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How it all went down……. Even with the addition of Jeremiah Masoli the Rebels can’t pull off what should have been an opening day rout. A simple win would have been just as fine here though too. Jack-State brought a never die attitude to Oxford competing two two-point conversions, one to send the game into overtime, the other to win it all in the end. I started to question the decision to play Masoli as the game went on. An interception and a turnover on downs came on late drives by Masoli while quarterback Nathan Stanley completed 6-10 passes for 133 yards and three scores.
The fat lady starting singing when.…. Jacksonville State quarterback Coty Blanchard just got a wobbly pass off to running back Calvin Middleton for the two-point conversion in the second overtime. It wasn’t pretty, but it worked.
Where do we go from here coach…...? For the Rebels, it looks like a lot of practice. If I’m head coach Houston Nutt, I sit Masoli and let him become more acclimated to the offense before I send him in against the dogs of the SEC. For Jack-State, it’s party time. Every year an FCS team knocks off a FBS team that doesn’t have its guard up. It never gets old.
It’s a numbers game…... 21– Jacksonville State scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime. Most of which can be credited to turnovers by the Rebels.
CO-Player of the game….Marques Ivory, Jacksonville State QB – 13-23 passing, 126 yards 2 TD’s, Coty Blanchard, Jacksonville State QB – 9-13 passing, 126 yards, 2 TD’s
Photo Credit: Bruce Newman/AP
(#2)
#21 LSU –30 vs. #18 N. Carolina –24
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How it all went down….. With 12 players suspended, including six defensive starters, the Tar Heels looked off balance and beaten early. The Tigers placed a 30-10 halftime lead on Carolina, but somewhere eased up in the second half. With no points scored in the third quarter, UNC quarterback T.J. Yates hit wideout Jheranie Boyd for a 97 yard touchdown in the fourth, making it a 30-17 game. With 2:32 remaining in the game, Yates hit wideout Erik Highsmith for a 14 yard touchdown, for a 30-24 game. UNC would recover the onside kick before turning it over on downs. With LSU trying to run out the clock, running back Steven Ridley fumbled, with UNC recovering and gaining new hope. Carolina would drive, but come up six yards short of a touchdown as time expired.
The fat lady starting singing when.… UNC Tight end Zack Pianalto felt the game’s final pass defended out of his arms in the end zone as zeros read on the clock.
Where do we go from here coach…...? For UNC, its keeping their heads held high. The Tar Heels were without six of their best defenders and three of their top offensive weapons and still gave LSU a run for their money. For LSU, it’s wondering how they nearly blew a 20 point lead. Although it was a win, coaches will need to find a way to keep Tiger’s players motivated throughout the game.
It’s a numbers game….. 3 – LSU scored three touchdowns of 50 or more yards. Wideout Russell Shepard’s 50 yard run, corner Patrick Peterson’s 87 yard punt return and wideout Rueben Randle’s 51 yard catch.
Player of the game…. Russell Shepard, LSU WR – 2 catches, 12 yards, 1 TD – 5 rushes, 67 yards, 1 TD
(#3)
#24 Oregon St. –21 vs. #6 TCU –30
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How it all went down……. A back and forth game that fed on momentum, TCU quarterback Andy Dalton led a powerful rush offense –278 yards – and a precision passing game – 63 percent completion percentage – all night long. The Oregon State offense tried to get the ball into the hands of the Rodgers brothers early, evident of a 30 yard touchdown to James in the first quarter, but failed to do so besides the long touchdown play. Jaquizz Rodgers brought in 75 yards at a one yard less average than he brought in last season. Quizz, who caught 78 passes last season, never caught a ball.
The fat lady starting singing when.… A high snap over the head of Oregon State quarterback Ryan Kats rolled into the end zone, ending with Katz booting the ball out the back for a safety with 4:14 to go. It gave TCU a 9 point lead and the game.
Where do we go from here coach…...? For TCU its hold on and ride the wave. The Beavers were the only BCS contender in the way of another undefeated regular season. For Oregon State, it’s finding more ways to get the Rodgers brothers the ball. For an offense that gained just 255 yards, 158 yards came at the suspense of James and Jaquizz.
It’s a numbers game…... 39:23– The total number of minuets the TCU offense held the ball, almost a full 20 minutes more than the Beavers. The Horned Frogs were able to control the tempo of the game throughout and it proved to be the winning outcome in the end.
Player of the game…. Ed Wesley, TCU RB 17 carries, 134 yards, 1 TD, 7.9 average.
(#4)
Washington –17 vs. BYU –23
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How it all went down….. The 2010 debut of all everything Washington quarterback Jake Locker would be overshadowed by the debut of a pair of Cougar quarterbacks. Junior Riley Nelson and highly touted true freshman Jake Heaps led a BYU offense that
knocked off a BCS program to start the year for the second straight season. The inexperienced duo combined for a 60 percent completion percentage, 262 yards and two scores. Their zero turnovers were perhaps the best stat.
The fat lady starting singing when.… At under 2:00 to go in the game, Locker’s final pass fell incomplete intended for Devin Aguilar, turning the ball over on downs.
Where do we go from here coach…...? For Washington, it’s dropping this hard fought battle so a mistake doesn’t happen next week against Syracuse. For BYU, not looking too far ahead at a week three matchup against Florida State, at Doak Campbell.
It’s a numbers game….. 0 – Both teams played mistake free football not giving up a fumble or interception. Good news for both teams.
