Hey All,
It's time for the Thanksgiving weekend wrap-up edition of Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Mel Durslag.
Summaries
Colorado 20- San Diego State 10: Boulder, CO- On Thanksgiving night, Colorado's game at USC was canceled due to positive tests and subsequent contact tracing that left the Trojans without an offensive line. That in turn left Colorado to find a backup opponent. San Diego State was happy to come to Boulder for a game. The teams didn't have much time to prepare for each other. Neither offense really shined in this game, but the Colorado defense was able to almost completely shutdown the Aztec offense. That led to Colorado being able to find enough yards and points to grind out a victory to stay undefeated in this abbreviated season. The Buffs took an early 7-0 lead when they traveled 83 yards in 11 plays for a TD on their first possession of the game. QB Sam Noyer crossed the double stripe from a yard out for the score. Partway through the second period Noyer connected with WR Jaylon Jackson from three yards out to give CU a 14-0 lead. Noyer then kept SDSU in the game two drives later when his errant aerial was intercepted by CB Darren Hall who took it back 57-yards for what would be SDSU's only touchdown. Then, with :04 left in the second quarter Aztec PK Matt Araiza made good from 48 yards away to cut CU's lead to 14-10 at the half. The second half proved to be little more than a glorified scrimmage with Colorado PK Evan Price making good on kicks of 36 and 42 yards, while Araiza had a 50-yard FG attempt blocked and missed a 44-yarder late in the final period.
Telling Stat: There's No O in Aztecs; SDSU could not find a way to beat the Colorado defense. The Buffaloes held the Aztecs to 155 total yards, just 4 for 17 on third down conversions and didn't allow an offensive touchdown.
Oregon State 41- Oregon 38: Corvalis OR- The Ducks had been anointed by the media as the only hope for the Pac12 to reach the College Football Playoff promptly went out and failed to live up to that hype in the fog and rain of Corvalis. For the first three quarters this game it looked like the Ducks had this one in hand, having done just enough to keep the Beavers at bay. The Beavers had a puncher's chance, but seemed to be getting outboxed by the Webfoots. Then in the fourth quarter, the Beavers punches started landing with power and the Ducks were stunned. 2:37 into the fourth quarter the Beavers finished a long TD drive, picked off UO QB Tyler Shough and turned that pickoff into another touchdown to take a 34-31 lead on a two-yard blast by RB Jermar Jefferson. The suddenly trialing Ducks put together an answering drive that was capped off with 1-yard TD run by RB Cyrus Habibi-Liko to retake the lead at 38-34. UO then breathed a sigh of relief when their defense held for downs on OSU's next drive with 2:18 to play. However, the Quacks could only gain two yards and run just 23 seconds off the clock on their next possession. That left the Beavers with a chance at their own 47-yard line with 1:55 left to play. OSU QB Tristan Gebbia competed fovea passes to set up his squad with a first and goal at the Ducks six-yard line. Here is where things got a bit crazy. After a gain of four by Jefferson set up a second down at the two-yard line, Gebbia looked to have scored on a QB sneak. However, the Pac 12 refs who haven't given the a good spot to the Beavers all year, placed the ball just outside the end zone. Gebbia's next sneak attempt was marked short as well with a huge offside not called by the refs. On that attemp Gebbia pulled his hamstring. He was out of the game. That left the the Orange and Black with a fourth and goal a the UO 6-inch line and true Frosh backup QB Chance Nolan under center. No problem. Nolan took the fourth down snap and snuck into paydirt behind a big push form his offensive line and he became a Beaver hero for all-time in the process. The OSU defense forced a fumble on UO's last gasp drive to secure the huge rivalry upset win. For the victorious Beavers, Jefferson had another huge game, rushing for 226 yards on 29 carries and two TDs. For the losers with ugly uniforms from Eugene, QB Tyler Shough passed for 285 yards, a pair of TDs and two interceptions.
Telling Stat: Running Beavers; For the second straight week the Oregon defense could not stop the run and this week it got them beat. OSU racked up 269 yards on 44 carries for a nifty 6.1 yard per carry in their upset win.
