Week 5

Hey All,

Here's that column that makes Tuesdays worthwhile, Notes on a Pac 10 Scorecard. We still miss you, Alan Malamud.

Summaries

Washington 32- USC 31: For the second year in a row, the Huskies got a game-winning field goal from PK Erik Folk. The Trojans wasted a 21 carry, 223 yard, 2 TD game from RB Alan Bradford because the the Trojan defense gave up 536 yards and 28 first downs to a less than stellar Husky team. UW QB Jake Locker looked like the Heisman candidate he was billed to be coming into this season by throwing for 330 yards and rushing for 110 more on USC's sieve-like defense.

Telling Stat: 1; USC's porous defense forced the Huskies to punt once in the contest.

UCLA 42- Washington State 28: Late in the third quarter, Wazzu held a 28-20 lead over the bRuins and the crowd was nervous to say the least at the Rose Bowl. However, UCLA got a big one yard TD run from RB Derrick Coleman and even bigger two-point conversion pass from QB Richard Brehaut to tie the game. UCLA then took control of the game in the fourth quarter. A pair of last period TD runs from Brehaut and Coleman along with a big goal line stand added up to a win over the Cougars. The bRuins ran for 437 yards on the Cougars with RB Johnathan Franklin carrying the ball 30 times for 216 yards and a touchdown.

Telling Stat: Running to daylight; UCLA RBs Coleman and Franklin were the first pair to rush for over 180 yards each in a game in bRuin history.

Oregon State 31- Arizona State 28: The Beavers had the services of only one half of the Rodgers brothers, but it was enough as the orange and black came away with a win in Corvalis. WR James Rodgers missed the game as he was still suffering problems stemming from the concussion that knocked him out of the Boise State game a week earlier. Little brother Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 245 yards and two TDs to lead the Beaver attack. Meanwhile, the Sun Devils kept this one close with 203 yards passing and a TD from QB Steven Threet and 104 yards rushing and a TD from RB Deantre Lewis.

Telling Stat: Fourth quarter blues; In seven fourth quarter drives v. Oregon and Oregon State, the Sun Devils have thrown five interceptions.

Oregon 52- Stanford 31: The Cardinal came out and jumped all over the Ducks, getting two TD passes from QB Andrew Luck and a TD run by RB Stepfan Taylor. SU was up 21-3 at the end of the opening stanza. Then, the Ducks started their come back. However, Stanford still held a 31-24 lead at the half. Then, the Duck defense showed up. The Duck Defense shutout the Cardinal in the second half, while the Duck offense was busy putting up 28 second half points to get the win. UO QB Darron Thomas threw for 238 yards and 3 TDs and ran for 117 yards and another TD to lead the charge for the Ducks.

Telling Stat: Long trips for nothing; Stanford had three drives of over 50 yards in the fourth quarter and came away with zero points on those drives.

Notre Dame 31- Boston College 13: The Fighting Irish came out strong with QB Dayne Crist throwing two first quarter TD passes and a TD run to put ND up 21-0 in the first quarter. BC then managed a mild comeback as true freshman QB Bobby threw a TD pass of his own and led his team on two more drives that ended in field goals. BC trailed at the half, 24-13. Then ND's defense took over, shutting out the Eagles in the second half. Throw in a a TD run by Armando Allen, and ND came away with a much needed win.

Telling Stat: They had no offense. BC's average drive v. ND lasted only 4 plays and covered 15 yards.

Observations

...In the big rivalry game in Los Angeles last week, Occidental beat Whittier, 25-22. The Boys from Oxy get to keep "The Shoes."

...Last week Air Force and Navy combined to complete 11 of 17 passes . Hawaii completed 11 of 17 passes in the first quarter v. Louisiana Tech.

...USC not going for it on fourth down against Washington made the Trojans look like a team trying not to lose instead of a team playing to win.

...Hey BYU, how's that decision to go independent looking right now?

...Can USC now end the failed experiment of Devon Kennard at MLB. He's a DE, not an MLB.

...And then there were six. The same six teams are winless this week in FBS play. I was off by one week with the New Mexico-New Mexico State game. It's this week. Something's got to give in this game. NMSU gives up 46 points a game and New Mexico gives up 54 points per game. Somebody has to win this one by default.

...Quietly making noise; Northwestern is 5-0. This week the Wildcats are home to take on Purdue. Look for the Purple to go 6-0.

...The Michigan-Michigan State game is huge this week. It'll be interesting to see what Wolverine QB Denard Robinson can do against MSU's tough defense.

...Ugly game alert! Ugly game alert! Oregon plays at Wazzu this week. The Ducks could put up triple digits on the Cougs.

...It was just sad to see that the team having fun on the sideline in the Coliseum last week was Washington.

...Let me get this straight, Nevada and Boise State are ranked in the AP top 25 and Texas and USC are not. What a weird season this is.

...It's obvious that the key player in Oregon's explosive offense isn't QB Darron Thomas or RB LaMichael James. It's wideout Jeff Maehl. Maehl is a Wes Welker type that does nothing but get open and keep the chains moving.

...Ouch, another FCS team beat a an FBS team last week. UC Davis beat San Jose State, 14-13. The game wasn't really that close. The Aggies shutout SJSU in the second half. The closest the Spartans came to scoring was a missed 52-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter.

...In one of the funny statistical oddities of the week, USC and Washington each had the ball for exactly 30:00 T.O.P.

Until next week folks, remember playing "to win" instead of "not to lose" is what makes a great team.

-The Commissioner