Hey All,
The College football regular season has entered the home stretch. Here's another look back at the week that was with this latest edition of Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Loel Schrader.
Summaries
USC at California- Postponed to 12/4: With all the news and rumors that went on about this game, here's the skinny on the situation. Cal should have forfeited to USC due to a lack of players available because of COVID-19 positives in the program. USC agreed to waive the forfeit and play the game at a later date. The Pac 12 approved the reschedule because they don't have to give back the TV money lost due to forfeit.
UCLA 44- Colorado 20: Pasadena, CA- Among the story lines featured in this game are UCLA's quest for bowl eligibility and the return of Colorado HC Karl Dorrell to the Rose Bowl sidelines. For the first half, Colorado controlled the game, building a 20-10 halftime advantage on two FGs by PK Cole Becker that covered 23 and 40 yards and a pair of one-yard TD blasts by RB Alex Fontenot. The usually cool Chip Kelly let the refs and his players have it several times as the bRuins looked to be locked into a loss to the boys form Boulder. Then a funny thing happened in the second half, UCLA remembered that they were UCLA and that Colorado was well... Colorado. The bRuins blitzed the Buffs, 34-0 in the second half to claim bowl eligibility for the first time in the Chip Kelly era, and ruin Dorrell's homecoming. Leading the way was RB Zach Charbonnet who found paydirt three times on short jaunts to go with another TD run by QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 82-yard punt return TD from WR Kyle Phillips. Charbonnet and Robinson combined for 26 carries and 166 yards and three scores. Thompson-Robinson also threw for 257 yards with an interception. CU's Jarek Broussard led all rushers with 108 yards on 16 carries in the loss.
Telling Stat: Sputter dooms Buffs; UCLA's defense shutout Colorado in the second half, forcing three punts, a fumble and holding for downs once to pave the way for bowl eligibility.
Utah 38- Arizona 29: Tucson, AZ- Did Utah get caught looking ahead to Oregon next week? Maybe, they also came into the game down top RB Tavion Thomas who missed the game with the always vague "lower body" injury. Throw in a pesky bunch of Wildcats off their first win in forever and this was game that turned out to be closer than expected. Utah QB Cam Rising opened the scoring on an 11-yard TD run to cap off the Utes first drive of the game. Surprisingly, Arizona answered back with a 43-yard TD run by QB Will Plummer. The teams traded blows through the rest of the half with Utah taking a 21-20 lead into the intermission. The Utes would never trail in the second half. However, UofA did put a good scare into the Utes due to a huge special teams play. The Wildcats were trailing, 31-23 when they forced the Utes to punt from their own 28-yard line. The Wildcats broke through the line and blocked the punt. UofA DB Rhedi Short recovered the ball at the three-yard line and took it in for a touchdown. The Wildcats would go on to miss the two-point conversion, but still stood within striking distance down just 31-29 with 10:34 to play. The Utes needed a big drive to put away the game and they got it. Utah burned 8:24 off the clock on a drive that lasted 15 plays and covered 75 yards to claim victory. RB T.J. Pledger did the honors rumbling through the tired Wildcats defense from two-yards out for the game-clinching score. The Utah defense then held UofA for downs on the next drive and the game was over. For Utah, Pledger led all rushers with 119 yards on 25 carries and a pair of scores. Rising had a good game for Utah, completing 19 of 30 tosses for 294 yards and two TDs. Will Plummer was the offense for the Wildcats completing 19 of 34 passes for 223 yards and a TD to go with 50 yards rushing on 10 carries and another score.
Telling Stat: One big drive; Utah's final scoring drive that chewed 8:24 off the clock killed any hopes of an Arizona upset in this way too close for comfort win for the Utes.
Oregon State 35- Stanford 14: Corvallis, OR- The Cardinal had won their last eleven games at OSU. The Cardinal also were without the services of QB Connor McKee again this week due to injury. He and the rest of the Cardinal watched that streak fall by the wayside under the gray Corvallis skies. A trio of inexperienced Stanford QBs were no match for the Beavers defense. Stanford's defense did keep the game in check for awhile, but they gradually wore down as the Beavers pounded out the ball with their rushing attack. The Beavers took a 14-0 lead into the half on 4-yard TD scamper from QB Chance Nolan and a two-yard scoring run from the multiple position playing Jack Colletto. The Beavers added a 67-yard scoring strike from Nolan to WR Trevon Bradford and a six-yard TD blast by RB B.J. Baylor in the third quarter. Stanford did get on the board as well in the period with an 8-yard pass from QB Ari Patu to TE Benjamin Yurosek. Oregon State extended their lead to 35-7 in the final frame when TE Teagan Quitoriano hauled in a five-yard toss from Nolan. Stanford got a final cosmetic score late when RB Nathaniel Peat broke through OSU's second stringers for an 18-yard score. Nolan spearheaded the OSU attack completing 19 of 25 passes for 257 yards and two TDs. He also ran for 29 yards seven carries and another touchdown. Stanford once again had no real offense to speak of. Patu completed seven of 14 passes for 51 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Telling Stat: The moved the chains; Oregon State racked up 29 first downs, made 11 of 26 3rd down conversions and two of three 4th down conversions to control the ball, the clock and the game.
