Hey All,
Here we are with another look back at the week that was in college football with another edition of Notes on a Pac 12 Scorecard. We still miss you, Bud Tucker.
Summaries
Utah 34-USC 32: Los Angeles, CA- It was an exciting, but gut wrenching loss at the Coliseum for the Trojans and their faithful. It started off with SC winning the coin toss and deferring to the second half. Utah's opening drive lasted just three plays and covered 75 yards with the Utes taking a 7-0 lead. The TD was scored on a 53-yard swing pass to RB Sione Vaki against an incredibly poor coverage scheme by SC DC Alex Grinch. USC would answer right back with a pair of TDs. The first one was on a 45-yard run from RB MarShawn Lloyd and the second came on a nifty no-look reverse pitch from QB Caleb Williams to WR Zachariah Branch. The Utes tied the game at 14-14 when QB Bryson Barnes ran 10 yards for a TD right through the middle of the Trojan defense. The second quarter proved to be a stalemate with neither team scoring. Utah then took control of the game in the third period. They took a 28-14 lead on a six-yard TD pass from Barnes to TE Landen King and a 15-yard TD toss from Barnes to Vaki. The USC offense, which had not been heard from since they abandoned the rushing game after gaining 100 yards in the first quarter, managed to kick a FG on the final play of the third quarter to cut Utah's lead to 28-17. Then, the fourth quarter saw the game swing back in SC's favor when S Calen Bullock picked off Barnes and took it back 30 yards for a TD. Then instead of just kicking a standard PAT, SC HC Lincoln Riley decided to go for two points. The conversion attempt failed miserably and SC trailed 28-23 with 13:28 to play. After the ensuing kickoff pinned the Utes at their own 12-yard line, many wondered if the Trojan defense could get a big stop. They didn't. Utah drove for a 33-yard FG from PK Cole Becker and a 31-23 lead. SC then answered on the next drive and made the score 31-26 on a 36-yard FG from PK Denis Lynch. On the next drive the SC defense actually forced an Utah punt with 2:07 to play. Zachariah Branch fielded that punt at the Trojan 28-yard line and took it all the way back to the Utes 11. One play later, Williams took off on a QB draw and made it into the end zone for a 32-31 lead. Now, with only a one point lead thanks to the poor decision to try for two points earlier in the game, USC was forced to go for two points again just to get to a three point lead. The conversion attempt failed and it was up to the defense to hold the lead. However, the Utes got the ball back with 1:46 left on the clock and all three time outs. They marched down the field with the aid of a targeting call on SC DT Bear Alexander. However, the biggest play was a 26 yard run by Barnes that put Utah in prime FG range at the SC 19-yard line. A few seconds later on the final play of the game, Becker split the uprights from 38 yards out to give Utah a 34-32 victory. For the now 6-1 Utes, Barnes completed 14 of 23 passes for 235 yards, three TDs and an interception. He also ran for 57 yards on 10 carries and a TD as well. RB Ja'Quinden Jackson lugged the leather 26 times for 117 yards while Vakin rushed or 68 on nine carries and caught five passes for 149 yards and two TDs. For the lackluster Trojans, Williams completed 24 of 34 passes for 256 yards while Lloyd rushed for 86 yards on seven carries and a TD.
Telling Stat: Two point dominance; USC"s failure to kick simple PATs did cost them the game, but Utah's struggling offense outgained USC by 81 yards, they held the ball for 10 minutes longer than SC and the Utes defense kept the Trojan offense out of the end zone for a 49:31 span from the 6:17 mark of the first quarter until the 1:46 mark of the fourth quarter.
