Week 9 2017

Results of Last Week's Games to Watch 

#14 NC State Wolfpack @ #9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 

A loss in this game would definitely either team from playoff contention.  And the home team would not be losing Saturday.  

NC State got on the board first when the Wolfpack blocked a punt and recovered it in the endzone for a touchdown.   Notre Dame responded with a drive that concluded with a 25 yard passing touchdown by quarterback Brandon Wimbush. The scoring ceased until the 2nd quarter when NC State scored a touchdown on a 15 yard pass by their quarterback Ryan Finley.   However, the Fighting Irish then took control of the game with 2 straight touchdown drives that gave them a 21-14 at the half.

Notre Dame's defense shutout NC State the rest of the way and returned an interception for a touchdown to make matters worse for the Wolfpack.  Josh Adams, the top running back for the Fighting Irish, sped down the field for a 77 yard touchdown in the 3rd quarter, icing the game for all intents and purposes. 

Final Score: Notre Dame 35, NC State 14

Most Exciting Game of the Week 

#2 Penn State Nittany Lions @ #6 Ohio State Buckeyes 

The stakes for this game couldn't have been higher for the Buckeyes.  Penn State was undefeated coming into this game and could afford a loss while still remaining in the chase for the playoffs.  Ohio State, on the other hand, had already suffered a loss early in the season to Oklahoma.  A 2nd loss would virtually destroy the Buckeyes' chances of making the playoffs.

According to how the game started for Ohio State, elimination from the playoff discussion seemed to be their destiny.  The coin toss decided that Penn State would receive the ball first.  This made the Penn State coaches happy because star running back Saquon Barkley was their return man and they were hoping he would have a chance to create a great return.  The Ohio State kicker unwisely did not kick the ball away from Barkley.  Big mistake.   Upon catching the ball, Barkley started toward the left sideline before realizing the Buckeyes coverage team had left the other side of the field wide open.  Barkley zoomed across the field, took advantage of good blocking by his teammates, and scored a 97 yard kick return touchdown that silenced the crowd.

This horrendous start for the Buckeyes would only get worse when wide receiver Parris Campbell fumbled on the 3rd play of Ohio State's opening drive.  This set the Penn State offense with exceptional field position at the Ohio State 22 yard line.  Five plays later, the Nittany Lions found the endzone when quarterback Trace McSorley completed a 13 yard TD pass to top receiver DaeSean Hamilton.

Ohio State's next drive didn't go much better for one reason: bad play calling.  For weeks, senior quarterback J.T Barrett had proven that his medium and deep passing abilities had improved greatly.  But much to my bewilderment, when the Buckeyes passed the ball, they called screen passes which are thrown to wide receivers behind the line of scrimmage.  The talented Nittany Lion defense stopped many of those plays for minimal or sometimes even negative yardage. Eventually, the Ohio State offensive coordinator began to trust Barrett with some deep passing opportunites, but he should have figured it out far quicker when he's paid an insane amount of money to call plays.  (Some of the blame should be placed on Head Coach Urban Meyer as well).

 The Buckeyes finally got on the board with a field goal with 4 minutes left in the 1st quarter.  After this, 4 straight touchdown drives occurred.  The first of Penn State's two touchdown drives were powered by the arm of Trace McSorley and the legs of Saquon Barkley.

The second was due to blunders committed by Ohio State and the referees. 

After scoring their first touchdown of the day to make the score 21-10, Ohio State had to kick off again.  Kickoffs continued to be an embarrasing problem for the Buckeyes when a good kick that kept the ball away from Barkely was negated by a offsides penalty on the kicking team.  Ohio State had to repeat the kickoff and this time terrible positioning reared its ugly head again.  The Buckeyes kick coverage team all directly raced toward secondary returner Koa Farmer once he caught the ball instead of staying in their lanes.  Soon they were out of position again!  Just like Barkley, Farmer faked left then cut back to the right, speeding all the way down to the Ohio State 23 yard line.  As a Buckeyes fan, I wanted to cover my face with a pillow after those two plays.

Penn State was actually almost prevented from scoring when a  defensive back intercepted a McSorley pass in the endzone. However, a bogus defensive pass interference was called on Buckeyes cornerback Damon Arnette, giving the Nittany Lions the ball at the 6 yard line.  Quarterback Trace McSorley ran for a touchdown on the next play and Penn State now led 28-10.

