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 | | Posted on: 11/6/2008 |
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Around the Spectrum: LIVE Recent Shows |
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| Written by Dan Mesday |
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Posted on 12/18/2007 5:48:48 PM |
The FIO Bracket Brawls: College Football Championship Series opened up this weekend with a great slate of games. There were two upsets and a couple of blowouts, but the Second Round games shape up very nicely.
(Still don’t know what FIO’s Bracket Brawls is??? Take a look at the overview of the tournament, including the seeding and the rules, from this previous article.)
#16 Tennessee - 35 @ #1 Ohio St. - 3
The Tennessee Volunteers used poor special teams play and three Ohio St. turnovers to upset the #1 seeded Buckeyes in the First Round of FIO’s Bracket Brawls: College Football Championship Series on Saturday in Columbus.
After punting on their first drive and then forcing an Ohio St. punt, the Volunteers scored first when Marcus Johnson returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 4:32 to go in the first quarter. Ohio St. answered back with a field goal on the ensuing drive to make it a 7-3 game.
With 4:27 to go in the second, Josh Briscoe was on the receiving end of a 17-yard touchdown pass from Erik Ainge. The play capped off a 4-play 70-yard drive that took 2:33 off the clock. The big play on the drive was a 47-yard catch and run by senior fullback David Holbert. The touchdown extended the Vols lead to 14-3.
On the kickoff, the Buckeyes fumbled on the return and the ball was recovered by the Volunteers. On the ensuing drive, Tennessee went 27 yards in 3 plays and took 51 seconds off the clock as they scored again on a 4-yard Holbert run. Tennessee took this 21-3 lead into the half.
After exchanging punts for most of the third quarter, Ohio St. fumbled on its own 8 and Tennessee recovered. On the next play, Brad Cottam caught Ainge’s second touchdown pass of the day and Tennessee led 28-3 with 1:43 to go in the 3rd quarter.
The scoring was ended when LaMarcus Coker rushed 81 yards for a touchdown with 2:18 to go in the 4th quarter. On the day, Coker finished with 103 yards and a touchdown on only 13 carries, while Ainge went 9-14 for 154 yards with 2 TD’s and an INT.
For OSU, Todd Boeckman was held to 184 yards and an INT through the air on 10-of-20 passing, and Chris Wells was held to just 21 yards on 27 carries.
Players of the Game:
UT – LaMarcus Coker – 13 carries 103 yards, TD
OSU – Todd Boeckman – 10-20 184 yards, INT
#14 Boston College – 3 @ #3 Virginia Tech – 34
Virginia Tech took the season series with Boston College, as the #3 seeded Hokies defeated the #14 Boston College Golden Eagles in the First Round of FIO’s Bracket Brawls: College Football Championship Series on Saturday in Blacksburg.
The first quarter was played mainly between the 20’s, as the teams were scoreless until 0:35 left in the quarter when Virginia Tech kicked a 40-yard field goal to go up 3-0. The quarter also saw BC’s Matt Ryan throw two interceptions, one to Brandon Flowers, the other to D.J. Parker.
The second quarter began with Brandon Ore scoring from 2 yards out to end a 3-play 30-yard drive for VT with 6:16 left in the quarter, putting Hokies up 10-0. After another interception of Ryan by VT’s Cam Martin, the Hokies once again scored, this time on a 24-yard field goal.
On the first play of BC’s next possession, Ryan once again was intercepted by Flowers, but the VT drive would score no points as the Eagles’ DeJuan Tribble intercepted Sean Glennon in the end zone. BC would then use a 42-yard field goal by Steve Aponavicius to make the score 13-3 at the half.
The third quarter started off badly for Virginia Tech, as linebacker Vince Hall left the game with what was to be later called a broken tailbone. The quarter ended well for them, however, as Ore scored again with 1:14 left in the 3rd, this time from 45 yards out, making the score 20-3 in favor of the Hokies.
The fourth quarter began when Andre Smith caught a 1-yard TD pass from Glennon just 50 seconds into the period. After Matt Ryan was benched, Chris Crane came in and promptly threw an interception to VT’s Dorian Porch, which was returned for a touchdown. At 34-3 the scoring was closed for the day.
