Hey All,
The season that will never end for USC fans keeps staggering along towards oblivion, but there are plenty of other things to enjoy about college football. Here's another edition of Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Tom Kelly.
Summaries
UCLA 62- USC 33: Los Angeles, CA- There wasn't much faith among Trojans fans that USC could actually win this game, but many hoped that this kind of beating at the hand of the bRuins would not occur. However, it did. It did despite what looked to be a decent effort from the Trojans through almost three quarters. With 2:09 to play in the third period, RB Vavae Malepeai bulled his way into the end zone to cut UCLA's lead to 35-26. Suddenly things looked good for USC for about 30 seconds. USC then went for two points and failed when they didn't need to make the attempt. The Trojans followed up that failure with a much larger gaffe when they allowed UCLA KR Kazmeir Allen to sprint 100 yards untouched for a TD on the ensuing kickoff. Whatever momentum USC had acquired was shot and the rout was truly on. The bRuins would put three more TDs on the board. The most flashy one was where UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson ran15 yards to the corner of the end zone, hurdling over a hapless SC tackler along the way. He then finished off the play by stopping to autograph a cap for a fan near the end zone. UCLA's last score was emblematic of USC's whole season. The bRuins were content to run out the clock. They had emptied their benches and the Trojan defense still couldn't stop a simple dive play. bRuin RB Ethan Fernea raced 42-yards to paydirt to complete the humiliation. It was a day that Thompson-Robinson will always remember. He completed 16 of 22 passes for 349 yards and four TDs. He also ran for 46 yards on 11 carries and two more scores. For USC, Malepeai subbed in midway through the game for injured RB Keontay Ingram and gained 49 yards on 10 carries with three TDs.
Telling Stat: 609; UCLA rolled up 609 of offense in what is yet another historic loss for the Trojans this historic debacle of a year. Marv Goux must be rolling in his grave. Facepalm.
California 41- Stanford 11: Palo Alto, CA- In the second of the two beatdowns handed out by branches of the UC system, the Golden Bears went into Stanford Stadium and took back The Axe back in the 124th edition of The Big Game. The game featured an exciting but scoreless first period that saw the Bears offense try to give the game away early, while their defense scrambled to keep it a close. Cal turned the ball over on their first two possessions. Stanford drove down to the goal line after those turnovers, but the Bears defense made two goal line stands to keep the Cardinal off the board. Stanford would never seriously threaten to win the game again. Cal's offense got rolling in the second quarter with a pair of TDs. The first one was an 84-yard pass from Cal QB Chase Garbers to WR Trevon Clark. The second score was of the much shorter variety with Garbers throwing a one-yard pass to RB Christopher Brooks. Then, up 14-3 in the third quarter, Cal put the game out of reach with two field goals from PK Dario Longhetto that traveled 24 and 34 yards and a back-breaker of a TD jaunt by RB Marcel Dancy that covered 76 yards up the left sideline. Stanford would cut the score to 27-11 with a one-yard plunge by RB Austin Jones to start the fourth quarter, but Cal would find the end zone two more times to finish off the rout on a two-yard TD run from Dancy and five-yard scoring sprint from RB Chris Street. Garbers final stats were 18 of 27 pass completions for 250 yards, two TDs and an interception, while Brooks and Dancy combined to rush for 223 yards and two TDs on just 17 carries. As for the Cardinal, QB Tanner McKee comforted 26 of 43 passes for 239 yards and two interceptions.
Telling Stat: They dialed long distance; Cal scored on drives that covered 95, 80, 69, 81, 80 and 60 yards to win The Big Game.
Washington State 44- Arizona 18: Pullman, WA- The Cougars kept their Pac 12 title hopes alive in a rout of a game that saw both teams disappear in a thick Friday night Pullman fog. WSU RB Max Borghi got the scoring underway in the first period with a 26-yard TD run. The Cougs kept their foot on the gas pedal for the next two quarters, building up a 37-7 lead on another Borghi TD run, a blocked punt for a safety and three TD passes from QB Jayden de Laura. UofA mounted a mini-comeback cutting their deficit to 37-18 with 12:16 left in the fourth quarter, but de Laura threw another TD pass. This one was a 78-yarder to WR Calvin Jackson, Jr. to put the game firmly in the Wazzu win column. de Laura threw for 259 yards and four TDs while Borghi had arguably his best game and it came on Senior Night. He carried the ball 16 times for 139 yards with two TDs.
