Hey All,
It was a lightly regarded slate of games in college football, but there was still excitement, thrills, elation and despair as there is in every other week of the season. Let's take a look back with another edition of Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Alan Malamud.
Summaries
Arizona State 31- USC 16: Tempe, AZ- USC followed nearly the same script for this game as they did against Notre Dame and ended up with the identical score too. USC, minus all-world WR Drake London, just couldn't generate enough offense in what was a very winnable game. Despite sputtering and flailing all over the field, the Trojans trailed just 17-16 heading into the final period. ASU was no great shakes either, with their offense looking rather poor in the passing game, but they did run the ball well. It was when ASU finally discovered that could rely on the run that they took control of the game. The Sun Devils ran all over the Trojans in the final quarter, putting up two TDs to claim victory. USC had no answer for ASU RB Rachaad White. White ran over, around ands through the Trojans for 202 yards and three TDs on 28 carries. USC used two QBs with Kedon Slovis and Jaxson Dart rotating in and out on different possessions. It was obvious that the team moved better worth Dart, but that wasn't a significantly better thing. The two combined to go 24 of 45 for 220 yards and two interceptions. Dart did run for USC's lone TD. This was a dull game with neither team really generating much excitement. The most exciting to happen was when a Gray Fox ran around the field and stands before bolting up a tunnel to leave this snoozer of a contest. Best part of the game
Telling Stat: ASU won the fourth quarter and the game; The Sun Devils outscored USC 14-0 and gained 149 yards while holding USC to 36 yards and zero points to get the win. USC's last four drives ended on three punts and an interception.
Oregon 24- Washington 16: Seattle, WA-If you know your Pac 12 football you know that the Washington-Oregon rivalry is a nasty thing. However, even with all the nastiness it did surprise many folks that UW HC Jimmy Lake went out of his way to disparage everything about Oregon from academics to recruiting battles to even saying that the Ducks can't handle inclement weather. (Annual average rainfall in Seattle is 37 inches while in Eugene it is 47 inches.) That led to tensions being higher than normal when the two met on Saturday at Husky Stadium. Things started out perfectly for the Dawgs. Oregon QB Anthony Brown was picked off on the opening drive of the game by LB Carson Bruener who retuned the errant toss 50 yards to the UO six-yard line. Two plays later RB Sean McGrew crossed the double stripe from a yard out to put the Huskies up early, 7-0. UO answered on the next drive with a 46-yard FG by PK Camden Lewis. Then after a great punt by P Race Porter was downed at the UO one, the Huskies defense then tackled RB Travis Dye for safety and a 9-3 lead. The replay refs reviewed the call and let it stand even though one video angle seems to show that Dye had gotten out of the end zone by a slim margin. The Dawgs held a 9-3 lead despite having only ran five plays on offense for a total of 15 yards. UW would be shutout for the next 41:46 as Oregon's offense put up 21 straight points. A 31-yard pass from Brown to WR Devin Williams, a two-yard run by Brown and a 19-yard gallop by Dye accounted for the 21 points. The Dawgs did make a game of it when McGrew scored from two-yards out to cut the Ducks lead to 24-17 with 11:13 to play. Oregon then killed most of the clock, taking 8:59 to travel 43 yards in 15 plays before pinning the Dawgs back on their own 10-yard line with 2:09 left to play. UW's final drive was disaster, three incomplete passes followed by a botched snap on a punt that sailed high and out of the end zone for a safety. Game over. Ducks win, 26-16. Dye outgained the Huskies all by himself, rushing 28 times for 211 yards and a TD while also catching two passes for 13 yards. Sean McGrew only rushed or 48 yards on 15 carries, but he did score both of the Huskies TDs in the loss.
Telling Stat: Grounded Ducks get W; Oregon ran for 329 total yards while holding the Huskies to just 55 rushing yards in inclement weather to win this game.