Oregon 38- Washington State 24: Eugene, OR- After their crushing loss at Washington last week, Oregon was in much need of a bounce back win over the Cougars who had just dropped two games in row themselves. It wasn't easy, but the Quacks pulled out the win in front their home crowd at Autzen Stadium. The game was grinding kind of affair with the teams trading FGs in the opening quarter. Wazzu then went out to a 10-7 lead when RB Nakia Watson capped off a 97-yard drive with four yard TD scamper. The Cougars would not lead again. The Webfoots tied the game and then took the lead for good on pair of two-yard TD runs. The first was from RB Bucky Irving, the second was from QB Bo Nix who was making his 54th start at QB in his career. The 54 starts are an NCAA record. Wazzu PK Dean Janikowski hit a 33-yard FG as time ran out in the second quarter to make the score 17-13 Ducks at the break. The third quarter belonged to Men of Oregon as they tacked on more two more scores to pull away from the Cougs. Irving provided both scores on a 42-yard TD pass form Nix and a 43-yard trip to paydirt through the Cougar defense. Irving's scores were wrapped around a 50-yard FG from WSU's Janikowski. The Quacks extended their lead to 38-16 on a 17-yard toss from Nix to WR Tez Johnson with 8:53 left in the final frame. Wazzu's final tally came with :52 left on a 16-yard scoring pass from QB Cam Ward to WR Isiah Hamilton. Nix finished the day completing 18 of 25 passes for 293 yards and two TDs. Irving had a great day carrying the ball 15 times for 129 yards with two TDs and catching three passes for 51 yards and another score. For the Cougars, Ward completed 34 of 48 passes for 438 yards and a TD.
Telling Stat: Downs for the W; The Oregon defense twice held for downs in the second half on drives deep into their territory to allow this game to look not as close as it felt.
Washington 15- Arizona State 7: Seattle, WA- Big wins sometimes lead to big hangovers the following week. The Huskies offense suffered one for a full four quarters last week. The UW faithful are just thrilled their defense showed up and the Pac 12 refs incompetence worked in their favor last Saturday night. The first three quarters of this game looked more like an Illinois-Nebraska game than anything a pair of Pac 12 teams could produce. The first quarter was scoreless affair with UW QB Michael Penix, Jr. throwing an interception and ASU PK Dario Longhetto missing a 31-yard FG attempt. The start of the second period looked like the UW offense had shaken off their Oregon hangover. They had 1st and Goal at the Sun Devils, seven-yard line when Penix Jr.'s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and then picked off by DB Shamari Simmons at the ASU two-yard line. After forcing an ASU punt, UW turned the ball over again on a fumble by Penix, Jr. Simmons was Johnny-on the-spot again for the Sun Devils and recovered it at the their own 46-yard line. Eight plays later, RB Cameron Skattebo crossed the double stripe form a yard out and the Sons of Sparky held a 7-0 lead with 4:22 left in the second period. The Dawgs would answer back before the half with a 73-yard drive. However, they failed to punch it in the end zone and had to settle for a 24-yard FG from PK Grady Gross. ASU led 7-3 at the half. A quiet concern had settled over the crowd at Husky Stadium. Then the third quarter did noting to help their anxiety. Neither team scored with the only tangible scoring threat being another missed FG by ASU's Longhetto. With 12:38 in the fourth quarter the Dawgs cut the ASU lead to 7-6 on a 47-yard FG from Gross. Now we come to the truly controversial moment in the game. After UW's FG, the Sun Devils drove all the way down to the Dawgs 19-yard line. On 2nd an 10 from the 19, ASU QB Trenton Bourguet threw and incomplete pass down near the goal line. A flag was thrown. Quickly, the Pac 12 Refs deemed there was no holding/interference on the play and picked up the flag. It was a game changing non-call. Watch it here... Awful NonCall Two plays later ASU throws a pick six and the Huskies take the lead, 12-7. The Dawgs would tack on a FG later and escape with the Ref-aided victory. Penix, Jr. finished the game completing 27 of 42 passes for 275 yards and two interceptions. ASU held the Huskies to just 13 yards rushing. For the now 1-6 Sun Devils, Bourguet complete 26 of 47 passes for 196 yards and that devastating interception. Skattebo and fellow RB DeCarlos Brooks combined to rush for 114 yards on 21 carries and a TD.