Fortunately, the play calling continued to improve for the Buckeyes.  Ohio State running back Mike Weber busted into the endzone on the last play of a very important touchdown drive.  The Buckeyes had cut the lead to 28-17 and the score remained the same going into halftime. 

When the Buckeyes opened the 3rd quarter with a drive that ended in a field goal, the Ohio State faithful were invigorated with fresh passion for their team.    However, Penn State's next possession would quiet the crowd again.  McSorley and Barkley continued to make headway against the Ohio State defense.

On the 10th play of the drive, McSorley lofted a deep pass to wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins.  Thompkins was well covered and both receiver and defender had their hands on the ball when they landed in the endzone.  The play was originally ruled an interception but upon review it was apparent that Thompkins had been the one that truly caught the ball.

Yet again, Penn State held a two score lead: this time 35-20.  This score held for the rest of the 3rd quarter, but the scoreboard would sure shift in the 4th!  

Early in the final quarter of play, Penn State was forced into a three-and-out by the great play of the Ohio State defensive line.  The Buckeyes decided to bring an all-out blitz the try and block the ensuing punt.  Denzel Ward sped around the right side of the screen of Penn State blockers and knocked the ball out of the air soon after it left the punters's foot.

Ohio State defender Dante Booker picked the ball up and returned it 6 yards to the Penn State 41.

The special teams unit had finally come through with a great play and the entire Ohio State team had a fresh wave of confidence.   Two plays afterwards, Barrett fired an accurate pass over the middle to wide receiver Johnnie Dixon who caught it in stride and galloped into the endzone for a 38 yard touchdown.  The Nittany Lions now possessed a 1 score, 35-27 lead. 

Penn State managed to scrape together enough offense to tally a field goal, but it was obvious the Ohio State defense was just beginning to get the upper hand.  

Now down by 11 with under six minutes left, the Buckeyes had to score, and fast! They scored at lightning-fast speed as a matter of fact.  J.T. Barrett continued to show just how much he has improved as a passer, throwing two crisp passes to wide receiver Austin Mack, and one to K.J. Hill, before finding Johnnie Dixon for another touchdown.

The Buckeyes went for two to try and get within a field goal but failed.

Seeing their lead dwindling to only five, Penn State was nonetheless unable to respond because of the constant pressure that Ohio State's defensive line was able to exert on McSorley.  When the Buckeyes got the ball back with 3 minutes remaining, it seemed like they had enough confidence to complete the comeback.

Barrett still had to make a key throw under pressure to keep his offense running on all cylinders, but he was up to the task.

J.T. concluded the drive with a perfect placed completion to tight end Marcus Baugh to give the Buckeyes their first lead of the game.

The Lions of Nittany had plenty of time to mount a comeback attempt of their own, but didn't even get a sniff of the endzone.  The defensive line of Ohio State, arguably the best in the nation, got continued pressure on McSorley, giving him no time at all to throw the ball.  A final desperate 4th down pass by McSorley skipped off the turf and the game was all but over.

Having witnessed such a dramatic comeback, it was no wonder that Ohio State fans rushed the field to revel in the victory.

Look out, College Football Playoff Selection Committee, the Buckeyes are making their case!

Final Score: Ohio State 39, Penn State 38

Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 10

1.  #5 Oklahoma Sooners @ #11 Oklahoma State Cowboys 

This rivarly is affectionately known as Bedlam.  Considering this is also a playoff elimination game, things could be even wilder.  Will the Sooners beat the Cowboys and prove once again that they are the top program in the state?  Or will Oklahoma State finally show they can win a big game?

My pick: Oklahoma   

2.  #13 Virginia Tech Hokies @ #10 Miami Hurricanes 

Miami has shown they can win close games with a combination of will to win and fortunate bounces.  Will the Hurricanes' quest for an undefeated season end against the Hokies?  Or will Head Coach Mark Richt guide his team to yet another victory? 

My pick: Miami 

Week 8 2017

Results of Last Week's Games to Watch 

1.  #19 Michigan Wolverines @ #2 Penn State Nittany Lions 

The stadium where this very important Big Ten game occurred is known as Happy Valley, and I can assure you that opposing teams are not happy to play here.  On Saturday night, fans were clad all in white, waving thousands of white streamers attached to wands.  Over 110,000 fans are squeezed inside the stadium and there were so many streamers that it looks like a blizzard is going on!  To stay this is a tough environment to play in would be like saying the wind is cold in Antarctica.

