Top-25 College Football Game Capsules
Charlottesville, VA (Sports Network) – Marcus Mariota racked up 321 yards of total offense and three touchdowns, while De’Anthony Thomas added a trio of TD runs, as No. 2 Oregon throttled Virginia, 59-10, on Saturday at Scott Stadium. Mariota completed half of his 28 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns while adding 122 yards and a score on four carries for the Ducks (2-0), who dismantled FCS foe Nicholls State, 66-3, in their season-opener. Thomas finished with 124 rushing yards on 11 carries, while freshman Thomas Tyner tallied two touchdowns and 51 yards on four rushes in the victory. David Watford struggled under center for the Cavaliers (1-1), throwing three interceptions and fumbling once while connecting on just 29-of-41 passes for 161 yards in the setback. Khalek Shepherd scampered 45 yards for a score to account for the lone touchdown of the game for Virginia, which failed to build on its season-opening victory over BYU.
Final Score: (3) Ohio State 42, San Diego State 7
Columbus, OH (Sports Network) – The Ohio State Buckeyes extended the nation’s longest winning streak with ease against San Diego State. The only problem for the third-ranked Buckeyes was star quarterback Braxton Miller missed the majority of Saturday’s 42-7 rout with a knee injury. Miller, a contender for the Heisman Trophy, was injured on Ohio State’s first drive of the game while converting a fourth down from the SDSU 12-yard line with his legs. The junior was pinned between tacklers, causing his helmet to pop off. After being taken by cart to the locker room, Miller returned to the sideline by the end of the first quarter wearing a brace on his knee. His replacement, Kenny Guiton, threw two touchdowns passes to Corey Brown and ran in another for Ohio State (2-0), which has won 14 games in a row. Guiton finished with 152 yards on 19- of-28 passing and 83 on the ground. Quinn Kaehler completed 22-of-36 throws and totaled 216 passing yards for the Aztecs (0-2).
Final Score: (4) Clemson 52, South Carolina State 13
Clemson, SC (Sports Network) – Martin Jenkins and Darius Robinson each returned interceptions for touchdowns, leading fourth-ranked Clemson to a 52-13 rout of South Carolina State. There could have been somewhat of a letdown for the Tigers (2-0) after their thrilling 38-35 season-opening win against Georgia, but Clemson received a strong defensive effort and a solid game from quarterback Tajh Boyd as well as backup Cole Stoudt. Boyd completed 14-of-23 passes for 169 yards and added a touchdown on the ground as Clemson built a 38-7 halftime cushion. Stoudt got plenty of playing time and missed only one of his 20 passes for 143 yards with a trio of touchdowns. Richard Cue threw for 84 yards with a score and the two picks for South Carolina State (0-2) of the MEAC. Tyler McDonald racked up 138 yards on four receptions, including a 63-yard touchdown in defeat.
Final Score: (5) Stanford 34, San Jose State 13
Stanford, CA (Sports Network) – Stanford finally opened its season and didn’t waste anytime taking down San Jose State on the Farm this time. Tyler Gaffney ran for 104 yards and two scores and Kevin Hogan threw two touchdown passes in No. 5 Stanford’s 34-13 rout of San Jose State. The Cardinal squeaked out a hard-fought 20-17 win in their season opener and first game without Andrew Luck a year ago. Ed Reynolds intercepted a David Fales pass at Stanford’s 45-yard line with a little more than a minute left to seal the outcome. The sophomore Hogan, who went 5-0 and completed 71.7 percent of his pass attempts for 1,096 yards and nine touchdowns after taking over for Josh Nunes last season, was 17-of-27 for 207 yards for Stanford (1-0), which captured the Pac-12 title and knocked off Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl last season. The unheralded Fales, who completed 72.5 percent of his passes for 4,193 yards and 33 touchdowns a year ago, was 29-of-43 for 216 yards with a touchdown and interception for the Spartans (1-1), who shut out Sacramento State last week.
Final Score: (11) Georgia 41, (6) South Carolina 30
Athens, GA (Sports Network) – Aaron Murray returned for his senior campaign with the goal of leading Georgia to a national championship. Thanks to the quarterback’s brilliant performance, those dreams likely remain a possibility. Murray threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns to lead the 11th-ranked Bulldogs to a potentially season-saving 41-30 victory over No. 6 South Carolina in a showdown between SEC heavyweights from Sanford Stadium. Georgia (1-1, 1-0 SEC) came in with its BCS title hopes already in jeopardy following last week’s 38-35 non-conference setback at Clemson, but got big efforts out of both Murray and running back Todd Gurley in avenging last year’s 35-7 loss to the Gamecocks. Gurley powered his way to 132 yards on 30 carries while scoring both a rushing and receiving touchdown, with Justin Wesley-Scott totaling a career-high 116 yards and a touchdown on three catches as the Bulldogs piled up 536 total yards on South Carolina’s highly touted defense. Mike Davis amassed 149 yards and a touchdown on 16 rush attempts for the Gamecocks (1-1, 0-1), who were held to just six points over the final two quarters after battling back from an early two-touchdown deficit. Connor Shaw recorded 228 yards on 16-of-25 efficiency in the loss and threw a pair of touchdown passes to Nick Jones, who finished with 97 yards on six grabs.
