Portland State at No. 21 Oregon
What do you do when you lose to a team you were favored to beat by 23.5 points and drop 15 spots on the Top-25? If you’re Oregon you shell out $590K to make sure that Portland State is on your dance card right before you start conference play—Portland State that you’ve beaten by an average of 52.5 points the last six times you’ve played each other. If you’ve won all your games up until then, beating the crap out of Portland State will just reinforce how dominant you are to the rest of the country and the talking heads and pollsters. If you’ve screwed up and lost one of your prior two games to a team you were supposed to beat like a drum, crushing Portland State will help you try and convince yourself and more importantly those 60 broadcasters and journalists that decide which teams are on the AP Top-25 and in what order, that your early loss was a aberration—nothing more than a fluke. Well, it’s past 9:00pm on Friday night—halftime at their home game in Eugene and so-far-so-good as the Ducks just headed into the locker room up 49-0.
For Oregon, Senior QB Dante Moore is connecting on over 80% of his passes for 280 yards and 4 TD’s to four different receivers compared to 27 yards and no TD’s by his opponent, Junior QB Gabe Downing. On the ground, led by Sophomore RB Jordon Davison, the Ducks have already rushed for well over 100 yards with Davison picking up 81 of those and 2 TD’s and RB Dierre Hill Jr. picking up another. As far as the Vikings ground game goes—well, it’s non-existent, literally—11 rushes for 5 yards. The Ducks are leading in first downs, 21-to-2; total yards of offense, 405 yards to 53; and are 5-for-5 in third down conversions compared to 0-for-6 for Portland State.
Portland State’s 2nd Half would start off with a punt a little more than a minute in, followed by back-to-back-to-back interceptions leading to a couple of TD’s by Oregon’s backup QB Junior Dylan Raiola. The first, a 13 yard TD pass to Sophomore TE Andrew Olesh, and the second to Freshman WR Messiah Hampton making it 63-0. That third interception on Portland State’s first play out of scrimmage, after Oregon’s punt, led to another TD to start the 4th Qtr pushing the score out to 70-0. But Oregon wasn’t about to let up after last week’s embarrassment and just kept beating that dead horse. Two back-to-back three-and-outs were followed with back-to-back TD’s by the Ducks and an 84-0 ending to a game that was almost nauseating to watch. Not sure if Portland State will come back for another at any price.
Oregon’s back-up Junior QB Dylan Raiola was perfect, completing all eleven of his passes for 124 yards and three TD’s. Combined with the Duck starter, Senior Dante Moore, they combined for 453 yards and 7 TD’s without an interception while completing 88% of their passes. Led by Sophomore RB Jordon Davison and Freshman Brandon Smith, Oregon had four players take a handoff seven or more times for a combined 267 of the team’s 273 yards and five TD’s. Davison picked up two and Smith one to go along with one each by Freshman Tradarian Ball and Sophomore Dierre Hill Jr. Portland State ended up with 101 yards in the air with three interceptions and just 2 yards on the ground once the negative yards are added in. The team stats were ridiculous as you can imagine. Oregon had 43 first downs to just 5 for Portland State and 726 total yards of offense compared to just 103 to go along with 22 more minutes time-of-possession. The Ducks successfully converted almost 80% of their 14 third down conversions and 100% of the two 4th down conversions they attempted while the Vikings were 0-for-9 on third down and did not attempt any on fourth down.
Watching this game was like watching someone beat up your kid sister and although I seldom take sides in a heritage PAC-12 head-to-head unless it’s my Huskies, I’m really hoping USC kicks Oregon’s ass this coming Saturday because after this they not only deserve to have their butts kicked—they need it.
No. 12 USC at Rutgers
The Trojans 42-35 victory over Rutgers on the road as they started Big Ten competition this past Saturday was a lot closer than folks thought it would be. Coming in as a 23 point favorite, I thought Rick Neuheisel made a great point in the after game analysis. One way to keep the opponent from having so many opportunities to score is to control possession of the ball and keep them off the field. The Trojan’s six scoring drives averaged less than 3 minutes each. With their running backs averaging six yards a carry they could have easily kept control of the ball, moved the chains, still scored their TD’s and taken a whole quarter’s worth of possession time away from the Scarlet Knights. With an Oregon team who just put 84 points up on the board coming to play in the Coliseum this next Saturday—limiting their time with the ball is not a bad idea.
