It's time once agin for the column that makes you happy it's Tuesday, Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Jim Murray.
Summaries
California 15- USC 14: Halftime came and USC held a tenuous 14-0 lead over California. The 14-0 lead should have been at least 24-0, but a poor decision to run a fake field goal where their slow PK in a knee brace has to beat a cornerback for a first down and a fumble by a true freshman in the shadow of the Golden Bears goal line made sure that didn't happen. However, there was reason to be encouraged because the USC defense held Cal to just 69 first half yards and allowed them nowhere near the end zone. So, how bad could the second half be? Pretty bad. Cal made halftime adjustments and USC didn't. The Trojans aided the Golden Bears comeback too. First, it started when Toa Lobendahn, USC's center who has never learned to snap the ball, sent one flying high and deep into the Coliseum night. USC QB J.T Daniels covered the ball in his own end zone for a Cal safety. The Golden Bears then hit paydirt on the ensuing drive and USC's 14-0 lead was cut to 14-9 a little over two minutes into the second half. Daniels then threw an interception on USC's next drive. Cal had all the momentum now and drove easily for the game-winning touchdown. QB Chase Garbers had the honors with a 5-yard TD scamper. USC never recovered. Cal's shut USC down the rest of the way while the USC defense, which had played tough, gave away the Trojans last chance for a comeback when CB Man Marshall got flagged for an unsportsmanlike penalty during a play review. Cal ran out the clock and chants of "Fire Helton" followed USC HC Clay Helton up the tunnel.
Telling Stat: Deuces wild; Two boneheaded mistakes by two players, that led to two Cal TDs and a safety coupled with two turnovers led to the Trojans now two-game losing streak at the Coliseum.
Stanford 48- Oregon State 17: Everyone knows just how awful the OSU run defense is and how that plays into Stanford's strength as a run first, run almost always team. So naturally, Stanford passed their way to victory. QB K.J. Costello compared 23 of 33 passes for 342 yards and four TDs. All four of those TDs were caught by TE Colby Parkinson. Parkinson hauled in six passes from Costello for 166 yards and those four TDs. Parkinson and WR Trent Irwin picked up the slack for WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside who missed the game due to injury. The Cardinal ran the ball well too. RB Bryce Love rushed for 90 yards on 11 carries and a TD and RB Cameron Scarlett helped the Cardinal cause with 49 yards and a TD. For Oregon State, QB Jake Luton thew for 205 yards and a TD while frosh RB Jermar Jefferson continued to impress folks with 109 yards on 19 carries.
Telling Stat: 7 of 9 is fine; Stanford found the end zone on seven of their first nine drives with turned this contest into a laugher up on The Farm.
Utah 32- Oregon 25: They Utes didn't have their top QB or their top RB, but they did have their defense and an All-American PK which turned out to be enough to beat the Ducks. PK Matt Gay nailed six, yes six field goals to go with a pair of TD runs by QB Jason Shelley to provide all the offense Utah would need. However, it did look like Oregon would win this game after overcoming a 19-7 deficit to take a 25-22 lead when QB Justin Herbert connected with WR Travis Dye for a three yard TD that followed a blocked punt with just 8:15 to play . Utah found an answer and scored the game's final 10 points to take one more big step towards locking up their first Pac 12 title game appearance. Shelley finished the game for Utah with 262 yard passing, 22 rushing and two TDs while RB Armand Shyne carried the mail for the Utes, gaining 174 yards on 26 carries. For Oregon, Herbert threw for 288 yards and three TDs.
Telling Stat: A six pack in Salt Lake; PK Matt Gay saved Utah's season with his six field goal performance. His kicks covered 20, 21, 24, 35, 41, and 55 yards.
Washington State 31- Colorado 7: Wazzu hit the road for their final road trip of the season and they ground out a win over the Buffaloes in Boulder. The game set up well for the Cougars as their pass happy attack looked to have a good day against the hapless Colorado secondary. QB Gardner Minshew II had a good game. He completed 35 of 58 passes for 335 yard and a pair of TDs. He also ran for a score. Minshew also spread the ball around again too. 12 different Cougars hauled in passes. CU thought they'd have a good shot at beating Wazzu with WR Laviska Shanault, Jr. back in the lineup. He did catch 10 balls for 102 yards, but the Buffs didn't show any other signs of life all day.
Telling Stat: Cougar clampdown; Wazzu smothered the Colorado into submission. They allowed a first quarter TD, then forced five punts and three turnovers on eight of the Buffaloes final nine possessions.
