Top 25 Team Performances Week 3

GAME NOTES

On the Wed night game it was an amazing stat for Buffalo QB Zordich as he hit 3-21-46 with the exception of a Hail Mary at the end of the half which matched his 46 yard total making him 4-22-92 with 2 int. Trailing 13-7, Zordich was int’d at the 2 and after 4 punts Kent St went 47/7pl and got a 21 yd FG to clinch with 9:54 left, 16-7 then Buffalo was SOD on its own 38 and int on their next drive and Kent would go 15/6pl for a td with :43 left for the 23-7 final. Kent St did have a 404-265 yd edge.

Boise St and BYU were in a def struggle on Thurs night with Boise coming out with a 261-200 yd edge. At the half Boise did have a 170-52 yd edge as they had missed a 43 yd FG and with no confidence in their kicker, went for it on 4&7 at the BYU20 and were SOD. Boise’s only td came on a 36 yd IR td to start the 3Q and it was the first game without an offensive td (in a Boise gm) since the Broncos were a member of IA ball and their 2nd game this year without an offensive TD joining Michigan St in the opener. Boise went for it on 4&gl at the BYU1 and was SOD and on 4&5 at the BYU26 they passed up a 43 yd FG and were SOD. BYU took over with 8:03 left at its own 5 and went on a 95/11pl drive and got a 4 yd td run with 3:37 left and hoping to recapture the magic of TCU from the previous year which had a 2 pt conversion to knock off Boise, they went for 2 but it failed. Many questioned the logic as Boise was hesitant to kick FG’s which could potentially hurt them in OT but of course had the conversion worked everyone would have applauded Mendenhall for his gutsy call.

ULM had 31,175 show up for their Friday night game vs Baylor and for a good portion of the game looked like they would win it as they led 21-7 in the 2Q. With 1:55 left in the half, ULM went for it on 4&2 and were stopped and Baylor would get a 34 yd FG on the final play to take their first lead at 24-21. ULM led 35-34 with 10:54 left but Baylor went 72/14pl for a td, recovered a fmbl and went 62/9pl for a td with 2:25 left, 47-35. ULM went 90/12pl and on 3&10 got a 15 yd td pass with :06 left for the 47-42 final.

TCU only had an 18-16 FD edge and 438-353 yd edge. TCU had not allowed a td all season but bkp QB Phillip Sims led UVA to one with 4:30 left. LB Kenny Cain became the first TCU LB with 2 int in a game since 1999. Big plays went in TCU’s favor. On their first drive on 3&10 a pass was thrown deep down the middle, the DB jumped for the ball as did the WR but Brandon Carter made a tremendous 1 handed grab on a play where 90% of the time it would have gone for an incompletion and he took it 68 yards for a td. UVA, on their next drive on 3&6, had the DB fall down in front of the WR and he was open with nothing but green behind him and the ball bounced off his face mask for an incompletion. Late in the 1H UVA was at the TCU33 when a pass bounced off the rec and was int’d at the 14 yd line. At half TCU only had a 9-8 FD edge but led 14-0. UVA was int’d at the 30 then on 3&6 on the next drive from the 10, had a td pass but the ball was knocked out of the receivers hand at the last minute. They went for it on 4&6 and were SOD. UVA got the td with 4:22 left but TCU rec’d the onside kick. On 4&4, a short pass to Brown saw him outrun 3 defenders for a 17 yd td with 1:20 left which made a lot of TCU fans happy. During the drive TCU had a 27 yd comp that looked like they’d stepped on the line, but they upheld under review.

Florida got their first shutout in conf play since 2001. Kentucky has not beaten UF since 1986 and last won in Gainesville in 1979. UK QB Maxwell Smith sat out with a shoulder injury and Morgan Newton missed some open receivers hitting 7-21-48. They brought in exciting frosh Jalen Whitlow at the end but he hit 1-6-12. As usual, the UF D dominated the 2H and the Gators actually allowed 160 yards in the 1H including 111 yds rushing. Muschamp, up 17-0 at the half, talked about how UK ran the ball down their throats in the 1H. In the 2H UK had just 59 yds. In the 1H UF was int’d in the EZ and at the end of the half on FD from the UK25 ran a play but was sk’d and couldn’t get a FG off in the final :16 blowing an opportunity. Jacoby Brissett played most of the 3Q but didn’t even attempt a pass in the Gators 38-0 win. Trey Burton did not play due to back spasms. UF was still playing without DT Dominique Easley, LB Jelani Jenkins, CB Cody Riggs - all 4 should be ready vs LSU.