USC got down just inside the Rutgers red zone nine plays into their first drive, sitting 1st and 10 at the Scarlet Knight’s 19 yard line. After making a 2 yard pickup on a short pass, two incompletions would have them 4th and 8 at the Rutger’s 17 yard line where Sophomore Place Kicker Caden Chittenden would connect on a 35 yard field goal to put the Trojans up 3-0. They’d get that TD they were looking for just four plays later, Intercepting Rutgers on the second play of their drive just outside of their own red zone and then running it twice with Sophomore RB King Miller taking it into the end zone from 11 yards out to give USC a 10-0 lead with more than half the quarter yet to play. Rutgers would eat all that remaining time up on their 12 play 75 yard drive ending with a couple of back-to-back passes from Senior QB Dylan Lonergan including an 11 yard TD pass to Junior WR KJ Duff to close the gap to just three, 10-7, as the 1st Qtr ended.
It didn’t take long for the Trojans to strike back as three minutes and just six plays later Senior QB Jayden Maiava would hit Sophomore WR Corey Simms with a 52 yard TD pass to stretch that lead back out to ten, 17-7. After holding the Scarlet Knights to a three-and-out USC would have to punt themselves six plays later—a beauty down to the Rutger’s five yard line. In their second longest drive of the game the Scarlet Knights would make up that 95 yards including a big 40 yard chuck pass and a couple back-to-back passes—the last a 16 yard TD pass from Lonergan to Freshman WR Elias Coke to cut that Trojan lead to just three, 17-14, with well under two minutes left in the half. USC would get themselves quickly downfield with a couple of 25 yard plus pass plays. But three incompletions in a row inside the Rugers red zone would bring PK Caden Chittenden back out where he’d hit one from 32 yards out to give USC a 20-14 lead going into the half.
Rutgers would get the ball to start the second half but ten plays into their drive USC Senior Cornerback Prophet Brown would intercept Lonergan and take it 99 yards back to the house for a 27-14 lead. But after the punt back-to-back-to-back runs of 4 yards, 49 yards, and 17 yards would have the Scarlet Knights back in the end zone in way less than two minutes and cut the lead back to a single possession at 27-21. Over the remaining almost eight minutes of the 3rd Qtr the teams would trade TD’s with the Trojans also picking up a two-point conversion to make it 35-28 going into the final period. USC would make it down inside the Rutger’s red zone on their next drive but instead of stretching that lead back out to ten points when an obvious field goal opportunity presented itself, they decide to go for it sitting 4th and 4 at the Scarlet Knight’s 17 yard line and didn’t make it. Fortunately for the Trojans, not only couldn’t Rutgers capitalize on the opportunity they made a bad decision to go for it on 4th down just outside their own red zone instead of taking the easy three with well over eleven minutes left in the game. The Trojan’s stopped them and were back in the end zone five plays later to put that lead out to 42-28. The Scarlet Knights would find the end zone again four minutes later on a Lonergan 28 yard pass to Sophomore WR Vernon Allen making it 42-35. Not abandoning the pass entirely, with well over four minutes left to play the Trojans though it might be a good time to incorporate more ground game and eat some clock which they did—all of it. Miinus a scary fumble that they recovered on the 9th play of their 10 play drive, their four rushing plays average 8.5 yards per carry. Something to remember next week when they play the Ducks.
For USC, Senior QB Jayden Maiava connected on 20-of-32 for 277 yards, 2 TD’s—one to Sophomore WR Corey Simms and the other to Freshman RB Riley Wormley—and no picks. On the ground, Sophomore RB King Miller led the way again for the Trojans rushing 16 times for 102 of the team’s 184 yards and 1 TD with Wormley picking up another along with 52 yards on three carries. For Rutgers, Senior QB Dylan Lonergan hit on just 50% of his passes for 252 yards, 3 TD’s and 2 picks. If it wasn’t for Dylan the Trojans might not have won this one since his first interception was just outside his own red zone on their first possession of the game which led to a USC TD just two plays later. His second was an interception and return for TD to start the second half and give the Trojans a two possession lead. On the ground, Junior RB Antwan Raymond did most of the work for the Scarlet Knights rushing 21 times for 122 of the team’s 168 yards and 1 TD with Senior RB Clay Thevenin picking up another. Looking at the team stats Rutgers led in first downs, 27-24; had only 1 less total yard of offense than USC, 460-461; were slightly more efficient on third down, 54%-50%, more efficient on 4th down, 75%-50%; and had possession of the ball 6.5 minutes longer. The killer stat—those two interceptions that led directly to TD’s. Without those we might have been roasting USC over the coals like we did Oregon a couple of weeks ago. Speaking of Oregon, they’re up next—huge game for both teams.
