#1 Oregon (10-0) – 15 vs. California (5-5) – 13
Vs. 
How it all went down…Who would have thought that the brass of Oregon head coach Chip Kelly and a two-point conversion call and conversion in the second quarter would decide the game. Defensive end Dion Jordan ran in a two point try on a swinging gate play most would come to expect in a high school game. This year’s Ducks team, coached by Kelly, is far from the norm, however. Cal had a chance to steal the game in the fourth with a 24 yard field goal but a false start on Cal KICKER Giorgio Tavecchio brought him back for another try, which was missed. The outrageous picture play cards, the New York minuet paced scoring drives and now the fifth straight game with a successful, unwarranted, two-point conversion, have given the 2010 Ducks an identity like none other in college football.
The fat lady started singing when…The Ducks put together an 18 play drive in the fourth quarter with 9:25 remaining on the clock. Oregon drove from their own 20 to the Cal 13 where they took two knees to run out the clock.
Where do we go from here coach...? For Oregon, welcome to feeling like the rest of the teams in college football. Oregon proved that they could be contained, although it was nothing more than good football from Cal that did it. A blueprint to stop the Ducks offense still has yet to be discovered. For Cal, it’s hopefully a bowl game. The Bears have played incredible football a home this season, beating teams 189-34 before Saturday’s loss. The remaining two games on the Bears schedule – Stanford and Washington – are both home games.
It’s a numbers game… 91 – Oregon Heisman candidate LaMichael James rushed for a season low 91 yards against the Bears. It ended a five game streak of 100 yard games for James.
Player of the game…Cliff Harris, Oregon, CB – 1 tkl - 2 punt returns, 79 yds, 1 TD
(#2)
#21 Nevada (9-1) – 35 vs. Fresno State (6-3) – 34
Vs.
How it all went down…The disadvantages of time zones. I fell asleep watching this one in the third quarter, well over 1:00 AM eastern time. From what I saw, the Wolf Pack failed to do anything to stop Fresno running back Robbie Rouse, while the Bulldogs tried to do everything they could in containing quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Rouse brought in his second straight 200 yard game but it was Kaepernick’s 324 total yards that would right the ship. The Bulldogs forced to settle on a fourth quarter field goal, would come up one point shy in a game of back-and-forth touchdwons.
The fat lady started singing when…The Wolf Pack took the game out of Rouse’s hands late, forcing Fresno quarterback Ryan Colburn to win the game. An incomplete pass on fourth and five on Fresno’s last drive ended the night for the Bulldogs offense.
Where do we go from here coach..? For Nevada, it’s staying alive in the WAC and building the anticipation of a home visit from Boise in two weeks. A win over New Mexico State next week is all that stands in place of a Friday night showdown with the Broncos. For Fresno State, it’s a trip to the great blue north to take on Boise State. All negatives from the Bulldogs season can be salvaged with a win over the Broncos.
It’s a numbers game….. 2 – Two players – Kaepernick and Rouse – accounted for over half of their team’s total yards.
Player of the game…Colin Kaepernick, Nevada, QB – 16-26 passing, 171 yds, 1 INT – 16 rush, 153 yds, 2 TD
(#3)
#13 Iowa (7-3) – 17 vs. Northwestern (7-3) – 21
Vs. 
How it all went down…In one play Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa gave his team its biggest upset of the year, their third straight win over Iowa and ended his season with two games to go. Persa connected with wideout Demetrius Fields for a go ahead 20 yard touchdown with 1:22 left. Persa also ruptured his achilles tendon on the play. The Hawkeyes led 17-7 heading into the fourth quarter before two touchdown passes by Persa to take the lead for Northwestern.
The fat lady started singing when…Iowa put together a 15 play drive following Northwestern’s last minute score but failed to convert on a fourth and 16 at the Northwestern 45 yard line.
Where do we go from here coach...? For Iowa, it’s on to salvage the season at home in a head-to-head battle with the Buckeyes. A win over the Bucks would push Ohio State out of the Big Ten race and surely make the Hawkeyes sour taste turn sweet. For Northwestern, it’s their biggest win of the season and their biggest loss of the season in the same game. Persa was the focal point of the offense and will be tough to replace with two games remaining on the Wildcats schedule.
It’s a numbers game… 2 – The Hawkeyes converted just two third down attempts all afternoon.
Player of the game…Dan Persa (above), Northwestern, QB – 32-43 passing, 318 yds, 2 TD 1 INT – 18 rush, 50 yds, 1 TD
Photo Credit: Nam Y. Hun / AP Photo
(#4)
#6 Stanford (9-1) – 17 vs. Arizona State (4-6) – 13
Vs. 
How it all went down…The tale of the 2010 Sun Devils has been close but no cigar. Arizona State lost their fourth game of the season by four points or less when Stanford paid a visit Saturday. On the same night the Ducks brought in their biggest scare of the season, the Cardinal barely survived their trip to the desert. With just over five minutes left to play, fullback Owen Marecic notched his second one yard touchdown run of the night, giving the Cardinal the four point lead.
The fat lady started singing when…ASU quarterback Steven Threat was sacked on third down on the Sun Devils next possession following the Marecic touchdown. The Devils punted and never saw the ball again.
Where do we go from here coach..? For Stanford, it’s a trip to the same place that just gave the Ducks a headache in a visit to Cal. The Cardinal looked primed for a Rose Bowl trip if the Ducks head to the National Title, but don’t overlook next week’s matchup. The Bears are playing for a bowl berth. For Arizona State, its two wins and a bowl for the Sun Devils. With UCLA next week followed by a trip to rival Arizona, the Devils still have something left to play for this season.
It’s a numbers game… 9 – The Cardinal have won nine games this season, their first nine win season since 2001.
Player of the game…Owen Marecic, Stanford, FB/LB – 3 tkl – 4 rush, 4 yds, 2 TD – 1 rec. 10 yds
(#5)
#3 TCU (11-0) – 40 vs. San Diego State (7-3) – 35
Vs.
How it all went down…TCU’s celebration of defeating Utah the week before by 40 lasted a little longer than head coach Gary Patterson would have liked. The Horned Frogs found themselves down double digits for the first time this season after the Aztecs placed a 14-0 lead on TCU in the first quarter. The counter from the Horned Frogs was 37 unanswered points into the third quarter. A second half comeback and 21-3 run by SDSU would ensue, but the Aztecs would come up short in the end.
The fat lady started singing when…TCU running back Matthew Tucker rushed for 11 yards on second and 10 with just over two minutes to go. The Horned Frogs would run out the clock form there.
Where do we go from here coach..? For TCU, it’s a scare they didn’t need at this point in the season. The lead the Horned Frogs held over Boise State in the BCS rankings tightened and may become extinct in the future with the Utes falling to Notre Dame Saturday. For San Diego State, it’s another chance to pull an upset against No. 23 Utah at home next week.
It’s a numbers game… 35 – The 35 points allowed by the Horned Frogs were more than TCU had given up in its previous six games.
Player of the game…Jeremy Kerley, TCU, WR – 8 rec. 85 yds, 3 TD
No comments:
Post a Comment