Each week I do this wrap up, and each week I include what happened in the Notre Dame game...I don't always lead with it, and I try to stay semi-objective, and not get to rah-rah, go Irish! But screw it...This week I may have to...I've heard, and read too much of people shitting on Notre Dame and their undefeated start to this season...People saying their schedule is weak...The same schedule that every publication, and every poll said at the start of the season was the toughest in the country...Who knew Michigan State was actually going to repeatedly blow games? Maybe it's time everyone realizes that preseason polls and rankings are mostly guess work...
Saturday's game in South Bend between #17 Stanford and the #7 Irish was hyped up all week...Everyone saying it's Notre Dame's biggest game...Their real test...Well, those Notre Dame kids know how to to take tests...Once again, the Irish defense lead by captain Manti Te'o, didn't give up a touchdown...That's right, four straight games without giving up a TD...The one Stanford got was scored by their defense on a sack/fumble in the end zone...And this was without a doubt, a defensive battle...Both teams were hitting hard...Both defenses causing turnovers...
Stanford was up 10-3 at halftime...But the Irish battled back, and with under a minute left, they knocked through the tying field goal...Then it was OT...The Irish scored first...Then the defense was pushed to the limit, but held their ground at the goal-line...Stuffing Stanford 4 times inside the 5...twice at the goal-line...Winning 20-13...
Yes, there are people saying the Stanford running back wasn't down on the last attempt, and eventually squeaked over the line...But the replay couldn't prove them right, because the refs had already blown the play dead before he wrenched himself over...The game was already over...Take your crying somewhere else...The Irish won...They are now 6-0...And they should be ranked in the top 5...You don't like it...Either beat them, or fuck off!
Here's the highlights...
The Big-12 had it's premiere game of the season...The infamous, "Red River Shootout"...Sadly, it wasn't the battle of two Big-12 powers that people were hoping to see...Instead it was a 63-21 ass beating of #15 Texas at the hands of rival #13 Oklahoma...And that score...Well, it wasn't even that close...The second week in a row that I was shocked by the lack of defense from Texas...
But there was a Texas team that finally showed up with some D...#5 West Virginia brought their high-octane offense to Lubbock, Texas to take on Texas Tech...I was expecting another Big-12 game full of all offensive highlights from both teams...Just like WV's games against Texas and Baylor...But Tech decided to mix in some D, in a game that Vegas had the "over" just under 80...
While WV's Geno Smith played well, he was not this week's star...Instead it was the Red Raiders' QB Seth Doege, who passed for 499 yards, and 6 TD's...Leading his team to a 49-14 win...Hey WV, maybe it's time you start practicing some defense, because hoping you can out dual everyone in shoot-outs isn't gonna cut it...
This game leaves #6 Kansas State at the top of the Big-12, after they won a close one with Iowa State...27-21...Again, it was QB Collin Klein leading the Wildcats to victory, and a 6-0 record...Klein passed for 187 yards, and rushed for 105yards and 3 TD's...But pay attention people...Iowa State, who no one expected to do much this year, is 4-2, and playing tough...
Now we get to the big prime-time match up in the SEC...#3 South Carolina at (shouldn't be) #9 LSU...LSU finally found some offense, mostly on the ground, gaining 258 yards rushing...While their defense, held Marcus Lattimore and the Gamecocks to just 34 yards on the ground...And yet, South Carolina had a 14-10 lead after 3 quarters...But LSU kept pounding, and eventually won 23-21...
The two biggest stats from this game, in my eyes are, Connor Shaw's two interceptions thrown, and South Carolina converting on only 3 of 13, 3rd downs...When they needed to burn clock, they couldn't...And they stalled on too many drives...LSU's defense is the key to their team...Will they be able to find a passing game to go along with their new found, power running?
In another good SEC game, Tennessee went to Starkville to take on #19 Mississippi State...While the Volunteers are now 3-3, they have shown improvement and toughness this year...The Bulldogs were ahead 27-14 at halftime...Half-way through the 4th quarter their lead was only 34-31...But Miss State QB, Tyler Russell and company were too much for the Vols, winning 41-31...Russell passed for 291 yards and 2 TD's...
Don't look now, but #10 Oregon State is 5-0 after rolling BYU 42-24 Saturday...And they did that with their backup QB, Cody Vaz, who hasn't started since high school...Vaz decided to make a good first impression by passing for 332 yards and 3 TD's...That's nice when the backup can put a game like that together...I'm just saying, if I see USC or Stanford ranked ahead of of the Beavers this week, in any poll, that poll has no credibility at all...
And this week's battle of no defense goes to Texas A&M and #23 Louisiana Tech...In a game that came down to the very end, Texas A&M squeaked out a 59-57 win...A&M put up 691 total yards, while Tech racked up 616 total yards...The Aggies offense was lead by QB Johnny Manziel who passed for 396 yards and 3 TD's...He added 3 more TD's and 181 yards on the ground...Tech's QB, Colby Cameron passed for 449 yards and 5 TD's...And his top target was Quinton Patton, who caught 21 passes for 233 yards and 4 TD's...
Second place for the no defense bowl this week was Ohio State and Indiana...I don't include Ohio State's ranking, because they aren't eligible for anything this year, so the ranking is voided in my eyes...The Buckeyes showed some big offense again this week, putting up 578 yards and 52 points on the Hoosiers...Hey, Indiana is a joke when it comes to football, so who's surprised by this? No one...It's the fact that Indiana hung 481 yards and 49 points on Ohio State...Yeah, the Buckeyes won, but they should slap the shit out of themselves for that defensive performance...
That's it for this week's wrap up...Feel free to leave the highlights of the games you were paying attention to...See ya Monday...
The Beeze.
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