since receiving a concussion at the hands of Ohio State a couple of weeks ago. All Luton did was lead the Beavers to four TD s and set the stage for what might have been a great comeback. Beaver PK Jordan Choukair's 33-yard FG attempt sailed wide as time ran out and Reno got the win and OSU got the cover. Nevada QB Ty Gangi was the man for Nevada. He threw for 195 and two TDs. He also ran for 61 yards, while his top RB Toa Taua ran for 81 yards and TD. For the Beavers, Luton completed 23 of 35 aerials for 284 yards and a TD in his limited playing time. Beaver RB Jermar Jefferson played the whole game and gained a solid 106 yards on 25 carries with a touchdown.
Telling Stat: A tale of two kickers; Nevada PK Ramiz Ahmed made his only FG attempt of the game while OSU's Jordan Choukair didn't and that's the difference between wining and losing for OSU.
Washington 21- Utah 7: This game was billed as a battle of strong defenses. The defenses came to play. They defenses hammered their offensive counterparts all night, forcing turnovers and creating scoring opportunities for their offenses. It was a game that would be decided by who made the most mistakes and that team was Utah. UW doubled Utah's scoring drives in the first half and took a 14-7 lead into the break on a pair of TD runs by RB Myles Gaskin and QB Jake Browning. The second half began with Utah holding UW to a quick 3-and-out. The Utes then fumbled three plays later when WR Britain Covey was nailed by DB Travis Bartlett after a catch. The Dawgs recovered the fumble and marched 44 yards on the ensuing drive to take a 21-7 lead that they would never relinquish. The key play on UW's drive was when Utah DT Leki Fotu roughed Browning and was then thrown out of the game on an iffy targeting call. Leki was the second Ute ejected for targeting in the game. The first was safety Marqise Blair was sent to the showers in the second quarter. The Dawgs defense clamped down harder on Utah just teeing off on their receivers. All looked lost for Utah when their defense gave them another shot to get back into the game. With 12:45 left in the fourth quarter, Browning got cute with the Utah pass rush and his throw away was intercepted by DT Pita Tonga who looked like he was gonna rumble to the end zone. Instead, Tonga lost control of the ball with nobody around him and fumbled it out of bounds at the UW 11-yard line. The sputtering Ute offense couldn't generate any points and were held for downs. UW then gave Utah a final chance to get back not the game when a shanked punt gave Utah the ball on the Huskies own 28-yaard line. However, the Husky defense shutdown the feeble Utah offense one final time to ensure victory. Gaskin was the big offensive star for UW as he lugged the leather 30 times for 143 yards and a touchdown, but really it was the Husky defense that won this game.
Telling Stat: 3+3+3 = W; After giving up a tying TD to Utah, the Washington defense forced three punts, three turnovers and held for downs three times over the final 45:21 to get a tough win in Salt Lake City.
San Diego State 28- Arizona State 21: So, what happens when two teams that use the same defense, coached by roughly the same coaches meet? You get a game that comes down to a replay call that benefits the team that committed the penalty. Huh? Well, first ASU and SDSU run the same defense and ASU's Danny Gonzalez had been on SDSU HC Rocky Long's coaching staff as of last season. Second, just follow this link and see how this game ended. It's really all you need to know about this matchup. Happy Targeting
Fresno State 38- UCLA 14: The Bulldogs took the short trip down I-5 to the Rose Bowl and worked over the bRuins in front of a crowd that looked a whole lot more red than blue. Fresno State jumped out to an early 16-0 lead then cooled off but still had control of the game up 16-7 to start the third period. Then, FSU PR KeeSean Johnson fumbled on a punt return. UCLA converted on the error and scored on a short TD run by Bolu Olorunfunmi to close within two points at 16-14. Fresno State used the score as a wake up call on both sides of the ball. The FSU defense forced a 3-and-Out and two turnovers which led to the offense going on a 22-0 run to put away the inept bRuins. Bulldog QB Marcus McMaryion had a huge game despite being hampered by a back injury. He completed 22 of 33 passes for 270 yards and a TD. He really killed UCLA with his nifty running, rushing for four TDs that were things of beauty to see on the goal line.
Telling Stat; A clock kill for the win; Up 38-14 early in the fourth quarter, Fresno State went on a 12 play drive that only covered 46 yards, but chewed up 9:15 to eliminate any hopes, scant as they may have been, of a UCLA comeback.
