Results of Last Week's Games to Watch
1. #19 Oklahoma Sooners @ #22 Tennessee Volunteers
This game was dominated by the Volunteers during the first twenty minutes as they slowly but steadily built a solid 17-0 lead. The only points the Sooners could manage in the 1st half was a field goal tallied with just under 5 minutes left in the half. The 3rd quarter was the most boring twenty minutes of football I've seen in awhile. Overthrown passes, dropped balls, and feeble run plays helped create a period of game time that featured 7 punts, a missed field goal, and an interception. It appeared inevitable that Tennessee would coast to a 17-3 victory. However, with 13 minutes left in the game, Oklahoma began a 14 play drive that ended in a 5 yard TD pass by quarterback Baker Mayfield. The lead had been cut in half, but Tennessee's offense continued to sputter. After another punt by the Volunteers, the Sooners methodically drove down to the red zone again. On a 3rd and Goal with 40 seconds left, Mayfield threw the ball while getting chased into the hands of star receiver Sterling Shepard who caught it for the game-tying touchdown.. The passionate Volunteers fans were stunned their team had let the Sooners come back.
In the 1st overtime, both teams scored a touchdown during their allotted possession, forcing a 2nd overtime. During Oklahoma's 2nd overtime possession, on a 3rd and 3, Mayfield again found Shepard who sped into the endzone for a 18 yard TD. On the 3rd play of Tennessee's possession, Oklahoma cornerback intercepted the pass to seal the victory. The Tennessee faithful filed glumly out of the stadium, disappointed that their team had let a game get away from them.
Final Score: Oklahoma 31 Tennessee 24 (2OT)
2. #7 Oregon Ducks @ #5 Michigan State Spartans
Aside from Oregon's first drive, Michigan State's defense dominated the first half. Through the first thirty minutes, the Spartans held the usually explosive Ducks offense to just over 200 yards and 7 points, due in large part to two interceptions and a 4th down stop. On offense, most of the big plays came from senior quarterback Connor Cook who threw 2 passing touchdowns to give the Spartans a 14-7 halftime lead. After a Michigan State punt on the first possession of the 2nd half, Oregon returner Braylon Addison caught the punt, made the first man miss, picked up a wall of blockers, and sprinted into the endzone. After the dust settled from the 81 yard punt return TD, the Spartans got back to business. Thanks to 2 TD runs by Michigan State running back LJ Scott and great defense in the 3rd quarter, Oregon never even tied the game again. The Ducks made it close at the end, managing to drive into Spartans territory down by 3, but they were stopped on 4th and long. The Michigan State players sprinted onto the field as the clock struck zero, knowing they had achieved a great victory over a top 10 team.
Final Score: Michigan State 31 Oregon 28
Most Exciting Game of the Week
#9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Virginia Cavaliers
The first score of the game came by way of a unusual play. Notre Dame was lined up for a field goal. The holder, who happened to be backup quarterback Deshone Kizer, caught the snap and tossed it to a tight end who bulldozed his way into the endzone. Judging from the expressions on the Virginia sideline, nobody saw that coming. Adding to the peculiarity of the end of Notre Dame's first drive, they went for 2 and failed, leaving the score at 6-0.
Fast forward to the 2nd quarter. After two field goals by the Fighting Irish, the Cavaliers offense, led by junior quarterback Matt Johns, found their stride and scored 2 touchdowns, giving them a 14-12 halftime lead. The 3rd quarter was all Notre Dame as talented quarterback Malik Zaire threw for a touchdown while the Virginia offense struggled. But late in the 3rd quarter, tragedy struck the Irish. While Zaire was getting tackled, a Virginia defender landed on his foot, thereby twisting his ankle in a cringe worthy direction. Zaire tried to get up but quickly fell back onto the ground. It was soon evident that Zaire's ankle had broken, a season ending injury. On the next play, backup Deshone Kizer handed to ball off to speedy running back C.J. Prosise who ran 24 yards for a touchdown. The Irish now had a 26-14 lead, but the mood of the entire team seemed deflated after seeing their starting quarterback carted off the field. That feeling would come into play in the final quarter.
The Notre Dame defense seemed as distraught as the offense over the injury and quickly gave up a 6 play TD drive to Virginia. (26-21 Irish lead) Little happened during the next 5 minutes of the 4th quarter, as a Virginia drive ending in a lost fumble was sandwiched between 2 Notre Dame punts. Just under 8 minutes remained, and the Cavaliers knew it was now or never. Starting at their own twenty, Virginia resolutely drove down the field. Not a 4th & 3 situation or even a 3rd & 15 could stop them. Running back Albert Reid punched the ball into the endzone giving the Cavaliers a slim 27-26 lead. Virginia tried to go for 2 to give them a field goal sized advantage but they failed.
