Football Report, October 10, 2009

High School Division:  The Ada Bulldogs have lost their all-star QB, Mitchell Faine, for the season with a torn ACL.  Their parade keeps marching, though, as they spoiled the homecoming of the Crestview Knights with a 48-15 beatdown on a rainy night in Ohio.  The Bulldogs ran more than they passed from their spread formation to get the win.  Ada is 7-0 and is ranked #4 in Division VI Ohio H.S. football.  (As really dedicated Bronco fans will remember, former Bronco Kory Lichtensteiger was a Crestview Knight.)

Division III:  In the homecoming game, #17 ONU assassinated the Student Princes of Heidelberg 38-7.  Anne Lippert, recently retired Academic Vice President, was grand marshal of the homecoming parade.  Randy Macon overcame Frostburg St. 23-19.  Wash U lost at #11 Wabash 31-12. 

Game of the Week:  Tim Tebow returned to action after his concussion, leading #1 Florida against #4 LSU in Baton Rouge.  The Florida defenders were the real leaders, though, as Florida beat the Tigers 13-3.    

Victorious:  #5 Virginia Tech crushed Boston College 45-14.   The defense and special teams of #9 Ohio State overcame a previously undefeated Wisconsin squad 31-13.  Wisconsin held the ball for more than twice the time Ohio State had it but still lost.  Arizona State beat Washington State comfortably 27-14.  Richmond 21, James Madison 17.  William and Mary took advantage of winless Northeastern 34-14.   Virginia treated Indiana roughly, 47-7, in Charlottesville.     

Goofy Trophy Games:  Troy claimed the Paladium Trophy by beating Middle Tennessee 31-7.  West Virginia comfortably overcame Syracuse 34-13 to capture the Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy.  Fresno State beat Hawaii 42-17 for Golden Screwdriver in Hawaii.  

Untoward Happenings.  At the end of the third quarter, #24 Mizzou led #21 Nebraska 12-0 in a rainy game in Columbia.  Mizzou should have quit while they were ahead, as Nebraska rode two interceptions to a 27-12 comeback win.  Their 27 point outburst was the largest 4th quarter comeback in Nebraska history.   Nebraska claimed the Victory Bell in this matchup.   Army outgunned the Commodores of Vanderbilt 16-13 in overtime at West Point.   Illinois changed starting quarterbacks, then gave up on the new starter and lost to Michigan State 24-14.  Illinois has only won 1 game this year.  Hapless Northern Colorado lost to Portland State 23-18.  On the upside, UNC Women's volleyball leads their conference.   Utah defeated Colorado State 24-17 in frosty Fort Collins.  Maryland gave up 35 points in the first half and could not overtake Wake Forest, losing 42-32.    Colorado led #2 Texas 14-10 at halftime, but the Longhorns overpowered the Buffs in the second half to win 38-14.   

Upsets:  Arkansas outpointed a defenseless #17 Auburn team 44-23.  

Squeaked Past:  #16 Kansas 41, Iowa State 36.  Kansas has Colorado next week and should return to form.  Bowling Green slipped past Kent State 36-35, scoring the winning touchdown with 5 seconds to go.   #25 South Carolina 28, Kentucky 26.   #15 Oklahoma State 36, Texas A & M 31.  In a great game, #12 Iowa held off Michigan 30-28 to keep alive Iowa's hopes for a Big 10 title.     

Other Stories of Interest:  Sam Bradford returned to the lineup to lead #19 Oklahoma over Baylor 33-7.  #3 Alabama defeated #20 Ole Miss 22-3.   

Dept. of Defense:  Navy overwhelmed Rice 63-14.  #10 TCU overcame three turnovers and the weather to beat the stubborn Air Force Falcons 20-17.  

Florida Weather Service:  The Florida State vs. Georgia Tech game was delayed for more than an hour by lightning.   The game itself was a barn burner with Georgia Tech outscoring Florida State 49-44.  The Georgia Tech QB Nesbitt made the play of the game.  Florida State had forced a GT fumble and a Florida State defender had scooped up the ball to return it.  Nesbitt stole the ball back from the Florida State defender and allowed the Georgia Tech drive to continue.  

Undefeated and Untied this week:  Southern Cal, Georgia State, University of Cincinnati, Smith College, Peabody Conservatory, and Emory.

Brrrr.  The National League Division Series game between the Rockies and Phillies at Denver had to be postponed because of snow flurries and cold temperatures.  Is the baseball season too long? 

The Other Football:  The United States clinched a spot in the World Cup by beating Honduras 3-2.  The US team overcame political instability, a hostile crowd, and a determined Honduras team to claim the victory.

Presidential:  The United States leads the President's Cup golf match 12 1/2 to 9 1/2 with the singles matches to come.  Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods have played like champions to lead the US team.  Eight points are yet to be determined, so the US cannot relax.