Summaries: The FCS Edition
Arizona 62- Southern Utah 31: The Thunderbirds of SUU proved to be the tonic that the UofA offense needed in what would become a blowout in Tucson. The Wildcats held a narrow 24-17 lead at halftime due mostly to a pair of TD passes by QB Khlil Tate and a 84-yard kickoff return by wideout J.J. Taylor. The second half began with the UofA offense picking up where it left off while the defense actually stiffened. The result was a 48-17 lead that would in turn lead to the Wildcats first win of the year. Tate finished the game hitting on 13 of 20 passes for 349 yards and five TDs.
Telling Stat: A pair of 0s; The UofA defense put up goose eggs in the first and third quarters to help bring a win to the desert.
Stanford 30- UC Davis 10: No Bryce Love, no problem for Stanford as they bored to death another opponent up on The Farm. Davis did come out with some fire and held a 3-0 lead over the Cardinal to start the second quarter. Stanford QB K.J Costello threw two interceptions in the that first quarter, but wouldn't throw another as he led his squad on a 30-0 run to end any hopes of an Aggie upset. Costello completed 17 of 30 aerials for 214 yards and two TDs. WR J.J Arcega Whiteside hauled in both of those TD throws.
Telling Stat: Sparked by the D; The Stanford defense forced turnovers on three of UC Davis's first four drives of the second half to put their offense in position to win the game.
Colorado 45- New Hampshire 14: It was unseasonably hot with the temp being 90 degrees at kickoff in Boulder. The Buffaloes were able to handle the heat, the Wildcats and the possibility of a letdown after their win at Nebraska last week with ease. CU took a 28-0 halftime advantage behind a 28-yard TD connection from QB Steven Montez to WR Laviska Shenault, Jr., a pair of short TD runs by RBs Travon McMiilian and Kyle Evans and a 14-yard fumble return for a score by LB Davion Taylor. CU Then basically ended the contest when McMillian rumbled 75 yards for a TD on their first drive of the second half. Meanwhile the Buffalo defense rendered the New Hampshire offense inert for most one the day, allowing a TD when the game was well out of hand.
Telling Stat: 7-7; Colorado's defense scored as many points as they allowed in this laugher at Folsom Field. Note: UNH's other TD came off a pick six.
California 45- Idaho State 23: Cal's offense got off to a slow start... again. Their defense did what it takes to win... again. However, the Golden Bears didn't need to recover an onside kick this week in their win over the Bengals of the Big Sky Conference. Cal's offense did struggle, but QB Chase Garbers put up some good numbers. He completed 20 of 25 passes for 224 yards and three TDs. He did split time with Brandon McIlwain who completed four of seven passes for 45 yards and a TD. For Idaho State, RBs James Madison and Ty Flanagan combined for 113 yards and two TDs in the loss.
Telling Stat: No chains, no gains; Idaho State was held to just 2 of 14 on 3rd Down Conversions.
Washington State 59- Eastern Washington 24: The Cougars and Eagles locked up in shootout for the first three periods. Wazzu held a 35-24 lead, but they had just been outscored in the third period and EWU looked to have a possible upset brewing. WSU's defense and special teams then calmed an uneasy home crowd by forcing a pair of turnovers that led to the Cougar offense putting up 24 fourth quarter points to put the game away. QB Gardner Minshew completed 45 of 57 tosses for 470 yards and two TDs while RB James Williams ran for just 19 yards, but scored three TDs to lead the WSU attack. WR Davontavean Martin had more catches than letters in his first name with 13 grabs for 149 yards and a score. EWU QB Gage Gubrud posted a 231 yard, three TD, three interception game in the loss.
Telling Stat: Great mileage; Wazzu scored on TD drives of 65, 68, 69, 98, 99 yards with only one of the drives last longer than eight plays.
Observations
...An unwanted inheritance; After Kentucky beat Florida on 9/8 to break their 31-game losing streak to the Gators, that left TCU as the new owners of the longest losing streak to a single opponent. TCU has lost 24 straight to Texas A&M. The pair haven't met since 2001, but the streak is alive.
...It's the system; WSU grad transfer QB from East Carolina Gardner Minshew looks like he's been in in Pullman for years.
...Under the radar poor; With all eyes focused on TheeeOSU's clash with TCU, nobody noticed that the Big Ten dropped games to BYU, Kansas, Temple, Troy, South Florida, Missouri and Akron. That ain't a good look for the midwesterners.
...Dino is the man; It looks like a whole lot of fun to play for Syracuse HC Dino Babers.
...Daddy ain'y happy; Evidently, UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson's father is no fan of Chip Kelly. Not Impressed
...Memo to SDSU; I don't think you're going to get any home-and-home series deals anymore from the Pac 12.
...If a coach falls in the forest, is he missed?; So far, I haven't heard Oregon fans complaining about the loss of Willie Taggart to Florida State.