Telling Stat: Pick up game; The Pac 12 officials decision to pick up the flag on an obvious penalty irreparably altered the game in Washington's favor.
UCLA 42- Stanford 7: Palo Alto, CA- In recent weeks it had become clear that talented true freshman QB Dante Moore is the main reason UCLA is 5-2 instead of 7-0. The pick sixes he had thrown were the difference in losses to Oregon State and Utah. So, HC Chip Kelly benched the kid in place of veteran QB Ethan Garbers this week against The Farm. No pick sixes were thrown and the bRuins easily routed the Cardinal. Garbers was cool and efficient completing 20 of 28 passes for 240 yards and two TDs. UCLA's rushing game proved hard to handle as RB Carson Steele toted the rock 20 times for 76 yards and three TDs. Stanford's lone score came on a 20-yard TD pass from QB Ashton Daniel to WR Tiger Bachmeier after the bRuins had built up a 35-0 lead.
Telling Stat: A 30 minute good bye; UCLA left Palo Alto in their rear view mirror quickly, building up a 21-0 lead and outgaining the Cardinal 270 yards to 29 in the first half.
Observations
...Quite a magic act; USC DC Alex Grinch's poor defensive scheme has the ability to consistently turn ordinary QBs into first round draft picks. Facepalm.
...Hosed Hawkeyes; This reporter has never been a big fan of Iowa, but I just can't buy the reasoning of how their go-ahead punt return v. Minnesota was overturned. I guess I'm not well versed in this rule, but I don't see how telling your teammates to get away from the ball creates a fair catch dead ball situation. Dead Ball? (Note: When you watch the video, notice how nobody on either squad reacts as if a fair catch has been called.)
...Air Force aerial bombardment; USAFA QB Zac Larrier hooked up with WR Dane Kinsman for a 94-yard TD pass in the Falcons 17-7 win over Navy. The Falcons had only thrown for 468 yards total coming into the game.
...No defense for the defense; How bad is USC's defense? They let a former pig farmer turned walk on QB and a Safety turned RB dominate them last Saturday.
...Woo Hoo for the Wahoos!; One win Virginia's upset of undefeated North Carolina in Chapel Hill over the weekend was pretty amazing and much needed by a team that has gone through so much.
...Trapped!; UTSA HC Jeff Traylor got caught in his own motivational device. He laughed it off as you can read here. Say Cheese!
...Trouble in Ann Arbor; An NCAA probe into sign stealing by Michigan has taken an interesting turn as the Wolverine staffer accused of doing the alleged sign stealing, Connor Stalions, now includes a paper trial and video evidence of the sign stealing operation. Hmmmm 11 Schools
...Tables turned in fun; Watch ND HC Marcus Freeman grill Tim O'Malley about coaching decisions and gaffes about the flag football team O'Malley coaches. Freeman's son is on that flag football team. Answer up scribe! lol
...He's gone; Arkansas has fired OC/QB Coach Dan Enos after the Hogs lost their sixth straight game on Saturday to Mississippi State. WR Coach Kenny Guiton will be the interim OC.
...Fuhrer spotted on the banks of the Red Cedar; Yeah, as if MSU getting totally obliterated, 42-0 by arch rival Michigan didn't hurt enough, the school is now apologizing for a pregame trivia question about Adolf Hitler in which a picture of the him was posted on the stadium vision board. WTF?!
...And then there was one; With Nevada's shocking, 6-0 win over SDSU, the Sam Houston State Bearkats are the only winless team left in the FBS. It has been a very rough first year in the FBS for SHSU. They are winless with no loss being more than by 14 points.
...Irrelevant in Happy Valley; After dropping a 20-12 decision to TheeeOSU, Penn State is another loss to Michigan away from a a possible 10-2 season and being completely irrelevant for another year.