Telling Stat: They ran to win; That's not often said about Wazzu, but their 223 yards rushing on 36 carries kept the Wildcats defense off balance all night.
Utah 38- Oregon 7: Salt Lake City, UT- It was supposed to be the next step for #3 Oregon on their way to the College Football Playoff, instead it may be the Quacks first step towards the Alamo Bowl. The Ducks did their sleepwalking routine to start yet another game and Utah punished them for it. Utah also beat up on the Quacks for a full 60 minutes with the Utes OL and DL vying for the hardest hits. UO's defense had no answer for Utah RB Tavion Thomas. Thomas shredded the Webfoots scoring two TDs in the first half on runs of 10 yards and four yards. Throw in a one-yard run form QB Cam Rising and the Utes held a 21-0 lead. Utah then broke the Oregon's spirit on the ensuing drive. WR Brittain Covey took the punt from UO's Tom Snee on his own and left 11 Quacks in his wake as he scampered 78 yards for a TD that gave Utah a 28-0 lead at the half. The second half looked like a glorified scrimmage with the Utes defense continuing their domination of the Oregon offense. Thomas led all rushers with 94 yards on 21 carries and three TDs. Fort the Men of Oregon, QB Anthony Brown completed 17 of 35 aerials for 231 yards and a TD in the bitter loss.
Telling Stat: 7:52; The Pac 12 playoff hopes died on 11/20/2021 at 7:52 PM Pacific Standard Time.
Colorado 20- Washington 17: Boulder, CO- It was a great day for the Colorado defense. I don't think I've ever written that sentence. However, it was as they carried the Buffaloes to a win over the Dawgs. CU started of the game well, jumping out to a 10-0 lead on a 35-yard FG from PK Cole Becker and an 88-yard fumble return for a touchdown by LB Jack Lamb. The second quarter was all Washington. The Huskies sent the game to the half tied at 10-10 on a 30-yard FG from PK Peyton Henry and an eight yard TD pass from QB Dylan Morris to WR Rome Odunze. The third quarter was scoreless, but the Buffs defense asserted itself by picking off a pass, forcing a missed FG and recovering a fumble. It was the fumble late in the third that would set up more points for the moribund CU offense. The Husky fumble was recovered on the Dawgs seven-yard line. CU couldn't cash it in for a TD, but did get a 22-yard FG to go up 13-10 with 14:35 left in the game. The Dawgs drove down to the CU 28-yard line on the ensuing drive and it looked like they would take the lead when the Buffs defense struck again and picked off Morris' pass in the end zone. Starting their next drive on their own 10-yard due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the interception, Colorado drove 90 yards in 14 plays to take a 20-10 lead. QB Brendan Lewis crossed the double stripe from two yards out for the score. UW kept fighting and made this game tight when Morris connected with WR Ja'Lynn Polk fora 55-yard scoring strike to cut CU's lead to 20-17. The Huskies defense then stopped the Buffaloes on their next drive to get one more shot to win the game, but the Colorado defense forced four straight incompletions to seize victory. Lewis was the Colorado offense, if you could call it that, completing 14 of 25 tosses for 112 yard. He also ran 30 yards and a TD on six carries. For the hard luck Huskies, Morris complete 33 of 53 passes for 387 yards, two TDs and two interceptions.
Telling Stat; Turnovers kill; Washington dominated this game in almost every statistical category but one. They were -4 four in turnovers and that is what cost them this game.