Arizona State 35- Washington 30: Seattle, WA- What turned out to be the first game for the Huskies in the post Jimmy Lake era as well as DC Bob Gregory's first game as the interim HC started out pretty well, but faded quickly like like Seattle sunshine. UW had jumped out to an early 14-0 lead on a pair of three-yard TD runs by QB Dylan Morris and RB Cameron Davis. UW managed to hold onto the lead and still led 24-14 to start the final period. One major factor that led to the Huskies late lead was that the ASU offense just seemed to be doing everything but the one thing they can do well, which is run the ball with RB Rachaad White and QB Jayden Daniels. The fourth quarter started and ASU leaned on their rushing game. The result was that ASU closed the game with a 21-6 run to pick up their seventh win of the season. White ran through the Dawgs for 184 yards on 32 carries and two touchdowns, with Daniels rushing for 56 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. For the Dawgs, Morris competed 16 of 28 passes for 151 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Telling Stat: They owned the fourth quarter; ASU held the ball for 12:04 to start the final quarter, scoring two rushing TDs and getting an interception return for a TD to take the game from the Huskies.
Oregon 38- Washington State 24: Eugene, OR- So, the marquee game of the week for the Pac 12 kicked off when most of the country wasn't around to see it... as usual. Man, I hate Larry Scott. It was the marquee game because Wazzu has handed Oregon some pretty huge losses over the last few years. Could the Cougs derail the Ducks and watch the Pac 12's playoffs hopes die in the cold Oregon night? No, but it was still entertaining to watch. The teams traded off playing well in the first half with the Quacks going up 14-0 in the first period only to have the Cougs own the second quarter. Their two TDs sent the game to the half tied at 14-14. Oregon's defense stifled WSU in the third period, holding them to 33 yards and zero points. UO's offense scored 10 in the third frame to go up 24-14. The fourth quarter started with the guys who are supposed to be wearing emerald green and lemon yellow poised to put the game away at the Wazzu 10-yard line. UO QBAnthony Brown took the next snap and took off for the goal line. He was forced to fumble by Cougars DB George Hicks III. Fellow DB Jaylen Watson grabbed the ball and returned it out to the 50-yard line. The play was reviewed and the fumble call was upheld. UO was not happy as they thought Brown had crossed the goal before the strip. One of the main factors that worked into the call being upheld was that the replay crew did not have a normal number of camera angles to review the play. Why was that? ESPN staffed the game with a skeleton crew and had only six cameras in the stadium when usually there are 12. You can read about ESPN skimping on the Pac 12 coverage here. not even in HD Now, as for how the game turned out, Wazzu got a field goal out of the drive which cut UO's lead to 24-17 with 8:31 to play. Oregon then put the game away with two TDs wrapped around a WSU interception. The Cougs got a late score to make the result look closer than it was. Brown threw for 135 yards and a TD, but the Ducks rushing attack won this game. Brown, RBs Byron Cardwell and Jermaine Dye combined to rush for 309 yards on 44 carries with four touchdowns. QB Jayden de Laura completed 20 of 36 passes for 280 yards, two TDs and two interceptions for the Cougars in defeat.
Telling Stat: The big one at the right time; Oregon DB Bryan Addison picked off his first pass of the year late in fourth quarter to keep the Quacks in the playoff hunt.
Observations
...No roses for Pac 12; That is possible. Let's say Oregon beats Utah this week and OSU next week. Now add in a Utah win over Colorado on 11/26. That would set up an Oregon-Utah rematch in the Pac 12 title game. An Oregon win would most likely send the Ducks to the college football playoff and leave the second place Utes with an 8-5 record. Unless there's a legal agreement that this intrepid reporter hasn't read yet, why would the Rose Bowl take an 8-5 team?
...Two more gone; Florida International fired HC Butch Davis and VaTech just canned HC Justin Fuente. Davis was never gonna win at FIU because nobody does, but Fuente was a rising star when took the VaTech job. Davis, Fuente
...Nary a mention; Notre Dame is 9-1 and nobody cares.
...No favors given; Good news: SCIAC champion Redlands has made the D-III playoffs. Bad news: The Bulldogs travel to undefeated Linfield who handed Redlands their only loss, a 52-10 beatdown at Redlands back in September.
...Not a misprint; With a win at Clemson this Saturday, Wake Forest would clinch the ACC Atlantic Division crown and go into their final game of the regular season at 10-1.
...California Clashes; The two rivalry games of California portion of the Pac 12 will be played this week as UCLA travels across town to USC and Cal heads to Palo Alto to fight it out with Stanford.
...Stone cold move; Baylor HC Dave Aranda's decision to call timeout and put another three points on the board on an already beaten Oklahoma will be long remembered by the Sooners. Those same Sooners that conveniently forget how many times they've run up the score on others.