Arizona State 31- UCLA 28: It was a second straight day game and third straight win for the Sun Devils. This game was a see-saw affair with QB Wilton Speight lighting up the ASU secondary while the combo of QB Manny Wilkins and RB Eno Benjamin tore up the bRuins. Speight torched the ASU secondary for 335 yards and a two TDs. His favorite target was TE Caleb Wilson who hauled in 11 passes for 164 yards and both of his TD tosses. For ASU, Wilkins threw for 199 yards and TD while rushing for 60 yards and two more scores. RB Eno Benjamin had a big day again the bRuins defense with 182 yards rushing on 34 carries and a touchdown. UCLA had a shot to win this game at the end, but the Sun Devils held for downs to end the game and stay alive in the Pac 12 South race.
Telling Stat: Four downs; The only thing that kept this game in the win column for ASU was the final stand by their defense. This easily could have been a UCLA victory.
Observations
...All about those incentive clauses; Word is that Cal HC Justin Wilcox is in line to earn a $200,000 bonus for ending Cal's 14-year losing steak to USC. Only caveat is the Trojans have to finish with at least six wins for it to kick in for Wilcox. So we know Clay Helton has one fan this week.
...A fab four; Alabama, Georgia, Clemson and Northwestern have all clinched spots in their conference title games. Wow.
...Bay area goose eggs; Both Stanford and Cal shut their opponents out in the second half last Saturday.
...Get off my lawn old man/fan rant; Homecoming crowds bug me. Most of these people don't know game etiquette. They make a ton of trips in and out of the stands and have the temerity to want to enter the row during a play! Maybe there should be a stay-homecoming for these folks.
...Destroyed by a favorite son; Pat Haden has done more to ruin USC football in his brief tenure as AD than anyone could imagine. From Sark to Clay to the botched Coliseum renovation to capitulating to the NCAA, his actions have put the program in the ditch.
...Really off field; Utah RB Zach Moss didn't sustain the knee injury that ended his season at practice last week as was first reported. He tore his meniscus getting into bed. Here's the story. Good Night, Zach
...Why it's called gambling and not winning; LSU held on for a 24-17 win over Arkansas. The spread was LSU -13 and the Tigers let the clock run out with the ball on the Arkansas 1-yard line to end the game. OUCH!
...Quietly making noise; Army is 8-2. That's pretty cool.
...Just ask USA Soccer; The NFL is thinking of moving its' game Monday night between try Chiefs and Rams out of Mexico City after seeing just how poor the turf is at Azteca Stadium. Personally, even if the field is great, I wouldn't want to play a game in legendarily bad smog at an altitude of 7,382 feet.
...Not even Uecker seats; A shift of gears to the NBA as the Golden State Warriors are offering $100 dollar monthly passes with no view. Yes, no view of the court. The pass just gets you in the building. You can read about this bit of ridiculousness here. Just Bar Privileges
...No fresh air; Due to the massive wildfires in California, the Stanford and USC games last week were played with an air quality reading of over 150. That's bad, really really bad. How bad? The normal air quality index reading for Palo Alto and Los Angeles hovers around 50 and that is considered moderately unhealthful.
...He's gone; Louisville sent Bob Petrino packing Sunday after his Cardinal were whipped by Syracuse last Saturday.
...Time for a title; The NCAA D-III Playoffs this week. Only Whitworth and Claremont-Mudd made the postseason from the far west. Division III Playoff Bracket
...Is he gone?; One Colorado news outlet has reported that Buffs HC Mike MacIntyre will be fired when the season ends.
..Dialing a big number; Oregon State RB Jermar Jefferson has 1,201 yards rushing this season. That's over 400 yards more than any freshman in the nation. Not bad for a kid from Narbonne High.
...A much needed field trip; In addition to all the major things such as their homes and possessions and some loved ones, the Paradise (CA) High football team lost their shot at a championship too. To help ease the pain just bit for the team, The San Francisco 49ers hosted them and their cheerleaders at Levi's Stadium Monday night. A small kindness
...And then there were none; Pardon me for failing to catch this two weeks ago. There are no winless teams left in the FBS. UTEP beat Rice 36-24 on November 3rd.
...4 points, 2 painful losses, 20 years apart; USC giving up a safety which led to Cal's comeback, 15-14 win over the Trojans last week is nothing new to this intrepid reporter. From my same seat 20 years ago, I watched freshman QB Carson Palmer get sacked for a safety when USC held a 31-10 lead over Cal. The safety sparked a Cal comeback and a 32-31 victory for the Golden Bears. The losses looked similar as do the coaches that presided over them.
...No excuses; Iowa's schedule looked like the Hawkeyes were handed a free entry to the Big Ten title game. The Hawkeyes don't play Michigan, Michigan State or Ohio State this year and played their two toughest divisional opponents in Wisconsin and Northwestern at home. Yet, the Hawkeyes are 6-4 and out of everything. SMH.
...Trivia Time; excluding Pac 12 newcomers Utah and Colorado, which Pac 12 school currently owns the longest streak without a win over USC at the LA Coliseum?
