Hey All,
Here's to hoping that everyone enjoyed their first weekend of fall in 2021. Now, settle back for another edition of Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Mal Florence.
Summaries
Oregon State 45- USC 27: Los Angeles, CA- Oregon State purged 60 years of Coliseum futility in 60 minutes on Saturday night. The Beavers did what they wanted to do when they wanted do it against the Trojans for the majority of the game. The Trojan defense was physically beaten down and mentally lost when it came to trying to stop the OSU offense. The Beavers opened huge holes in the SC defense which allowed RB B.J. Baylor to rumble for 158 yards rushing on 23 carries. He would have gone for over 200 yards if not for a very USC-friendly holding call that erased a 44-yard Baylor blast. The Beavers rushed for 311 yards on 51 carries as a team with nine different backs handling the ball. Oregon State did not do anything complicated. USC just couldn't stop it. OSU ran straight zone blocking schemes with fly sweep motion. The offense was reminiscent of what Mike Riley's Beavers ran against SC 15-18 years ago. Oh, and when the Beavers did throw the ball they hit wide open receivers due to multiple breakdowns in the Trojans pass coverage. QB Chance Nolan completed 15 of 19 passes for 213 yards, four TDs and two picks. He also ran five times for 57 yards. On the flip side of the ball, USC's Air-Raid offense that showed life last week, under QB Jaxson Dart at Wazzu, reverted to its' plodding check down self with the return of starting QB Kedon Slovis to the lineup. Slovis finished the game completing 31 of 49 tosses for 355 yards with one TD and three interceptions. USC failed to run the ball yet again behind their woeful OL. However, RB Keontay Ingram did rush for 79 yards on 14 carries with two TDs. USC as a team finished with 76 yards rushing. WR Drake London was once again Slovis' favorite target, grabbing 10 passes for 165 yards.
Telling Stat: 35 in 18:25 for the W; Oregon State scored 35 points in a span of 18:25 to put this game away in the Coliseum. The Beavers score five straight TDs on drives of 92, 92, 75, 59, and 64 yards.
Oregon 41- Arizona 19: Eugene, OR- The Ducks started fast, went into a 30 minute lull, then finished as strong to stay undefeated on the season. UO took a 17-0 lead in the first quarter on a 63-yard TD pass from QB Anthony Brown to WR Jaylon Redd, a 21-yard FG by PK Camden Lewis and an 11-yard run by 15th year senior RB CJ Verdell. That start propelled the Webfoots to a 24-10 halftime lead. Then, UofA came out in the third period and almost stole away the game form the sleeping Ducks. It started when DT Mo Diallo nailed Brown in the end zone for a safety. After the ensuing free kick, the Wildcats traveled 71 yards on 12 plays and found the end zone when RB Drake Anderson ran in from a yard out. Suddenly Oregon's lead was only 24-19 with 1:36 left in the third quarter. The Ducks woke up and put 17 more points on the board to put this game away. The scores were a 43-yard FG by Lewis, an 18-yard TD pass from Brown to WR Spencer Webb and a 68-yard pick six from CB Bennett Williams. Brown finished the game with 10 completions in 21 passes for 206 yards and three scores. He also carried the ball 12 times for 41 yards. For the winless Wildcats, QB Jordan McCloud completed 21 of 36 aerials for 233 yards, one TD and five interceptions.
Telling Stat: -5 is bad; I don't care who is playing, if I look at a scoresheet and see a -5 turnover margin, I know that team lost the game.
