Results of Last Week's Games to Watch
1. #17 Tennessee Volunteers vs. Virginia Tech Hokies
The setting for this game was truly astounding. Bristol Motor Speedway is gigantic, massive enough to contain two major league baseball stadiums with room to spare. The singing of the national anthem was especially moving, as 150,000 fans stood and held up colored signs to make it look like a gigantic American flag was wrapped around the inside of the stadium.
After a breathtaking entry onto the field by the teams, the action was set to begin. The first quarter was all Virginia Tech. The Volunteers offense sputtered while the Hokies used great effort from their running backs to score two touchdowns. The Tennessee sideline seemed devoid of emotion, looking exactly how they did when they eked out a win over overmatched Appalachian State a week ago. Fortunately for the Volunteers, the 2nd quarter would be far different.
On the first play of the quarter, bad timing forced a fumble by the Hokies which the Vols recovered after a mad scramble. Setting up shop at the Virginia Tech 5 yard line, it took Tennessee only one play to score on a perfect pass and catch from quarterback Josh Dobbs to receiver John Jennings. This sudden change in momentum ignited the emotions on the Tennessee sideline and would fuel them the rest of the game.
The combined passing and running ability of Dobbs and the route running skills of the Tennessee receiving core began to make mincemeat of the Virginia Tech defense. The Volunteers would score 17 more points in the quarter and go on a 45-3 scoring run that stretched until late in the 4th quarter.
With a string of tough teams on the horizon for Tennessee, including Alabama, I am very happy about this great victory for the Volunteers.
Final Score: Tennessee 42 Virginia Tech 17
2. Penn State Nittany Lions @ Pittsburgh Panthers
This game was the long awaited renewing of a rivalry between the best two college football teams in Pennsylvania and it attracted a sellout crowd. The star of the Panthers is undoubtedly running back James Conner, whose heroic quest to beat cancer and return to the football field has endeared him to fans in Pittsburgh and beyond.
On at least two drives in the first half, a hard-nosed run by Conner gave the Panthers a key first down that propelled them to a touchdown. Pittsburgh held a 28-7 lead at one point but Penn State mounted a comeback with touchdown drives sandwiched around halftime. The Panthers responded with a long touchdown drive that ended in Conner's first touchdown of the day, a one yard plunge into the endzone.
Penn State managed to quickly close the gap by scoring 10 straight points early in the 4th quarter, three of them off a turnover (scoring points off a turnover means a team scored on the drive after recovering a fumble or snagging an interception). Not about to blow a lead on their home turf, Panthers returner Quadree Henderson returned the ensuing kickoff all the way to the Penn State 10 yard line, setting up the offense with a very short field. Three plays later, James Conner caught a shovel pass and ran nearly untouched for the pivotal touchdown of the game. Conner celebrated joyously as did the throng of Pittsburgh fans.
Penn State made the Pittsburgh fans bite their nails with a late touchdown and a two point conversion, but Pittsburgh managed to seal the deal with an interception on the next Penn State drive. With this win, expect big things from the Panthers heading into ACC conference play in a couple weeks.
Final Score: Pittsburgh 42 Penn State 39
On at least two drives in the first half, a hard-nosed run by Conner gave the Panthers a key first down that propelled them to a touchdown. Pittsburgh held a 28-7 lead at one point but Penn State mounted a comeback with touchdown drives sandwiched around halftime. The Panthers responded with a long touchdown drive that ended in Conner's first touchdown of the day, a one yard plunge into the endzone.
Penn State managed to quickly close the gap by scoring 10 straight points early in the 4th quarter, three of them off a turnover (scoring points off a turnover means a team scored on the drive after recovering a fumble or snagging an interception). Not about to blow a lead on their home turf, Panthers returner Quadree Henderson returned the ensuing kickoff all the way to the Penn State 10 yard line, setting up the offense with a very short field. Three plays later, James Conner caught a shovel pass and ran nearly untouched for the pivotal touchdown of the game. Conner celebrated joyously as did the throng of Pittsburgh fans.
Penn State made the Pittsburgh fans bite their nails with a late touchdown and a two point conversion, but Pittsburgh managed to seal the deal with an interception on the next Penn State drive. With this win, expect big things from the Panthers heading into ACC conference play in a couple weeks.
Final Score: Pittsburgh 42 Penn State 39
Most Exciting Game of the Week
Arkansas Razorbacks @ #15 TCU Horned Frogs
In week 1 both of these teams struggled to distance themselves from inferior competition, but escaped with close wins. The Frogs and the Hogs would hope to put those uninspired performances behind them.
The first half was hard to watch as a TCU fan. The TCU offense struggled mightily, as a string of punts and a pair of turnovers was all they could manage. For their part, Arkansas did not capitalize on the opportunity to race out to a huge lead, only managing 6 points offensively. The only touchdown for the Razorbacks was on an interception return.
On the first drive of the 3rd quarter, the Horned Frogs offense finally woke up. Six completions by quarterback Kenny Hill to five different receivers got the Frogs all the way down to the 9 yard line. Hill handed the ball to receiver Kyle Hicks who ran outran the defenders to the corner of the endzone to get TCU on the board. Three possessions later, Arkansas scored a touchdown drive of their own that lasted six plays.