The scoring got started in a hurry on Penn State's first possession.  After a six yard completion by quarterback Trace McSorley, the Nittany Lions unveiled a unexpected play that caught the Michigan defense off guard.  Super talented running back Saquon Barkley caught a direct snap and faked like he was going to run to the right.  The Michigan defense took the bait after which Barkley cut back to the left and sped into open grass.

Sixty-nine yards later, Barkley raced into the endzone for a touchdown that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Michigan's ensuing drive ended quickly when quarterback John O'Korn was sacked by defensive lineman Curtis Cothran on 3rd down.  Penn State got the ball back and wasted no time in doing something with it.  A  23 yard scamper by McSorley and a 35 yard completion to receiver Mike Gisicki got the ball into the redzone.  Barkley scored on the next play with a 15 yard touchdown run and this game appeared to be heading to the city of No Contest.

Fortunately for college football purists, the roles would soon reverse.  Late in the first quarter, a McSorley pass was intercepted and returned 20 yards, setting the Michigan offense up with good field position.  Using a good mix of running plays and short passes, the Wolverines marched down the field in 11 plays and scored a touchdown on a 4th and Goal rush by running back Karan Higdon.  But the Michigan kicker missed the extra point and the Wolverines had only cut the lead to 14-6.

The teams then traded punts.  Penn State had a chance to extend their lead on their next drives, but a dropped pass by Barkley soon led to a turnover on downs.

The Wolverines took this opportunity and went on a drive fueled by two medium length completions by O'Korn.  Michigan running back Ty Isaac blasted his way into the endzone on the final play of the drive and the score became 14-13.

Penn State fans were now getting restless, sensing the tide was turning.  However, the Nittany Lions would grab the momentum right back on their next possession.   Trace McSorley proved how valuable he is by completing 3 passes for a total of 65 yards, guiding his team into the redzone once again.

McSorley capped the drive off with a 3 yard touchdown run that gave Penn State all the momentum heading into the half.

The rest of the game was all Penn State.  The Nittany Lions continued to shred the Wolverine defense by scoring 3 more touchdowns.  On the other side, Michigan offense's earlier successes ended as the Penn State defense began to prove that their offense isn't the only reason why they #2 team in the nation.  The game ended in resounding fashion soon after the Wolverines' final attempt to scrape together some points ended in a turnover on downs.

This victory keeps Penn State locked in prime position in the hunt for a playoff spot and sets up one heck of a game between the Nittany Lions and the Buckeyes.

Final Score: Penn State 42, Michigan 13

2.  #11 USC Trojans @ #13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 

Billed as a virtual playoff elimination game, this showdown had all the ingredients to be an instant classic like many other games in the lore of this great rivalry.  But would the ingredients combine to form a delicious helping of college football?

Notre Dame received the opening kickoff but quickly went three-and-out.  USC soon had control of the ball and were hoping to take advantage of it.  USC started in shotgun formation with quarterback Sam Darnold ready to make something happen.  Unfortunately for him, the snap was too high and Darnold just barely got his fingertips on it. The ball spun wildly through the air as Notre Dame defensive lineman Tevon Coney, unblocked in the chaos, crashed into the quarterback.  In the end, the ball ended up hitting the ground close to Coney and he dove on it to secure the turnover.

This disaster of a start for the Trojans would only get worse as Notre Dame would get on the scoreboard three plays later with a touchdown pass by quarterback Brandon Wimbush.

The rest of the first half continued in much the same fashion. Notre Dame's offense fired on all cylinders while Sam Darnold and USC could hardly do anything right.  The Fighting Irish would score three more touchdowns in the first half while the most noteworthy thing Darnold accomplished was to throw an interception.

In the 2nd half, things went a little better for USC, as Darnold passed for 2 touchdowns the first two times his team had the ball.  However, it mattered little in the end because Notre Dame responed each time with touchdowns of their own.  The stingy Notre Dame defense kept USC off the scoreboard the rest of the game, stamping out any hope for a comeback.   

Notre Dame is sure looking like a true playoff contender but their schedule doesn't get any easier.  The question is: Can the Fighting Irish continue on their winning ways or will they be tripped up in the end?