Arizona 10- California 3: Tucson, AZ- The Golden Bears came to the desert down 24 players due to COVID protocols of the City of Berkeley who did not clear the players for travel this week. Seven starters were among that 24 including QB Chase Garbers. Add in other injuries and Cal was down a total of 10 starters for this game. That made this game worth watching to see if UofA could snap their 20-game losing streak. The game went to the halftime break at scoreless. UofA did move the ball more than Cal did, but two interceptions snuffed out any scoring chances for the Wildcats. Cal QB Ryan Glover looked every bit like a guy who hadn't ever really taken a snap for the Bears. On their second possession of the second half, Arizona actually put the scoreboard to use. The Wildcats traveled 61 yards in 12 plays and capped off the drive with a 29-yard FG from PK Tyler Loop. Cal then came right back with a FG drive of their own. PK Nick Lopez nailed a 34-yarder and the game stood tied at 3-3 with 2:09 left in the third period. With 4:49 left in regulation, UofA started a drive on their own 45-yard line. Eight plays later, RB Michael Wiley bulled his way through the Cal defense 10 yards for the game-winning TD. The Wildcats defense then snuffed out Cal's last chance to tie the game when they forced an incomplete pass from Ryan Glover with 1:26 left. A couple of kneel downs later, the few hundred fans that attended the game, sprinkled onto the field for the celebration of Arizona's first win in 763 days. QB Will Plummer was for once the better QB on the field, completing 16 of 28 passes for 129 yards and two interceptions. Cal really had no offense to speak of. There were 18 punts in this game, three turnovers, and one stop for downs to go with two other drives ended with time running out at the end of each half. This was a hard game to watch.
Telling Stat: 1; Arizona's winning streak is at one game and that's all that matters in Tucson.
Utah 52- Stanford 7: Palo Alto, CA- Itv was a chilly Friday night up on The Farm, but the Utes did not feel the chill. The were hot and ran all over the Cardinal in a humiliating rout. Stanford was without QB Tanner McKee and the backup tandem of Jack West and Isiah Sanders didn't have a chance against the Utah defense. In one of the most lopsided first 30 minutes of football ever played on the FBS level, Utah generated 38 points on 440 yards of offense, while holding the Cardinal to zero points and 28 total yards. The second half saw the Utes empty the benches and win the second half too, 14-7. RB Tavion Thomas led the Utah attack with 177 yards rushing and tied a school record with four TDs. He saw Teammates Micah Bernard and TJ Pledger also eclipse the hundred yard mark with each scoring a TD as well. There's was not a lot of offense to speak of for the Cardinal.
Telling Stat: 441 for the win; Utah ran for 441 yards in their rout of the Cardinal. They achieved that total on 46 carries. Thats a nifty 9.6 yards per carry average for the non-math majors reading this column.
Colorado 37- Oregon State 31 2OT: Boulder, CO- A thriller won by the Buffaloes in Boulder? No way, Wayne! Yes, way, Garth! OSU was trying to get a much needed win to stay in the Pac 12 North race after an embarrassing loss at Cal a week ago. Nobody told the Buffs about that. They came out fast and went up 10-0 on their first two drives of the game on a 28-yard FG by PK Cole Becker and a 43-yard TD pass from QB Brendon Lewis to WR Daniel Arias. Becker would add another FG in the second quarter while OSU got in the board with a 14-yard TD rumble by QB Jack Colletto and a 45-yard FG by PK Everett Hayes. The game stood at 13-10 Buffs entering the third quarter where the teams traded TDs. Trailing 20-17, the Beavers took the lead for the first time when WR Tre'Shaun Harrison hauled in a 27-yard TD pass from QB Chance Nolan. Colorado then regained the lead at 27-24 when WR Montana Lemonius-Craig caught Lewis' third TD toss of the game. The Beavers seemed doomed to defeat in regulation time when Hayes missed a 51-yard attempt with :32 seconds left. However, OSU used all three of their time outs on CU attempt to run out the clock. The Buffs were forced to punt and OSU PR Anthony Gould returned the kick 26 yards to the Beavers 49-yard line. A nine yard pass form Nolan to Gould set up a 60-yard FG attempt for Hayes with five seconds left. Hayes, who just earlier missed that 51-yard attempt sent the 60-yard try right through the uprights and the game would go to OT tied at 27-27. After trading TDs in the first OT, the defenses stiffened and Hayes, the PK who hit the 60-yarder, missed a 37-yard attempt in the second OT! Becker's kick was true from 43 yards in CU's half of the OT to win the game. Colorado's Lewis and RB Jarek Broussard were the offense for the Buffs. Lewis completed 15 of 24 passes for 170 yards and three TDs, while Broussard toted the rock 24 times for 151 yards. Nolan threw for 255 yards with a TD and an interception to go with 39 rushing yards in the loss.
Telling Stat: 1+3 is sweet for CU; In the second OT, CU got a holding call on OSU, then held the Beavers on the next three snaps to force a FG attempt. An attempt the Beavers would miss.
Observations
...Just a rumor; There's no truth to the rumor that the University of Arizona AD has sent a gift certificate for a week long golf, and spa package at the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort to the director of the Berkeley Health Department.