Washington 24- Utah 21: Seattle, WA- The Utes were embarrassed by USC last week. The Utes promised to come out and avenge that loss on the Huskies. A team they traveled to play after both UW's game with Wazzu and their own game at ASU was canceled due to COVID problems for both the Cougars and Sun Devils. The Utes held to their promise for the first 30 minutes of play. Utah blocked, tackled and did everything else well en route to building up a 21-0 halftime lead over the Huskies. Then the second half started and the teams revered roles. The Dawgs went right down the field to start the half with a TD drive that covered 72 yards in six plays and was capped off with a two-year TD romp by RB Kamari Pleasant. The Husky defense picked off Utah QB Jake Bentley on the ensuing series and the offense turned that into a field goal to cut Utah's lead to 21-10 midway through the third period. Then right before the quarter ended, the UW defense held Utah for downs at their 41. Three plays later, TE Cade Otton snagged a 21-yard TD pass from QB Dylan Morris to cut the Utah lead to 21-17. The fourth quarter began with Utah showing some signs of life with their offense. The kids from Salt Lake had a first down at the Husky 12-yard line with 14:12 to play. RB Ty Jordan was nailed for a two-yard loss and fumbled. The Huskies recovered the fumble. Utah would never get that close to scoring again. After a defensive scramble for the next few drives, the Huskies found themselves starting a march at their own 12-yard line. The Huskies moved the ball 88 yards in 12 plays with Morris once again finding Otton in the end zone for the go ahead score. The Dawgs completed sealed the comeback victory when they picked off Bentley at their own 30-yard line with :07 left. It was the Huskies first comeback win of 21 or more points since they climbed out of a 21-point hole to beat Cal, 28-27 in 1988. Morris threw for 272 yards, a pair of TDs and three interceptions to lead the UW offense, while Bentley threw for 144 yards, a TD and two picks in the tough loss for the Utes.
Telling Stat: -1 =L; Utah lost the turnover battle and the game. Nobody lives off turnovers like Utah. They are -4 this year and 0-2 because of it.
Stanford 24- California 23- Berkeley, CA- Could the Golden Bears keep Stanford winless on the season? Could the Golden Bears keep The Axe for a second straight year? Could the Golden Bears make a lousy extra point? The answer to all three of these questions is no and that's why The Axe resides once again in Palo Alto. It sure was a wild ending to the game as Cal trailed 24-17 with 3:30 left to play with a first and ten at their own 10-yard line after a great Stanford punt. Cal then covered the 90 yards to paydirt mostly on the ground with 65 of the yards coming from their rushing attack and a couple of good scrambles by QB Chase Garbers. The what-should-have-been-tying score came when RB Christopher Brown, Jr. battled his way into the Cardinal end zone from three yards out. Then with :58 seconds left and overtime looming, PK Dario Longhetto's PAT was blocked by DE Thomas Booker who caved in the Cal line to get to the kick. You could hear the howls of pain from the only fans in attendance, the Cal supporters way up on Tightwad Hill. After recovering the now necessary onside kick, Stanford ran out the clock and ran away with the Axe for the 10th time in the last 11 years. For the Cardinal, QB Davis Mills competed 24 of 32 passes for 205 yards and a TD while RB Austin Jones chipped in with 85 yards on 21 carries and two TDs. In the losing effort, Garbers completed 19 of 29 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns while RB Damien Moore led all rushers with 121 yards on 10 carries.
Telling Stat: Not the Big Four they wanted; California had two kicks blocked and two turnovers that were the difference in this game.
