College FB '09 Dread News - Week 9

It was the play of the year for a struggling team, and just maybe it will turn out to be a play that saves a lost season. On 3rd an 7 on the third play of the 2nd half, Michigan, already leading Illinois 13-7, completed a pass to WR Roy Roundtree (ND) near midfield. Roundtree broke a tackle near the Illinois 40 and had clear sailing to the end zone. Or so it seemed. Watching the play on TV, I then noticed a #12 for Illinois suddenly coming into the picture, chasing and rapidly gaining ground on Roundtree (photo 1). And he makes a diving, touchdown-saving tackle at the 1-yard line (photo 2) (it was ruled a touchdown by the refs but was overruled after a replay review). Wow! I wondered, "who is this #12? And why is he not playing on offense?" When I found out that #12 is Terry Hawthorne, I was like, "of course, that makes sense." Because Hawthorne, a four-star recruit coming out of East St. Louis HS last year, actually does play offense (WR). He's only playing CB this season just so he can get on the field more during his freshman year.

Hawthorne's never-say-die effort wouldn't even have been noticed if Michigan had scored on the next play, as expected. But they didn't score, as Illinois' defense came up with a goal line stand. Next thing you know, the Illini drive 99 yards in 6 plays, getting the TD on a 70-yard run by sophomore RB Mikel LeShoure (photo 3), to take the lead. All of a sudden, the Illini offense, which has been in a coma for most of the season, becomes unstoppable, driving for three more touchdowns and a field goal in its next five possessions. A 31-0 run in one half by a team that hadn't scored more than 17 in any of their previous six games against FBS teams so far this season. The Illini win 38-13 to improve to 2-6 and snap a 5-game losing streak.

Obviously, Illinois, which was expecting to contend for at least a bowl bid if not the Big 10 championship, has been a major disappointment this season. But maybe Hawthorne's play has awaken them. Maybe that offensive explosion was just an aberration. But if not, if Illinois can come close to duplicating it, it's not too late to still make something of this season. If you like, you can click on the folllowing link for a 10-minute video of the whole sequence of Hawthorne's play, the replay review, and the goal line stand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnTIztdYs_8 Or you can read what Terry had to say about it in this article from the Champaign News-Gazette: http://www.illinihq.com/news/football/2009/10/31/hawthorne_saves_illini_day

If you are a Wake Forest fan, you're probably still in disbelief after watching your Demon Deacons end up on the wrong end of a 28-27 score against Miami on Saturday. The Deacon offense had its way with the Miami defense, marching up and down the field all day for 555 total yards. Wake Forest jumped out to a 17-0 lead, led 27-14 after 3 quarters, and still found a way to lose it. The 4th quarter was an absolute disaster. There was a missed FG. Then two turnovers, including a fumble on a punt return that set up the 2-yard TD 'drive' for Miami that made it 27-21. Then, trying to run out the clock, the Deacons had a crucial holding penalty that wiped out a first down. They had to punt, and sure enough, the Hurricanes' offense, which hadn't crossed midfield the entire 2nd half (except for the one play after the fumbled punt return), promptly drove 82 yards for the game-winning TD. A great catch by Thearon Collier for 29 yards to convert a 3rd and 10, and a great leaping catch by Aldarius Johnson (ND) for 29 yards to convert a 4th and 16 are the plays that Wake Forest DBs are probably still seeing in their nightmares. Following Johnson's play, Travis Benjamin caught passes on the next two plays, including a 13-yarder for the TD with 1:08 remaining. Wake Forest's final possession could only reach the UM 43-yard line, and the Deacons attempted a 60-yard FG on the final play that didn't come close, allowing the Canes to escape with the 1-point win to improve to 6-2, 3-2 in the ACC.

Miami's ACC title hopes had already taken a turn for the better on Thursday night after Virginia Tech lost at home to last place North Carolina 20-17. If you saw the game, you already know that VT freshman RB Ryan Williams was disconsolate after his fumble at the VT 30-yard line with 2:02 to play set up UNC for the last-second, game-winning FG. Williams gained 96 yards rushing in the game but knew he had failed in crunch time. Said Williams after the game, "as of right now, there probably isn't really anything they can say to lift me up because regardless of what anybody says, personally I feel like I kind of took the game away from us today. It was on the line, it was in my hands, and I fumbled." Remember how it feels, Ryan, and don't ever let it happen again.