Final Score: Notre Dame 49, USC 14

Most Exciting Game of the Week 

#25 Memphis Tigers @ Houston Cougars

A pivotal battle in the American Conference, this game would prove which team was one of the toughest cats in the conference.  Haha.  Cat humor.

Anyways, the first half was dominated by Houston.  The Tigers offense, averaging 40 points per game in their previous contests, couldn't manage to score a point as their possessions were plagued by  turnovers and three-and-outs.  Houston capitalized by scoring 17 points, a respectable advantage but not large enough to erase the possibility of a comeback.

Houston quickly went three-and-out to start the third quarter, giving Memphis just the opportunity they needed.  Tigers quarterback Riley Ferguson shook off the terrible start and started to look like himself.  Ferguson used 6 passes, including one that drew a pass interference penalty on the defense, to lead his team inside the Houston 5 yard line.
Two plays later, running back Patrick Taylor Jr. rumbled into the endzone to get the Tigers onto the scoreboard.

The Cougars roared back with a productive drive of their own.  Houston reached the redzone after 7 plays, the most notable of which were a 15 yard rush by running back Dillon Bardin and two completions by quarterback Kyle Postma for 35 yards.  It took the Cougars 6 more plays to reach the endzone, needing a 4th down conversion to keep the drive alive.  The score was now 24-7 and the pressure was now solidly back on the Memphis offense to keep the game close.

Ferguson didn't need to lift a finger, however, when the Tigers' speedy kick returner Tony Pollard took the ensuing kickoff back for a game-changing 93 yard touchdown.

The scoring kept on going a rapid pace as both teams scored a touchdown on their next possession.  Houston still maintained a 31-21 lead with just a little over 1 quarter to play.  The Cougars had the ball next and began to construct what looked to be another long scoring drive.  But their plans were soon upended. Defensive lineman Tito Windham was tired of Houston scoring at will against him and the Memphis defense.  Windham evaded the offensive lineman blocking him, ran toward Postma and knocked the ball out of the quarterback's  hands before Postma threw it.  Fellow Memphis defender John Tate recovered the fumble and the Tigers took a big step toward shrinking the deficit even further.

Memphis scored yet another touchdown on their next drive, as the Tigers offense continued to prove they could move the ball down the field almost at will.  Patrick Taylor Jr. tallied his 3rd touchdown run of the day 9 plays into the drive to get his team within 3.

Houston's success on offense did not end either.  Thirteen plays later, the Cougars scored again on an 8 yard touchdown pass from Postma to receiver Stephen Dunbar.

As you would expect, Memphis wasn't done scoring.  Riley Ferguson continued to be red-hot, torching the Houston defense like he was burning hay.

An exceptional 52 yard completion from Ferguson to top receiver Anthony Miller, plus a personal foul penalty on Houston, moved the ball 57 yards on 1 play.  One snap later, Patrick Taylor Jr. scored his 4th TD of the day.

Taking a cue from the offense, Memphis' defense stepped up once again and forced Houston to punt on their next drive.  It was almost inevitable that the Tigers would score again, and sure enough they did.  A 21 yard pass from Ferguson to receiver Sean Dykes went for a touchdown and the Tigers had their first lead of the day: 42-38!

Yes, folks, that means they scored 42 points in one half of play.

The Cougars ended up having two tries to construct a game-winning drive, but each opportunity ended in a turnover.  Houston fans were soon leaving the stadium with a sour taste in their mouths as Memphis players and fans were just beginning to revel in a comeback victory that was one of the most impressive of the season.

Final Score: Memphis 42, Houston 38

Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 9

1.  #2 Penn State Nittany Lions @ #6 Ohio State Buckeyes

This game is of monumental importance due to the fact that both teams are solidly in the playoff discussion.   Will the Nittany Lions follow up their victory over the Wolverines by defeating Michigan's rival on the road in a hostile environment?  Or will the Buckeyes prove their early season loss to Oklahoma will be just a blip in the radar at the end of the season?

My pick: Ohio State, obviously!  O-H-I-O!!

2.  #14 NC State Wolfpack @ #8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 

Although this matchup won't be headlining the weekend, it is no less important. If Notre Dame can keep winning, they will be in the playoffs at season's end.  Will the Wolfpack stake their own claim to a playoff spot at the expense of the Fighting Irish?  Or will Notre Dame prove they will play like champions on Saturday?