...7 x. 500; There is chance for seven Pac 12 teams to finish the year at 6-6. Thanks, Larry Scott. I'm sure the Poulan-Weedeater -Charmin-ExLax-Pepto-Bismal-Preparation-H-Tidy-Bowl representatives are thrilled with you.
...No reason to go; If you're an Alabama season ticket holder, do you even go to this week's game v. the Citadel? SMH.
...Changing the focus; The better Wazzu's season goes, the weirder HC Mike Leach gets. Here is another fine example. Minshew Mania
...Trivia Answer: Oregon State. The Beavers haven't notched win over SC in the LA Coliseum since 1960. That's a 58-year drought. That year Tommy Prothro's Beavers downed John McKay's Trojans, 14-0. The game was the season opener for both teams and not a conference game. A scandal in the late 1950s caused the old Pacific Coast Conference to break up. Oregon State, Oregon and Wazzzu were independents in 1960. So, if you want to get really snarky about it, Oregon State hasn't won a conference game v. USC at the Coliseum since 1935.
The Plunger Award
Acting on the advice of the Oxnard Field Office, The Plunger Award has been brought out of retirement. This award goes to the team that stinks up their own stadium so bad that only a plunger could help flush this mess away. This week's winner is USC for their absolutely abysmal play in the second half v. Cal.
Pac 12 Overreactions
Colorado will finish 5-7.
USC will finish 5-7 too.
Cal will beat Stanford this year.
Stanford will go 7-5.
Oregon State will go 2-10.
Washington will beat OSU even with Jake Browning at QB.
Arizona will lose at Wazzu by two points.
Wazzu has UofA on their schedule and Washington on their minds.
Oregon is Sun Bowl bound.
Utah will limp into a rematch with Wazzu in three weeks.
UCLA will easily let Chip Kelly slide on a 3-9 season if they beat USC.
ASU will play in the Redbox Bowl.
CFL Update
The playoffs have begun in the Great White North and I can tell you that June Jones is alive and well in Hamilton. Jones' Tiger-Cats whipped the British Columbia Lions, 48-8 in the East Semi-Final and will face the Ottawa Redblacks in the East Final this week. Over in the West Semi-Final, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers upset the Saskatchewan Roughriders, 23-18 and will face the Calgary Stampeders in the West Final. The Winners will face off in the 106th Grey Cup Game.
Good Looking Uniform of the Week
Have to say, I like this classic look for Minnesota. The helmets seal the deal for me.
Departments
Low Score Game of the Week: Alpine, TX- The Southern States Athletic Conference in D-III is where this week's game hails from. RB Gabriel Wilson scored form one yard out and teammate RB Jemoine Green tacked on the two-point conversion with :31 left in the first quarter for the only points of the game in which the Belhaven Blazers defeated the Sul Ross State Lobos, 8-0. The Blazers totally shutdown the Lobos, holding them to 96 total yards and a paltry eight first downs.
Blowout Game of the Week: Wheaton, IL- This Week's Blowout comes to us form the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin in D-III. The 23rd ranked Wheaton Thunder closed out their regular season with a bang when they demolished the Elmhurst Blue Jays, 79-0. QB Curtis McWilliams led the Thunder's aerial attack throwing for 135 yard stand three scores while RB Jaelin Goldsmith ran for 67 yards and two TDs. The Thunder built up a 51-0 halftime adavantrage cruised form there on. In all, 17 different Wheaton players handled the ball while almost the entire roster got in some playing time.
C.W. Post Press: Brookville, NY- C.W. Post was in need of one final defensive stand and they needed it now. They held a slim four point lead over New Haven. Time was short and New Haven had driven once again deep into Pioneer territory. The Chargers faced a third and goal from the Post 8-yard line with nine seconds left. QB Ajee Patterson took the snap, slipped away from the rush and hit WR Brett Huber with a pass. Huber lunged for paydirt. He was stood up at the one-yard line by Post DBs Jahmel Johnson and Zach Confrancesco. Huber was held out of the end zone and the clock hit triple zeroes. C.W. Post held on to win the Northeast-10 title with a 17-13 win. The Post defense bent, but didn't break forcing two turnovers deep in their own end of the field. Offensively, RB Malik Pierre led the Pioneer attack with 151 yards rushing on 24 carries and a TD. Up next for Post is the first round of the D-II playoffs. The Pioneers are the #2 seed in their bracket and will host #7 seed Slippery Rock this week. Division II Playoff Bracket
Razorback Report: LSU held a 24-3 lead on the Hogs late when they showed signs of life and threw a scare into the Bayou Bengals, losing a tough one, 24-17. Up next for the Razorbacks is a trip to Mississippi State.
This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...
Printer ink cartridges are a bigger scam than concert tickets.
Homemade tacos rock.
Hallmark Christmas movies are bad, but fun to watch.
Until next time folks, remember that a team's discipline level comes from its' head coach.
-The Commissioner
