Week 5 2017

Results of Last Week's Game to Watch 

1. #2 Clemson Tigers @ #12 Virginia Tech Hokies

As is tradition, the Hokies entered Lane Stadium as a Metallica song pounded from the stadium's speakers.  The fans were jumping up and down and were hoping for a landmark upset. 

From the start, Virginia Tech quarterback and his receiving corps led by Kam Phillips, were bottled up by the Clemson defense.  The Tigers defensive line, headlined by defensive end Christian Wilkins, continued to show they are the best front four in college football, pressuring the quarterback on every play.

On the other side of the ball the Tigers were productive, scoring a field goal on their first possession.  Then, after a 2nd Virginia Tech three-and-out, Clemson got the ball with good starting field position.  Three plays into the drive, a Virginia Tech linebacker blew his coverage of running back Tavien Feaster who raced out of the backfield, ready to catch a pass.  Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant lobbed the ball to Feaster, watching as he raced down the sideline for a 60 yard touchdown.

The Tech defense clamped down for the next 15 minutes of play, but their offense only managed to score 3 points during that span.  Towards the end of the 2nd quarter, Bryant found his rhythm throwing the ball, completing two big completions to wide receiver Deon Cain.  The first moved the ball 35 yards down the field and the second got the ball down to the 1.  One snap later, and running back C.J. Fuller rumbled in for the touchdown.

Clemson would go on to lengthen their lead early in the 3rd quarter with a long ten play drive that ended in a short touchdown run by Tavien Feaster.  Now leading by 21 points, the Clemson defense didn't let the lead shrink until early in the 4th quarter when a poor punt and a great return set the Hokies up at the 2 yard line.  Virginia Tech running back Sean Savoy darted around the left side of the defense and strolled into the endzone. 

After a Clemson punt on their next drive, Virginia Tech got the ball again and were hoping to cut further into the lead.  But their hopes were dashed on the 2nd play of the drive when Josh Jackson fired a pass to well-covered receiver Henry Murphy.  The ball bounced off Murphy's hands and landed on top of his helmet.  The ball rolled off the back of his helmet and was snatched out of the air by linebacker Dorian O'Daniel who returned it 22 yards for an easy pick 6.

Virginia Tech would add a late touchdown but their hopes of achieving an upset victory had long since past.  Their fans slowly exited the stadium, the excitement of their team's grand entrance fading into the past.  

Clemson has now beaten 3 top 15 teams in September, a feat that has never been accomplished before.  Can anyone from the ACC stop the Tigers?  In my opinion, No!

Final Score: Clemson 31, Virginia Tech 17

Most Exciting Game of the Week 

#5 USC Trojans @ #16 Washington State Cougars 

When I started watching college football back in 2011, Washington State was viewed as one of the worst teams in the major conferences and for good reason.  In their 3 previous seasons, they had never finished with more than 2 wins.  How much of a laughingstock the Cougars were can best be described from a running joke of sorts on the excellent pregame show College Gameday.  For years a group of fans had always been on hand to fly the Washington State flag, sort of a way to give some love for the lowliest team in college football.

It wasn't until 2015 that the Cougars actually finished with a winning record, mainly due to the talents of quarterback Luke Falk.  It was thought that this was nothing more than a flash in the pan, for the Washington State defense was still lackluster.  2 years later, the Cougars started to prove that they were here to stay.  Coming into this game with the vaunted Trojans, they had won their first 4 games in a row, most notably a win over the always capable Boise State Broncos.  The question was: could they go toe to toe with one of the most storied programs in the nation?

The scoring started right from the beginning.  Luke Falk completed four passes on the first drive for a total of 30 yards.  Combine that with a 30 yard run by tailback Jamal Morrow and the Cougars had their eyes on the endzone.  However, a sack of Falk by top USC pass rusher Rasheem Green stalled the drive and forced a field goal attempt, which was converted by kicker Erik Powell.

The Trojans, led by quarterback Sam Darnold, responded with a drive of their own, fueled by 4 completion for 34 yards by the sophomore quarterback. After that, Darnold showed his speed and toughness by running for 13 yards on 2 carries, the second of which being a 9 yard TD run.

The scoring then took a short hiatus as the next 4 drives ended in 3 punts and a lost fumble by Washington State.  Late in the first quarter, the Cougars got the ball deep in their own territory.  Falk got them out of trouble quickly with a pass to receiver Renard Bell who ran all the way to the USC 28.  Two plays later, wide receiver Tavares Martin Jr. caught a pass with blockers positioned on both sides: what is known as a tunnel screen. The blocks created a wide-open tunnel and Martin raced unimpeded into the endzone.

Three possessions later, the Trojans took the lead when running back Ronald Jones Jr. sped through a big hole in the right side of the defense and ran for a 86 yard touchdown. The Cougars were not able to formulate a reply when, on the first play of the drive, Falk threw an interception to a defensive lineman at his own 3 yard line.  In this pivotal moment of the game, the Washington State defense refused to give up no more than a yard in 3 plays.  The Trojans got 3 points with a field goal, but they knew they could have had more.

