Baaaada Boop Baaadda Bing! Week 6 was a doozy for the Big Ten in many ways, it got weaker but for one (maybe two) teams' their hopes of the College Football Playoff are still alive but barely breathing. (Thank you for that one, The Script). The college football world took a wild ride on the world's highest coaster then flipped, dipped, ducked, and plunged into uncertainty. The Big Ten ride was just as amusing. Here have some recaps. Grab a shot glass too.
#10 Michigan State 27, #19 Nebraska 22
The Spartans gave every fan (the ones who stayed at least, yeah looking at you student section) a near heart attack with 5 minutes to go in Spartan Stadium. The Spartans dominated the first half, taking a 17-0 lead on the Huskers into the break on the backs of Tony Lippett, Jeremy Langford, Michael Geiger. The MSU offense gashed Nebraska early and often in the first half as Lippett's touchdown was a 55 yard pass play that anyone's crippled grandmother could have walked in. Nebraska couldn't muster anything on offense in the first half and the Spartans contained high powered Ameer Abdullah.The offense produced another rushing TD on a beautifully designed run for Langford. Geiger hit a field goal before half and the Spartans were about to break the game open like a pistachio shell. As the half broke the Spartans came out flatter than a shaken up pop. At least on offense anyway. Geiger hit another field goal with 9:18 to go in the third. Halfway into the half Nebraska finally broke their goose egg and hung a crooked number on the board. It remained 20-3 MSU until Lippett took a reverse run play 32 yards in for score making it 27-3. Many fans began to leave Spartan Stadium and taking with them what seemed to be Michigan State's life as well. The MSU student section was half it's size by the 4th quarter. Low and behold things got interesting in the 4th. The MSU defense bit the selves in the foot multiple times and gave up many pass plays to Nebraska. The Spartans came out playing not to lose and not to win and Abdullah broke the plain twice on consecutive drives. Both Nebraska 2 point conversions failed and the score became 27-16. With 3:22 to go Nebraska punt returner, De'Mornay Pierson-El split the MSU special teams for a 62 yard score and the 2 pt conversion failed again. On the on side kick MSU fielded the ball cleanly and drove down the field but stopped the clock on third down with 1:12 to go when Langford couldn't stay inbounds. Geiger's ensuing field goal try clanged off the upright and crossbar before falling out. Nebraska took over at their 20 yard line and drove to the MSU 47 yard line. With 30 seconds to go Armstrong's pass was intercepted by Trey Waynes and the Spartans held on to win 27-22. The MSU defense held Ameer Abdullah to only 47 yards rushing. MSU travels to Purdue next week while Nebraska takes the week off.
Purdue 38, Illinois 27
Purdue first time starting QB Austin Appleby threw for touchdown and ran for two more as the Boilermakers ran all over the Illini, gaining 349 yards of offense en route to a 38-27 victory. Appleby was good for 15 of 20 for 202 yards passing and 76 yards running. Although it was all Purdue at the end of the game, it was shootout for most of the game. Illinois scored first off a pass from QB Wes Lunt that found Tyler White wide open from 13 yards out. Purdue responded two minutes when Raheem Mostert busted the Illinois D for a 44 yard rushing score. Tied at 7-7 Lunt marched the Illini down the field where RB Josh Ferguson punched in a 2 yard second and goal score. That would cap the scoring in the first quarter and the only scores of the second quarter came on a 54 yard run by Boilermakers' RB Ahkeem Hunt and a 20 yard Paul Griggs field goal. Austin Appleby continued his great start when he hooked up with Danny Anthrop for an 80 yard TD. Now down 24-14 the Illini fought back on a 6 yard pass by Lunt to Geronimo Allison cutting the Purdue lead to 24-21. Appleby would strike again this time with his legs from a yard out. Illinois wouldn't go quietly as a Donovan Young two yard run but failed PAT made the game close again at 31-27. At the start of the fourth quarter Appleby again struck with his legs again from a yard out and put the Boilermakers up for good at 38-27. Purdue took home the Purdue cannon but gave up 515 yards but did gain 551 yards. Purdue stuffed an already nonexistent Illini rushing attack and capped them at 65 yards. Purdue gave up 450 yards through the air but had 349 yards rushing on the day. Illinois continued it's struggle of stopping the ground assault. Purdue heads into a bye week and Illinois travels to Wisconsin to take on the stunned Badgers.
#20 Ohio State 52, Maryland 24
J.T. Barrett continued his impressive season as he went 18 for 23 with 267 yards passing and 5 total touchdowns (4 passing, 1 rushing). Ohio States trip to Maryland started off easy as they scored the first 14 points thanks to a one yard by Rod Smith and then a 9 yard Barrett pass to Jalin Marshall. With 5 minutes to go in the first, Brad Craddock added a 57 yard Maryland field goal. Ohio State made it 21-3 on a Barrett pass of 25 yards to Michael Thomas and then 24-3 on a Sean Nuerrnberger 28 yard field goal. Wes Brown brought the Terrapins a TD score in front of the home crowd to cut the lead to 24-10. Barrett again answered this time finding Nick Vannett from a yard out to make 31-10 going into the half. Just under half way through the third quarter Barrett found Devin Smith 30 yards out for another touchdown score. 2 minutes later the Terrapins Brandon Ross ran into the end zone to cut the Buckeye lead to 38-17. But just like before Barrett made Maryland pay this time on a 9 yard run. Maryland QB Caleb Rowe hit Stefon Diggs from 4 yards out making it 45-24. Rowe later in the 4th threw to the opposing team, and Raekwon McMillian of OSU ran an interception back 19 yards to boost the Buckeyes up to 52-24. The game ended quietly from there. Caleb Rowe couldn't overcome the OSU defense as he went 13-22 with 173 yards, 1 TD, and 3 interceptions. The Buckeyes had an almost even split in yards from passing and rushing as they ended up with 533 yards of offense. OSU held Maryland to 310 yards and remained tough on the run, keeping Maryland to 66 yards rushing. Maryland's 4 turnovers were a season high for them and they head to a bye week. Ohio State also heads to a bye week.