1:52 remained and Notre Dame needed only a field goal to win. Notre Dame managed to get the ball to the Virginia 39 yard line in the next minute and a half, thanks to crisp passing by Kizer. The game looked like it would come down to whether or not Irish kicker Justin Yoon could manage to convert a long field goal. But Kizer had one more play to work with and he would take full advantage of it. After avoiding a sack, Kizer lofted the ball toward receiver Will Fuller who was sprinting toward the left side of the endzone. Fuller blew past a Cavaliers defender, lifted his hands, and caught the ball for a touchdown!
The Virginia fans stood in stunned silence, as the Notre Dame fans who had made the trip high-fived each other. Every year, it seems that Notre Dame manages to win at least 1 game in stunning fashion, but this time it came at a heavy price. Without Zaire, many now consider this team unworthy of top 10 status.
Final Score: Notre Dame 34 Virginia 27
Fast forward to the 2nd quarter. After two field goals by the Fighting Irish, the Cavaliers offense, led by junior quarterback Matt Johns, found their stride and scored 2 touchdowns, giving them a 14-12 halftime lead. The 3rd quarter was all Notre Dame as talented quarterback Malik Zaire threw for a touchdown while the Virginia offense struggled. But late in the 3rd quarter, tragedy struck the Irish. While Zaire was getting tackled, a Virginia defender landed on his foot, thereby twisting his ankle in a cringe worthy direction. Zaire tried to get up but quickly fell back onto the ground. It was soon evident that Zaire's ankle had broken, a season ending injury. On the next play, backup Deshone Kizer handed to ball off to speedy running back C.J. Prosise who ran 24 yards for a touchdown. The Irish now had a 26-14 lead, but the mood of the entire team seemed deflated after seeing their starting quarterback carted off the field. That feeling would come into play in the final quarter.
The Notre Dame defense seemed as distraught as the offense over the injury and quickly gave up a 6 play TD drive to Virginia. (26-21 Irish lead) Little happened during the next 5 minutes of the 4th quarter, as a Virginia drive ending in a lost fumble was sandwiched between 2 Notre Dame punts. Just under 8 minutes remained, and the Cavaliers knew it was now or never. Starting at their own twenty, Virginia resolutely drove down the field. Not a 4th & 3 situation or even a 3rd & 15 could stop them. Running back Albert Reid punched the ball into the endzone giving the Cavaliers a slim 27-26 lead. Virginia tried to go for 2 to give them a field goal sized advantage but they failed.
1:52 remained and Notre Dame needed only a field goal to win. Notre Dame managed to get the ball to the Virginia 39 yard line in the next minute and a half, thanks to crisp passing by Kizer. The game looked like it would come down to whether or not Irish kicker Justin Yoon could manage to convert a long field goal. But Kizer had one more play to work with and he would take full advantage of it. After avoiding a sack, Kizer lofted the ball toward receiver Will Fuller who was sprinting toward the left side of the endzone. Fuller blew past a Cavaliers defender, lifted his hands, and caught the ball for a touchdown!
The Virginia fans stood in stunned silence, as the Notre Dame fans who had made the trip high-fived each other. Every year, it seems that Notre Dame manages to win at least 1 game in stunning fashion, but this time it came at a heavy price. Without Zaire, many now consider this team unworthy of top 10 status.
Final Score: Notre Dame 34 Virginia 27
Top 2 Games To Watch: Week 3
1. #18 Auburn Tigers @ #13 LSU Tigers: 9/19 at 3:30 p.m. on CBS
This ferocious battle between Tigers features two teams whose seasons are trending in opposite directions. Auburn is 2-0 but the manner of their last win makes me seriously question my choice to pick them as one of the teams to make it into the College Football Playoff. They let a puny team from Jacksonville State, a division I-AA team, get way too close to upsetting them at home. Auburn had to score a late touchdown to force overtime, which they managed to win. That's not the kind of performance that's going to earn them anything more than a loss in the rigors of SEC play. LSU's offense, on the other hand, is firing on all cylinders on the legs of sophomore powerhouse Leonard Fournette. Will Auburn piece together a win in hostile territory, or will LSU continue their upward climb in the polls with a key home victory?
My pick: LSU Tigers
2. #14 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets @ #8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish: 9/19 at 3:30 p.m. on NBC
My pick: Notre Dame
Extra Point:
BYU wins again on a Hail Mary again, this time in front of their home crowd beating #20 Boise State. The call by the ESPN commentator made it even better: "WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE!!! TOUCHDOWN BYU!!" Check out the video on this page: http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=400787118
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