College Football 13 November 2010

My game Jason Jenkins and I drove to the University of Illinois to watch the Illinois-Minnesota game.

The day was cold and blustery; there was drizzle prior to the game but it didn’t rain during the game.
I knew that Illinois was a heavy favorite, but when I saw Minnesota warm up, the looked the part of a competent Big Ten team even if their record didn’t show it.

Illinois forced a Gopher punt and then drove it 81 yards for a 7-0 lead; the offense was clicking well (going with a brisk wind). But then the game became punt trading (with a few stalled drives) and the Gophers gradually begin to win the battle of field position; Illinois constantly started inside their own 20.

In the second quarter, the Gophers answered to tie 7-7; another long drive made it 14-7. Short punting kept the Gophers in great field position and they cashed in with a field goal go up 17-7 in the half.

In the second half, Illinois drove it mixing running and passing to cut it to 17-14; then the next wind shortened kick-off was fumbled; the Illini cashed in very quickly to go up 20-17; a botched snap/hold cost the extra point.

But the Gophers drove it the length of the field to go up 24-20 going into the 4′th quarter.

Then the fireworks began. Illinois used the wind and mixed passing and running to drive it 80 yards to go up 27-24. Another stop, then a long run up the middle (beautifully blocked) ran the score up to 34-24 with just over 8 minutes ago. Illinois fans began to breath easier…until…

The next kick-off. The Gophers broke a return alond the left side and ran it to the Illini 4; two plays it was 34-31.

Illinois went 3 and out and punted. But Minnesota couldn’t move and had to punt which put the Illini near midfield with just over 4 minutes to go. But on 4′th and 1, Illinois punted (wisely) and had Minnesota pinned at the 20 with 2 time outs and bucking a stiff head wind.

Then came the last drive; it featured a key scramble on 3′rd down for big yards, a pass that had a 15 yard late-hit penalty tacked on (correct call) and a screen pass; Minnesota eventually drove inside the 5 yard line with less than a minute to go.

They scored a TD and extra point with 16 seconds left; that left time for a squib kick, and one last interception.
Illinois outgained Minnesota 387 to 361, but that discounted a huge kickoff return that made part of the difference. One fumble (by Minnesota on a kick off) and one interception (desperation pass on the game’s last play) were the only turnovers in chilly weather.

I wish that Illinois had won, but it was an exciting game.

Other games
Right now I am watching Texas get whipped; it is 26-3 Oklahoma State at the half. Texas is simply not a good team this year.
TCU held off a tough San Diego State squad to win 40-35.
Navy:

won 38-37 when Central Michigan went for 2 points with 4 seconds left in the game and didn’t make it. So while Navy improved to 7-3 and has scored 180 points in the last 4 games, Navy has also given up 34, 35 and 37 points in the last three and 27, 21 and 17 in the three games prior to that. The defense has flaws.

Notre Dame-Utah

Allow me to remind you what I said on October 24:

What I see: Army and Tulsa should be winnable games. But that is a SHOULD with this team. USC: it depends on how seriously the Trojans take the game. Utah: on paper this looks like a potentially ugly loss, BUT Utah plays TCU the week before and Air Force the week prior to that. They might go 2-2 the rest of the way to finish 6-6. But Utah is a potential upset.

ND won easily 28-3.

This represents a huge improvement in their defensive play.

(photos from yahoo)

Well, one bit of good news: in the time it took me to type this, Oklahoma State hasn’t gone further ahead.

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