A couple of weeks ago, I happily reported that FIU junior TE Dudley LaPorte had scored a TD. What I didn't report (and didn't know until a couple of days ago) was that LaPorte broke his foot on the play he scored the TD. Since he appeared in only 2 games, he should be able to use this as a redshirt year and still be a junior in 2010. Get well soon, Dudley. Another injured FIU receiver, sophomore WR Junior Mertile, who appeared to be done for the season after knee surgery, is now expected back soon (maybe as early as next week) because the surgery revealed his injury wasn't as severe as it was believed to be. FIU scored with 10 seconds to go in the 4th quarter to tie their game against Louisiana-Lafayette then won it 20-17 in overtime, effectively knocking the Ragin Cajuns out of the race for the Sun Belt Conference title. .... Troy is now all alone at the top of the SBC after winning their 6th straight, 42-21 over Louisiana-Monroe in a battle of the last two teams undefeated in SBC play. Troy already led 14-0 before ULM picked up their 1st first down as DuJuan Harris scored his 8th TD of the season on a 2-yard run and freshman WR Josh Jarboe finally got his 1st career TD on a 16-yard reception. Senior WR Darrell McNeal had 2 TD catches for ULM, now 4-4, 3-1. Troy improved to 6-2, 5-0.

In the FCS .... after facing (and losing to) top 10 opponents Richmond, Villanova, and William & Mary the previous three weeks, James Madison must have felt like a road trip to #16 Delaware was a walk in the park. JMU won 20-8 to end Delaware's 3-game winning streak. With the score 13-6 in the 4th quarter, JMU junior RB Jamal Sullivan had both his helmet and his skull cap knocked off on 1st and goal as he gained 2 yards to the 3-yard line. Since JMU wasn't going to call a timeout, Jamal put his helmet back on, tucked the cap into his pants, and ran 3 yards for the TD on the next play. Sullivan was the leading rusher in the game with 44 yards. Freshman S (and future NFL player?) Jakarie Jackson got his 1st INT of the season and helped the JMU defense hold red-hot Delaware WR Mark Duncan to 5 catches for 72 yards and no TD. At 3-5, JMU has no hope for a playoff spot, but they can still finish with a winning record ..... Also in the FCS ... Terrance Smith caught 5 passes for 91 yards, and William Ford rushed for 87 yards and 2 TD as South Carolina State crushed Delaware State 52-10 to improve to 5-0 in the MEAC ..... and Bethune-Cookman LBs Ryan Lewis and Reggie Sandilands both had a key INT during the 4th quarter of the Wildcats' 31-13 road win over North Carolina A&T. With the score 24-7 Sandilands' pick ended a NCAT drive that had reached the B-C 8-yard line. Then on the next possession Lewis returned his INT 28 yards to the house to make it 31-7.

Elsewhere ..... Senior CB Kyle Wilson took an INT return 27 yards to the house as Boise State remained undefeated with a 45-7 home win over San Jose State ..... Sophomore WR Antoine Hicks had a 75-yard TD catch, the last 45 of which he ran with one shoe, as TCU remained undefeated with a 41-0 home win over UNLV. 4 of Hicks' 11 receptions this season have gone to the house ..... Sophomore S Earl Thomas got his 6th INT and 2nd TD of the season, taking a pick 31 yards to the house, as Texas remained undefeated with a surprisingly easy 41-14 win at Oklahoma State ..... Sophomore WR Patrick Edwards scored the game winning TD on a 28-yard catch with 21 seconds remaining for Houston in a wild 50-43 home win over Southern Mississippi. Where was the D in this game? Houston gained 750 total yards. USM had 608 ..... Junior S Quinton Carter led Oklahoma with 9 tackles (8-1) and got his 3rd INT of the season late in the 4th quarter as the Sooners held off Kansas State 42-30 ..... Senior CB Syd'Quan Thompson and senior LB Eddie Young both got their 1st INT of the season, both of which set up FG drives as California won 23-21 at Arizona State ..... Wisconsin sophomore CB Aaron Henry, officially demoted to 2nd string this week, scored his 1st TD of the season on a special teams play, returning a blocked punt 9 yards to the house in a 37-0 home rout of Purdue ..... Junior WR Jamaal Jackson had 6 catches for 76 yards and 2 TD for North Texas in a 68-49 home win over Western Kentucky in the battle for the basement in the SBC ..... Junior WR Jamal Rogers had 7 catches for 67 yards for the other Miami in a 31-24 win over Toledo that finally ends the Redhawks' 13-game losing streak ..... And finally, we had a Bo Williams sighting Saturday at College Station. Williams, the Iowa State sophomore RB I thought would be no worse than 2nd string but who apparently has been in Coach Rhoads' doghouse all season, finally got into a game. He promptly ran for 44 yards on his first career attempt to the Texas A&M 13-yard line, setting up ISU's only TD of the game. Bo finished with 2 carries for 50 yards in the 35-10 defeat. I don't know what the deal with Williams has been, but hopefully this will get him on the field more. Iowa State (5-4, 2-3) still has a shot at a bowl game.