Player of the game…. JJ Di Luigi (right), BYU RB – 13 carries, 69 yards, 4 catches 83 yards, 1 TD
Photo Credit: Brian Nicholson/Deseret News
(#5)
UCLA –22 vs. Kansas State –31
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How it all went down….. To be quite honest, I was expecting a far better performance out of the Bruins here. The teams traded touchdowns all afternoon but in the end it came down to UCLA's inability to stop the Kansas State rush offense, led by Daniel Thomas. Bruin quarterback Kevin Prince tossed two interceptions and failed to get into the endzone twice while inside the redzone. UCLA kicker Kai Forbath connected on three field goals, two from 40+.
The fat lady starting singing when.… Thomas took a handoff 35 yards for his second touchdown of the day with just over a minute to play.
Where do we go from here coach…...? For UCLA it may be finding a new quarterback. Prince made mistakes all day and only competed 35 percent of his passes. He offers something to the Bruins rushing game, but it may be time to get someone else a look. For Kansas State it’s riding Thomas the rest of the season, with the exception of Missouri State next week.
It’s a numbers game….. 3 – UCLA was just 3-of-13 on third down conversions throughout the game. Not many teams can win with that number.
Player of the game…. Daniel Thomas, Kansas State RB – 28 carries, 234 yards, 2 TD’s
(#6)
Utah State –24 vs. #7 Oklahoma –31
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How it all went down…The Aggies are better known for being a sleeper come March Madness, but in football? What should have been a game for Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones to work his kinks out, turned into a fulltime gig for the fulltime starter more known as the player who filled in for Sam Bradford last season. It’s Jones’s season now and someone needs to tell the youngster a touchdown victory over Utah State isn’t how the Sooners start seasons. Utah State would score on a tired OK defense with 2:31 remaining in the third, but were unable to work anything into the fourth quarter.
The fat lady starting singing when… Late in the fourth with Oklahoma facing 3rd and 3 at the Utah State 19, Sooner running back Demarco Murray rushed for six yards for a first down. OK would run out the clock from there.
Where do we go from here coach…...? For Oklahoma it’s questioning why its their second consecutive slow start to a season? The Sooners should have rolled over the Aggies but failed continuously to close out the game. For the Aggies, it’s a small pat on the back and a visit from Idaho State next week.
It’s a numbers game….. 422/421 – The Sooners out gained the Aggies by just one yard. Leaving big question marks surrounding the Oklahoma defense before Big 12 play begins.
Player of the game…. Demarco Murray, Oklahoma RB – 35 carries, 218 yards, 2 TD’s
(#8)
Connecticut –10 vs. Michigan –30
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How it all went down…Who really needs shoelaces anyways? Not Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson (below), who runs, jukes, and jives with his shoes untied, while sometimes ending shoe-less. I went into the game wondering what quarterback I would see first, and how many quarterbacks would I see throughout. After Michigan’s first possession I didn’t need to ask any more questions regarding the Wolverines quarterback position. Robinson looked faster than Michigan’s unemployment climb, finishing with a Michigan quarterback record 197 yards on the ground. The 3-3-5 defense for the Big Blue didn’t look all that bad either, holding UConn quarterback Zach Frazier to below 50 percent passing and no touchdowns.
The fat lady starting singing when… UConn running back D.J. Shoemate fumbled heading into the endzone with 2:29 left in the third. A score would have made it a one possession game, but the fumble took the air out of the entire Huskies team.
Where do we go from here coach…...? For Big Blue, it’s leaving the quarterback position alone. For a team that has swapped quarterbacks like baseball cards as of late, the Wolverines may finally have found their man to run Rich Rod’s system. They’ll find out next week against Notre Dame. For UConn, it’s a lonely trip back to the Big East. With three big losses in the national stage on opening weekend, the Big Least will need to turn things around next week.
It’s a numbers game….. 14-19 – The Wolverines converted on 14 third down conversions. No matter who a team is playing, that’s good football.
Player of the game…. Denard Robinson, Michigan QB – 19-22 passing, 186 yards, 1 TD, 29 carries, 197 rush yards, 1 TD
Photo Credit: AP Photo
(#9)
Purdue –12 vs. Notre Dame –23
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How it all went down… Things in this game began right where they left off for a couple of familiar faces. For Brian Kelly, it was winning. Kelly brings with him to Notre Dame a tremendous winning percentage and winning attitude and it showed Saturday. For Purdue quarterback Robert Marve, it’s making costly mistakes. Marve, a Miami transfer, was known at The U for forcing throws and being unsettled in the pocket, two things he showed Saturday with two costly interceptions. The debut of Irish quarterback Dayne Crist was a success, with the single-caller throwing for 205 yards and one score.
The fat lady starting singing when…Irish kicker David Ruffer booted a 37 yard field goal with 4:30 left in the game, making it a two possession game for the Boilermakers.
Where do we go from here coach…...? For Notre Dame, it’s being stunned for what the defense did. A part of the team that has held the Irish back for years came up big Saturday. The defense will need to be ready for Denard Robinson and Michigan next week, however, a totally different team from Purdue. For the Boilermakers, it’s a long look at what went wrong on offense. Marve was supposed to be a different player since Miami, but it didn’t show Saturday.
It’s a numbers game….. 12 – Notre Dames 12 points given up against Purdue were the fewest against a BCS program since the shutout against Washington in 2008. The Huskies went winless that season.
Player of the game…Ethan Johnson, Notre Dame DT – 3 tackles 2 sacks
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