Each week there are plenty of Heisman-like performances in college football, which are pretty easy to find. What I plan to do is shine a light upon the less than stellar performances. Call them derps, or whatever you would like but you get the picture. With that, I welcome you to my weekly exposé of the ugly side of college football.
Let us start in San Jose, California.
San Jose State 28, Hawaii 27
Looking at the score you would assume it was a fun game to watch. If that was your thought, you would be wrong. Hawaii quarterback Bryant Moniz, at one point extended his consecutive pass streak without an interception to 152 attempts Friday evening. He obviously had not faced a defense like San Jose State, ranked a stellar 91st in the country in total defense allowing 418 yards per game. In the second quarter the Moniz streak ended, when he threw interceptions on two straight passes – once to Peyton Thompson and the other to James Oath.
Between the two teams – San Jose State and Hawaii combined for a remarkable three fumbles and three interceptions a piece. There were also 914 yards of total offense put up between the two teams. A job well done.
The Indiana Hoosiers:
I would rather not be all gloom and doom, so I won’t. Good news Indiana, basketball season has arrived, and…
Moving on, Indiana is just an atrocious example of a football program at this moment. Now I am hoping Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson does not come after me by writing this. In the case that he does I have hired protection.
Kidding aside, I have a lot of respect for Kevin Wilson. It is my thought that he is a fine offensive mind and obviously a great recruiter landing one of the top senior quarterbacks in high school football right now, Gunnier Kiel. But geez. Versus Wisconsin Saturday, Indiana surrendered 59 points, 332 yards rushing and 192 yards passing, good for 524 yards of total DEFENSE. To their credit, Indiana did manage 223 yards rushing on the ground, mostly in garbage time, as well as 64 whopping yards through the air. Indiana has lost to Ball State, Virginia, North Texas, Penn State, Illinois, and Wisconsin this season. Their win versus South Carolina State should be their last.
North Carolina Tar Heels:
Whenever your defense manages to make Jacory Harris look like a Heisman-like quarterback, you have failed. For as much talent as there is on the defensive side of the ball for North Carolina, the secondary is the opposite. The Tar Heels are 26th in the country against the rush – even with the 335 yards rushing that Georgia Tech put on them. Against the pass, the Heels are good for 92nd in the country giving up 247 yards per contest – versus James Madison, Rutgers, Virginia, Georgia Tech, East Carolina, Louisville, and Miami.
Saturday Jacory Harris carved up the Heels secondary going 20-of-30 on the day for 267 yards and three touchdowns. The Hurricanes managed only 44 yards on the ground in the win 30-24.
Next up for the Heels is the 15th ranked offense in the country, the Clemson Tigers, who are averaging 293 yards through the air on the season.
Georgia Tech:
Traveling to Charlottesville, Virginia to take on the Virginia Cavaliers, the Yellow Jackets had momentum on their side. Momentum was ended Saturday afternoon.
The reemergence of the Georgia Tech offense this season, has been aided in large part by the trick play of the forward pass. The pass game had slowed in recent weeks, and all but came to a halt Saturday against Virginia.
Last week in the win over Maryland, Tevin Washington was 6-of-19 passing for 114 yards and an interception. This week it only got worse – with Washington going 2-of-8 passing for 24 yards. Tevin Washington’s first completion of the game versus Virginia came with just under 12-minutes to go in the game
Without the threat of a pass, and a weak defense Georgia Tech played from behind for the entire game – dropping the game to Virginia 24-21.
Zook’d:
Ohio State quarterback, Braxton Miller was 1-of-4 for 17 yards and a touchdown Saturday versus Illinois. They won 17-7. Need I say more?
Miami (OH) vs Kent State:
If you tuned in to this game – first of all, what were you thinking? Secondly, I bet you my mortgage you fell asleep between 5 and 7 times.
There was 410 yards of total offense put up between the two schools Saturday, as Miami edged the mighty Kent State whatever-they-are. Also between the two schools they were 7-of-32 on third-down conversions.
Blah
Florida vs Auburn:
Not to be outdone by Miami of Ohio and Kent State, the Florida Gators and Auburn Tigers provided a snooze fest at the speed of S-E-C.
At the end of the third quarter it was 7-6 in the favor of Auburn, and if you were still watching – boy you love College Football. Good for you, I do too.
There were only 472 total yards produced by the two teams and each team saw three different players attempt forward passes. For Auburn, sophomore Clint Mosely was 4-of-7 for 90 yards passing, junior Barrett Trotter was 2-of-8 for 33 yards and a touchdown, and freshman Kiehl Frazier was 1-of-1 for zero yards. The three combined for 123 yards through the air. For Florida, freshman Jeff Driskel, injured or not, was 9-of-18 for 75 yards, freshman Jacoby Brissett was 5-of-10 for 45, and Trey Burton was 1-of-1 for 8 yards. The three Gators combined for 128 yards through the air.
The Auburn tigers would eventually, and FINALLY, pull away in the fourth quarter with a Onterio McCalebb touchdown run and Cody Parkey field goal – winning 17-6.
St. Francis (PA) vs Sacred Heart:
Defense? Who needs defense? The vaunted matchup between the 1-5 St. Francis Red Flash and 3-2 Sacred Heart Pioneers was a game of little defensive options. Between the two teams there were 1115 yards of total offense, 105 points, 4 turnovers, and 17 penalties for 151 more yards. Sacred Heart would hold off St. Francis by winning the game 65-45. I will attempt to confirm or deny, whether or not this was actually a basketball game.
Regie will be writing his “Not Good, Not Bad, Just Ugly,” column every Monday for Crystal Ball Run. Follow him on Twitter @FSURocker.