Final Score: (7) Texas A&M 65, Sam Houston State 28
College Station, TX (Sports Network) – Johnny Manziel showed off his Heisman form in his first start of the 2013 season, throwing for 426 yards and three touchdowns to lead seventh-ranked Texas A&M to a 65-28 rout of Sam Houston State at Kyle Field. Forced to sit out the first half of last week’s season- opening win over Rice as the result of an NCAA investigation as to whether he received compensation for signing various memorabilia pieces, Manziel completed 29-of-42 passes with one interception while adding a rushing touchdown before being removed late in the third quarter with the Aggies comfortably ahead. Tra Carson contributed two rushing scores for Texas A&M (2-0), while Mike Evans racked up 155 yards on seven catches as Manziel’s favored target. Sam Houston State (1-1), ranked fourth in the latest Sports Network FCS Top 25, received a three-touchdown effort from Timothy Flanders that included 170 rushing yards on 19 carries. Brian Bell threw for a pair of touchdowns in a losing cause.
Final Score: (8) Louisville 44, Eastern Kentucky 7
Louisville, KY (Sports Network) – Teddy Bridgewater threw for 397 yards and four touchdowns, leading eighth-ranked Louisville to an easy 44-7 victory over Eastern Kentucky. Bridgewater completed 23-of-32 passes this week, following up his 23-of-28, 355-yard effort last Sunday in a 49-7 romp over Ohio. The Heisman candidate has nine TD passes in his first two games for the Cardinals (2-0), who will take a slight step up in competition next week with a visit to Kentucky. DeVante Parker caught five passes for 134 yards with two touchdowns, while Damian Copeland and Gerald Christian hauled in scoring passes from Bridgewater. Jared McClain threw a TD pass for Eastern Kentucky (1-1), an FCS school from the Ohio Valley Conference which had beaten Robert Morris in its opener.
Final Score: (9) LSU 56, UAB 17
Baton Rouge, LA (Sports Network) – Zach Mettenberger threw a school-record five touchdown passes — three of them to Odell Beckham — and No. 9 LSU opened its home schedule with an easy 56-17 victory over UAB. Mettenberger was an efficient 16-of-19 while amassing 282 yards through the air for the Tigers (2-0), winners of eight straight season-opening games at Tiger Stadium. Jarvis Landry caught Mettenberger’s two other TD passes, finishing with five catches for 71 yards. Beckham also had five receptions totaling 136 yards, and added a 100-yard scrimmage return touchdown off a missed field goal to his stat line. Austin Brown ended 9-of-24 for 136 yards with a touchdown for UAB (0-2), which was shut out in the second half.
Final Score: Miami-Florida 21, (12) Florida 16
Miami, FL (Sports Network) – Duke Johnson ran for a two-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter following one of Florida’s five turnovers, and the Miami- Florida Hurricanes held on to beat the mistake-prone 12th-ranked Gators, 21-16, at Sun Life Stadium. Johnson reached the end zone after Gators quarterback Jeff Driskel lost a fumble on a sack by Tyriq McCord, who recovered the ball at the Florida 4-yard line. The score gave Miami a 21-9 lead with 3:29 remaining, but Driskel quickly answered with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Solomon Patton. Miami then punted after recovering an onside kick, giving the ball back to Florida with 28 seconds left. Driskel, though, was sacked on first down to seal the win for the Hurricanes (2-0). Stephen Morris had 162 yards on 12-of-25 passing and threw a pair of first-quarter touchdowns for Miami, which registered only 10 first downs and were 1-for-11 on third down. Driskel completed 22-of-33 passes for 291 yards and two interceptions, the second coming five plays after an overthrown pass by Morris in the fourth quarter was picked off. The Gators (1-1) committed three first- half turnovers, but trailed only 14-6 at the break.
