Its time for another edition of that Tuesday staple, Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Alan Malamud.
Summaries
USC 24- Arizona 20: A very uninspired looking bunch of Trojans took on a lackluster bunch of Wildcats in Tucson and the result was one of the ugliest, unsatisfying wins in Trojan history. SC did build up a 17-0 lead on the hapless Wildcats by halftime and extended that lead to 24-0 after an Aca'Cedric Ware 69-yard TD jaunt. Sloppy, undisciplined USC seemed to have the Wildcats and their one-legged QB Khalil Tate under wraps for the sure W. Then this Clay Helton guided bunch of Trojans, (Writer's Note: I would have written Clay Helton led bunch, but no leadership is to be found on this team), decided to try and take defeat from the jaws of victory. USC's offense turned the ball over twice down the stretch while the defense allowed a QB who couldn't achieve a full throwing motion to lead three TD drives. However, USC did manage to recover UofA's onside kick to escape from the desert with an embarrassing win. For USC, Ware had a fine game, rushing for 173 yards and two TDs, while Khalil Tate threw for 232 yards and two TDs for the Wildcats
Telling Stat: Same as last week; A blocked field goal and a missed PAT saved USC from OT and a possible defeat.
Washington 35- BYU 7: BYU rolled into Seattle with a 3-1 record the included a narrow loss at Cal and a huge upset win at Wisconsin. Most pundits predicted a tight one and a few even predicted a Cougars upset over the Huskies. The Dawgs then proceeded to throw the Cougars out of the building behind the arm of QB Jake Browning and another stellar defensive effort. Browning had himself a pretty good day, completing 23 of 25 passes for 277 yards and a TD. UW's rushing game worked well too with RBs Salvon Ahmed and Myles Gaskin combing for 147 yards on 24 carries and three TDs. While the offense was rolling for the Dawgs, their defense made sure BYU's went nowhere. The Cougars were held to just 194 total yards and their lone score only came after a late Husky fumble on their own 21-yard line. QB Tanner Mangum threw for 160 yards in the loss.
Telling Stat: 7 is twice as nice; Washington's defense throttled BYU's offense from the opening kickoff allowing just seven points and seven first downs in this easy win on the lake.
Notre Dame 38- Stanford 17: Ground and pound with good passing is the Stanford formula for winning games. Notre Dame did it better and whipped the Cardinal in South Bend. The Fighting Irish took it to the Stanford defense rolling up 550 total yards with 272 of those yards coming on the ground. ND's Dexter Williams did a Bryce Love impression gashing Stanford for 161 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown. ND QB Ian Book showed once again why he got the starting nod by completing 24 of 33 passes for 278 yards and four TD tosses. ND's defense did their job by shutting down Stanford's offense. They held the Cardinal to 247 total yards. They also did what few others have done to Stanford recently, they made their receivers pay when they touched the ball. Because they consistently got pressure on the QB with four rushers, the secondary was able to cover and tee off on the Cardinal wideouts. RB Bryce Love gained 73 yards on 17 carries and a TD in the loss for Stanford.
Telling Stat: 14 for 14; In a span of 14 seconds of the fourth quarter, Notre Dame scored 14 points to put this game away on two Ian Book TD passes sandwiched around an interception of Stanford QB K.J. Costello.
Oregon 42- California 24: The Ducks were looking for redemption after their epic collapse against Stanford last week. They found some visiting Stanford's NorCal neighbors. Just as they had done the previous week, Oregon built up a large lead. This time they led 35-10 in then third period, but Cal came back to cut the deficit to 35-17 and had chance to knock the deficit down even further, but unlike last week, the Quacks defense rose to the challenge. They picked off Cal QB Chase Garbers in the end zone to kill one drive and held for downs on another to hold their lead. However, the Golden Bears did finally cut their deficit to 35-24 when QB Brandon McIlwain subbed in for Garbers and led his squad on a seven-play, 97-yard drive. After an Oregon punt, the Ducks defense sealed the game with a pick six by CB Ugochukwu Amadi that covered 32 yards. For the Ducks, QB Justin Herbert completed 16 of 22 passes for 225 yards and two TDs. Webfoot RBs Travis Dye and C.J. Verell both rushed for over 100 yards with Dye scoring once. For Cal, McIlwain easily outshone Garbers, throwing for 128 yards and a TD and ran for 123 yards and another score. However, like Garbers, McIlwain threw two passes to the other team and those four interceptions were death to Cal' s cause.
Telling Stat: +4 = W; Pretty simple math here, folks. Oregon's +4 edge in turnovers was what won the Quacks this game.