Utah 24- Washington State 13: Salt Lake City, UT- This game was a sloppy struggle to say the least with the Utes finding a way to get the win in the final period. After a scoreless first period, WSU got on the scoreboard first. They scored on a 39-yard FG by PK Dean Janikowski to cap off a drive that traveled 58 yards in 11 plays. Utah took the lead two drives later when backup QB Ja'Quinden Jackson came in on a gaol line package and ran two yards for a TD. Janikowski narrowed the Cougars deficit to 7-6 just before the half with a 20-yard field goal. Wazzu forced a Utah fumble to start the third quarter and quickly turned that into a 26-yard TD pass from QB Jarrett Guarantano to WR DeZahaun Stribling and a 13-7 lead. The Cougars offense wouldn't be heard form again. While the Utes defense shutdown the Cougars, the Utah offense kept trying to give the game away. A 28-yard FG by PK Jaden Redding came in the middle of a span where the Utes fumbled two more times and missed a FG. Down 13-10, Utah finally put another TD drive together. They marched 72 yards in eight plays. RB T.J. Pledger crossed the double stripe on a 20-yard run to give Utah the lead for good. On the ensuing drive, Utah CB Clark Phillips III picked off an errant aerial and took it back 54 yards for the game-clinching touchdown. Pledger led all rushers with 117 yards on 10 carries and a TD for Utah. Guarantano completed 25 of 36 passes for 248 yards, a TD and three big interceptions in the loss for Wazzu.
Telling Stat: A zero when they needed it; After falling behind, 13-10, the Utah defense shutout the Cougars, holding them to 60 total yards over their last six drives. The Utes also picked off two passes, returning one for a touchdown to secure the win.
UCLA 35- Stanford 24: Palo Alto, CA- The Cardinal were happy to be home for the first time in about a year, but UCLA turned all that happiness to despair as they ground out their first road win of the year. Ground is the key word as UCLA tripled Stanford rushing yardage, 204-67. Michigan transfer RB Zack Charbonnet ran for 123 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown to lead all rushers, but the top bRuin in this game beat the Cardinal with his hands and his feet. QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson rushed for 30 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns. He also completed 18 of 29 passes for 251 yards and two more TDs. Playing with an injured shoulder, Thompson-Robinson led two fourth quarter scoring drives of 75 yards to put the game away. In the loss, Cardinal QB Tanner McKee completed 19 of 32 passes for 293 yards and three TDs.
Telling Stat: 10 points are bending; UCLA's defense bent a good deal, but didn't break. They gave up 10 points in the final quarter, but that was good enough for the win.
Washington 31- California 24 OT: Seattle WA- The 100th matchup between these two schools had a thriller of a finish. It was a see-saw battle all the way to the end. The Huskies turned an interception of Cal QB Chase Garbers into an early, 7-0 lead. UW QB Dylan Morris threw a 19-yard TD pass to WR Taj Davis for the score. The Golden Bears answered on the ensuing drive. They drove 75 yards in 13 plays on the arm of Garbers and the legs of RB Damien Moore. The drive culminated with a Garbers 1-yard toss to TE Jake Tonges. The Dawgs took control of the game for rest of the first half. They sandwiched two 70+ yard scoring drives around holding Cal for downs in the red zone. The two touchdowns were a six-yard pass from Morris to WR Jalen McMillan and a five-yard scamper by RB Sean McGrew. As time ran out in the first half, PK Dario Longhetto split the uprights for Cal. UW led at the half, 21-10. UW extended lead their back to 14 points early in the third period when PK Peyton Henry made good on a 32-yard attempt to make the score 24-10 Dawgs. UW wouldn't find the end zone again until the OT period. The Golden Bears defense forced a fumble and watched a UW 47-yard FG attempt fail as the offense fought back to force OT. It wasn't easy for the boys from Berkeley. Another interception from Garbers and another drive that stalled on downs stymied the Cal attack. However Cal cut the UW lead to 24-17 on a 26-yard TD pass from Garbers to Moore and then tied the game with 2:51 left in regulation when Garbers scrambled seven yards for a touchdown. UW then did its' best to give away the game when they passed on 3rd and 2 instead of running and at least making Cal use a time out even if they didn't make the first down. Cal got the ball back with 1:16 left and did use that timeout that UW left them to set up Longhetto for a 55-yard FG attempt. The kick fell just short and the game went to OT. UW had the ball first drove down near the goal line. From there McGrew carried the ball three times out of the wildcat formation and knifed his way onto the end zone from two-yards out. Cal then had the ball and powered their way to a first and goal at the UW four-yard line. Moore got the ball and was hammered on the one-yard line and fumbled. UW OLB Ryan Bowman recovered the fumble and game was over. McGrew ran for 53 yards on 16 carries with two TDs while Morris completed 19 of 32 passes for 234 yards and two TDs for the victorious Huskies. Garbers was most of the offense for Cal. He complete 30 of 41 passes for 319 yards with two TDs and two interceptions. He also ran 16 times for 71 and another score.