Indiana 49, North Texas 24
Indiana bounced back from their drubbing at the hands of Maryland by drubbing North Texas. The Hoosier QB Nate Sudfeld went 23-29 with 230 yards passing and 3 TDs through the air. It didn't take long for Inidiana to score, when four minites in Tevin Coleman punched in a one yard run. Coleman had a great performance as gashed the Mean Green for 150 yards rushing on 17 carries. Nate Subfeld hit his first TD pass to Jordan Fuchs from 12 yards out and Shane Wynn also caught a 45 yard pass from Subfeld at the end of the first to put the Hoosiers up 21-0. The second quarter saw Carlos Harris of North Texas produce the only points as he caught Dajon Williams 20 yard pass. Coming off halftime D'Angelo Roberts busted through North Texas on a 47 yard run to put the Hoosiers up 28-7. Four minutes later Roberts again found the house on a 3 yard run making it 35-7. Trevor Moore added a Mean Greenn field goal from 20 yards out 4 minutes later to stop the bleeding at 35-10. Nonetheless, with 1:50 to go in the 3rd quarter Sudfeld hooked up with Shane Wynn for 76 yards and a TD that bolstered Indiana's lead to 42-10. North Texas opened the 4th quarter with two touchdowns both through the air, Williams hit Marcus Smith first for a 20 yard score then Tanner Smith from a yard out for the Mean Green's final points of the night. With 33 seconds left in the game Devine Redding punched in a 3 yard touchdown to put the Hoosiers up 49-24. Indiana was just shy of 600 yards of offense with 593 total yards. 363 of those on the ground. Indiana also held North Texas to 348 yards total. Indiana heads to Kinnick Stadium this week to face 4-1 Iowa.
Northwestern 20, #17 Wisconsin 14
I tried to tell everyone, Northwestern can getcha! Wisconsin couldn't overcome 4 turnovers and continued to struggle through the air only managing 138 yards passing. The biggest Northwestern threat? Godwin Igwebuike who had 3 interceptions. Trevor Siemian went 15-29 with 182 yards and a TD. Justin Jackson was the work horse on the ground as he compiled 162 yards on 33 carries. Wisconsin's QB woes continued as Joe Stave was 8 for 19 with 114 yards, one touchdown and 3 interceptions. The only score of the first quarter was Jack Mitchell's 22 yard field goal. The second quarter didn't see much action; only a 5 yard Siemian pass to Dan Vitale. The Wildcats led 10-0 at the break. Melvin Gordon opened up the second half as Wisconsin finally got on the board when Gordon punched in a 2 yard TD. It would never get closer than 10-7. Halfway through the third Miles Shuler on an end around went 16 yards for a Northwestern TD. In the fourth Jack Mitchell capped the Wildcat's scoring with a 22 yard field goal. Kenzel Doe caught a Joel Stave 19 yard pass to make it 20-14 with 4 minutes to go but Northwestern hung on upsetting the Badgers. Northwestern racked up 385 yards of offense with 203 on the ground and 182 through the air. Wisconsin did win the yardage battle, compiling 422 yards of offense with 284 on the ground. Gordon had 259 of those on 27 carries. Wisconsin takes on Illinois at home and Northwestern heads to Minnesota.
Rutgers 26, Michigan 24
Things just got worse for Ann Arbor. Michigan happy to get back to football after a week of controversy. came out Saturday only to prove that this team still isn't where it needs to be. Michigan and Rutgers traded field goals to start making it 6-3 in favor of Rutgers at the end of the first. Devin Gardner changed that at the beginning of the second as he dashed 4 yards for a Wolverine touchdown. Big pass plays were the story all day for Rutgers as Gary Nova hit Andrew Turzilli on a 80 yard hook up through the air. De'von Smith and the Wolverines responded when he scored form a yard out. As the half closed, Nova hit John Tsimis on a 7 yard TD pass giving the Scarlet Knights a 19-17 lead. Neither team could accumulate points in the third quarter and it wasn't till 13;12 of the fourth that either did. Nova found Turzilli again, this time from 14 yards out giving Rutgers a 26-17 lead. Gardner and the Wolverines responded 4 minutes later on 19 yard Devin Gardner run to cut the lead to 26-24. Michigan marched down the field and with 3:01 to go the attempted 56 yard Matt Wile field goal was blocked by Kemoko Turay of Rutgers. Rutgers ran down the clock from there and defeated the Wolverines. Nova finished 22 of 39 with 404 passing yards (a career best) and 3 touchdowns. Michigan's weak secondary showed through again and the wolverines continue to struggle. Michigan heads back to Ann Arbor and Rutgers goes onto a bye week.
No comments:
Post a Comment