Purdue at UCLA
After going 5-7 in 2024 and a miserable 3-9 last year, if you’re a Bruin fan you’ve got to be getting excited with as many wins in your first three games this year as you had all of last year. Granted, Purdue lit them up in the air in this one revealing that they have more work to do on their pass rush and in the secondary, but they held their own on the scoreboard with regard to passing and more than held their own on the ground. If you were going to describe a perfect offensive first quarter of football I imagine it would look a lot like what UCLA did this past Saturday in the Rose Bowl with back-to-back-to-back TD’s. The first two were on TD passes of 20 and 27 yards from Senior QB Nico Iamaleava to Senior WR Semaj Morgan. The third after a forced fumble by the Bruin defense lead to a 7 play 44 yard drive and six yard TD run by Senior RB Wayne Knight—his first of two in the game—to give UCLA a 21-7 lead at the end of the 1st Qtr. I just said offensively perfect as Purdue caught the Bruin secondary asleep on their first possession, a one play 75 yard TD pass from their Junior QB Ryan Browne to Senior WR Xavier Townsend.
The game would tighten up considerably in the second quarter as Purdue came down the field on a 13 play 75 yard drive and find the end zone at the end of a 25 yard pass and two short runs by their Sophomore RB Fame Ijeboi to make it 21-14. With the Bruins missing a field goal just outside the Boilermaker red zone on their next possession and then getting held to a three-and-out on the one after that, Purdue’s Browne and Townsend would connect again for another TD pass to tie the score 21-21 with just over two minutes left in the half. 13 plays and 76 yards later the Bruins were sitting 1st and 10 inside the Boilermaker red zone with seven seconds remaining. A pass play to get into the end zone failed and with four seconds left on the clock Senior Place Kicker Mateen Bhaghani came out and nailed a 34 yard field goal to give UCLA a 24-21 going into the break.
Purdue got the ball to start the second half and wasted no time going downfield. One short run and three chunk passes would find them back in the end zone on a pass from Browne to Junior TE George Burden to put the Boilermakers on top 28-24. But their lead wouldn’t last long as UCLA came right back down the field in five plays and found the end zone themselves on a 16 yard TD run by Senior RB Anthony Woods to go back on top 31-28. Although they might not have needed it, the Bruins got a little help on Purdue’s next possession as Browne completed a 7 yard pass to Junior WR Asaad Waseem who, when hit by UCLA’s Senior LB Sammy Omosigho, fumbled and lost the ball to the Bruins Junior DL Sahir West who returned it five yards to the Boilermaker 27 yard line. Three plays later Senior RB Wayne Knight would run his second TD of the game into the end zone and stretch the UCLA lead to ten points, 38-28. Aided by a 15 yard roughing the passer penalty and a 47 yard pass completion to Purdue Junior RB Antonio Harris by their Sophomore punter Dylan Drennan on a fake punt at their own 45 yard line, the Boilermakers would cut into the lead with a field goal from the UCLA ten yard line to make it a one possession game at 38-31.
Both teams would get a TD to start the 4th Qtr. UCLA on a 17 yard TD run by Senior RB Javian Thomas and Purdue on a 1 yard TD run by Sophomore RB Fame Ijeboi—his second of the game to make it 45-38. After punts by both teams on their next possessions, UCLA’s Senior RB Wayne Knight would pick up 47 then 21 yards on back-to-back rushes followed by a 6 yard TD pass from Iamaleava to Senior WR Landon Ellis putting the Bruins on top 52-38 with half the quarter left to play. But what was to be their third costly turnover in the game, the Boilermaker Junior QB Ryan Browne would get picked off 7 plays into their drive down inside the UCLA red zone at the 13 yard line. With less than six minutes to play and three RB’s on the game averaging over seven yards a carry, it was easy enough for the Bruins to move the sticks and kill the rest of the clock for the win.
For UCLA, Senior QB Nico Iamaleava was 19-of-31 for 276 yards, 3 TD’s—a couple to Senior WR Samaj Morgan and another to Landon Ellis—and no interceptions while also rushing 7 times for 55 yards. On the ground, Senior RB Wayne Knight led the way with 177 yards and 2 TD’s on just 18 carries. Senior RB’s Anthony Woods and Javian Thomas would combine for another 138 yards and a TD each on 22 carries. Combined with their QB’s contribution the Bruins rushed collectively 48 times for 369 yards and 4 TD’s. UCLA led in first downs, 35-23; rushing yards, 369-63; total yards of offense, 645-488; had possession of the ball 12 minutes longer; had zero turnovers compared to three for Purdue; and were really efficient on third down in comparison, almost 80% compared to just 33%. The Bruins hit the road for a couple of weeks. First stop Maryland before taking on the Oregon at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. That should be interesting, especially if the Ducks are expecting the same old Bruins—because this ain’t them. So great to see excellent coaching back at the helm in Westwood.