Final Score: (13) Oklahoma State 56, Texas-San Antonio 35
San Antonio, TX (Sports Network) – J.W. Walsh powered the explosive Oklahoma State offense past Texas-San Antonio for a 56-35 victory at the Alamodome. Walsh threw for 326 yards and four touchdowns while adding another score on the ground. The sophomore was named the starting quarterback after taking over for senior Clint Chelf in last week’s 21-3 win over Mississippi State. Josh Stewart led the Cowboys’ (2-0) receiving corps with five receptions for 97 yards for a touchdown. Missed opportunities in the first half hurt the Roadrunners (1-1), who would fall behind by 35 points before scoring four fourth-quarter touchdowns. Eric Soza completed 24-of-41 passes for 308 yards with three touchdown passes and two interceptions.
Final Score: (17) Michigan 41, (14) Notre Dame 30
Ann Arbor, MI (Sports Network) – The final showdown between two of college football’s tradition-rich heavyweights, at least for the foreseeable future, warranted another game under the lights at the Big House. Devin Gardner and Jeremy Gallon lit up the sky anyway. Gardner tossed three of his four touchdown passes to Gallon in No. 17 Michigan’s 41-30 triumph over No. 14 Notre Dame in the second-ever night game held at Michigan Stadium in front of an NCAA-record crowd of 115,109. Gardner was 21-of-33 for 294 yards with an interception and totaled 82 yards and a score on the ground, while Gallon caught eight passes for 184 yards for the Wolverines, who now lead the all- time series between the schools, 24-16-1. Michigan (2-0) won a 35-31 thriller against Notre Dame (1-1) two years ago in the first night game in Ann Arbor.
Final Score: BYU 40, (15) Texas 21
Provo, UT (Sports Network) – Taysom Hill racked up 388 yards of total offense as BYU used a dominating rushing game to take a 40-21 win over No. 15 Texas on Saturday. The Cougars (1-1) set a team record with 550 rushing yards as Hill had 259 yards on 17 carries, with three touchdowns, Jamaal Williams had 182 yards on 30 carries, and Paul Lasike added a touchdown on 15 carries and 87 yards to highlight the attack. Hill also went 9-for-26 for 129 yards with an interception and Justin Sorensen kicked four field goals in the win. David Ash was 19-for-34 for 251 yards and two touchdowns, but left in the fourth quarter with an injury. Johnathan Gray had 13 carries for 90 yards for the Longhorns (1-1), who were coming off a 56-7 blowout of New Mexico State last week. The start of this game was delayed for nearly two hours due to a thunderstorm that passed through the area.
Final Score: (16) Oklahoma 16, West Virginia 7
Norman, OK (Sports Network) – Trevor Knight threw for 119 yards and a touchdown as the No. 16 Oklahoma Sooners held off West Virginia, 16-7, on Saturday. Despite throwing Oklahoma’s lone touchdown, Knight completed just 10-of-20 passes, threw a pair of interceptions and lost a fumble before he was removed in the fourth quarter in favor of Blake Bell. Bell did not complete a pass, but rushed for 21 yards on two carries. Brennan Clay carried the ball 22 times for a career-high 170 yards and Damien Williams added 95 yards on 21 carries for the Sooners (2-0, 1-0 Big 12), who face Tulsa on Sept. 14. Paul Millard was 21-of-41 passing for 218 yards and an interception and Dreamius Smith rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown for the Mountaineers (1-1,0-1), who will host Georgia State on Sept. 14.
Final Score: (19) Northwestern 48, Syracuse 27
Evanston, IL (Sports Network) – The quarterback combination of Trevor Siemian and Kain Colter proved too much for Syracuse on Saturday, as the Northwestern duo accounted for five touchdowns in the 19th-ranked Wildcats’ 48-27 victory over the Orange at Ryan Field. Colter and Siemian alternated series throughout the game, with Siemian tossing three touchdown passes and Colter throwing one and running for another for the Wildcats (2-0), who opened their season with a 44-30 win over California. Siemian finished an efficient 15-of-19 passing for 259 yards, while Colter completed 15-of-18 passes for 116 yards and rushed 11 times for 87 yards in the victory. Northwestern wideout Tony Jones led all receivers with nine catches for 185 yards and a touchdown. Syracuse signal-caller Drew Allen passed for 279 yards and a touchdown on 27-of-41 throws, but was picked off four times before being removed in the fourth in favor of Terrel Hunt, who rushed for a 15-yard TD late in the setback. Jerome Smith and Prince-Tyson Gulley each added a rushing score for the Orange (0-2), who dropped a 23-17 decision to Penn State in their season-opener.