Not long after, only one quarter remained. After Arkansas missed a field goal, TCU scored a touchdown in under two minutes. A pair of consecutive punts by the Razorbacks gave the Horned Frogs all they needed to put together two more productive drives that ended in short touchdown scampers by Kenny Hill and Kyle Hicks.
With only two minutes left and down by eight, Arkansas was faced with the very real possibility that they had let a victory slip through their fingers. However, quarterback Austin Allen, whose brother was the starting quarterback for Arkansas last year, rallied the troops on offense. On every play of the next drive, Allen completed a pass to one of his quality receivers, the last one to Keon Hatcher for 16 yards and a touchdown.
On the ensuing two point conversion attempt, Arkansas employed a trick play. This time, Allen handed the ball over a running back who flipped the ball to Hatcher who ran to his left before passing the ball back to Allen now wide open in the endzone! The score now tied at 28 with only a minute left it looked like the game was headed to overtime.
TCU kickoff returner KaVontae Turpin had other ideas. He caught the ball, followed the pathway his blockers made for him and raced all the way down to the 27 yard line. A field goal to win the game seemed like a distinct possibility, especially after the Horned Frogs managed to make a 1st down on a run by Kenny Hill. With 10 seconds remaining, Ryan Graf and his kicking team lined up for an short 28 yarder. However, Arkansas had a secret weapon in 6' 10" lineman Dan Skipper. Skipper timed up the snap perfectly, jumped up, and stuck his paw in the path of the kick. The ball deflected sharply to the side and TCU fans reluctantly prepared themselves for overtime.
Allen threw a pass to tight end Jeremy Sprinkle on the third play of Arkansas' drive for a 19 yard touchdown, and TCU quarterback Kenny Hill responded with a 11 yard dart to receiver Taj Williams for the tying touchdown.
In the second overtime, TCU started with the ball but could only gain 5 yards in 3 plays and had to settle for a field goal. The first play for the Razorbacks offense went far better. Third string running back Dominique Reed entered the game and gained fifteen yards in one go, setting Arkansas up with a first and goal.
2 plays later, Arkansas had made it down to the 5 yard line. On this crucial 3rd and goal, Austin Allen caught the shotgun snap and immediately ran towards the corner of the endzone. Thanks to a couple of good blocks and great effort by Allen, he forced his way into the endzone for the game winning touchdown.
With this impressive performance, Arkansas looks like a team that could make waves in the West Division of the SEC. Their home game against Alabama in four weeks might just prove to be the game with the result I've been waiting for.
Final Score: Arkansas 41 TCU 38 (2OT)
On the ensuing two point conversion attempt, Arkansas employed a trick play. This time, Allen handed the ball over a running back who flipped the ball to Hatcher who ran to his left before passing the ball back to Allen now wide open in the endzone! The score now tied at 28 with only a minute left it looked like the game was headed to overtime.
TCU kickoff returner KaVontae Turpin had other ideas. He caught the ball, followed the pathway his blockers made for him and raced all the way down to the 27 yard line. A field goal to win the game seemed like a distinct possibility, especially after the Horned Frogs managed to make a 1st down on a run by Kenny Hill. With 10 seconds remaining, Ryan Graf and his kicking team lined up for an short 28 yarder. However, Arkansas had a secret weapon in 6' 10" lineman Dan Skipper. Skipper timed up the snap perfectly, jumped up, and stuck his paw in the path of the kick. The ball deflected sharply to the side and TCU fans reluctantly prepared themselves for overtime.
Allen threw a pass to tight end Jeremy Sprinkle on the third play of Arkansas' drive for a 19 yard touchdown, and TCU quarterback Kenny Hill responded with a 11 yard dart to receiver Taj Williams for the tying touchdown.
In the second overtime, TCU started with the ball but could only gain 5 yards in 3 plays and had to settle for a field goal. The first play for the Razorbacks offense went far better. Third string running back Dominique Reed entered the game and gained fifteen yards in one go, setting Arkansas up with a first and goal.
2 plays later, Arkansas had made it down to the 5 yard line. On this crucial 3rd and goal, Austin Allen caught the shotgun snap and immediately ran towards the corner of the endzone. Thanks to a couple of good blocks and great effort by Allen, he forced his way into the endzone for the game winning touchdown.
With this impressive performance, Arkansas looks like a team that could make waves in the West Division of the SEC. Their home game against Alabama in four weeks might just prove to be the game with the result I've been waiting for.
Final Score: Arkansas 41 TCU 38 (2OT)
Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 3
1. #12 Michigan State Spartans @ #18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish: 9/17 at 7:30 p.m. on NBC
Can the mean and green Spartans come to South Bend and a notch a victory or will the Fighting Irish successfully defend their home turf and return to the playoff discussion with an important victory?
My pick: Notre Dame
2. #2 Florida State Seminoles @ #10 Louisville Cardinals: 9/17 at Noon on ABC
Will the Cardinals vault themselves into legitimate playoff contention with a monumental victory or will the Seminoles use their powerful running game to continue their hunt for their 2nd National Championship in 4 years.
My pick: Louisville
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