Eastern Washington at Washington
The Huskies are 3-0 to start the season after easily dispensing with the Eagles 48-16 this past Saturday. But, I’m looking at their schedule and considering how poorly they’ve really been in general—this game aside—they could easily lose five games this year. The only thing in their favor regarding their upcoming opponents is that they will play three of the five currently ranked teams (No. 17 Iowa, No. 13 Penn State, No. 5 Indiana) at home in Husky Stadium and the other two—No. 12 USC and No. 20 Oregon—they are very familiar with and travel won’t be an issue.
In this one Washington had a TD on either side of a field goal by Eastern Washington in the first quarter. The first was on a 15 yard TD pass from Junior QB Demon Williams to Sophomore WR Chris Lawson and the second, a five yard pass from Williams to Senior WR Rashid Williams to put the Huskies up 14-3 at the end of the 1st Qtr. Helped out by two Washington pass interference penalties, the Eagles led off the 2nd Qtr with a 5 play 83 yard drive in under two minutes to pick up their only TD of the game on a 14 yard option by their Junior QB Nate Bell to get within four at 14-10. Intercepting Williams on the Huskies next drive, Eastern Washington got an opportunity that they couldn’t cash in on as the Huskies held them to a three-and-out. Punting from deep in their own red zone Washington would start their next drive from the Eagles 45 yard line which Williams consumed in just three plays including a 43 yard pass completion to start to go up 21-10. With the Eagles fumbling three plays later at their own 37 yard line, Washington would extend that lead to 28-10 at the end of a 7 play 50 yard drive and 18 yard TD pass from Williams to Williams—Demon’s fourth and the second for Rashid. Holding Eastern Washington to a punt on their next possession, the Huskies would put three more points on the board before the half on a 21 yard field goal by their Senior Place Kicker Tyler Robles to make it 31-10 at the break.
Eastern Washington got the ball to start the second half and drove the ball down to just outside the Huskies red zone, but a sack and an incompletion would force them to settle for the field goal and make it a 31-13 game. They held Washington to a three-and-out but couldn’t capitalize on their next possession. After driving the ball 77 yards down field they’d find themselves 4th and 1 at the Washington 5 yard line. Already down by three possessions they went for it instead of kicking the field goal but had to turn the ball back over when their running play actually lost two yards. With just over two minutes to play in the quarter and on the back of an 11 yard and 75 yard pass play the Huskies would score again on a 1 yard TD run by Freshman RB Ansu Sanoe to go out in front 38-13 at the end of the quarter.
Finding themselves 4th and 15 at the Husky 26 yard line at the end of their opening drive of the 4th Qtr, the Eagles settled for the field goal making it 38-16. Washington connected on their own field goal from 32 yards out to get those three points back—now 41-16. With just under four minutes left in the game Eastern Washington turned the ball back over to the Huskies after trying to convert but failing on a 4th and 2 at their own 33 yard line. Six plays later Washington would be back in the end zone on a TD pass from their backup QB, Junior Elijah Brown, to Freshman WR Trez Davis making it 48-16 where it would stay with just a minute left on the clock.
For Washington, Junior QB Demond Williams Jr. connected on 27-of-33 for 373 yards, 3 TD’s and 1 interception while also rushing 7 times for 33 yards. Backup QB, Junior Elijah Brown, also picked up a TD while connecting on 2-of-3 for 25 yards. Led by Freshman RB Brian Bonner with 81 yards on 6 carries, the Huskies collectively rushed for 148 yards on 26 attempts with Freshman RB Ansu Sanoe picking up their only TD on the ground. One big red flag regarding Washington’s game are flags in general. As the AP wrote for ESPN in their Recap of the game under the heading Flag Day; “Washington racked up eight penalties for 101 yards, including five that gave EWU first downs. This comes two weeks after the season-opening Apple Cup, when the Huskies were flagged 12 times for 130 yards.” Regarding that head coach Jedd Fisch said; “Just disappointed in the discipline penalties. We’ll have to continue to address them, because clearly it’s not where we need that to be.” Washington opens up conference play at home in Alaska Airlines Husky Stadium against Minnesota this next Saturday.