...Rough bye; The first notable person to lose on their bye week is Maryland OC Kevin Sumlin. He was arrested and charged with driving under the influence near the Florida State Fairgrounds. DUI
...Just a rumor; There is no truth to the rumor that the athletic departments of Minnesota and Michigan have sent bonus checks to the officiating crews of their respective games last week.
...Leveled; A Tennessee security guard absolutely leveled a fan when wandered onto the field in Tuscaloosa after the Crimson Tide beat Tennessee. No Gain
...Hot coaching tip; When your team has rushed for 100 yards on your opponent in the first quarter, don't abandon the running game. Sigh.
...Hot numbers; The hot numbers in Reno are 16 and 12. 16 is for the number of games in the losing streak that was snapped by Nevada in their 6-0 win over San Diego State. 12 is for the number of years since the Wolfpack shutout an opponent when they blanked arch rival UNLV, 37-0 way back on October 8, 2011.
...That will leave a mark; The Astros Chas McCormick got nailed with a 104 MPH pitch from Rangers reliever Aroldis Chapman in game seven of the ALCS. Pain
...The new DC; Here's my choice for USC's next DC. Scouting report says he has a ruff demeanor and his defenders really fly to the ball.
Pac 12 Overreactions
Cal can't wait to attack USC's defense.
UCLA is a 10-2 team.
Washington is the only school that has ever been happy with Pac 12 officials.
ASU got hosed worse than Iowa, but hardly anybody saw it.
USC is a 7-5 team.
Oregon State can win the league title.
Wazzu is Sun Bowl bound.
Arizona enjoyed their best bye week in years.
Utah is an 11-1 team.
Colorado's silence during their bye week was golden.
Oregon needs Washington's refs this week at Utah.
Stanford is a 2-10 team.
Utah just keeps grinding out wins with a superior culture.
Great Throwback Uniforms of the Week
Oregon and Miami. Yes Oregon gets some kudos here. They wore great throwback uniforms. Both went back to the '80s for inspiration and nailed it. Miami revised the classic Canes look, while Oregon actually wore their official school colors of Emerald Green and Lemon Yellow with a great old logo of Puddles on the sleeve. Well done, boys.
Departments
Low Score Game of the Week: Waxahachie, TX- We go tothe NAIA ranks for this game. The Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lions defeated the North American University Stallions, 15-6. The Lions took a 9-0 lead into the half thanks to three second quarter FGs from PK Jonah Osborne that covered 25, 42, and 40 yards. Late in the third period the Lions extended their lead to 15-0 when WR Paul Odidi caught a 19-yard TD pass from QB Bailey Green. The Lions did give up a cosmetic TD late, but held on for the win on Senior Day. SWAG held NAU to just 65 total yards for the afternoon.
Blowout Game of the Week: Appleton, WI- This week's game comes form the Midwest Conference in D-III where the Illinois College Blueboys smashed the Lawrence University Vikings, 72-0. Blueboys QB Destin Chance had a great game. Game? it was a great half of play. Chance completed 26 of 37 passes for 465 yards and eight TDs in the first half. Holding a 56-0 lead at the break, Illinois College emptied the benches in the the second half. The IC defense held the Vikings to -32 yards rushing.
Razorback Report: Fayetteville, AR- Well, the almost Hogs came home and a Big Ten game broke out. The sudden style change did not help as they fell to Mississippi State, 7-3. The Arkansas defense held MSU to 205 total yards and just 10 first downs, but the offense just couldn't find that one scoring drive to win the game. QB K.J. Jefferson completed 19 of 31 passes for 97 yards and an interception. Neither team scored in the second half.
This Week's Three Notes About Nothing...
October comes to a close soon and we have one last pumpkin to harvest. That's kind of cool.
My weather staton may need new sensors when it tells me that it's 131 degrees outside on a foggy day.
Candy Corn is my least favorite Halloween candy by a wide margin.
Until next time, remember that when something works, keep doing it until they stop it.
-The Commissioner