Washington State got the last possession of the half and made good use of it.  They marched down the field in 12 plays, moving the ball with short passes and a couple of important rushes by Morrow and his running mate James Williams.   With 13 seconds left in the half, Morrow muscled his way into the endzone to tie the game at 17.

Coming out of the locker room, the players of Washington State knew the chance for an upset was beginning to turn into a real possibility.  Quarterback Sam Darnold and the USC offense did not look like themselves on their first 4 drives, going three-and-out every time except when they went four-and-out.

However, the Cougars couldn't take full advantage of this, only scoring a field goal within that span.  The Trojans willed themselves forward on a drive late in the 3rd quarter, tallying a field goal to tie it up at 20.

Sensing the increase need to score, Falk completed 7 of his next 9 passes, which moved the ball all the way to the USC 34 yard line. But it was now 4th and 2.  Instead of running it, Head Coach Mike Leach kept the ball in Falk's hands and he came through with an 11 yard completion to receiver Kyle Sweet.  On the next play, Falk shoveled the ball to Morrow who broke through the defense for a 23 yard score, capping off a 12 play, 75 yard touchdown drive.

Not wanting to go down without a fight, Darnold found his rhythm again and constructed a 12 play, 75 yard touchdown drive of his own.  But the Cougars responded right away with a 8 play drive, the key play being a 35 yard run by Morrow.  Erik Powell soon kicked his 3rd made field goal of the day and the Cougars had a 3 point lead with 1:40 remaining.

A game-winning touchdown drive could certainly do wonders for Darnold's Heisman trophy campaign.  However, an incompletion was not a good way to start the drive.  On the 2nd play, things got far worse. Washington State defender Jahad Woods blitzed late and rocketed past the USC offensive line.  Darnold didn't react fast enough and had the ball knocked loose by the hit.  The Cougars recovered and the game was all but over.

A couple kneel downs later and the crowd cheered at the top of their lungs.  The fans clamored down the 3 foot high jump to field level and rushed onto thr gridiron.  This was undoubtedly the biggest win in program history and Washington State fans sure knew how to celebrate it.

Final Score: Washington State 30, USC 27

Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 6

1. #23 West Virginia Mountaineers @ #8 TCU Horned Frogs 

Will the Horned Frogs continue to rise up the rankings with another statement win over a top 25 team, giving their purple-clad fans more to cheer about?  Or will the Mountaineers saunter in to Fort Worth and come out with a victory? 

My pick: TCU all the way.

2. #17 Louisville Cardinals @ #24 NC State Wolfpack 

NC State garnered national attention two weeks ago with their upset of a Florida State team reeling over the loss of their quarterback Deondre François.  That victory might have been caused more by the Seminoles' weaknesses than the Wolfpack's strength.  But they certainly will have a chance to prove me wrong as the face Louisville, led by last year's Heisman winner: quarterback Lamar Jackson.  

Will the Cardinals gain much needed momentum with a quality road win? Or will the Wolfpack prove they are a force to be reckoned with in the ACC?

My pick: Louisville

Extra Point 

Vanderbilt Commodores @ #21 Florida Gators

Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks, who threw that long pass to beat Tennessee two weeks ago, was ineffective last week against Kentucky.  Gators Head Coach Jim McElwain benched Franks and brought in 2nd-string quarterback Luke Del Rio.  Del Rio led the Gators to a 14 point comeback victory in that game and so it was no surprise that he was given the start against Vanderbilt.  

The game started off well for Del Rio.  He completed short and medium length passes effectively on Florida's first drive.  The determined Florida offensive line and hard-nosed running backs did the rest.  On the tenth play of the drive, Lamical Perine blasted in from a yard out to give the Gators a 7-0 lead.  The game went back and forth the rest of the 1st half.  Vanderbilt scored 17 points on a pair of touchdown passes by quarterback Kyle Shurmur and a field goal just before the half.  Florida tallied a field goal and scored a 2nd touchdown on another TD run by Perine.

Now for the unfortunate truth.  Del Rio was hit legally by a blitzer late in the 2nd quarter. He got to his feet with help and walked slowly to the sideline, suffering from pain in his left shoulder.  He went to the locker room for X-rays and Feleipe Franks was thrust back into action.  

Franks played quite well in the 2nd half, completing short passes when called upon and a few medium length passes as well.  The Gators' running game continued to give Florida fans reasons to do the Gator Chomp.   Florida running back Malik Davis scored two touchdowns in the 2nd half and Perine added another to bring his total touchdowns to a total of 3 for the day.  The Gators' defense clamped shut around the Commodores and Florida was soon celebrating their 3rd win in a row.

After the game came the terrible news that Del Rio had suffered a broken left collarbone and is out for the season.  My prayers go out for him, as I'm sure he needs them during this difficult season of his life.

Yet again, Florida has to deal with a setback at the quarterback position.   Thankfully, Feleipe Franks has shown moments of greatness and will hopefully develop into a good, consistent quarterback. 

Final Score: Florida 38, Vanderbilt 24