My pick: Notre Dame

Week 7 2017

Results of Last Week's Game to Watch 

#25 Navy Midshipmen @ Memphis Tigers 

This American Conference showdown started fast, with Navy taking a 10-7 lead after just 3 total possessions.  The rest of the first half saw only a field goal scored by Memphis, bringing the score to a 10-10 tie at the break.

The 3rd quarter started badly for the Midshipmen.  Early in Navy's possession, quarterback Zach Abey's pass was intercepted by Memphis linebacker Austin Hall who returned it to Navy's 12 yard line.  Two plays later, Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson completed a pass to Darrell Henderson for a ten yard touchdown.

The Midshipmen couldn't muster any response on their ensuing drive, but a great punt by Owen White pinned the Tigers at the own 1 yard line.  The punt paid dividends when Ferguson was forced to throw the ball out of bounds to avoid getting tackled in his own endzone.  Ferguson was still in the pocket when he threw it, which merits an intentional grounding penalty.  By rule, intentional grounding in the endzone is a safety for the opposing team, worth 2 points.  Being awarded a safety also meant that Navy would receive a kickoff from Memphis.

The Navy triple-option offense then went to work, running the ball play after play, wearing down the Memphis defense.  Quarterback Zach Abey muscled his way into the endzone on the 10th play of the drive and the Midshipmen now had a 19-17 lead.

Riley Ferguson responded to the adversity well, throwing 5 straight completions on the Tigers' next drive.  But eventually, two incompletions necessitated a field goal attempt.  Kicker Riley Patterson nailed the 42 yarder, giving Memphis a 20-19 lead.

The Memphis defense followed up the success of their offense by ending the success of Navy's potent running attack with a defensive stop.  After receiving the ensing punt, the Memphis picked up where they left off.   Five plays into the drive, the Tigers had charged into Navy territory thanks to a personal foul penalty against a Navy player.  The next 2 plays were as tasty as a nice juicy steak for the Tigers.  Top receiver Anthony Miller caught a pass from Ferguson on the first, and wide receiver Phil Mayhue used a spectacular toe drag along the left sideline to haul in the pass on the second.  It was not long before Miller caught his 2nd touchdown pass of the day.

Navy started to self-destruct on their next drive when Abey fumbled deep in his own territory.  Memphis defender Curtis Akins fell on the loose ball and the Tigers had secured any momentum they didn't already have.  Despite the exceptional field position, the Tigers weren't able to take full advantage and settled for a field goal.

Memphis now led 30-19 and appeared to be on their way to a victory.  However, the Tigers had a turnover of their own midway through the 4th quarter. Afterwards, the Navy offense found their sea legs and put together a touchdown drive, adding 2 points on a successful conversion attempt.  Memphis' lead was now down to 3 and they punted on their next drive, giving Navy a chance to set sail on a game-winning drive.  But the Midshipmen's dream were short-lived as Abey threw an interception on the first play to none other than linebacker Austin Hall.

Memphis simply ran the rest of the clock out and roared like Tigers as they celebrated an important victory over a military academy that always fields tough football teams.

Final Score: Memphis 30, Navy 27

Most Exciting Game of the Week 

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets @ #11 Miami Hurricanes 

Two weekends ago, Miami snatched a victory away from Florida State, a rival they hadn't defeated in 7 years, by way of a last-second touchdown pass from quarterback Malik Rozier to wide receiver Darrell Langham.  The looming question for Miami was whether or not they could handle Georgia Tech and their crafty triple-option rushing attack so soon after celebrating a monumental victory.

Early in the 2nd quarter, it appeared that Miami had not handled success well. They were trailing 14-3 due to an offense which could hardly do anything right and a defense that couldn't stop the triple-option.   But much to the delight of the home fans, the Hurricanes began to do things rights on offense, scoring 10 unanswered points during the remainder of the quarter.

Coming out of the locker room, the Hurricanes were only down by a point, but would have to kick the ball to the Yellow Jackets.  Knowing Georgia Tech was apt to control time of possession in a game, Miami Head Coach Mark Richt decided to try an onside kick to catch Georgia Tech off guard.  The kick would need to travel right around ten yards to give Miami a chance to legally recover it.  Miami kicker Michael Badgely attempted the onside kick, but the ball traveled definitely less than ten yards.  It hit a Miami player in the foot and bounced into an area of empty grass.  Thinking quickly, Georgia Tech's Lamont Simmons picked up the ball and raced 42 yards to score a gift-wrapped touchdown.   

