Phil Steele
EOG Member
NEWS AND NOTES - Tulsa?s top 2 RB?s were out so Oklahoma transfer Courtney Tennial, who had just 19 rush att?s in the first 4 games, had 21 carries for 120 yds. SMiss and Tulsa left a ton of points off the board. In fact, the teams combined for 409 1H yds offense and just 13 points. The key here was SM?s poor receiver play. Their TE and WR?s dropped numerous passes and did not make solid att?s on others....In a game that was polar opposite, WM and Ohio had a tight defensive struggle that somehow resulted in 47 points scored. WM got an 88 yd PR for a TD and got a 17 yd drive for a TD after rec?ing a fmbl. WM got a 66 yd IR for a TD and at the end of the game with just 3:26 left, Ohio got a 72 yd run keying a quick drive for a TD with 1:37 left and WM went 80 yds in 5 plays for a garbage TD just :41 later...There is nothing fluky about Arkansas?s win over Auburn. They rushed for 279 yds and held Auburn to 213 ttl yards offense. A 63 yd TD run by McFadden was the first rushing TD allowed all year by Auburn and coming into the game, Auburn had been 7 of 7 on 4th down conversions but was SOD twice (at Ark?s 33 & 45 yd lines). The Hogs had two 100 yd rushers and Auburn became the first Top 10 team to lose to an unranked foe this season...Florida Int?l/N Texas tied for the longest game in NCAA history and amazingly the two combined for just 47 pts including 15 in the 7 OT periods...Houston jumped out to a 21-0 lead over ULL and appeared on their way to an easy win but ULL rallied and a 4 yd TD pass with 1:02 left gave them the stunning 31-28 upset in which they outrushed UH 269-38...Georgia came in with the Nation?s top scoring D but Tennessee, who earlier in the year led an outstanding Cal team 35-0 at home, shredded UGA for 51 points. Things appeared bleak for UT when they trailed 24-7 but a TD before half gave them momentum and they dominated the 2H finishing with a 27-14 FD edge. UGA managed 33 pts thanks to two return TD?s as they got an 86 yd PR and 99 yd KR for TD?s...For the 3rd straight week we won with an Early Bird Play of the Week Play against Louisiana Tech as they were on a killer 3 game road trek. Boise won 55-14 and LT?s only 2 TD?s came after Boise fmbl?d the opening KO and LT drove 14 yds for a TD and at the end of the game when trailing 55-7 they drove for a garbage TD with :34 left...Wyoming was 1-10 their previous 11 games but inserted Karsten Sween (PS#28) as the starter. While he struggled in the 1H and WY trailed 10-0, he tossed 2 TD?s in the 2H finishing 19 of 32 for 204 yds. NM had 10 pts in the 1H but just 3 FD?s and finished with 190 yards total offense...Last year Nebraska QB Zac Taylor threw for a school record 431 yds vs Iowa St but Callahan opted to concentrate on the run last week. NU rushed 45 times for 251 yds while Taylor was a very efficient 17 of 21 but for just 131 yds. NU led 28-7 until ISU got a garbage TD with :06 left...Wisconsin had 310 yds offense, including 189 yds rushing by hefty PJ Hill but led just 17-9 at the half due to three 1Q TO?s. The Badgers continued to overwhelm Northwestern in the 2H finishing with a 527-216 yd edge in their 41-9 rout...New SDSt Coach Chuck Long opened up 0-6, the same record as Dan Hawkins, the new coach at Colorado. Ironically, Long started Kevin Craft, who was former coach Tom Craft?s son as his top 2 QB?s were out with inj. Craft was respectable hitting 20 of 32 for 216 yds but they trailed 40-3 at the half in a 47-17 rout...Buffalo had turned the ball over twice all year with Drew Willy completing 131 straight