UCLA 27- Arizona 10: Pasadena, CA- Things started off bad and didn't really get much better in yet another Wildcats loss to the bRuins at the Rose Bowl. After the opening kickoff went for a touchback, UofA QB Grant Gunnell completed a pass to RB Gary Brightwell for two yards. That would be the extent of Gunnell's time on the field. He hurt his shoulder on that play and didn't return. In his place, came Will Plummer, a freshman who had never played a down of college football. The bRuins then forced a punt and handed the Wildcats a golden opportunity when they went for and failed on fourth and one from their own 25-yard line. Four plays later, UofA RB Michael Wiley darted into the end zone from three yards out to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead. UofA would never seriously threaten to to get into the end zone the rest of the game. UCLA also was using their backup QB, but Chase Griffin had almost knocked off the Ducks the week before and he could run and throw. UCLA leaned heavily on their rushing attack and built up a 20-7 lead at the half behind two FGs from PK Nicholas Barr-Mira, a 16-yard TD reception by RB Brittiain Brown and a one-yard TD run for RB Demetric Felton. The game degenerated into a sloppy affair in the second half with the bRuins seemingly content to just run the clock on offense and let their defense pin down the anemic Wildcats. Felton had himself a great game. He lugged the leather 32 times for 206 yards and a TD. However, Felton's last rush of the night was costly. With a little over a minute to play, Felton pulled up lame with what looked like a right hamstring pull. As for the still winless Wildcats, Plummer completed 17 of 35 passes for 151 yard and two interceptions in the loss.
Telling Stat; Second Half stranglehold; The UCLA defense allowed a field goal, forced two punts, picked off two passes and held for downs once in the second half to keep Arizona winless on the year.
Observations
...Delusional out west; Did anyone really think the Pac 12 had a shot at the College Football Playoff with only seven games being played at most by the league champ? So please don't cry over the vastly overrated Ducks and the Clay Helton Trojans. There was no way the media was ever gonna give the Pac 12 champ anything but a token New Year's Six Bowl slot.
...Aggies for Irish; Texas A&M fans have to be huge Notre Dame fans right now. They need ND to win out and crush Clemson in the ACC title game to have a chance at making the CFP.
...We feel you Nick; Bama HC Nick Saban was sidelined for the Iron Bowl rivalry game between his Crimson Tide and Auburn due to contracting COVID. He said he yelled at the TV screen a few times while Steve Sarkisian led the Crimson Tide in his place. All of us Trojan fans feel you bro, we all yelled at the screen a lot when Sark was the HC at SC.
...Get back and this way; Ever notice how the guy that's the Get-Back Coach who you see always telling players to get back form the sideline is also the guy that always points the which way his team needs to run after they get a turnover? Hmmmmm
...It wasn't flagged; I know the penalty distance would have been about two inches, but how the heck do you miss this encroachment with contact? SMH Pac 12 refs. Even Glasses Ref would have called this.
...A fine line between Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning; Vanderbilt HC Derek Mason just found that out the hard way. He helped make history by tabbing Sarah Fuller as the team's PK when the Commodores specialists all became unavailable due to COVID issues last Saturday. (Which you all know by now made her the first woman to suit up and play for a Power 5 team.) Then Mason became history on Sunday morning when hew was fired by the Vandy braintrust. Mason's Vandy squads were a paltry 27-55 under his leadership. This year's squad was 0-8 when he got canned.
...They can play; UCLA's running game is strong and they are a QB who doesn't hand the ball out like appetizers at a tailgate away from making a serious run in the Pac 12.
...An Awful six pack; UTEP's game at Southern Miss has been canceled this week leaving the Miners with a sixth straight game cancellation due to COVID issues with them or their opponents.
...Its' a Cyclone world; Iowa State's win at Texas has all but assured the Cyclones a spot in the Big XII title game where they could win their first league crown since 1921. Wow.
...Northwest bubble; With Santa Clara County tightening their COVID measures to the point where contact sports cannot be played, Stanford has decided to take their act on the road. The Cardinal will travel to Seattle today to prepare for their game at Washington, then travel to Coravalis to practice and play at Oregon State. The Beavers gain a home game as this one was originally scheduled to be played in Palo Alto.
...Just say N-O; Northwestern and Oregon fell from the ranks of the unbeatens in opposite ways. Northwestern couldn't come back form an early hole, while the Ducks came from ahead to lose.
...Orange embarrassment; Syracuse QB Rex Culpepper lost track of the downs after being sacked on Syarcuse's final drive. He spiked then ball to kill the clock on fourth down. SMH Fourth Down Fail
...A good leg gone; After losing his job to Frosh phenom Parker Lewis, USC PK Chase McGrath has entered the transfer portal.