For Virginia Tech, Glennon finished 6-13 for only 73 yards and a TD, while Ore rushed for 131 yards and 2 TD’s on 20 carries. For Boston College, Ryan finished 13-30 for 135 yards and 4 INT’s, and Kevin Challenger caught 8 balls for 90 yards.
Players of the Game:
BC – DeJuan Tribble – 2 Tackles, INT
VT – Brandon Ore – 20 Carries 131 yards, 2 TD
#12 Arizona St. – 29 @ #5 Georgia – 36
#12 seeded Arizona St. almost pulled off the upset “Between the Hedges”, but #5 Georgia proved to be the better squad in a tightly played First Round contest of FIO’s Bracket Brawls: College Football Championship Series on Saturday in Athens.
Brandon Coutu opened the scoring at 4:41 of the first, as he booted a 44-yard field goal to put Georgia up 3-0 early. Arizona St. answered back on the next possession, as Keegan Herring sprinted 59 yards for a score with 4:18 to go in the quarter, allowing the Sun Devils to go up 7-3. That lead would last until the final play of the quarter, until Kenneth Harris took a punt return 83 yards to pay dirt and the Bulldogs ended the quarter with a 10-7 lead.
After a drive by Arizona St. that saw a touchdown nullified by a holding call, which ultimately led to a punt, Georgia went down the field in 7 plays and Coutu kicked another field goal, this time from 37 yards out for a 13-7 Bulldog lead. ASU answered on the next possession, as Rudy Burgess caught a touchdown pass from Carpenter with 2:34 left in the half. ASU carried their 14-13 lead into the locker room.
After exchanging interceptions to being the half, Georgia took the lead on a Thomas Brown 2-yard touchdown plunge with 2:29 left in the 3rd. The 2-point conversion failed and the Bulldogs led 19-14. After forcing ASU to a three-and-out, Georgia went three-and-out themselves. On the ensuing punt, ASU’s Josh Barrett returned it 78 yards for a touchdown. The 2-point conversion was good and the Sun Devils led 22-19 with 0:36 left in the 3rd.
After an interception by Mitchell Pittman, Demiko Goodman caught a 46-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to put the Bulldogs up 26-22 with 4:30 to go in the game. ASU turned the ball over on downs and Brown scored again, this time from one yard out, and Georgia led 33-22 with 1:53 to go in the game. Coutu then kicked a 27-yard field goal with 0:39 left to put Georgia up 36-22, but ASU would not go down without a fight, as Chris McGaha caught a 60-yard touchdown pass with 0:03 left to end the scoring at 36-29.
For the Bulldogs, Stafford went 13-22 for 191 yards, 1 TD and a pick, and Brown rumbled for 77 yards and 2 touchdowns on 26 carries. For ASU, Carpenter finished the game 16-33 for 278 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT’s, and Herring finished with 94 yards and a touchdown on only 11 carries.
Players of the Game:
ASU – Josh Barrett – 92 Punt Return Yards, TD
UGA – Thomas Brown – 26 Carries 77 Yards, 2 TD
#13 Illinois – 14 @ #4 Oklahoma – 48
#13 seeded Illinois seized control early, but could not hold momentum as #3 Oklahoma rolled to a 48-7 victory in the First Round of FIO’s Bracket Brawls: College Football Championship Series on Saturday in Norman, OK.
Illinois received the kick to open the game and Dere Hicks promptly returned it 88 yards as Illinois took a 7-0 lead before the fans were even settled in their seats. Late in the first quarter, Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford fumbled on his own ten and Illinois recovered, but Juice Williams was promptly intercepted in the end zone on the very next play to end the Illini scoring attempt before it even started, and the quarter ended with Illinois leading 7-0.
The teams exchanged punts for most of the second half, until Garrett Hartley banged home a 42-yard field goal to trim the Illinois lead to 7-3 with 1:19 left in the half. Illinois took the kick and began to drive down the field for a score before the end of the half, but Williams was once again intercepted, this time by Cortney Carter, which was returned 42-yards for a touchdown as Oklahoma carried a 10-7 lead into halftime.