...Six for a big man; 6-6, 330 lb Temple DT Freddie Booth-Lloyd rumbled for a one-yard TD plunge v. Maryland. Check it out. A Big Plunge
...A long overdue W; The Texas Wesleyan Rams picked up their first win in 77 years, drubbing the Texas College Steers, 36-7. TxWes as they are known dropped the program as the U.S. entered WWII back in 1941 and only revived the program last year. Welcome back, Rams.
...Breakup the Jayhawks!; Kansas is rolling after their second straight win. KU emptied a whole can of whoopass out on Rutgers.
...He said it; Nevada HC Jay Norvell said this about how stressful their win over Oregon State was for his staff, "For the coaches, it was like four hours of root canal."
...They did fall down; Evidently, UCLA thinks that when they're losing is a fine time to play ring-around-the-rosie on the sidelines. Circle Jacks
...Memo to Clay Helton; When you start being compared to Paul Hackett that isn't a good thing.
...A bit of payback; If the the Fresno State game is any indication, several old foes fo Chip Kelly are going to enjoy hammering the bRuins this year.
...An unwanted inheritance part II x 2; Indiana stands behind TCU with losses to a single opponent. However, Indiana has two active streaks with 22 straight losses to both Ohio State and Michigan.
...Bulldogs with bite; I saw more fire, drive, and good play calling on Fresno State's first two drives v. UCLA than USC has shown on offense all year. SMH.
...Worse than a vote of confidence; When your HC reads a prepared statement to start off his Monday press conference things aren't good. Check out Florida State HC Willie Taggart's prepared plea here: He needs your support
The Safety
USC did record safety v. Texas and was denied the score by incompetent officiating. According to NCAA rules, the ball has to be completely over the goal line at the moment the runner is down to avoid a safety...
Hmmmm, knees down, elbow down, ball not over goal line, looks like a safety to me. SMH.
Ugly Uniform of the Week
UC Davis wins for this all-gray ensemble. Wear all-gray, play all gray like you're not even there.
Pac 12 Overreactions
USC will go 6-6.
UCLA will go 0-12.
Utah wants an offense that their defense can be proud of.
Colorado's confidence is their best asset.
ASU will not get blown out this season.
Arizona might not get an FBS win.
Cal needs to pick a QB... this is a recording.
Stanford will lose at Oregon.
Oregon will lose to Washington.
Oregon State is playing better than anyone thought.
UW has the defense to make it through the Pac 12 undefeated.
Wazzu needs their running game more than anyone thinks.
Departments
Back From the Dead Game of the Week: Eagle Rock, CA- The Occidental Tigers fell to the Willamette Bearcats 25-6 at Jack Kemp Stadium. The score doesn't really matter. What matters here is that Oxy played their first D-III football game since cancelling the remainder of their season last year due to not enough players to run the program. The program looked headed for scrap heap when a group of football alumni rushed in to save the team. So, yeah they didn't look so good. They only gained seven rushing yards and gave up a safety, however the fact that they played at all is what counts. Go Tigers!
Crazy Game of the Week: Davidson, NC- The FCS Davidson Wildcats hosted D-III Guilford College and a track meet broke out. The Wildcats beat Guilford, 91-61. Yes, 91-61. Offense ruled the day with the teams combining for 1,005 total yards and 22 TDs. The Davidsion RB combo of Wesley Dugger and Coy Williams combined for 358 yards rushing on 26 carries and 5 TDs. With all the offense, Davidson needs to worry about their defense. Ummmm they are an FCS team and gave up 61 to a D-III squad. Hmmmmmmmm.
C.W. Post Press: North Easton, MA- The Pioneers improved to 2-0 on the young season with a 27-7 win over the Stonehill Skyhawks. Once again, Post struggled in the first half, but held a 6-0 lead at the intermission on a 11-yard TD pass from QB Chris Laviano to RB Malik Pierre. The Pioneer defense continued to hold the Skyhawks in a holding pattern while Laviano got it going in the second half. He threw two more TD passes and also ran for a TD to account for four total TDs and gained 334 yards of total offense. Stonehill RB Sam Lehman tallied his team's only score on a five-yard run midway through the final period. The Pioneers return home next week to host the Bentley University Falcons.
Razorback Report: The Hogs were walloped 44-17 by the North Texas Mean Green. The Razorbacks afternoon can be summed up by watching this one play... Snookered
This Week's Three Notes About Austin...
Jalapeño cheddar sausage is a food group in Texas.
Even the firemen have a smoker working at the fire station.
Rainey Street, 6th Street, and Guadalupe Street are all pretty neat places to be.
Until next time folks, remember that a shanked punt is as bad as a turnover.
-The Commissioner
