It's time for the column that makes Tuesdays feel like Saturdays, Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you. Joe Jares.
Summaries
Notre Dame 30- USC 27: It's the moral victory tour and it's coming take you away. Yes, the Trojans "played hard" and "fought like warriors" and you can insert almost any other Clay Helton post game platitude to describe this third straight loss to the Fighting Irish. The Trojans came out tough in the first quarter and held a 3-0 lead to start the second quarter thanks to a 40-yard field goal by PK Chase McGrath. Notre Dame then owned the second quarter with 17 points to take a 17-3 lead into the half. An altercation going into the half between both squads lit a bit of a fire under the Trojans and they made a game of it. USC's defense gave up a pair field goals, (one came after one of the weakest roughing calls in history), while the offense scored 17 points behind the arm of QB Kedon Slovis and the bruising running of RB Markese Steppe. With 10:32 left in the game USC has climbed within three points at 23-20. It was here that the Trojan defense needed to stop ND and get the ball back for a chance to win. However, Clancy Pendergast and not Marv Goux was running SC's defense and the they failed. The Fighting Irish traveled 75 yards in 14 plays for the game-clinching TD. QB Ian Book did the honors with an eight-yard jaunt to paydirt. SC did drive back down the field and close the gap to within three again, but the subsequent onside kick attempt was recovered by ND. It also helped that ND's HC Brian Kelly was on the field during the kick to direct his squad which did not seem to warrant a penalty form the Pac 12 officiating crew. Hmmmmmmm. The fact that the Trojan defense once again could not tackle was the main story as ND ran for 311 yards. RB Tony Jones toted the rock 25 times for 176 yards to lead the Irish offense. Book threw for 165 yards and both passed and ran for a score. Meanwhile, for the Trojans, QB Kedon Slovis threw for 255 yards and two TDs, while Stepp gained 82 yards on the ground and had one powerful TD run that made some of us old SC fans think about when Ricky Bell rumbled.
Telling Stat: Outmuscled; Notre Dame's offensive and defensive lines pushed USC around and that was the difference in the game.
Oregon 45- Colorado 3: Eugene OR- It was blowout in Autzen where the Buffaloes hung around for a little while before the hard-hitting Ducks defense forced several turnovers which the Ducks offense cashed in for scores. The Ducks turned three interceptions by CU QB Steven Montez into 21 points. Those TDs plus a TD drive after a punt turned a 10-3 Oregon second quarter lead into 38-10 Oregon lead early in the third quarter. That barrage of points ended the competitive portion of the contest. The Ducks tacked on one more score in garbage time to add more pain to the Buffaloes night. The RB combo of CJ Verdell and Cyrus Habibi-Likio could not be stopped by CU. Verdell racekd up the yards with 171 on 14 carries while Habibi-Likio got into the end zone three times to lead a Quack Attack that rushed for 271 yards. QB Justin Herbert also had a good game completing 18 of 32 passes for 261 yard and a two TDs. As for the Buffs, Montez had one of the worst nights of his career throwing for just 151 yards and four huge interceptions.
Telling Stat: 1 fro 5; Oregon's defense has given up only one TD in their last five games.
Arizona State 38- Washington State 34: Tempe, AZ- There was a shootout in the 90 degree heat of Sun Devil Stadium. Once again ASU HC Herm Edwards' charges won a close game with a late score. Wazzu did hold a 17-7 lead early thanks to Two TD tosses from QB Anthony Gordon and a FG by PK Blake Mazza. The Sun Devils fought back to tie it before the half on a two-yard TD toss from QB Jayden Daniles to WR Brndon Aiyuk and a FG by PK Christian Zendejas. The teams traded TDs to start the third period, then Wazzu took a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter after RB Max Borghi sliced into the end zone from two yards out. ASU owned the final quarter, outscoring the Cougars, 14-3. The game wining score came with just :41 left. Daniels scrambled 17 yards to paydirt and the victory. Daniels had a pretty good day against the revamped Cougar defense. He completed 26 of 36 passes for 363 yards and three TDs. He also ran or 23 yards and another score. RB Eno Benjamin gashed the cougars on the ground, gaining 137 yards on 19 carries to lead all rushers. In the loss, WSU's Gordon completed 44 of 64 aerials for 466 yards and three TDs.
Telling Stat: They finished strong; ASU scored 14 points and gained 163 yards on 19 plays over their final three drives to finish off the Cougars in the Tempe heat.
Utah 52- Oregon State 7: Corvalis, OR- The Utes went on a raiding party and came home with plenty of Beaver pelts in this rout at Reser Stadium. 10 minutes into the first quarter Utah held a 21-0 lead thanks to a pair of TD passes from QB Tyler Huntley and a 91-yard TD scamper form RB Zach Moss. Moss' runs signaled a triumphant return from the shoulder injury that has kept him sidelined the last few weeks. He finished the game with 121 yards just five carries. He sat out the second half as the Utes had built up a 35-0 lead at the break. Huntley completed 14 of 17 passes for 247 yards and those two scores. Oregon State's offense never got untracked against the Utes defense. Their lone TD drive was their longest drive and it went only 46 yards well after the game had been decided.
Telling Stat: 52/60; Utah scored 52 points while running just 60 plays on the very overmatched Oregon State defense.
Washington 51- Arizona 27: Tucson, AZ- After their debacle at Stanford last week, you could feel the Husky fan base cringe as the Wildcats took a 17-13 lead into the half. After all, the UW offense only managed a pair of field goals while the defense took advantage of a head-scratch inducing play from UofA QB Khalil Tate. (Check it out here, He ain't a lefty) to be lucky to trail by just four points. The second half was another story. The Dawgs dominated the final two periods behind the one-two punch of QB Jacob Eason's passing and RB Salvon Ahmed's running. Eason threw for two second half TDs and Ahmed ran for three which along with a third field goal by PK Peyton Henry turned a likely loss into a blowout and sustained life in the Pac 12 North. Eason finished with 243 yards passing and two TDs while Ahmed finished the game with 95 yards rushing and three TDs. Tate threw for 184 yards and a TD and that awful fumble in the losing effort.