Colorado 38- UCLA 16: The Buffaloes entered this game at 3-0 with their wins coming against a group of hapless teams. You can add another win against a hapless team after they ran away from the bRuins in Boulder. UCLA did hold a 16-14 lead with 10:36 left in the third quarter thanks to PK J.J Molson's third FG of the game, but the Buffs tired out the bRuins with their running game and pulled away for the win. CU's clinching TD came with 7:15 left in the game when QB Steven Montez faked out everyone including the cameraman on a beautiful 35-yard run. Montez was really on target completing 22 of 26 passes for 237 yards and a TD. He was also lethal with his legs, rushing for 81 yards and two scores on 11 carries. Montez's favorite target WR Laviska Shenault, Jr also proved to be a double threat with 12 catches for 126 yards and a TD to go with five rushes for 18 yards and a trip to the end zone. CU RB Trevor McMillan also chipped in offensively with 102 yards on 21 carries and touchdown. UCLA RB Joshua Kelley rushed for 124 yards on 12 carries in the losing effort.
Telling Stat: Gassed; Colorado ran the ball on 30 of their 39 offensive snaps in the second half which wore the bRuins defense down. The gassed bRuins were no match for the Buffaloes who outscored them 24-3 in the second half.
Washington State 28- Utah 24: The #1 defense in the country came to Pullman and got sliced and diced by the Cougars passing attack. WSU QB Gardner Minshew completed 31 of 56 passes for 445 yards and three TDs. He also ran for Wazzu's other score. Despite Minshew's prowess, the Cougars still looked like they would lose this one. Utah held a 24-21 lead with 5:07 left and had just pinned Wazzu back on their own seven-yard line on a great punt by Mitch Wishnowsky. Two plays later, Minshew hit WR Easop Winston with a pass and Winston made a man miss and was gone. Utah had one last chance to win the game but their final drive fell short thanks to holding call that wiped out a potential 1st and Goal for the Utes. After Utah's 4th and 20 pass by QB Tyler Huntley fell short, WSU took over on downs and ran out the clock. Minshew's arm won the game for WSU as they were held to 0 rushing yards by the Utes. Huntley ran for a pair of scores and threw for 118 yards in the loss for Utah.
Telling Stat: 1-1 = W; WSU and Utah each allowed just one scoring drive in the second half. However, WSU allowed a field goal while Utah allowed a TD and that was the difference in this game.
Arizona State 52- Oregon State 24: Last week Arizona RB J.J. Taylor and Gary Brightwell ran all over Beavers for 284 yards and two TDs. This week ASU RB Eno Benjamin topped that total all by himself. Benjamin slated his way through the OSU defense for 312 yards and three TDs on 30 carries. He also caught a TD pass too. Despite Benjamin's night, OSU still managed to stay in the game, trailing just 38-24 in the third quarter behind the legs of RB Jermar Jefferson. Jefferson had his way the ASU defense gaining 254 yards on 31 carries and a two TDs. However, ASU shutout OSU 14-0 in the final period to claim the lopsided win.
Telling Stat; Two halves of a whole record; ASU's Eno Benjamin broke the ASU record for most rushing yards in half and a in a game to lift the Sun Devils to victory.
Observations
...Just a rumor; There's no truth to the rumor that USC is a 3.5 point underdog to their bye week.
...This just in; Pac-12 Today on SiriusXM radio stinks. It's a lousy radio show for what has become a lousy league. Thanks, Larry Scott.
...The Pirate speaks; Yet another gem from WSU HC Mike Leach. This week he spoke of offensive balance. A different mindset
...He's a man, who got hacked; Pranksters hacked into the Big XII Monday teleconference and asked Okie State HC Mike Gundy some strange questions. Pranked
...5-0 Cats; Whoa, Kentucky is 5-0 for just the third time since 1950.
...Not a great eight in Salt Lake; Utah has lost eight of its' last 10 Pac 12 games.
...Low fly zone; A Pennsylvania State Police helicopter flew low over a crowd of "unruly" tailgaters at the Penn State-Ohio State game. Chaos ensured as tailgate gear was sent flying. Low blow
...Trivia Time; Who were the ASU record holders for most rushing yards in a half and a game before Eno Benjamin surpassed both marks this week?
...Tough Bearcats; Anybody else notice that after upsetting UCLA, Cincinnati is now 5-0 and looking to make a strong run in the East division of the American Athletic Conference? Hmmmmm
...Worst in the FBS; Just when Pac 12 officials thought they could claim the title of worst officials in college football, a Mountain West Conference official really went off the deep end by verbally abusing and grabbing a Nevada ball boy by the neck. Really, the ball boy?
...Hindsight for #20; Bryce Love's decision to return for his senior year at Stanford is looking to be a very poor one.
...Upping their game; Arizona State has broken ground on a new 350 acre athletic district next to Sun Devil Stadium. Going All In
...They don't raise cows; Lincoln Nebraska's new Four L club is pretty pathetic. It'll be five this upcoming Saturday at Wisconsin.