After holding OU to a punt to begin the second half, Illinois punt returner Marques Wilkins muffed the punt and OU recovered. The Sooners promptly scored on a 37-yard Bradford TD strike to Juaquin Iglesias, and Oklahoma led 17-7 with 5:02 left in the third. With 1:45 to go in the third, Bradford again hooked up with Iglesias, this time on a 41-yard pass as OU extended its lead to 24-7. Illinois then fumbled the kickoff and OU recovered again. With 0:33 left in the 3rd, Dane Zaslaw plunged into the end zone from 1 yard out to give Oklahoma a 31-7 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Illinois again fumbled on the return and again the Sooners recovered. With 0:05 left in the quarter Allen Patrick scored on a 20-yard TD scamper to give Oklahoma a 38-7 advantage.
To begin the 4th, Illinois saw Juice Williams go down with a broken hand, and on the next play, backup QB Billy Garza fumbled and OU recovered with 5:52 to go in the game. Sooner running back Chris Brown scored 50 seconds later on a 32-yard run. With 4:48 remaining, Illinois fell on an OU fumble and Marques Wilson hooked up with Garza on a 90-yard scoring strike with 2:28 to go in the game. OU ended the scoring with a 45-yard field goal by Hartley to wrap things up at 48-14.
For Oklahoma, Juaquin Iglesias caught 4 balls for 134 yards and 2 TD’s, while the defense finished the game with 7 sacks. For Illinois, Juice Williams finished 8-of-18 for 116 yards and 2 INT’s.
Players of the Game:
ILL – J Leman – 7 Tackles (3 TFL), Sack
OU – Juaquin Iglesias – 4 Catches 134 Yards, 2 TD
#15 Clemson – 26 @ #2 LSU – 34
#15 seed Clemson went into LSU’s Death Valley and was unphased, as they almost pulled a major upset over #2 LSU in the First Round of FIO’s Bracket Brawls: College Football Championship Series on Saturday in a cold, rainy Baton Rouge.
After exchanging punts for most of the 1st quarter, LSU got the first break of the game when Chevis Jackson picked off a Cullen Harper pass. That play led to an 8-play, 70+ yard drive that was capped by a Jacob Hester 28-yard touchdown catch and run that gave LSU a 7-0 lead with 0:56 seconds left in the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Clemson cut the lead to 7-3 with a 22-yard field goal with 5:17 left in the half. LSU answered back with a 9-play 83-yard drive that was capped by a 13-yard Flynn touchdown pass to Terrance Tolliver, and LSU took a 14-3 lead with 3:01 left in the half. Clemson turned the ball over on the next possession when Craig Steltz picked off a halfback option pass. That play led directly to a 3-yard touchdown run by Keiland Williams that gave LSU the 21-3 lead with 2:33 left in the half. Clemson then fumbled on the kickoff return, which led to a 31-yard Colt David field goal and LSU led 24-3 with 1:35 remaining. Clemson then answered with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Rendrick Taylor and after a fumble on LSU’s next kick return, Clemson scored again on a Tyler Grisham 13-yard TD reception with 0:30 left in the half to trim LSU’s lead to 24-17.
After fielding the kickoff, Clemson marched down the field on the Tigers, but a fumble that was recovered by Steltz ended the drive with 4:16 left in the 3rd. LSU then drove over 85 yards only to have Flynn throw an interception in the end zone on second down to end that threat with 1:36 left in the quarter.
After Chevis Jackson recorded his second interception of the day on another halfback option pass, LSU took over inside its own 1 yard line 5 seconds into the 4th quarter. Clemson answered with a Tramaine Billie interception that gave the Tigers the ball on LSU’s 35. Clemson kicked a 40-yard field goal to make the score 24-20 with 4:23 left in the game. 2:35 later, LSU scored again, as Flynn hooked up with Brandon LaFell for a 27-yard TD pass and a 31-20 lead. Rendrick Taylor then took the ensuing kickoff to the end zone, this time for 93 yards, for his second kickoff return touchdown of the game. After the 2-point conversion failed, LSU led 31-26 with 1:39 remaining. LSU closed the scoring with a 46-yard field goal with 0:55 remaining, and then rebuffed Clemson’s comeback attempt to hold on for the win.
On the day, Matt Flynn finished 19-28 for 378 yards with 3 TD’s and 2 INT’s, and Early Doucet finished with 6 catches for 109 yards. For Clemson, Cullen Harper finished 15-26 for 258 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT, and Aaron Kelly finished with 6 catches for 130 yards.