Oregon State 24- Arizona State 10: Corvallis, OR- Scoreboard watching by both teams prior to kickoff set the tone for this game. As Utah finished working over Oregon two things became clear. ASU's Pac 12 title hopes had died and Oregon State's were still alive. The Beavers then played this game like it mattered and ASU didn't. Oregon State built up a 17-0 half-time advantage with their rushing attack that featured RB B.J. Baylor and LB/RB/QB Jack Colletto. ASU did manage to hang around in this game and even cut OSU's lead to 17-10 early in the fourth period, but a seemingly disinterested approach that featured many missed assignments and penalties ensured defeat for Sun Devils. ASU's final offensive sequence summed their efforts up well. Facing a 3rd and 7 at their own 49-yard line, the Sun Devils committed two straight false starts, gave up a sack and then threw an incomplete pass to kill their final drive. Baylor had a fine night rushing for 150 yards on 20 carries while Colletto ran the ball six times for 57 yards and a TD. Beavers QB Chance Nolan completed 12 of 18 passes for 90 yards and a TD. For the Sun Devils, QB Jayden Daniels completed 16 of 27 passes for 166 yards and an interception.
Telling Stat: An almost game; ASU almost made two field goals, almost converted on many third downs, almost completed passes, almost blocked well and almost tackled which led to the Sun Devils almost winning the game.
Observations
...Tex-what?; According to former Longhorn Brian Jones, big donors are forcing Texas HC Steve Sarkisian to play certain players because of their race. Sark and Texas AD Chris Del Conte vehemently deny the accusations made by Jones. What color are the Eyes of Texas?
...Dad got traded; I have a younger cousin who played minor league baseball. He did play long enough to be put on a baseball card. I have that card, but his eight-year old son doesn't have that card anymore. He traded the card of his dad for a dog-eared, beat up Mike Trout card. I think that kid that might get a lump of coal in his stocking this year, but at least his dad can now say he was once traded for Mike Trout.
...Extremes; Wazzu could either in end up in the Rose Bowl or the Sun Bowl. Wow.
...Almost a sesquicentennial; 11/30 will mark the 145th anniversary of the first collegiate football game ever played on Thanksgiving. That day Yale defeated Princeton, 2-0 in front of an estimated 1,000 fans on a cold, rainy day in Hoboken, New Jersey. Then again, isn't every day cold and rainy in Hoboken?
...He's gone; Florida fired HC Dan Mullen the day after the Gators were beaten by Missouri, 24-23 in overtime. Hit the road, Dan
...Brutal stat: Stanford has rushed for 992 yards as team this season, The Cardinal defense has given up 1,011 rushing yards in their last three games alone.
...Speaking of bad defenses; USC's defense is the worst Trojan defense in at least 60 years and maybe ever. How bad are they? Well, every Pac 12 team that has come to the Coliseum has amassed their highest single-game point total this year. Yes, even Arizona.
...As expected; Redlands got smacked for a second time by Linfield, this time it was a 44-10 loss to end their season.
...Twice just ain't cool; It's very possible that Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will play each other this week in their rivalry game and the next week in the Big 12 title game. Sigh. Here's the Big 12 title game scenarios. Twice?
...Hornets own the Big Sky; With their 24-7 win over UC Davis in the Yolo County Causeway Classic, the Sacramento State Hornets are your 2021 Big Sky Conference Champions. The Hornets went undefeated in league play and are 9-2 overall with one of their two losses being to Cal, 42-30. Sac State has a bye for the first round of the FCS playoffs and will host the winner of the game between UC Davis and South Dakota State in the second round.
...ACC three; While Pitt has made it to the ACC title game, their opponent could be either Wake Forest, Boston College or Clemson. Here's the scenarios. Three for One
...Doing his old team a solid; Utah RB Tavion Thomas' three touchdown performance helped kill Oregon's playoff hopes. However, he also helped his old team's chances for the playoff as well. Thomas is on the Utah roster as a transfer from... Cincinnati.
...About 30 minutes early; The football season for Howard University and Virginia-Lynchburg ended near halftime of their game due to a bench clearing brawl. Howard was up 56-6 with 1:17 left in the second quarter when the fight took place. Game officials ended the game at that point. Frustration and fists
..Big Ten possibilities; Heres' the skinny on who might face TheeeOSU in the Big Ten title game. Yes, Michigan could still win the Big Ten East, but seriously folks, USC has a better chance at bowl eligibility this year. Wild Wild Big Ten West
...Rivalry time; Yes, it has been that time of year for football rivalry games and usually when books like 66 years on the California Gridiron: 1882-1948 get read through once again by this intrepid reporter.