...Hard to get good talent; During Utah's humiliation of Stanford last Friday, Harbor area resident, Petros Papadakis threw some love out to Utah OL Nick Ford who hails from San Pedro High. I know the Friday night games are of a low priority for Fox Sports, but couldn't they have found a graphics editor who can spell school correctly? SMH
...Defense wins games; Georgia's defense has only given up 59 points all year. Crazy thing is that they've only given up six TDs and four of those were scored on the Dawgs second stringers after the games were all but over.
...Spotless Wake; Wake Forest may be 8-1 now, but they are still 5-0 in the ACC after losing, 58-55 to North Carolina. Huh? Well, the two schools had scheduled the game outside of their ACC schedules to keep their rivalry going.
...New Topic; After Texas was pounded by Iowa State, 30-7 last Saturday to fall to 2-4 in the Big XII, I don't think Longhorns fans are talking about the stripper and her monkey anymore.
...Jimmy sits one out; Here's the story and the video showing why UW HC Jimmy Lake got suspended for the Huskies game this week v. ASU. First step out the door
...Slim and none; I believe that those are the chances that Washington HC Jimmy Lake remains the Dawgs HC in 2022.
...Love those academies; One of the best games of the week was Army's 21-14 win in OT v. Air Force. The Black Knights of the Hudson will retain the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy as a result of the win. On, brave old Army team!
...And then there were none; With Arizona and UNLV picking up wins this week, there are no winless teams left in the FBS.
...Just stop it; USC needs to pick one QB and knock off this failure of a two QB system. My pick is that Jaxson Dart get the snaps the rest of the way. This system isn't the worst one ever done though. Back in 1971, Tom Landry used Craig Morton and Roger Staubach on alternating plays. Wow.
...The Pirate gives no quarter; After their 31-28 loss to Arkansas where three field goal attempts were missed, HC Mike Leach announced open tryouts for PK in the post game press conference. We know the Pirate does love to throw his players under the bus. He also had this profound insight into kicking on Monday. "There's a ball and you kick it. It really doesn't matter if seven-year olds are watching or if five million Mongol Warriors on horses getting ready to shoot their bows and arrows at you. You approach the ball and kick it. It's as simple as that."
...Black Sunday comes early in the Northwest; While many thought HC Jimmy Lake was gonna get canned, but it was OC John Donovan who was shown the door after the Dawgs fell to Oregon, 26-16. Then, a little while later and a bit farther south in Corvallis, Oregon State fired DC Tim Tiber after the Beavers lost 37-34 in double overtime at Colorado. Heres' two links... This Dawg is gone Banned from the dam
...Feeling Linfield; D-III Linfield University in McMinnville, OR is having another good year on the gridiron. They are undefeated this year and have notched their 65th straight winning season. I don't care what level you're playing on that is an incredible streak.
...Offensive offense in the Bay Area; Stanford and Cal's offenses last weekend combined to score just 10 points, gain 289 yards and make 20 first downs. Facepalm.
...They showed him the money; Texas Tech has quickly filled their HC vacancy by plucking Associate HC Joey McGuire from Dave Aranda's Baylor staff. McGuire is a revered name in Texas high school circles where he built DFW area school Cedar Hill into a power in the region. The Red Raiders hope McGuire can use his old ties to grab some great Texas talent and bring it to Lubbock. Lubbock is not a garden spot however, as the saying goes, "Lubbock sucks 'cause the wind blows and the wind blows 'cause Lubbock sucks."
...Head scratcher; Who would have thought that the Ohio State-Purdue game this week would mean so much to the Big Ten divisional races and the CFP standings? I don't think Purdue has been this good since Bob Griese was a Boilermaker.
...Almost full; You can just about fill out a full coaching staff from the coaches already fired in the Pac 12 this year. All you need is a special teams coach and a linebackers coach.
...So long, Walt; After falling, 35-22 to FCS Rhode Island, HC Walt Bell was fired by UMass. Bell had a tough time at what is arguably one of the worst HC gigs in all of the FBS. Bell's Minutemen went a dismal 2-23 over his nearly three seasons in charge. Bell un-rung
...Western logjam; The Big Ten West has four teams tied for first place with 4-2 conference records. I wouldn't want to be the guy who has to explain how a four-way tie breaker would work.
...Coach and player meet again; Former Minnesota HC and now TCU interim HC Jerry Kill will lead the Horned Frogs into action against Oklahoma State this week. Kill spent one year on the coaching staff at Oklahoma's Midwest City High School in 1984. The QB on that Midwest City team was current Okie State HC Mike Gundy.