Telling Stat: +4 gets the Purple Gang a W; Washington won the trunover battle, 3-1 while also stopping Cal twice on downs. That +4 turnover margin gave the Huskies a chance to win a game in which Cal held the edge in almost every other statistical category.
Arizona State 35- Colorado 13: Tempe, AZ- Both teams entered this one looking for a bounce back win to start conference play after getting beaten last weekend. ASU bounced back better, getting their passing game going and cutting down on penalties. QB Jayden Daniels faced a CU defense that loaded the box and dared ASU to throw the ball. Daniels handled the challenge well, completing 18 of 25 passes for 236 yards. He also ran the ball seven times for 75 yards and two TDs. ASU was only flagged seven times which is a big improvement for a team that averages double digit flags per game. Colorado still couldn't get their offense untracked. However, the Buffs did manage to score a touchdown this week. CU drove 75 yards for a TD to start the second half. RB Alex Fontenot did the honors hitting paydirt from one-yard out. The Buffs gained more yards than last week, but still have no passing game and that's a big deal.
Telling Stat: 67 passing yards =1 dimensional=L; Colorado can't throw the ball and when you're offense is one dimensional, you can't win many games. CU is averaging just 85 YPG passing this year. Ouch.
Observations
...Another choice; I have another idea for who should be the next HC at USC. After last week's embarrassment, I figure SC might as well have some laughs if the team is gonna be this bad. I think old professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff could give us those laughs. I hear he has a whole backfield ready to sign letters of intent for next season.
...1960/1914 is painful; Oregon State hit two major milestones in their 45-27 win over USC. The win was the first for OSU at the Coliseum over SC since 1960. OSU's 45 points scored were there most they ever have scored against USC in a single game in this series that goes back to 1914.
...Shown the locker room and then the door; TheeeOSU LB K'Vaughan Pope got shown those in order for quitting on the field in the second quarter of the Buckeye's win over Akron. Wow. Temper Tantrum
...Four the hard way; The Central State (OH) Marauders pulled off the rare feat of scoring four points in a game. CSU got smashed, 55-4 by the Miles College Golden Bears. Central's four points came off a safety and a blocked PAT return.
...A fun look ahead; If, (and this is a really big if), Ole Miss upsets Alabama and Arkansas upsets Georgia, The Rebels will host the Razorbacks the following week in what could be an epic game.
...Mid game snack; Check out this ref in the Louisville- Florida State game taking a Skittles break between plays. Taste the rainbow!
...They can light it up; Harvard is 2-0 and averaging a little over 45 points per game.
...Too many times; Way too many times in the Clay Helton era and now its' aftermath have Trojans fans heard the words, "This is a historic Trojan loss." SMH.
...listening is learning; Some games I catch on radio while driving on game days. I've learned that there are plenty of local agents in Iowa ready to sell me Farm Bureau Insurance, where a really great casino is near Tunica, Mississippi and that the New England Patriots have an official lawn mower brand.
...Condolences and sad coincidence; Condolences go out here to the family of Utah CB Aaron Lowe and the Utah football program. Lowe who was shot and killed early last Sunday morning in Salt Lake City. The sad coincidence is that Lowe was the first recipient of the Ty Jordan Memorial Scholarship. Jordan, an RB for the Utes, was shot and killed last year in Texas. Jordan and Lowe were high school teammates at West Mesquite High School in Texas.