A surprising stat on the day was at the half Massachusetts had a 245-225 yd edge vs Miami, Oh after the Minutemen had greatly struggled in the first 3 games. Zac Dysert had only hit 12-22-192 for the Redhawks. UMass opted to go for it on 4&1 from the Miami 28 and 29 in the 2Q and were stuffed both times although Michigan transfer RB Michael Cox rushed for over 188 yards. UMass also missed a 36 yd FG in the 1H. In the 2H, trailing 27-10, UMass on 2&gl from the 4 was int’d in the EZ but they did get a td with 3:21 left on an 80/12pl drive incl a 4&11 conversion to only lose by 11 and Miami was SOD at the UM23.

Montee Ball went out early with injuries and Melvin Gordon, who just may be the best RB on the Wisconsin team, finally got on the field. Coming off the bench Gordon had just 8 carries but rushed for 112 yards. The Badgers woeful offense put up 213 yards rushing and 210 passing. Joel Stave in his first career start was sk’d twice on the first 3 drives but finished 12-17-210 yards. UW needed a blocked xp returned for 2 which was the first time they has happened for the Badgers since the NCAA adopted the rule in 1988. Jared Abbrederis had 6 rec for 147 yards. UW, after trailing 6-2, went 67/7pl, 56/4pl, punted and went 47/1pl for TD’s to take a commanding 23-6 lead. UTEP wouldn’t go away, converting on 4th down twice on a 3Q drive to get back within 23-16 and after a FG got to 23-19. The Badgers got a td with 3:12 left and then after rec a fumble on the KO, got a 24 yd td run by Gordon to cement it, 37-19. UTEP went 76/7pl getting a garbage td with :50 left and the 2 pt conversion with the score making many Miner fans happy.

It’s amazing the difference an opponent makes. One week after Ole Miss had their moments, but were completely outclassed by Texas, the Rebels dominated Tulane with a 450-159 yd edge. Backup QB Barry Brunetti who plays often, led the team in rushing with 67 yards. Tulane was playing without their starting QB and top RB and lost for the 13th straight time. Tulane was playing for their injured teammate Devon Walker. True frosh Powell hit 22-41-145 and 3 int. Their top rusher was Rob Kelley who had just 33 yards on 14 carries. UM led 26-0 after 1Q and had a 254-88 yd edge at the half in the 39-0 rout. TUL on their final 3 drives were SOD on 4&5 at the UM36, 4&7 at the UM50 and int in the EZ on 1&gl from the 3 with 1:35 left.

It certainly appeared to be a “C” game for Ohio St as they were taking on a team that had lost the previous week 49-6. They figured to have Braxton Miller run the ball less and work on other areas of the offense with the game vs Michigan St on deck. Miller had a big 4Q and they needed it. For the game UAB actually outgained OSU 403-347 and had a 22-20 FD edge but kept settling for FG’s. Once again OSU had a lethargic 1Q with 12 plays. UAB K Ty Long hit a 54 yd FG which was the longest in UAB history and the 3rd longest by an OSU foe at home. UAB’s first drive was SOD at the OSU33 and they blocked a punt for a td and added 47 and 54 yd FG’s to lead 12-7 but OSU scored 2 td’s in the final 1:50 of the half to lead 21-12. UAB made a 33 yd FG but then Long’s streak of 12 straight FG’s made ended on a 46 yd miss with 10:03 left and UAB trailing just 21-15. Miller led OSU 71/10pl for a td to clinch it with 5:03 left, 29-15.