Players of the Game:
Clem – Rendrick Taylor – 230 KR yards, 2 TD’s
LSU – Chevis Jackson – 5 Tackles 2 INT, FF, FR
#10 West Virginia – 19 @ #7 Missouri – 0
#7 seeded Missouri’s spread attack was no match for #10 West Virginia’s defense, as the Mountaineers shut out the Tigers 19-0 in the First Round of FIO’s Bracket Brawls: College Football Championship Series on Saturday in Columbia.
The two teams exchanged punts for almost the entire first quarter, until a fumble by Mizzou quarterback Chase Daniel on his own 29 set WVU up with great field position. Nevertheless, the Tigers defense held strong as Pat White & Co. could only manage a 40-yard Pat McAfee field goal to go up 3-0 with 0:31 left in the first.
The second quarter began with a 31-yard scamper by White to give West Virginia a 10-0 lead with 5:41 left in the half. The second quarter saw the teams exchange punts before McAfee connected on a 49-yard field goal with 0:26 left in the half. After a Vaughn Rivers interception of Daniel with 0:17 to go, McAfee kicked his 3rd field goal of the day, this time from 48 yards out to give WVU a 16-0 lead at the half.
The second half saw the two defenses dominate the action as neither team could muster any offense. West Virginia finally broke through with 3:02 left in the game, as McAfee connected for his 4th field goal of the day. The kick gave the Mountaineers a 19-0 lead which would end up as the final score.
On the day, Pat White had 163 total yards and a touchdown, while Steve Slaton rushed 24 times for 73 yards. For Missouri, Chase Daniel connected on 10-of-18 passing for 93 yards and an interception, and freshman Jeremy Maclin caught 3 passes for 34 yards. West Virginia out gained Missouri 240-88 on the day, as West Virginia’s defense dominated the Missouri offense.
Players of the Game:
WVU – Pat McAfee (4-4 FG, Long of 50)
Mizzou – Chase Daniel – 10-18 93 Yards, INT
#11 Florida – 14 @ #6 USC – 44
The 11th seeded Florida Gators visited California with upset on their minds, and left with a black eye, as the 6th seeded USC Trojans rolled in the First Round of FIO’s Bracket Brawls: College Football Championship Series on Saturday in Los Angeles.
Florida took the early lead as USC’s John David Booty was intercepted on his first pass of the day by Kyle Jackson. This led to a 25-yard scoring strike from Tim Tebow to Riley Cooper, giving Florida a 7-0 lead just 1:02 into the game. USC answered back on the next possession when Vidal Hazelton hooked up with Booty for a 69-yard TD pass that tied the score at 7 with 5:26 left in the 1st quarter. On the next drive, Tebow fumbled on his own 29. USC capitalized when Booty found tight end Jimmy Miller in the back of the end zone for a 5-yard TD pass and a 14-7 lead.
After USC’s Taylor Mays intercepted Tebow with 2:21 left in the first, Booty found Dale Thompson for a 2-yard touchdown strike that culminated a 15-play 85-yard drive and Booty’s 3rd TD pass in as many drives. The Gators punted on their next possession and held USC to a three-and-out when Florida muffed the punt and USC recovered on Florida’s 22. Booty then found a diving Michael Turner in the back of the end zone for a 28-7 lead with 2:53 left in the half. Florida answered on their next possession with a 16-yard touchdown run by Keshtan Moore with 1:17 left in the half, and cut the Trojans lead to 28-14. Booty answered back with his 5th touchdown pass in as many drives, this time hooking up with Turner for a 26-yard scoring strike. USC went into the half leading 35-14.
In the third quarter, Florida’s Derrick Harvey recovered a USC fumble on the Trojans 26, but Tebow was intercepted on USC’s 3 by Kevin Ellison, ending the threat. The pick led to a 7-play 97-yard scoring drive that was capped off by Booty’s 6th touchdown pass of the day, this time to Michael Coleman on a 2-yard pass, extending the USC lead to 42-14.