...They quietly made noise; UTEP is 7-4 and going bowling this year. HC Dana Dimel has done a pretty great job in El Paso. UTEP is hoping for their first bowl victory since they beat Ole Miss 14-7 in the 1967 Sun Bowl.
...A reverse by the DC; Most retirement age folks move away from the cold, but Arizona DC Don Brown is leaving Tucson. He's returning to UMass to be the HC of the Minutemen a second time. Brown is a Massachusetts native and is 66 years old, so this may be his retirement gig.
...A sideline show; The fog was so bad in Pullman last Friday that most of the game was shown from field level sideline cameras because the overhead and end zone cameras were rendered useless.
...Ivy is green after all; The Big Green of Dartmouth clinched the Ivy League football title with a 52-31 win at Brown. However, the Big Green won't be playing in the FCS playoffs because Ivy League football teams don't get to do that while every other one of their sports do get that privilege. They think they are special that way. Facepalm.
...That rumbling sound; Big man with skills time. Watch UMass-Dartmouth OL Tyler Gmyr grab the backwards pass and rumble his way into the end zone in the Corsairs, 42-16 win over Alfred State.
...Thanks, Larry; Wazzu, Oregon and Oregon State all have a shot at the Pac 12 North title, wouldn't it be great if the two games featuring these teams were played at the same time? The Pac 12 can't even get them on the same day. The Apple Cup is this Friday while the game formerly known as the Civil War will be played on Saturday. Leisure Suit Larry Scott still sucks.
...Historic fatigue; USC fans have heard the term "Historic" associated with so many losses this season, it's lost its' impact on the fan base.
Pac 12 Overreactions
USC will finish 4-8 and everyone will wonder how they even won four games.
Wazzu fans are dreaming of wearing t-shirts that read 2021 Pac 12 North Champions.
Oregon is Alamo Bowl bound.
Arizona will beat ASU.
I hope OSU wears 1965 Rose Bowl throwbacks if they make it to Pasadena.
Most ASU undergrads think the Territorial Cup is an athletic supporter.
Colorado will scare Utah.
Utah still has no passing game, but they don't really need one.
Cal will beat UCLA this week because well, this is the Pac 12.
Washington has a defense in search of on an offense.
Stanford's upcoming loss to Notre Dame will be uglier than their loss to Utah.
UCLA will play Michigan State in the Holiday Bowl.
Cool Uniform of the Week
Oregon State gets the nod for their 2001 Fiesta Bowl throwback uniforms. The 2001 Fiesta Bowl team was inducted into the OSU Hall of Fame last weekend. It's not often that the Beavers have something to celebrate on the gridiron, so let's celebrate with them!
Departments
Low Score Game of the Week: Pocatello, ID- This week's game comes from the Big Sky Conference in the FCS. A pair of short TD runs by FB Trase Le Sexier and QB Zach Borisch in the first quarter put Idaho up 14-0 over Idaho State. Oh, and that would be all the scoring there was in this 14-0 Idaho victory. Oddly, this game was the last game for both HCs. Paul Petrine of Idaho and Rob Phenicie were both relieved of their coaching duties prior to this game.
Blowout Game of the Week: Alliance, OH- The Mt. Union Purple Raiders started their annual D-III playoff run with a 52-0 thrashing of the Washington & Lee Generals. Purple Raider QB Braxton Plunk completed 27 of 37 passes for 368 yards and five TDs on the afternoon. The Mt. Union defense held the Generals to a measly three first downs and 100 total yards.
Razorback Report: Tuscaloosa, AL- Speaking of great passing, Alabama QB Bryce Young sliced and diced the Razorbacks defense. He completed 31 of 40 passes for 559 yards and five TDs in the Crimson Tide's 42-35 win over the Hogs. The Hogs can take solace in the fact that they put 35 points on Bama. QB K.J. Jefferson there for 326 yards and three scores in the tough loss. Up next for the boys from Fayetteville is a home date with those Gator hunters from Missouri to finish the regular season.
This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...
The mix of cool, foggy days and warm days filled with Santa Ana winds is always weird this time of year.
I miss the days when you could buy a box of Topps football cards for $3.60.
I look forward more to Thanksgiving leftovers than the actual Thanksgiving meal.
Until next week folks, I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving spent with family and friends.
-The Commissioner