...Eagles sink low, Lunsford gone; Georgia Southern has fired HC Chad Lunsford after a 1-3 start. Lunsford was 28-21 overall with a 10-win season back in 2018. DB Coach Kevin Whitley was named the interim HC by AD Jared Benko. Fired Chad
...Route 66; For all who didn't see it, here's the NFL record 66-yard FG by Baltimore PK Justin Tucker.
...Quietkly making noise; Army is 4-0 and may not throw another pass this year.
...More sad news; Wazzu WR Brandon Gray was shot early Saturday in Pullman, WA. He didn't travel with the team to Utah last weekend. Another player down
...Torched Stripes; Auburn came back from a 24-12 deficit to beat Georgia State and GSU HC Shawn Elliott ain't happy. He accused the SEC officials of helping Auburn mount a comeback. Fuming Elliott
...Tough to see; ULM-OC Rich Rodriguez's son Rhett was injured in game for the Warhawks. He was sent to ICU with a partially collapsed lung. Has to be awful to see your own kid hurt that bad on the field. Painful
...They stand alone; The only two undefeated teams left in the ACC are Wake Forest and Boston College. Wow.
...Why the visor?; UW HC Jimmy Lake wore a visor last weekend on the sidelines. What protection does a visor give a bald guy in a night game?
Pac 12 Overreactions
USC will go 2-10
Oregon State is going bowling.
ASU needs a reminder that the game starts in the first quarter.
Oregon can't afford to keep playing to the level of their competition.
Arizona will go 0-12.
Stanford better go back on the road.
Colorado needs to figure out that the forward pass is legal.
Cal will go 4-8.
UCLA can't afford an injury to Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Utah HC Kyle Whittingham will retire at the end of this year.
October 18th can't arrive fast enough for Wazzu.
Washington is a 7-5 team.
CFL Update
I know you all were just waiting to be filled in on the action from the league of the frozen north. The West Division sees the Winnipeg Blue Bombers flying on top of the division with a 6-1 mark. Hot on their heels are the Saskatchewan Roughriders with a 5-2 record while sitting in fourth place are this intrepid reporter's team, the Edmonton Elks. They are 2-4 overall and 0-4 at home. Sigh. In the East Division, Hamilton and Toronto are tied for first with matching 4-3 records. One thing that always wins is the 3DownNation site. Those guys have all the CFL info. Football, Eh!
Good Looking Uniform of the Week:
Nobody really wears brown and gold. Wyoming does and they've made it look good with this simple road uniform look.
Departments
Low Score Game of the Week: Kalamazoo, MI- In their final game before entering Empire 8 Conference play, the Alfred University Saxons pulled out a late, 10-7 win over the Kalamazoo College Hornets. With 5:06 left to play. Saxons RB Kevin Bragaglia rumbled five yards for the game-winning TD. The Saxons defense was pretty stout on the day, allowing only 139 total yards. Bragaglia finished the game with 98 yards rushing and that one touchdown.
Blowout Game of the Week: Indiana, IA- The Central College (IA) Dutch wore out the scoreboard in an 84-16 beatdown of the Simpson College Storm. The win moved Central to 2-0 in the American Rivers Conference in D-III. The Dutch threw for 556 yards and tallied 789 total yards. QB Blake Hawkins completed 22 of 24 passes for 424 yards and seven TDs. WR Erik Knack was Hawkins favorite target haunt in nine passes for 165 yards and four scores.
Razorback Report: Arlington, TX- The Razorbacks went out to an early 17-0 lead over Texas A&M then held on the rest of the way with strong defense for a 20-10 win over the Aggies. QB K.J. Jefferson was the Arkansas offense completing seven of 15 passes for 212 yards and two TDs. He also gained 50 yards on eight carries on the ground. This week, things gets a little tougher for Arkansas as they take a trip to Georgia this week.
This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...
My next door neighbors upped their Halloween decoration game and it looks great.
Trader Joe's Maple Kettle Corn rocks.
Reading the full color comics section on Sundays is still a blast.
Until Next time folks, remember that the team that runs the ball and can stop the run wins most of their games.
-The Commissioner