After another Tebow fumble gave USC the ball, Florida’s defense held and forced a Trojans punt. Tebow was then intercepted on the next drive by Mozique McCurtis, but USC could not do anything, as Mark Sanchez was intercepted by Lorenzo Edwards on Florida’s 2-yard line. After being stopped for no gain on first down, Tebow was sacked in the end zone by Brian Cushing, giving USC a 44-14 advantage.
For Florida, Tebow finished 17-31 for 207 yards, a TD and 3 INT’s (he also lost two fumbles), and Percy Harvin hauled in 5 catches for 77 yards. For USC, Booty finished 23-33 for 430, 6 TD’s and an INT, while Patrick Turner caught 8 balls for 177 yards and 2 TD’s.
Players of the Game:
UF – Kyle Jackson – 7 Tackles, INT, FF
USC – John David Booty – 23-33 430 Yards, 6 TD’s, INT
#9 Kansas – 17 @ #8 Hawai’i – 66
#9 seeded Kansas tried to keep their dream season alive, but #8 seed Hawai’i emphatically denied them the chance to extend it in the First Round of FIO’s Bracket Brawls: College Football Championship Series on Saturday in Honolulu.
Kansas took the opening kickoff and moved the ball well, but Hawai’i forced a punt. On their first play of the game, the Warriors Colt Brennan hooked up with Davone Bess for an 80-yard touchdown pass and 7-0 lead, 2:10 into the game. Hawai’i then forced another punt and Brennan again threw a touchdown pass, as he hooked up with Ryan Grice-Mullen for a 37-yard strike, making it 14-0 just 4:03 into the game. Kansas took the kickoff and marched down the field, but the drive stalled and the Jayhawks could only manage a 28-yard field goal to cut Hawai’i’s lead to 14-3. On the first play of their next possession, Brennan hit Malcolm Lane with a 94-yard scoring strike, making the score 21-3 after one quarter of play.
After exchanging punts in the second quarter, Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing hit Marcus Henry on a slant pattern that went for a 96-yard touchdown, making the Hawai’i lead 21-10. On the first play of the next Hawai’i drive, Brennan was intercepted by Arist Wright, but on the very next play, Reesing was intercepted by Chris Thorpe. The Thorpe interception led directly to another Colt Brennan touchdown pass, this time a 4-yarder to Jason Rivers. On Kansas’ next possession, Reesing was intercepted again, this time by Blaze Soares, which led to another Hawai’i touchdown pass to Jason Laumoli for 4-yards with 1:00 left in the half. Hawai’i got the ball back after Kansas went three-and-out and Brennan promptly hit Grice-Mullen for a 3-yard TD pass, their second touchdown connection of the half. Hawai’i took a 42-10 lead into the half.
Hawai’i took the second half kickoff and was building a drive until it stalled and they had to settle for a 41-yard field goal by Dan Kelly. Kansas answered that with a 60-yard touchdown strike from Reesing to Henry for the second time in the game, cutting the Hawai’i lead to 45-17 with 3:24 left in the third. After a Reesing fumble gave Hawai’i the ball, Brennan was intercepted again, and this time it was returned for a touchdown by Kendrick Harper, but the play was nullified by a roughing the passer penalty. Brennan took the second chance and hooked up with Bess again for a 14-yard touchdown pass. With 1:32 left in the 3rd, Hawai’i had a 52-17 lead.
1:03 into the 4th quarter, Blaze Soares recovered a fumble and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown to extend Hawai’i’s lead to 59-17. With 1:48 to go, Hawai’i struck again as Tyler Graunke hit Malcolm Lane for a 8-yard touchdown pass to end the scoring at 66-17.
For the game, Colt Brennan finished 30-44 for 422 yards, 6 TD’s and an INT, and Davone Bess hauled in 11 balls for 216 yards and 2 touchdowns. For Kansas, Reesing finished a very efficient 22-26 for 314 yards with 2 TD’s and 2 INT’s, while Marcus Henry caught 7 passes for 263 yards and 2 TD’s.
Players of the Game:
KU – Marcus Henry – 7 Catches 263 Yards, 2 TD
UH – Colt Brennan – 30-44 422 Yards, 6 TD, INT
Second Round Match-Ups
#6 USC @ #3 Virginia Tech
#5 Georgia @ #4 Oklahoma
#10 West Virginia @ #2 LSU
#16 Tennessee @ #8 Hawai’i
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