passes without an int. BUF gave up a blk?d punt for a TD and a 43 yd IR for a TD with 3 overall TO?s in a 55-25 loss to Ball St...Safety Marcus Watts had a huge game for Kansas St. He blk?d an early punt which was ret?d 21 yds for KSt?s first score. The Wildcats trailed 27-17 but rallied for a pair of 4Q TD?s, the first with 3:04 left and the 2nd with just 1:11 left. OSU had a potential game winning pass tipped by Watts and int?d in the EZ as time ran out...Akron led 14-0 after the 1Q but UC dominated after that with 20 unanswered points and rolled up a 424-219 yd and 23-10 FD edges...Alabama?s 30-14 win over Duke was a lot closer than the final score. Duke extended its losing streak to 13 games, the 2nd longest in the country and Bama got a 50 yd IR for a TD with 3:33 left to give them breathing room for the first time in the game. Duke actually had a 158-17 yd rushing edge in the 1H...Hawaii appeared on their way to a comfortable win leading 41-21 with 11:45 left but backup QB Travis Moore led Nevada to a pair of TD?s, the later with 3:57 left. UH then fmbl?d the ball on their own 3 and needed a goal line stand with 1:47 left to escape with the win...For the 3rd straight week USC escaped with a narrow win over a Pac 10 foe but this time it was at home. Washington, trailing by 6, got a FD at the USC 15 with :02 left but did not line up quickly enough after the chains were moved and the clock ran out before they could get a snap off...Kansas QB Adam Barmann who had 405 yds vs Nebraska two weeks ago, hit just 13 of 31 for 127 vs Texas A&M as the Aggies had a 20-10 FD edge but needed a TD with :34 left to pull out the win, 21-18...Ohio St?s spread streak was snapped. The Buckeyes were driving for one of their patented frontdoor covers, up 35-7 when they were SOD at the BG 13 with 4:13 left...Utah St delivered another double digit outright upset winner as the Big Dog POW in their upset of Fresno St (+27 pts). On the Tues comp tapes, we gave out a 4H in Power Plays which called the yardage almost even in the game and that is how it turned out as FSU finished with a slim 319-267 yd edge and Power Plays had called for them to have a 338-302 yd edge. Utah St got a 30 yd TD pass with :55 left for the 13-12 win...Maryland led almost start to finish vs Georgia Tech as they were up 20-14 at the half and 23-14 after 3Q?s but gave up two 4Q TD?s and lost their outright upset bid but still easily covered as a double digit dog...Iowa did lead Purdue 20-3 at the half but it was 34-17 with PU having the ball at the Iowa 24 when they missed a 45 yd FG at the start of the 4Q. Iowa drove for a TD to lead by 23 and then PU went on an 11 play drive but was int?d & ret?d 98 yds for a TD and a 14 pt swing. PU went on a 10 play drive but was int?d at the Iowa 3 with 3:03 left...A solid rule of thumb involving the 2 pt conversion simply states never attempt a 2 pt conversion prior to the 4Q or even mid-4Q. Ron Zook violated that rule. His team jumped out to a 25-7 lead over Indy and appeared on their way to an easy win but in the 1Q twice he attempted a 2 pt conversions and both attempts failed. That came back to bite them as when Indy connected on a 33 yd FG on the last play of the game, it gave them a 34-32 win...Wake Forest led Clemson by 14 and were threatening to add to the lead when on a 42 yd FG attempt the holder fmbl?d the snap and CU picked it up and ret?d it for a TD. That turned the entire game around as CU scored twenty-four 4Q points in a huge comeback win. WF had fmbl?d the ball away at the 1 on their opening drive as well.