Maryland played a solid game vs W Virginia. In fact, WV only had a 19-18 FD edge and 363-351 yd edge. WV’s first score came when MD was at the WV31 and fmbl’d and it was scooped up and ret’d the distance for a 14 pt swing and a td for WV. They added a short pass which went 45 yds for a td. Geno Smith, who is everyone’s Heisman frontrunner hit 30-43-338 yds. MD actually tied the game at 14 with 68 and 64 yd drives and MD missed a 42 yd FG on the final play of the half to trail 24-14 despite a 12-10 FD edge. The first 5 poss of the 2H were punts but then MD fmbl’d at the WV33 and on 3&15 Smith hit a 35 yd TD pass to give WV some breathing room, 31-14. Hills hit Diggs with a 56 yd td pass and Diggs had 115 yds on 3 rec. MD’s last gasp was a deep pass that was int’d at the WV29 with 4:31 left. Hills, who was knocked out of the game briefly late 2Q on the drive where they missed the FG, hit 20-29-305 yds.

There were a lot of shovels of dirt thrown on Virginia Tech after their loss to Pitt but they bounced back in a big way at home. Bowling Green had just 71 yards in the 1H and were SOD 3x in VT territory in the 2H. They even pulled Matt Schilz after he’d hit 9-25-87 but Matt Johnson was just 5-17-46 in relief. Tough week to play the VT D one week after Bud Foster’s proud crew allowed 537 yards to Pitt. Tony Gregory got the start at RB and had 68 yards on 11 carries. In the 1Q there was only 1 scoring opportunity and it was BG and they missed a 43 yd FG. VT would finally get drives of 80, 56 and 62 yds on their final 3 drives of the 1H to go up 21-0 and had a 227-71 yd edge. They opened the 3Q with a 61/7pl drive for a td. BG was int’d at the VT28, SOD at the VT14, 28 and 18 yd lines in the 2H.

Central Michigan got another last second win over a Big Ten foe. A few years ago they missed a 2 pt conv vs Michigan St, but recovered the onside K, made a FG and pulled out the win. This time they trailed Iowa by 8 but got a td with :44 left, recovered the onside kick and would get a 47 yd FG to pull out the win. David Harman’s clutch kick came with the wind at his back. Ryan Radcliff hit 26-35-285 yds. Iowa’s offense was mostly Mark Weisman who had 217 yards on 27 carries. A key to setting up the 47 yd FG was a personal foul called on Iowa DL Joe Gaglione. CM led 23-14 at the half settling for 25 and 20 yd FG’s at the end of a 72/13pl and 45/6pl drives. CM came in without a penalty all season and did not have one in the 1H but had 4 in the 2H for 25 yards and still are the least penalized team in the country. CM led 23-21 when the team’s punted 5 straight times before Iowa got a 47 yd FG for the lead with 7:55 left.

It appeared the last team with the ball would win in the Army/Wake Forest game. In the 1H there were 2 punts, six drives for td’s and Army at the end of a 65/15pl drive settled for a 21 yd FG because only :03 were left in the half to lead 23-21. Army had a 310-232 yd edge. There were 4 punts in the 2H but the key play happened when Army, trailing 42-37 was SOD on 4&3 at the Wake 32. Wake would go 68/9pl for a td with 2:50 left after converting on 3&12 with a 19 yd run to start the drive and later on 3&6. Army’s last drive was SOD at their own 44. WF had a 517-506 yd edge as Army dropped to 0-3.

Ohio opted to rest Tyler Tettleton vs Norfolk St. Derrius Vick made his first start and hit 14-20-199 and rushed 5x for 15 yds. OU is now 4-0 for the first time since 1976 and led 24-0 after the 1Q and 34-0 at the half. They had td drives of 22 yds (after fumble), 30 yds (after 30 yd PR) and a FG drive of 10 yards but led 44-0 and missed 33 and 30 yd FG’s in the 4Q. NSt went 80/13pl for a td with 4:28 left. After an OU 4 yd punt they added a 41 yd FG with 1:30 left in the game.

Every year Western Michigan seems to upset at least one BCS team and for the 2nd straight year that team was Connecticut. After a couple of close losses vs Big Ten schools, WM led UC 24-7 in the 4Q as they had jumped out to a 17-0 lead. UC got a td with 8:47 left and got the ball back, threatening to tie when QB Whitmer was sk’d and fmbl’d and WM ret’d it 53 yds for a td with 7:12 left, 30-17. UC was SOD at the 50 but got it back with 3:15 let and went 80/8pl getting a td with :54 left but WM rec’d the onside kick.