After this blunder that I can only describe as the worst onside kick attempt I have ever seen, Miami trailed by 8.   Each team scored a field goal in the 3rd quarter and Georgia Tech's lead remained unchanged.

At the start of the 4th quarter, Miami's offense was approaching midfield, trying to mount a drive that could possibly tie the game.  Right around that time, a late afternoon rain shower, quite typical in south Florida, began to drench the field. Soon, players were splashing, slipping, and sliding as they continued to play. Almost as if the Hurricanes were energized by the weather, the Miami offensive line opened a big hole that running back Travis Homer sped through en route to a 27 yard touchdown dash.  Miami would try for a two point conversion, but failed when a pass by Rozier fell incomplete.

The Hurricanes were still down by 2 and the Yellow Jackets were not about to let that lead slip away.  Georgia Tech forced Miami to punt on their next two drives, but Miami's defense played just as tough and forced 3 punts.

At this point, only 2 1/2 minutes remained in the game and Miami had the ball, affording them one last chance to construct a game-winning drive.

The first part of the drive went well for the Hurricanes.  Three completions from Rozier to top wide receiver Braxton Berrios provided the spark to get the drive moving.  Then, 3 straight completions from Rozier to receiver Christopher Herndon IV pushed the ball forward to the Georgia Tech 34 yard line.  Another completion to Berrios appeared to have brought Miami into field goal range, but an illegal block penalty on Miami brought it back.

Three plays later and Miami was facing a do-or-die 4th and 10.  Rozier caught the shotgun snap but didn't find any open receivers right away and scrambled out of the pocket.  With the Georgia Tech defensive line bearing down on him, Rozier elected to loft a pass toward the hero of the previous week's game: wide receiver Darrell Langham.  Langham was surrounded by two defenders, and, as I watched the ball sail through the air, I had major doubts as to Langham's chances of catching it.

Langham and the defenders leapt into the air.  First, the ball bounced off a defender's helmet, glancing off toward Langham.  Then, it hit Langham's helmet and bounced right into his view.

Now falling backwards, Langham had the skills and composure to come down with a catch.  Miami fans jumped to their feet as the commentators tried to describe the miraculous catch.

A key 12 yard run by Homer 2 plays later, made Badgley's forthcoming field goal attempt about the same distance as an extra point.  Badgley redeemed himself for the terrible onside kick by hitting the ball straight and true through the uprights. Miami players soon raced onto the field, celebrating the resurgence of Miami football.

Final Score: Miami 25, Georgia Tech 24

Top 2 Games to Watch: Week 8

1.  #19 Michigan Wolverines @ #2 Penn State Nittany Lions 

Michigan has had a season of ups and downs.  In Week 1 they defeated the Gators with a dominating defense performance.  Two weeks ago, the Wolverines' offense struggled mightily in a disappointing 14-10 loss to rival Michigan State.  However, Michigan bounced back with an overtime victory over Indiana last week.  

Will Michigan be able to roll into a massive stadium filled with over 100,000 Penn State fans and be able to keep this game close?  Or will the Nittany Lions' Heisman frontrunner, running back Saquon Barkley, prove too much for the Wolverines to handle?

My pick: Penn State

2. #11 USC Trojans @ #13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 

Even though these two teams are located at opposite sides of the country, they have faced off in games dating back to 1926.  This has created a rare long distance rivalry that is rich in tradition and excitement.  

Will the Trojans jump back into the playoff discussion with a much-needed big win?  Or will the Fighting Irish win this highly-contested battle and stake their own claim for a playoff spot? 

My pick: USC

Extra Point 

Texas A&M Aggies @ Florida Gators 

Florida's chances to get back into the win column looked pretty good early in the 4th quarter when they scored a rushing touchdown to take a 17-10 lead. Unfortunately, those were the last points the Gators scored in the game, and Texas A&M's 3 field goals during the rest of the 4th quarter was enough to spell defeat.   I think a 3rd straight SEC East Division title is all but out of the question now for the Gators.

Final Score: Texas A&M 19, Florida 17