TURNOVERS MAKE A BIG IMPACT - The Oklahoma Sooners were done in by 5 turnovers including the questionable backward pass ruling which resulted in a Texas TD. UT had the ball six times in the 1H with five 3 & outs but did put together one TD drive. The Sooners fmbl?d at the UT 37 and settled for a 35 yd FG and despite a 165-65 yd edge, only led 10-7. UT got 2 TD?s in the 3Q to lead 21-10. OU fmbl?d at the UT 16 yd line and then on their next drive, an incomplete pass was ruled a backward pass even though it appeared the pass was thrown at the 12 and bounced off Peterson at the 13. It resulted in a UT TD and naturally Bob Stoops was not going to get a replay call in his favor. OU was also int?d at the 38 and 12 yd lines. The Sooners had 100 total yds offense but could not overcome five (really four) turnovers, one resulting in a TD and the other 4 taking away possible TD?s....Miss St was a 21 point home dog. They had a 25-20 FD edge but blew numerous opportunities in the redzone and then gave up a miracle frontdoor cover to W Virginia. MSt had a 10 play 43 yd drive end in a sack which forced a 49 yd FG which they missed. They went on a 13 play drive but opted to punt from the WV 40. MSt was SOD at the WV 32 on their next drive and with 3 missed opportunities trailed 14-7 at the half. The Bulldogs went 75 yds in 8 plays and on the first play of the 4Q, on 1st & goal from the 7, trailing 21-7, threw an easy TD pass but the receiver bobbled the ball and it turned into a diving int in the EZ taking away a crucial 7 pts. MSU marched right back down the field and had a FD at the WV 26 when they were int?d at the 10 on a tipped pass. It was 28-14 with just 5:30 left when WV rec?d the onside kick. On 3rd & 10, White got a 10 yd run to the 5 and they got the apparent frontdoor push with a TD with 3:10 left. MSt, who earlier lost starting QB Conner to inj, brought in 3rd string QB Rutland who was inj?d on the drive?s first play and 4th string QB Evans was sacked back to the 2. WV?s Rivers ret?d the punt 50 yds for a TD with 1:07 left giving the Mountaineers an amazing frontdoor cover...Texas Tech had a 546-306 yd edge vs Missouri but could not overcome 5 turnovers including 3 that directly resulted in Missouri TD?s. Texas Tech fmbl?d at their own 12 and 4 plays later Missouri had a TD to lead 10-0 after 1Q. Amazingly, Harrell was int?d on back-to-back passes and ret?d 17 and 22 yds for TD?s within a span of :28 and the Raiders trailed 24-0. In the game, TTech was SOD at the MO 20, later fmbl?d at their 44 setting up a MO 2 play TD, was SOD at the MO 7 and fmbl?d at their own 40. Four TO?s basically equalled 28 pts for Missouri...LSU led Florida 7-0 and seemed in control but on the day had 5 TO?s and a blocked punt. They fmbl?d a punt setting up a Gator 19 yd TD drive. LSU went on a 75 yd, 17 play drive with the game tied at 7. They had a 22 yd TD pass called back on holding and then on 2nd & goal from the 1, fmbl?d with just 5:05 left in the half. After an int, UF drove 72 yds in 9 plays and got a TD with :22 left in the half, LSU fmbl?d the opening KO of the 3Q for a safety and then after having a punt blocked, went on a pair of 12 play drives but missed a 41 yd FG and settled for a 45 yd FG and fittingly ended with int?s at the UF 23 and in the EZ. LSU had a 22-14 FD edge...Arkansas St had a 372-223 yd edge over ULM and 21-13 FD edge. They could not overcome 5 TO?s all in ULM territory which stopped scoring drives including 2 int?s in the EZ!!...Toledo had 29-20 FD and 487-387 yd edges vs C Michigan. They also led 14-0. They allowed CM to get 2 TD?s and the key play of the game happened with just :20 left in the 1H. UT was driving for the potential go-ahead score when 1st time starter Opelt was sk?d & fmbl?d and CM ret?d it for a TD and a stunning 21-14 lead. They later added a 31 yd IR for a TD and had a 4-0 TO advantage...Vanderbilt had a 23-7 FD edge vs Ole Miss and 400-179 yd edge but could not overcome 5 turnovers and 2 missed FG?s plus their P was tackles instead of having a kick blocked which is not counted as a TO. Vandy lost QB Chris Nickson to inj in the 1H after he had hit 11 of 13 for 95 yds.
MISLEADING FINALS, FRONTDOOR AND BACKDOOR COVERS - We could have included the Arizona/UCLA game under Injuries of Note as both starting QB?s were inj?d in the 1H. UCLA?s Patrick Cowan hit 20 of 29 for 201 yds and UA?s Adam Austin hit 15 of 30 for 192. Tied at 7 in the 2Q, Arizona att?d an onside kick which UCLA rec?d and used the short field to drive 3 plays for a TD and led 14-7 at the half. It was 20-7 when UA?s 4th & 5 pass at the UCLA 30 fell incomplete with 8:14 left. UA?s next drive went 60 yds in 8 plays and they once again were threatening the backdoor cover with a FD at the 16 yd line. Not only were they int?d but the Bruins Verner ret?d it 89 yds for a TD with 4:19 left...Colorado St led UNLV 21-7 in the 4Q when they got a 14 yd IR for a TD to get ahead of the spread for the first time. In the 3Q UNLV was SOD and on the next play CSU hit a 64 yd TD pass. The Rams' Horinek tacked on a 14 yd IR TD in the 4Q for the final.
