October 15, 2011

The membership in conferences resembles the social situation in a 6th grade class. The little groups seem to be different every week. The Big 12 seems to have stabilized itself for the moment by grabbing TCU, even if Missouri is attempting to leave. The Big East may be doomed as a football conference, since it is down to six football-playing members as TCU, Syracuse and Pittsburgh depart. The Big East is so desperate that it is trying to attract Air Force and Boise State. It will be interesting to see whether the Conference USA--Mountain West alliance, the 22 team super-conference, will actually come to be. At any rate, here are our games:

High School Division: The Ada Bulldogs led Allen East 48-0 at halftime and coasted through the second half to administer a 54-12 trip to the glue factory for the Mustangs. Ada QB Konnor Baker threw 4 TD passes and ran for 2 more. In Denver, Thomas Jefferson whipped George Washington 32-12.

Division III News: Ohio Northern at Baldwin Wallace. Washington & Lee at Randolph Macon. Wash U St. Louis has College of Wooster at home.

Division I-AA (FCS): #16 William and Mary entertains #6 New Hampshire.

Trophy and Rivalry Games: Ohio State took advantage of 3 turnovers to upend #16 Illinois in Champaign for the Illibuck Trophy. #23 Michigan State combined strong running with determined defense to upset #11 Michigan 28-14 to claim the Paul Bunyan Trophy. Louisville's offense struggled, and Cincinnati recovered all of its own fumbles to enable the Bearcats to take the Keg of Nails 25-16. Missouri pulverized Iowa State 52-14 to claim the Telephone Trophy. Toledo bowled over Bowling Green 28-21 in the Battle of I-75.

Are You Upset?: Virginia used its bye week to excellent advantage to upset #12 Georgia Tech 24-21.

Our Teams Triumphant: #19 Va. Tech at Wake Forest.

Ranked vs. Ranked: #21 Texas A & M shocked and awed #20 Baylor 55-24 behind 6 TD passes by quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Jeremy Smith of #6 Oklahoma State ran for 140 yards and two TDs on only seven carries as the Cowboys dominated #22 Texas 38-26.

Our Teams, Depressed: Washington scored more than 50 points for the first time in 10 years in clobbering Colorado 52-24. Vandy gave Georgia a much better game than the Bulldogs expected before succumbing . Florida State overcame its recent troubles in drubbing Duke 41-16 in Durham. Miami played a very strong first half and then held on against the North Carolina comeback to overcome the Tar Heels 30-24 in Chapel Hill. Kellen Moore threw 4 TD passes and led #5 Boise State to a 63-13 thrashing of Colorado State. The defenses controlled the game as #24 Auburn beat Florida 17-6.

Pentagon Papers: San Diego State's Ronnie Hillman ran for 172 yards as the Aztecs grounded Air Force 41-27. Rutgers used a strong defense and blocked a late Navy field goal attempt to edge the Middies 21-20.