Telling Stat: Second half Dwags; Washington put up 34 points and 307 yards in the final two periods to claim their third straight win over the Wildcats.
Observations
...6-0 in Maroon and Gold; Minnesota is 6-0 after running roughshod over Nebraska. The Gophers racked up 322 yards rushing in the 34-7 rout.
...Overachievers?; The fact that USC is 3-3 right now and not 2-4 is a bit shocking. Facepalm
...Bear-ly undefeated; The Big XII admitted that they did make a major error that basically saved Baylor form a loss at Texas Tech. It was a fumble
...Under the radar; San Diego State at 5-1 and fresh off a 26-22 win over Wyoming and is the best team in California this year.
...A double edged sword; The biggest winner from Georgia's upset loss to South Carolina was Oklahoma, the biggest loser was Notre Dame.
...3 straight ain't great; USC HC Clay Helton has now lost three straight game sot Notre Dame. Last SC HC to do that was He who shall not be named.
...67 million to one shot; St. Louis Cardinals pitching coach Mike Maddux hit not one, but two holes in a single round of golf on Monday. Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!
...Geaux Coach O!; LSU is #2 in the latest AP Poll. I wonder if former SC AD Pat Haden still thinks that Ed Orgeron still doesn't project the right image for USC. Facepalm.
...Down to two; I'm giving out a Billy Graham Award this year to the most frustrating QB in the Pac 12. Arizona's Khalil Tate and Colorado's Steven Montez are the two finalists. The inspiration for this award is my Uncle Melvin who explained to me that a Billy Graham Quarterback is a kid with the ability to make 60,000 fans jump up and scream "Jee-zus Christ!"
...Third and burnt orange; Texas is in third place in the Big XII, definitely not where Longhorn fans thought they'd be this year.
...Getting stoked over this; I'm a little premature here, but if both teams handle their business the next two weeks, 8-0 Penn State will face 8-0 Minnesota in Minneapolis on 11/9. Both teams will be coming off a bye for that game. Wow.
...The bird is the word; I've seen a lot of ways to run a silent snap count on placekicks, but this is pretty funny. Sign Language
...Red memories; Hey! Remember, about a month ago, when folks still thought Nebraska would win the Big Ten West?
...6 for 12; this week marks the first time all year that everyone in the Pac 12 is playing a conference game.
...A dilemma; Is Wisconsin really that good or is their schedule that weak?
...No blemishes; Your undefeated teams through seven weeks of the season are SMU, Clemson, Baylor, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Penn State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Boise State, Alabama, LSU and Appalachian State.
...Just Pathetic; The usually flag-happy Pac 12 refs swallowed their flags in South Bend last week with numerous obvious penalties being ignored, but this failure to flag ND HC Brian Kelly for being on the field during USC's onside kick attempt serves as the poster child for the lousy job this crew did. Blind Stripes
...And then there were two; Rice and New Mexico State are the only winless teams left in the FBS.
Pac 12 Overreactions
USC is a 6-6 team at best according to their home/road split
Oregon is the best team in the Pac 12.
Washington may have a weather delay to blame for losing the Pac 12 North.
Wazzu may be in contention with USC for that cherished Cheez-it Bowl bid.
UCLA was just happy not to play a game last week.
Arizona wonders when Khalil Tate will ever learn to protect the ball.
Oregon State wants play UCLA again.
Colorado could be a really good team with a good QB.
Utah still wonders how they lost to USC.
Cal is glad that Oregon State is coming to town.
Stanford is still going to wreck the Pac 12 race.
Arizona State will lose to Utah.
Ugly Uniform of the Week
Iowa wins going away for these NFL Color Rush knockoffs. Yuk.
Low Score Game of the Week: Durant, OK- This week's game comes form the Divison II ranks and the Great America Conference to be exact. That is where the Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils pulled out a 9-7 road win over the Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm. With 10:00 left to play in fourth quarter, Boll Weevil DT C.J. Everett sacked Savage Storm QB Daulton Hatley in his own end zone for a safety that would be the game-winning play for UAM. The Boll Weevils won despite being held to just 202 yards of total offense.
Blowout Game of the Week: Columbus, OH- This game comes form the D-III ranks and the third oldest athletic league in America, the Ohio Athletic Conference. It was there that the John Carroll Blue Streaks destroyed the Capital University Crusaders, 90-0. The game was only 28-0 at the half before the Blue Streaks exploded for 62 second half points. The Blue Streaks amassed 695 yards of offense with 564 of those yards coming on the ground. Four different RBs scored at least two TDs in this huge rout. JCU's 90 points were the most scored in any college game this year.
C.W. Post Press: The Sharks had a bye last Saturday and will take a trip to Rhode Island to play at Bryant University this week.
Razorback Report: Lexington, KY- Kentucky WR Lynn Bowden got the start at QB in place of injured starter QB Sawyer Smith. He only completed seven of 11 passes for 78 yard and a TD, but he ran the Hogs out of the building, gaining 196 yards on 24 carries with two TDs to lead the Wildcats to a stunning 24-20 win. The Hogs will host Auburn this week.
This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...
(Martha Stewart voice) A well made fall display can make your home a more vibrant space.
I can make a pretty good Hoosier Cream Pie.
Rance's Chicago Pizza is the bomb.
Until next week folks, remember that moral victories are only for Oregon State and Charlie Weis
-The Commissioner