...3-0 never felt so good; If you're a Colorado fan, 2020 has become a pretty good year. Seriously, your year started with HC Mel Tucker promising he was in for the long haul in Boulder to only drop your team like a hot rock and leave you saddled with retread Karl Dorrell. All Dorrell has done is start out 3-0 with a team that couldn't even practice together until October.
...This just in; Michigan stinks. Yeah. its old news, but the Wolverines are just playing out the string waiting for Jim Harbaugh to take his Khakis somewhere else.
...Waiting for 2021; As Captain of Tough Turkeys, I have to say I am disappointed that my squad did not get to square off against the Cranberry Crushers this year. That means by the time next year rolls around, my squad will be on a there-year winless streak.
A Mess in the Midwest: The Big Ten in a COVID hole
Minnesota canceled their game with Northwestern this week after reporting 47, yes 47 positive COVID tests among the team and staff. That cancellation has handed the Big Ten West title to Northwestern. Even if the Wildcats lose their rivalry game to Illinois on 12/12, their 5-2 record would get them in over a possible 6-2 Iowa squad because the Wildcats beat Iowa earlier in the year.
Ohio Sate is the Big Ten's big hope for the College Football Playoff, but all it will take is another cancellation on their schedule to make them ineligible to play for the conference crown under the rules adopted by the league for this season. The Buckeyes haven't had a full practice since last week and their game at Michigan State is in jeopardy. Also, if they actually get the game with the Spartans in, their final opponent, arch-rival Michigan shutdown their facilities on Monday in response to to "presumptive positive tests." So, if the Buckeyes can't play for their own league title, would the CFP Selection Committee choose the Buckeyes for the playoff? Hmmmmmm
Pac 12 Overreactions
- Arizona State may not play another game this season.
- Washington may play a road game this year.
- Oregon State will finish 3-3.
- USC will only play four games.
- Arizona will go 0-5.
- Cal won't miss another PAT this season.
- Oregon will be called for offsides eventually.
- Utah's lack of a real QB will cost them two more games.
- Wazzu just wants folks to know they are still in the league.
- UCLA's rushing attack alone will win them one more game.
- Stanford may move to Reno.
- Colorado is just happy to be 3-0.
Ugly Uniform of the Week
This week's winners are Indiana, Oregon and Oregon State. The Hoosiers share a piece of this week's award for wearing that dreaded camo uniform v. Maryland, while Oregon and Oregon State win for wearing a set of TV screen-breaking uniforms that were dulled by fog most of the game.
Departments
Low Score Game of the Week: Annapolis, MD- Memphis got a 26-yard field goal from PK Riley Patterson with 10:53 left to play in the final period to lift the Tigers to a 10-7 win over Navy at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The teams traded first quarter scores with the Midshipmen striking first on a 22-yard run by FB Nathan Smith, That's right, it was a TD run from that rarely seen position known as a Fullback. Memphis' lone TD came on a 14-yard TD toss from QB Brady White to WR Calvin Austin III. The key to victory for Memphis was stopping Navy on third down where they held the Midshipmen to just 2-of-13 on third down conversions.
Blowout Game of the Week: Orange City, IA- This week's game comes from the Great Plains Athletic Conference where the Red Raiders of Northwestern (IA) whipped the Jamestown Jimmies, 49-0. QB Tyson Kooima's four TD passes staked the Red Raiders to a 28-0 with 9:25 left in the third period. A blocked punt on Jamestown's ensuing possession put the Red Raiders up 35-0. Two short TD runs later and Northwestern had the easy win in hand. Kooima completed 16 of 21 passes for 285 yards and those four TDs, while Northwestern defense held Jamestown to 105 total yards and just eight first downs.
Razorback Report: With COVID rendering everything up in the air, the Razorbacks are scheduled to play Missouri on 12/5.
This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...
The leftovers meal a day or two after Thanksgiving is alway the best meal of the year.
Got the new boxcars I ordered for my Lionel Christmas setup. Yes, I am a nerd.
I still look forward to reading the Sunday comics each week in my local newspaper.
Until next time folks, enjoy the games we've got for as long as we got 'em.
-The Commissioner