...He's gone; Most folks figured UW HC Jimmy Lake's suspension for this last weekend was just the first step towards firing him. That was true and he is officially gone after 13 games at the helm of the Huskies. Only one Washington HC has coached fewer games before leaving Seattle in the last 100 years. Darrell Royal was the HC for the Huskies in 1956 before bolting for Texas. 13 and done
...Mariners holiday; With a resounding, 49-14 victory, the United States Merchant Marine Academy defeated the Coast Guard Academy to retain possession of the Secretaries' Cup.
...From disbelief to Joy in seconds; Here's the radio call of Texas Tech's 62-yard winning FG over Iowa State. He Made It!!!!
...Just a rumor; There is no truth to the rumor that the SEC is trying to rescind the invitations to Texas and Oklahoma to join the conference.
...This just in; Stanford stinks.
...Everyone needs a good mechanic; Pittsburg State long snapper comes through in the clutch or should we say hose? A practical major
...Worthless but fun; If you need some worthless paper in your life, the Green Bay Packers are offering up ownership shares. For 300 bucks a share you can have a piece of paper that says you are an owner of the team. Go! Pack! Go!
...They got their bowling shoes; UCLA is bowl eligible for the first time in the Chip Kelly era. It only took 1,449 days to achieve that goal.
...Claim your L's SEC style; This video had me laughing hard. I hope y'all do too. L's can be fun
...Speaking of Darrell Royal; After their devastating 57-56 OT loss at home to Kansas, Texas has lost five games in a row for the first time since 1956. That happens to be the year before Darell Royal took over the Longhorns.
...The Street sign is Sagehen property; Pomon-Pitzer beat Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 24-10 to claim the Sixth Street trophy. The five Claremont Colleges field two football teams with two different home stadiums. That makes them the two closest rivals in any level of football. They sit closer together than USC-UCLA, Rice-Houston or even Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State.
CFL Update
The last week of the regular season is at hand north of the border. My favorite team, the Edmonton Elks, (formerly Eskimos), are 2-10 and last in the West division by a fair margin. However, the Elks are ending the season with a bang, playing three road games in seven days thanks to the rescheduling of a game that was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols back in August. So, the Elks lost last Sunday at Saskatchewan, will play at Toronto on 16th and then at British Columbia on Friday, the 19th. As for the playoffs, the full bracket will be known after this long week's games. However, it is hard to not pick the 13-2 Winnipeg Blue Bombers to take home the Grey Cup. 3 in 7 Whoa!
Pac 12 Overreactions
USC needed a week off, but I doubt they used it wisely.
Arizona will win the Territorial Cup.
Cal will find a way to lose their final three games.
Utah is not going to the Rose Bowl.
Oregon will still sleepwalk into another loss.
ASU might finally realize that they run the ball well.
UCLA is happy to be bowl eligible.
Colorado is just a 3-9 team.
Wazzu is still happy that Nick Rolovich is gone.
Oregon State will get the dreaded Sun Bowl bid.
Stanford should just drop football.
Washington will lose the Apple Cup.
Ugly Uniform of the Week: Tennessee wins for going to the all-black uniforms v. Georgia. Volunteer Orange is one of the iconic colors of college football. Why screw it up? Also why wear black against a team where black is truly one of their school colors? SMH.
Departments
Low Score Game of the Week: North Manchester, IN- This week's game comes from the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference of D-III. In the battle for the Bronze Ball, the Manchester University Spartans defeated the Anderson University Ravens, 3-0. PK Andrew Kilber's 39-yard FG with 12:58 to play provided the margin of victory. The Manchester defense deserves a great deal of credit for the win. The surrendered a lot of yards, but forced five Anderson turnovers to keep that 0 on the scoreboard.
Blowout Game of the Week: Olivet, MI- We stay in the D-III ranks, but move over to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association where the Olivet University Comets destroyed the Finlandia University Lions, 79-6. The Comets set school records for total offense with 689 yards and rushing yards with 531. RB Cortaveon Barnett had the game of his life, rushing for 326 yards and four TDs on just 11 carries. That's a gaudy 29.6 yards per carry. Barnett's 326 yards are also a single-game record for Olivet. Oh, an PK Sam Rose made all 11 PATs he attempted to set a single-game record as well for the Comets too.
Razorback Report: Baton Rouge, LA- It was a brawl in bayou and the Razorbacks came out on top for a 16-13 OT win to reclaim the Golden Boot trophy. Trailing 10-3 in the third quarter, Razorback QB K.J. Jefferson hit a wide open TE Dominique Johnson for a 43-yard touchdown to tie the game. After the teams traded FGs, the game went to OT tied at 13 a piece. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier was intercepted in the end zone in the Tigers haft of OT. Four plays later, Hogs PK Cam Little split the uprights from 37 yards out for the win. Up next for the Razorbacks is a trip to Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide.
This Week's Three Things About Nothing...
There's something reassuring about being in one of the cars leaving for family dinner on Sunday afternoon. That's my kind of rush hour.
Hershey's has made a nine inch pie-sized Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Wow.
Can't wait to get my train set up and running for the holidays.
Until next time folks remember that a bye week is only a good thing if you win the next game coming out of it.
-The Commissioner