Kansas led Northern Illinois 23-13 in the 4Q but NI extended their home win streak to 17 games and KU lost their 14th straight game on the road. James Sims ret’d to the lineup after being susp’d the first 3 games and had 91 yards on 18 carries. Dayne Crist continued to struggle hitting 10-26-147 yds while absorbing 4 sacks. Jordan Lynch hit 23-35-235 yds and led NI with 134 yds rushing. KU went on a 72/12pl drive but settled for a 26 yd FG in the 1H and trailed 13-10. They went 72/14pl getting a pair of 4&1 conv for a td and the lead then got a 54 yd IR td with 14:33 left in the game for their 23-13 lead. Leading 23-20, KU on 4&17 had an open receiver for a td but Crist overthrew him in the EZ. NI went 44 yds for a 44 yd FG then 53/7pl for a td with 4:33 left for a td lead and KU’s last gasp ended on a 4&17 at their own 6.

Michigan St was hoping to rest Le’Veon Bell a bit but needed him to avoid a major upset. They trailed Eastern Michigan 7-3 at the half and then hitched up their wagon to Bell who rushed for a career high 253 yds on 36 carries. The story was EM going for it on 4th down and being stopped. That happened on their opening drive when they were SOD at the MSU47 on 4&1. They led 7-3 at the half after rec a MSU fumble at the 23 and getting a td pass on the next play. The Spartans did have a 251-188 yd edge at the half. Trailing 16-7, EM was SOD on 4&3 2x and MSU tacked on a td with 2:05 left for a bit of a misleading final at 23-7 as it was not that easy.

Matt McGloin threw for a career high 318 yds for Penn St and also ran for 2 td’s. PSU dominated with a 491-237 yd edge and 27-13 FD edge. It was the 23rd straight win for PSU in the series and at the half they had a 283-96 yd edge and led 14-3. PSU led 24-6 after settling for a 20 yd FG with 2:29 left and Temple went 65/4pl getting a garbage td with 1:43 left. Zack Zwinak was PSU’s top rusher with 94 yards on 18 carries.

Navy’s fumble problems continued as Trey Miller lost 2 fumbles in the 1Q and they trailed VMI 3-0. Navy only led 13-3 at the half and 20-3 after 3Q’s but would get a 7 yd IR td with 6:50 left to go up 34-3 then a 21 yd td run with 3:08 left to get ahead of what the experts thought 41-3. Navy did finish with a 27-12 FD edge and 510-222 yd edge. VMI had lost the previous week to Richmond 47-6. VMI QB Eric Kordenbrock hurt his back while being tackled in the 1Q and did not return until the 2H.

Giovani Bernard returned for North Carolina and what a difference he makes. While he did have just 50 yds rushing, he scored another couple of td’s. In the first game, in the 1H he had 3 td’s. East Carolina was coming off their upset of Southern Miss and did twice settle for 1H FG’s after stalling inside the 10 but NC dominated with a 450-233 yd edge. The Heels surprisingly only led 6-3 at the half missing a 34 yd FG on the half’s final play but won easily 27-6.

Connor Shaw missed his first pass but then would hit 20 straight passes for South Carolina. Missouri’s banged up O-line struggled against the SC strong D-line and had a season low 254 yds while SC had 396. SC was missing Safety DJ Swearinger who was susp for the game but MO did not score a td until backup QB Corbin Berkstresser led a 75/11pl drive for a td with :17 left. The 1Q was scoreless with SC getting td’s on a 4 yd drive following a 49 yd PR and a 38 yd drive after a fmbl and then a 50 yd drive in the final 1:20.

Oregon St was picked last in the Pac-12 North by the media and although I had them ranked higher than everyone else, it was only at #4. OSU now owns a pair of victories over ranked teams and Mike Riley recorded his 74th victory at the school, tying the record set by Lon Stiner who coached there from 1933 to 1948. Sean Mannion passed for a career high 379 yards hitting 24-35 passes. UCLA came in averaging 622 ypg on offense with over 300 yards rushing and passing. OSU held them to 444 containing the nation’s #1 rusher Johnathan Franklin as he had just 45 yards on 12 carries.