...They stunk more; Yeah, the Pac 12 officials stink, but when this intrepid reporter can only find fault with three of the 18 penalties USC was flagged for v. Arizona, the Trojans problem ain't the refs.
...No way; If anybody told me coming into this season that Colorado would be the Pac 12's only undefeated team on 10/1, I'd have told them that just because marijuana is now legal, it doesn't mean you have to smoke it every day.
...Battle in Boise; A huge Mountain West clash is coming this week as San Diego State travels to Boise State. Should be a good one.
...More Big Red woes; Going back to last season Nebraska has lost eight straight games for the first time in the history of the program.
...Crickets; Everyone who thinks Michigan can win the Big Ten speak up now! The silence is deafening.
...Disowned Disciple; Florida Atlantic is 2-3 so far this season and I see that HC Lane Kiffin isn't being praised for having been dipped in the magic waters of Nick Saban this year. Hmmmmmm
...Jerko Jimbo, Jimbo Fisher's grabbing of Aggie LB Tyrel Dodosn's facemark in their game with Arkansas wasn't cool. Attention Getter
...The report is in; Just in case anybody forgot about Baylor's investigation by the NCAA in charges of sexual assault, the report just came in. Boneheaded Bears
Pac 12 overreactions
USC is a 8-4 team at best.
Arizona must have a QB that is better on two legs than Khalil Tate is on one.
Maybe Wazzu doesn't need a rushing game after all.
Utah can't win on defense alone.
Oregon State should stack nine guys in the box on every play.
ASU looks like the most disciplined team in the Pac 12 South.
Washington's defense is Playoff Strong.
Cal still needs to pick a QB.
Oregon is happy Cal can't pick a QB.
Stanford's offense needs a trip to Starbucks.
Colorado runs the best looking RPO in the the Pac 12.
UCLA's defense is on the field way too much.
Trivia Answer; Benjamin rushed for 185 first half yards surpassing Woody Green's 171 in 1973 and Benny Malone's 250 which also occurred in ASU's 1973 campaign.
Ugly uniform of the Week
Just for this yellow helmet alone, West Virginia wins this week's award.
Departments
Low Score Game of the Week: Claremont, CA- This week's game comes from the SCIAC, California's only D-III football league, where with :09 left, QB Edward Sias' two-point conversion pass fell incomplete and the Redlands Bulldogs held on for a 15-13 win over the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens. Redlands fell behind 7-0 early, but came back to forge a 15-7 lead on the strength of two TD runs by QB Levi Plante and a 20-yard FG by PK Nathan Hierlihy. This defensive struggle saw the teams combine to convert on only 13 of 38 3rd Down conversions.
Craziest Game of the Week: Granville, OH- It was anything but three yards and a cloud of dust at Woody Hayes' alma mater this week. The Denison Big Red came back from a 35-10 halftime deficit, but ended up losing 68-66 to the Wittenberg Tigers in a 4 OT thriller. Wittenberg escaped with the victory when QB Jake Kennedy ran two-yards for a two-point conversion. The teams combined for 1,160 yards of offense on 160 plays. They also made 53 first downs and were a perfect 5 for 5 on 4th down conversions. Wittenberg did their damage through the air with Kennedy passing for 421 yards and seven TDs. Denison gained their yards on the ground rushing for 330 yards. Big Red RBs Alex Minton and Canaan Gebele carried most of the load combining for 316 yards and six TDs.
C.W. Post Press: North Andover, MA- The Pioneers jumped out to a 27-0 lead early in the third quarter, then traded scores down the stretch in a 37-20 win over the Merrimack College Warriors. It was definitely a passing day for Post QB Chris Laviano. He completed 27 of 42 aerials for 326 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a score too. RB Malik Pierre led the Pioneers on the ground with 71 yards on 14 carries and a TD. QB Cam Hayes threw for 308 yards and three touchdowns for Merrimack, but he was also picked off twice and sacked five times by the tough Post defense. Uo next for Post is a trip to Shippensburg, PA and a date with the Shippensburg Raiders.
Razorback Report: Arlington, TX- After surrendering a pair of lightning quick scores, the Razorbacks battled hard, but couldn't overcome their early deficit in a 24-17 loss to the Aggies. QB Ty Storey threw for 193 yards and a TD in the loss for Arkansas. Up next for the Hogs is a home date with Alabama.
This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...
Trader Joe's apple cider scented hand soap is the hit of the fall. Note, the side effect of using this soap is looking weird sniffing your hands.
Leftover carne asada rivals leftover pizza for greatness.
Heartland is a pretty darn good TV show.
-Until next time folks, remember that undisciplined teams don't win national titles.
-The Commissioner