INJURIES OF NOTE - Outstanding SMU QB Justin Willis was suspended on Friday. Corey Slater, in his first start, hit 10 of 20 for 132 yds with 3 int and things did not look good for SMU when they trailed 17-0 at the half. UTEP had 21-7 FD and 297-190 yd edges but thanks to an 80 yd fmbl ret for a TD early 4Q, SMU actually led 21-17. UTEP drove 87 yds for a TD mid-4Q to pull out the win...E Carolina was without starting WR Aundrae Allison and starting RB Chris Johnson but still piled up 432 yds vs a decent Virginia D. EC led 24-7 at the half and coasted with UVA getting a garbage TD with :18 left to make the final respectable. One of UVA?s TD?s was a 19 yd drive set up by a blk?d punt in the 3Q...Michigan St was playing without leading rusher Javon Ringer, who is out for the season and only managed 60 yds rushing vs the #1 ranked rush D in the Nation. Michigan had leads of 24-0 and 31-7 and MSU lost star WR Matt Trannon to an ankle inj on their scoring drive with 7:18 left and did not cross midfield after that.
POINTS LEFT OFF THE BOARD CAN BE COSTLY - Florida St, in the 1H, had a 190-118 yd edge vs NC State but they settled for 3 FG?s inside the 10 yd line with FG?s of 25, 20 and 22 yds and only led 13-10. They led 20-10 late 3Q but gave up a couple of TD?s and were int?d with 2:32 left and no time-outs and with the new rules, NCSt simply took a knee 3 times after a delay penalty and was able to run out the rest of the clock...In the Friday night game, Louisville settled for 30, 24 and 20 yd FG?s on 10, 11 and 9 play drives leaving a lot of points off the board. They also gave Middle Tennessee 10 pts on an 88 yd KR for a TD and they fmbl?d a punt on their own 14 giving MT a FG. At the half they only led 23-10 despite a 295-85 yd edge. It proved costly to the spread as UL only won by 27 laying 29?...UCF dominated Marshall with a 488-366 yd edge rolling up 275 yds rushing and 213 passing. Points left off the board nearly cost them. It looked like they scored a TD on 4th & a foot from the goal line but the refs spotted them just short. UCF had an 8 and 9 play drives both end in 22 yd FG?s in the 1H and missed a 31 yd FG in the 2H. Marshall took the lead with a 50 yd FG with 3:00 left but UCF went on a 10 play drive and nailed a 22 yd FG with :06 left for the win...In the 1H Kent St had a FD at the 23 but was int?d in the EZ. They dropped a TD pass and on the next play missed a 37 yd FG and led just 14-10. Kent fmbl?d at the Kent 27 but still managed to climb to a 28-10 lead with 7:20 left. Temple was SOD on 4th & 9 at its own 27 and Kent had a shot at the frontdoor cover with a FD to the 14 but was SOD with 3:36 left and Temple went 81 yds in 8 plays for a garbage TD with 1:37 left...Colorado had a great shot at covering vs Baylor as in the 2nd OT they led by 7 and BU faced a 4th down but the Bears got a TD pass to Shelton to force a 3rd OT. After the Bears kicked a FG, CU opted to go for the EZ on 3rd down and Pawelek made a leaping int in the EZ. If the Buffs lose this week vs Texas Tech for their 11th straight defeat, they will eclipse the program?s longest ever losing streak which was first set in 1963-?64.