DREAD STARS

• Brandon Spikes - Florida - When he wasn't gouging the eyes of Georgia RB Washaun Ealey (he's fortunate he's only being suspended for one half of the Gators' next game), the senior LB was busy having a good game with a team-leading 10 tackles (4-6) and a 5-yard INT return for a TD, the final points of the game in a 41-17 win over Georgia
• Dexter McCluster - Mississippi - 186 yards rushing, including a 79-yard TD, and 17 yards receiving in a 33-20 loss at Auburn
• Mikel LeShoure - Illinois - 21 carries for 150 yards rushing and 1 TD in 38-13 home win over Michigan
• Montel Harris - Boston College - 136 yards and 2 TD rushing on 27 attempts, and 2 catches for 37 yards in 31-10 home win over Central Michigan
• D.D. Kyles - MTSU - 140 yards rushing, 18 yards receiving, and 1 TD in 27-20 road win over FAU
• Robert Hughes - Notre Dame - 24 carries for 131 yards rushing and 1 TD and added 4 catches for 51 yards in 40-14 win over Washington State
• Duane Bennett - Minnesota - 36 yards and 1 TD rushing and 121 yards and 2 TD receiving in 42-34 home win over Michigan State
• Jamar Chaney - Mississippi State - 15 tackles (5-10), 1 fumble recovery, and 1 INT in 31-24 road win over Kentucky - the INT ended a Kentucky drive that had reached the MSU 8-yard line in the 4th quarter, then he ended UK's only other 4th quarter drive with a sack on 4th down at the MSU 18
• The Rodgers brothers - Oregon State - Jacquizz had 112 yards rushing, 92 yards receiving, and threw a 14-yard TD pass; James had 10 catches for 106 yards, and ran 5 times for 28 yards, including the game-winning 17-yard TD with 44 seconds to play in 26-19 home win over UCLA - Jacquizz and James combined for 338 of the Beavers' 463 total yards
• Brandon Banks - Kansas State - 9 catches for 156 yards and had a 98-yard kickoff return for a TD (his 4th TD on a kickoff return this season) in 42-30 loss at Oklahoma
• Owen Spencer - North Carolina State - 5 catches for 165 yards, including an 80-yard TD, in 45-42 loss to Florida State
• Robert Turbin - Utah State - had 138 yards rushing, 13 yards receiving, and 1 TD, but USU blew 27-17 halftime lead and lost at Fresno State 31-27
• Major Gray - Southern Utah - 74 yards rushing and 4 TD on 16 carries in 56-35 win over UC-Davis
• Thomas Harris - Alabama A&M - 7 catches for 157 yards and 2 TD in 21-7 win over Alabama State
• Will Scott - North Carolina Central - 6 catches for 121 yards and 2 TD in 53-22 win over Edward Waters
• DeAngelo Branche - Norfolk State - 129 yards rushing on 19 attempts in 41-6 blowout of Howard
• Pat Paschall - North Dakota State - 111 yards rushing, 44 yards receiving, and scored both TD, including game-winning 24-yard run with 3:10 remaining in 14-7 road win over Western Illinois
• Trey Peacock - Princeton - only had 3 catches, but 2 went for TD, including game-winning 78-yarder with 6:22 to play in 17-13 home win over Cornell
• Raphael Johnson - Robert Morris - 27 carries for 115 yards rushing in 9-7 home win over Sacred Heart
• Desmond Williams - ODU - 24 carries for 113 yards rushing in 31-10 home win over Georgetown
• Devan James - Morgan State - 20 carries for 133 yards rushing in tough 31-28 home loss in OT to FAMU, which knocks Bears out of MEAC title race
• Antoine Wilkinson - Murray State - had 20 (!) tackles (10-10), although only 1 was a TFL, in 24-14 loss to Illinois State

HOUSE OF DREAD.

The end zone at the new TCF Bank Stadium at Minneapolis was the house of dread this week as 5 TD were scored by players with dreads in Minnesota's 42-34 win over Michigan State. Dread star Duane Bennett had a 1-yard TD run and TD catches covering 62 and 59 yards for the Gophers. WR Keshawn Martin had a 93-yard kickoff return TD and an 84-yard TD run for Michigan State .... And the end zone at Paladin Stadium in Greenville, SC, home of the Furman Paladins was also the house of dread in Appalachian State's 52-27 win over Furman. ASU WR CoCo Hillary had a 21-yard TD catch, and 4 TD were scored by this week's dreadest ...

DREADEST

.... And, of course, this week's dreadest is none other than Appalachian State senior QB Armanti Edwards. I could probably give him the award every week but like it to save it for when he does something really special. But nothing special this week, just his usual spectacular performance: 25 for 36 for 355 yards passing with 0 INT and 2 TD, and 106 yards rushing on 13 carries, including 4 TD runs, covering 3, 4, 1, and 5 yards in a 52-27 win over Furman. The ASU-Elon showdown is coming up in Week 11.

NEXT WEEK

Two of the better return men in college football, Boise State's Kyle Wilson and Louisiana Tech's Phillip Livas meet in a WAC showdown on Friday night. It's the sickest game of the year in the Big 10 as Illinois travels to Minnesota. There are too many games with great dreads to mention. I'll be trying to watch Louisville-West Virginia, Virginia-Miami, LSU-Alabama, Louisiana-Lafayette-Arkansas State, FIU-MTSU, Memphis-Tennessee, and UConn-Cincinnati.