Final Score: (21) Wisconsin 48, Tennessee Tech 0
Madison, WI (Sports Network) – The trifecta of Melvin Gordon, James White and Corey Clement rolled to 398 yards rushing and four touchdowns, as 21st-ranked Wisconsin demolished Tennessee Tech, 48-0, in the first-ever meeting between the programs from Camp Randall Stadium. Clement led the way with 149 yards and two scores on 13 carries, with Gordon added 140 yards and one TD on nine totes and White contributing 109 yards and a score on 22 rushes for the Badgers (2-0), who head to Arizona State next Saturday before beginning their Big Ten slate. Joel Stave finished 24-of-28 for 219 yards and three touchdowns, with Jared Abbrederis, Derek Straus and Brian Wozniak the beneficiaries of Stave’s acumen in the end zone. Darian Stone completed only 8-of-19 attempts for 69 yards for the Golden Eagles (1-1), who were held to 100 yards of total offense in defeat.
Final Score: (22) Nebraska 56, Southern Miss 13
Lincoln, NE (Sports Network) – Taylor Martinez tossed three touchdown passes and Ameer Abdullah ran for a pair of scores as 22nd-ranked Nebraska easily handled Southern Miss, 56-13. Martinez completed 15-of-23 passes for 170 yards and ran for 34 yards on six carries. Abdullah gained 114 yards on the ground on 17 attempts while Quincy Enunwa, Kenny Bell and Sam Burtch all had a touchdown catch for Nebraska (2-0). Allan Bridgford went 21-of-35 passing for 222 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions in defeat for Southern Miss (0-2), which has not won a game since the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl against Nevada on Dec. 24, 2011. The Cornhuskers outgained Southern Miss, 479-284. Stanley Jean-Baptiste’s second interception in as many games put Nebraska ahead 7-0 quickly when he returned Bridgford’s errant throw 43 yards for the opening score.
Final Score: (23) Baylor 70, Buffalo 13
Waco, TX (Sports Network) – Bryce Petty racked up 338 passing yards and two touchdowns while Lache Seastrunk rushed for three scores as 23rd-ranked Baylor routed Buffalo, 70-13, at Floyd Casey Stadium. Petty completed 13-of-16 passes and Seastrunk carried 17 times for 150 yards along with his three scores. Shock Linwood gained 76 yards and two touchdowns on the ground for the Bears (2-0), while Tevin Reece and Antwan Goodley each reeled in four catches and a touchdown and gained 130 and 124 yards, respectively. Baylor’s potent offensive attack was on display once again after they downed Wofford, 69-3, in the season opener last week. The Bears gained a school-record 781 yards of total offense and extended their winning streak at home to six games dating back to last season. Joe Licata threw for 214 yards and a touchdown with an interception on 10- of-16 passing for Buffalo (0-2), which fell to 0-4 all- time against programs from the Big 12. Alex Neutz caught six passes for 197 yards and a score.
Final Score: (24) TCU 38, SE Louisiana 17
Fort Worth, TX (Sports Network) – Trevone Boykin took over for an injured Casey Pachall and led 24th-ranked TCU to a 38-17 victory over Southeastern Louisiana. Pachall injured his left forearm late in the second quarter when Southeastern Louisiana’s Justin Church fell on him. He left the field holding his arm and did not return. TCU coach Gary Patterson said in a televised interview on the field after the game that Pachall’s injury was serious. Boykin led the Frogs to the go-ahead field goal on his first series and 21 straight points in the second half. He finished 9-of-13 for 133 yards with two touchdowns passing and ran for 35 yards on five carries. Waymon James and B.J. Catalon added rushing touchdowns for TCU (1-1), which bounced back from last week’s season-opening loss to LSU. Pachall was 8-of-14 for 100 yards through the air before exiting the contest. Bryan Bennett ran for 132 yards with a touchdown and also threw for 132 yards with a score in defeat. Southeastern Louisiana (1-1), which plays in the Southland Conference of the FCS, opened its season with a 45-7 victory over Southeast Missouri State.
Final Score: Washington State 10, (25) Southern California 7
Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) – Andrew Furney’s 41-yard field goal with 3:03 remaining vaulted Washington State past No. 25 Southern California, 10-7 on Saturday. Damante Horton returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown to provide Washington State with its lone touchdown. Connor Halliday completed 26-of-38 passes for 215 yards and two interceptions and Kristoff Williams caught six passes for 56 yards for the Cougars (1-1, 1-0 PAC-12), who fell to Auburn, 31-24, last week. Washington State defeated the Trojans for the first time since 2000. USC’s quarterback controversy continued on Saturday with Cody Kessler under center in the first half and Max Wittek taking over in the second half. Kessler was a dreadful 8-for-13 for 41 yards and an interception and Max Wittek finished 3-for-8 with a crucial interception on the Trojans’ final possession. Once again, the USC defense was stellar, limiting the Cougars to three points on just 223 total yards. The Trojans (1-1, 0-1), will host Boston College on Sept. 14.
Categorized in: NCAA Football