TURNOVERS MAKE A BIG IMPACT - The Oklahoma Sooners were done in by 5 turnovers including the questionable backward pass ruling which resulted in a Texas TD. UT had the ball six times in the 1H with five 3 & outs but did put together one TD drive. The Sooners fmbl?d at the UT 37 and settled for a 35 yd FG and despite a 165-65 yd edge, only led 10-7. UT got 2 TD?s in the 3Q to lead 21-10. OU fmbl?d at the UT 16 yd line and then on their next drive, an incomplete pass was ruled a backward pass even though it appeared the pass was thrown at the 12 and bounced off Peterson at the 13. It resulted in a UT TD and naturally Bob Stoops was not going to get a replay call in his favor. OU was also int?d at the 38 and 12 yd lines. The Sooners had 100 total yds offense but could not overcome five (really four) turnovers, one resulting in a TD and the other 4 taking away possible TD?s....Miss St was a 21 point home dog. They had a 25-20 FD edge but blew numerous opportunities in the redzone and then gave up a miracle frontdoor cover to W Virginia. MSt had a 10 play 43 yd drive end in a sack which forced a 49 yd FG which they missed. They went on a 13 play drive but opted to punt from the WV 40. MSt was SOD at the WV 32 on their next drive and with 3 missed opportunities trailed 14-7 at the half. The Bulldogs went 75 yds in 8 plays and on the first play of the 4Q, on 1st & goal from the 7, trailing 21-7, threw an easy TD pass but the receiver bobbled the ball and it turned into a diving int in the EZ taking away a crucial 7 pts. MSU marched right back down the field and had a FD at the WV 26 when they were int?d at the 10 on a tipped pass. It was 28-14 with just 5:30 left when WV rec?d the onside kick. On 3rd & 10, White got a 10 yd run to the 5 and they got the apparent frontdoor push with a TD with 3:10 left. MSt, who earlier lost starting QB Conner to inj, brought in 3rd string QB Rutland who was inj?d on the drive?s first play and 4th string QB Evans was sacked back to the 2. WV?s Rivers ret?d the punt 50 yds for a TD with 1:07 left giving the Mountaineers an amazing frontdoor cover...Texas Tech had a 546-306 yd edge vs Missouri but could not overcome 5 turnovers including 3 that directly resulted in Missouri TD?s. Texas Tech fmbl?d at their own 12 and 4 plays later Missouri had a TD to lead 10-0 after 1Q. Amazingly, Harrell was int?d on back-to-back passes and ret?d 17 and 22 yds for TD?s within a span of :28 and the Raiders trailed 24-0. In the game, TTech was SOD at the MO 20, later fmbl?d at their 44 setting up a MO 2 play TD, was SOD at the MO 7 and fmbl?d at their own 40. Four TO?s basically equalled 28 pts for Missouri...LSU led Florida 7-0 and seemed in control but on the day had 5 TO?s and a blocked punt. They fmbl?d a punt setting up a Gator 19 yd TD drive. LSU went on a 75 yd, 17 play drive with the game tied at 7. They had a 22 yd TD pass called back on holding and then on 2nd & goal from the 1, fmbl?d with just 5:05 left in the half. After an int, UF drove 72 yds in 9 plays and got a TD with :22 left in the half, LSU fmbl?d the opening KO of the 3Q for a safety and then after having a punt blocked, went on a pair of 12 play drives but missed a 41 yd FG and settled for a 45 yd FG and fittingly ended with int?s at the UF 23 and in the EZ. LSU had a 22-14 FD edge...Arkansas St had a 372-223 yd edge over ULM and 21-13 FD edge. They could not overcome 5 TO?s all in ULM territory which stopped scoring drives including 2 int?s in the EZ!!...Toledo had 29-20 FD and 487-387 yd edges vs C Michigan. They also led 14-0. They allowed CM to get 2 TD?s and the key play of the game happened with just :20 left in the 1H. UT was driving for the potential go-ahead score when 1st time starter Opelt was sk?d & fmbl?d and CM ret?d it for a TD and a stunning 21-14 lead. They later added a 31 yd IR for a TD and had a 4-0 TO advantage...Vanderbilt had a 23-7 FD edge vs Ole Miss and 400-179 yd edge but could not overcome 5 turnovers and 2 missed FG?s plus their P was tackles instead of having a kick blocked which is not counted as a TO. Vandy lost QB Chris Nickson to inj in the 1H after he had hit 11 of 13 for 95 yds.