...He's back; Nebraska HC Scott Frost will be back in 2022 with a restructured deal. Restructured deal is coachspeak for lower salary. Then it was announced that Frost had fired four assistant coaches. Sounds like another case of rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
...Until spring; The MLB season is over and the Atalanta Braves are the world champions. When Autumn truly takes hold and the game leaves us 'til spring, I tend to remember a couple of lines from Game Called by the legendary Grantland Rice. A good 3:14 spent
...It's the circle, the circle of...suck; Arizona's win over Cal completed the annual Pac 12 circle of Suck.
here it is in full color display:
Arizona beat Cal who beat Colorado who beat OSU who beat Utah who beat USC who beat Wazzu who beat ASU who beat Stanford who beat Oregon who beat UCLA who beat Washington who beat Arizona.
Pac 12 Overreactions
USC is a 4-8 team.
Arizona is a 1-11 only because of the City of Berkeley Health Department.
Utah will win the Pac 12 South without a decent passing attack.
Oregon State is Sun Bowl Bound.
UCLA is just happy to have a week off.
Cal has to be the hardest place in the Pac 12 to build a winning team.
Colorado just might beat Utah.
Wazzu is still happy that Nick Rolovich is gone.
Oregon will beat Utah twice to go to the playoff.
Utah is Holiday Bowl bound.
Stanford once considered dropping football, they may now consider that again.
ASU needs to switch to the wishbone.
USC Fictional Head Coach Pick of the Week
I've been remiss lately in my fictional HC recommendations for USC, but picking up the slack is our field agent in Redondo Beach who is a strong advocate for coach Eric Taylor from the TV series Friday Night Lights. She pointed out that if coach Taylor could get Tim Riggins to make something out of his life, he could work wonders at USC. After all, he was good enough to win with a big program, then go to a small program and beat his old team. Also, we know that because he handled dealing with Buddy Garrity so well that he could easily handle any USC booster. Now say it with me. Clear eyes, Full hearts Can't lose!
Ugly Uniform off the Week:
Arizona State beat out UTEP's all-orange togs with this all-gold look in their Salute To Service uniforms. All-yellow doesn't look on many and ASU is part of the many. SMH,
Departments
Low Score Game of the Week: Gettysburg, PA- This week's game comes from the Centennial Conference in D-III. The McDaniel College Green Terror made a lone TD stand up for a 7-3 win over the Gettysburg Bullets. With the help of 30 yards in penalties, the Green terror took a 7-0 lead just before the half when QB Hunter Sigler threw a 17-yard TD pass to WR John Ferguson. Gettysburg cut the lead to 7-3 when PK Doug Cummings kicked a 45-yard FG. The Green Terror defense allowed nothing more form the Bullets forcing four turnovers on the day and two missed field goals. This was the lowest number of points scored by both teams in this series since 1950.
Blowout Game of the Week: Redlands, CA: This week's game comes form the SCIAC, California's only D-III league. The University of Redlands Bulldogs trounced the Whittier Poets, 65-7. The Bulldogs defense pitched a shutout as Whittier's only points came on a came on a pick-six midway through the third period. The Bulldogs gained a season high 568 total yards with 321 of those coming through the air. QB Nathan Martinez completed 11 of 17 passes for 195 yards and three TDs in about one half's worth of playing time. The win clinched the league title for Redlands and an automatic bid into the D-III playoffs which start on 11/20.
Razorback Report: Fayetteville, AR- The Pirate Mike Leach and his Mississippi State Bulldogs showed up for a barn-burner of a game on the hill. This tight affair was aided that by the fact that MSU missed three FGs. The Hogs held a 23-14 with 14:10 to play only to watch the Bulldogs score two ADs to take a 28-23 With 2:22 to play. Arkansas made their last possession count. They marched 75 yards in 10 plays for the game-winning score. RB Dominique Johnson did the honors, galloping into the MSU end zone from four yards out. Johnson also ran for the two-point conversion and a 31-28 lead. The Bulldogs got the ball with :21 left and in three plays worked their way down to the Arkansas 22-yard line. The game could have went to OT, but PK Nolan McCord's kick sailed wide and the Razorbacks got the win. Arkansas now stands 6-3 on the season and will head to Baton Rouge next for a grudge match v. the LSU Tigers.
This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...
We have fallen back here in Southern California and it sure feels like it. Foggy nights and cooler days make you want to have warm beverages and wear flannel shirts. Of course, that feeling will last only until the Santa Ana's come back and the temps go back into the 80s.
Trader Joe's horseradish and chive chips are pretty good.
Must be near Thanksgiving if I'm getting my model train layout ready for the holidays.
Until next time folks, remember that when you have two quarterbacks you really have none.
-The Commissioner
