WPM's Rootzoo Player Of The Week: Week Seven

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This was one great week for college football.  I know, I know.  It was great for me because my Texas Longhorns defeated Oklahoma.  I had faith in my boys and they came though.  Also we saw Missouri and LSU fall.  And LSU fell in the worst way.  Great games were seen by all.  But we also saw some great performances.  What is strange is that this week there were so many great performances by teams that lost.  So let’s start there as we do every week.

Great games by players in a losing cause

Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) had a monster game against Texas.  And with the umbers he put up, you would automatically think OU won, but this time OU fell 45-35 to my beloved Texas Longhorns.  Bradford was 28-39 for an amazing 387 yards and 5 touchdowns.  Texas was able to pick off Bradford twice in the game.  Tough loss for OU; great win for Texas.   Juice Williams (Illinois) had a great game passing for 462 yards and 2 touchdowns.  But his fumble in the 4^th, which was returned for a touchdown, really hurt the Illinois and allowed Minnesota to get a more secure hold of the game.

Jerod Johnson (Texas A&M) is improving week by week.  Against Kansas State, Johnson threw for 419 yards and 2 touchdowns in the loss.  On top of that, he ran for 68 yards and a touchdown.  But what can you do when your defense gives up 44 points.   Joe Ganz (Nebraska) almost was able to pull off the upset.  On the day, he threw for 346 yards and 2 touchdowns, plus 1 rushing touchdown.  But in overtime, his interception sealed the win for Tech.  Chase Daniels (Missouri) had one of those days that happen to quarterbacks.  His numbers were there: 390 yards passing and 1 touchdowns.  But his three interceptions killed Missouri’s changes of winning the game. Vai Taua (Nevada) had a monster game.  And I mean a monster game.  He carried the ball 20 times against New Mexico State and racked up 188 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns.  On top of that, Taua had 5 receptions in the game for 49 yards and a touchdown.  But unfortunately for Nevada, their defense could not stop New Mexico State.

I feel sorry for my alma maters.  First, I feel sorry for Casey Fitzgerald  (North Texas).  He had 14 receptions for 231 yards with 1 touchdown.  But what can one receiver do?  Next I feel sorry for Bo Levi Mitchell of SMU.  He threw for an impressive 318 yards and 4 touchdowns, with just 1 interception.  Both are improving on offense, but both are terrible on defense.  But I see SMU being ready to compete in a few years.  I don’t have that same hope for North Texas.

Nominees

Cedric Peerman (Virginia) helped continue the downward spiral of East Carolina. Peerman carried the ball 16 times against the Pirates and managed 173 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Peerman’s first touchdown helped Virginia take the lead for the first time.  His next score set the tone for Virginia to take over the game.  And it was Peerman that continued to sustain drives and allow Virginia to move that ball consistently. 

Deleon Eskridge (Minnesota) had himself a great game against Illinois.  Not too many people expected Minnesota to win the game in Champaign.  But when it was all said and done, Minnesota had a 27-20 win against a pretty good Illinois team despite the game that Juice Williams had.  Eskridge rushed for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns

Josh Freeman (Kansas State) was in control of this game.  He only threw for 234 yards, completing 21-26 of his passes; but he also rushed for 95 yards and 4 touchdowns in the game, outdueling Texas A&M quarterback, Jerrod Johnson.

Michael Smith (Arkansas) game Arkansas the game they needed and a nice win in the process.  Smith blew up for 176 yards against Auburn, but it was his beautiful 63 yard touchdown run that sealed the game for Arkansas, evening their record to 3-3, and giving the Razorbacks their first win in the SEC this season.

Jewel Hampton and Shonn Greene (Iowa), along with Shonn Greene pounded Indiana on the ground.  Greene is usually the star in the backfield.  But this time, it was Hampton added to the game in a significant way.  For this reason, but are nominated.  Greene rushed for rushed for 115 yards and 1 touchdown.  Hampton added 114 yards and 3 touchdowns.  That is a combined 229 yards rushing on the ground.  Now wonder they beat Indiana 45-9.

Javon Ringer (Michigan State) is back on the list as he helps put a whooping on Northwestern.  Ringer carried the ball for an amazing 35 times and rushed for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns.  For Ringer, this is becoming a typical game.  Ringer scored one touchdown in the first and one touchdown in the third.  He is the man.

Jordon Shipley (Texas) made the play that Texas needed and that one play gave Texas the momentum it needed and the win to win the game.  Shipley’s 96 yard kickoff return for a touchdown was that play.  Not only did he have a kickoff return, but his 11 receptions for 112 yards and 1 touchdown was needed as Texas won 45-35.

Oregon State: Offensive and Defensive Team of the Week

Oregon State also wins he offense of the week.  Yes, it was a complete game for the Beavers.  Oregon State threw for 225 yards but they did not need to pass the ball when 323 yards was gain on the ground.  And who do you think was the leader of the bunch, our friend Jacquizz Rodgers with 168 of those yards.  All in all, Oregon State had 5 rushing touchdowns and all five were by five different rushers.  Add three touchdown passes to the mix and you have a 66-13 butt whooping.  The only mistakes they had were the 4 interceptions they threw in the game.  Yet, they still managed to destroy Washington State. I wonder what the score would have been if Oregon State did not have these 4 turnovers?

Oregon State had a great day defensively as well, though Washington State had 13 points, only 6 points was given up by the defense.  Oregon State held the Cougars to 8 first downs.  Yep, that’s right.  That would be 3 rushing first downs, 3 passing first downs, and 2 by penalty.  On tope of that, Washington State only managed 132 yards of total offense.  Again, that would be just 53 yards rushing and 79 yards passing. The Beaver defense also sacked Marshall Lobbestael 5 times.  There was no doubt who would win this game.  And to think they played this well when the offense had 4 interceptions in the game.

Player of the Week

Chase Holbrook (New Mexico State) was exactly what a team needed when you are in a shootout.  Holbrook took over the game and did everything in his power to will his team to win against Nevada.  He had great numbers, completing 28-47 passes for 401 yards and 4 touchdowns.    And in the end, he drove the Aggies to the 10 points in the forth quarter that was able to hold off Nevada and preserve the win for the Aggies 48-45.  Well congrats to all the nominees and great players.  It was a really fun week.  I can't wait to see what next week holds for us.