MISLEADING FINALS, FRONTDOOR AND BACKDOOR COVERS - We could have included the Arizona/UCLA game under Injuries of Note as both starting QB?s were inj?d in the 1H. UCLA?s Patrick Cowan hit 20 of 29 for 201 yds and UA?s Adam Austin hit 15 of 30 for 192. Tied at 7 in the 2Q, Arizona att?d an onside kick which UCLA rec?d and used the short field to drive 3 plays for a TD and led 14-7 at the half. It was 20-7 when UA?s 4th & 5 pass at the UCLA 30 fell incomplete with 8:14 left. UA?s next drive went 60 yds in 8 plays and they once again were threatening the backdoor cover with a FD at the 16 yd line. Not only were they int?d but the Bruins Verner ret?d it 89 yds for a TD with 4:19 left...Colorado St led UNLV 21-7 in the 4Q when they got a 14 yd IR for a TD to get ahead of the spread for the first time. In the 3Q UNLV was SOD and on the next play CSU hit a 64 yd TD pass. The Rams' Horinek tacked on a 14 yd IR TD in the 4Q for the final.
INJURIES OF NOTE - Outstanding SMU QB Justin Willis was suspended on Friday. Corey Slater, in his first start, hit 10 of 20 for 132 yds with 3 int and things did not look good for SMU when they trailed 17-0 at the half. UTEP had 21-7 FD and 297-190 yd edges but thanks to an 80 yd fmbl ret for a TD early 4Q, SMU actually led 21-17. UTEP drove 87 yds for a TD mid-4Q to pull out the win...E Carolina was without starting WR Aundrae Allison and starting RB Chris Johnson but still piled up 432 yds vs a decent Virginia D. EC led 24-7 at the half and coasted with UVA getting a garbage TD with :18 left to make the final respectable. One of UVA?s TD?s was a 19 yd drive set up by a blk?d punt in the 3Q...Michigan St was playing without leading rusher Javon Ringer, who is out for the season and only managed 60 yds rushing vs the #1 ranked rush D in the Nation. Michigan had leads of 24-0 and 31-7 and MSU lost star WR Matt Trannon to an ankle inj on their scoring drive with 7:18 left and did not cross midfield after that.
POINTS LEFT OFF THE BOARD CAN BE COSTLY - Florida St, in the 1H, had a 190-118 yd edge vs NC State but they settled for 3 FG?s inside the 10 yd line with FG?s of 25, 20 and 22 yds and only led 13-10. They led 20-10 late 3Q but gave up a couple of TD?s and were int?d with 2:32 left and no time-outs and with the new rules, NCSt simply took a knee 3 times after a delay penalty and was able to run out the rest of the clock...In the Friday night game, Louisville settled for 30, 24 and 20 yd FG?s on 10, 11 and 9 play drives leaving a lot of points off the board. They also gave Middle Tennessee 10 pts on an 88 yd KR for a TD and they fmbl?d a punt on their own 14 giving MT a FG. At the half they only led 23-10 despite a 295-85 yd edge. It proved costly to the spread as UL only won by 27 laying 29?...UCF dominated Marshall with a 488-366 yd edge rolling up 275 yds rushing and 213 passing. Points left off the board nearly cost them. It looked like they scored a TD on 4th & a foot from the goal line but the refs spotted them just short. UCF had an 8 and 9 play drives both end in 22 yd FG?s in the 1H and missed a 31 yd FG in the 2H. Marshall took the lead with a 50 yd FG with 3:00 left but UCF went on a 10 play drive and nailed a 22 yd FG with :06 left for the win...In the 1H Kent St had a FD at the 23 but was int?d in the EZ. They dropped a TD pass and on the next play missed a 37 yd FG and led just 14-10. Kent fmbl?d at the Kent 27 but still managed to climb to a 28-10 lead with 7:20 left. Temple was SOD on 4th & 9 at its own 27 and Kent had a shot at the frontdoor cover with a FD to the 14 but was SOD with 3:36 left and Temple went 81 yds in 8 plays for a garbage TD with 1:37 left...Colorado had a great shot at covering vs Baylor as in the 2nd OT they led by 7 and BU faced a 4th down but the Bears got a TD pass to Shelton to force a 3rd OT. After the Bears kicked a FG, CU opted to go for the EZ on 3rd down and Pawelek made a leaping int in the EZ. If the Buffs lose this week vs Texas Tech for their 11th straight defeat, they will eclipse the program?s longest ever losing streak which was first set in 1963-?64.
