Dutchmen Post First Victory In Projected 7-Game Win Streak

(OK, Maybe Not Hobart... )

 

Smackmeister makes the wrong call on the game involving his own alma mater!  As the photo indicates, he can't believe it!  (Nice sweater, by the way.)

Union 27, Springfield 7.  Guess the road trip from Schenectady to Springfield gives the boys on the O-line time to chant mantra, "No sacks...no sacks...no sacks".  The Dutchmen come out firing on all cylinders on both sides of the ball.  QB Connor Eck has a career day, throwing for 320 yds., passes for one TD and runs for another.  More importantly, Eck doesn't suffer a single sack and is hurried into an interception only once.  The Garnet defense again is lights out, limiting The Pride to less than 17 minutes of possession and its Division III-leading run offense to just 85 yds.

Here's the rest of the results from Week #6:

Reynolds escapes from talons of Falcon defenders

Navy 28, Air Force 10.  Thanks to CBS and an early start, I'm able to catch most of the matchup before my late-morning nap.  The Falcons make this a game, especially in the first half, while Navy continues to search for its offense, which it misplaced somewhere between Bowling Green, Kentucky and Annapolis.  After what must have been quite the spirited halftime talk by coach Ken Niumatalolo, the Middies' RB Demond Brown and QB Keenan Reynolds kick it up a notch.  Navy obviously has the advantage in team speed, and Reynolds, especially, turns on the jets (pun intended) with two crushing second half runs, as the Falcons are sent packing with their fourth straight loss.  P. S.  Post-game rendition of the Air Force alma mater is the saddest I've heard since Pagliacci.  Jeez, guys, lighten up...you're funded for another week!

Boston College 48, Army 27.  RB Andre Williams breaks open an otherwise tight game with three first-half touchdown runs.  All told, Williams has a total of five rushing TDs, with QB Chase Rettig throwing for 208 yds. and another score.  RB Larry Dixon makes up to some extent for the departure of injured QB Angel Santiago, as he leads the Black Knights' 351-yd. rushing game with two TDs of his own, including a masterful 80-yd. run to pull Army within four points to open the second half.  But that is the last canon report from the Cadets' field artillery, as BC runs off 21 unanswered to seal the win at home.Never underestimate the power of the Jesuits.

Mitch Matthews' imitation of Dwight Clark's "The Catch"

BYU 31, Utah State 14.  It was Taysom Hill-to-Mitch Matthews, Chicago election-style (early and often), as the Cougars overwhelm the Aggies in Logan.  On ten separate possessions, Utah State punts eight times, has a field goal blocked, and loses the ball on downs.  The ineptitude on offense is due largely to the injury suffered by QB Chuckie Keeton, who is lost for the season to a blown-out knee.  His replacement fumbles twice and is unable to orchestrate the usually powerful aerial attack against the stubborn BYU defense.

#1 Alabama 45, Georgia State 3.  As expected, this is completely one-sided as the Crimson Tide score on each of their first seven possessions and don't allow the lone Panther score until the opening drive of the 3rd quarter.  To 'Bama's credit, and for all you pansies screaming about running up the score, coach Nick Saban sits his starters after only five series.  It'll probably cost Alabama its #1 ranking.  Backup QB Blake Sims takes advantage of the opportunity and throws for 14-of-18 and 130 yds.  Georgia State doesn't help itself with numerous missed tackles, fumbles, and even lining up wrong.  A little nervous, maybe?

#2 Oregon 57, Colorado 16.  Another Marcus Mariota showtime, as the sophomore Oregon QB throws five TD passes and runs for another.  Ducks roll up 755 yds. of total offense, and Mariota still hasn't had an interception since last November.  But it's the Buffs who may have the game's most entertaining sequence, as WR Paul Richardson takes a pitch on an end-around and heaves the ball to a wide-open D. D. Goodson for a 75 yd.-TD.  OK, 'Bama...you're #1 ranking is safe for another week.

South Portland 21, Sanford 10.  It takes a 9-play, 83-yard opening Spartan drive plus a field goal to wake up the Riots.  Things return to normal in front of Sanford's homecoming crowd, as South Portland QB Duncan Preston tosses two TD passes and RB Joey DiBiase runs for another.  It's win #4 as we "give a cheer for alma mater, give it with all our might".  It takes nine years for coach Steve Stinson to learn his lesson:  he says nothing after the game, allowing Preston and DiBiase to chat it up with the press.

Graham-Kapowsin 59, Rogers 26.  Ouch.  This one literally over at halftime following the Eagles' 31-point 2nd quarter.  RBs Shannon Edwards and Teague James tally three rushing TDs each.  QB Trevor Asbjorsen tosses two TD passes, the second going for 66 yards.  Bright spot for Rams:  three TD passes by Grayson Madland.  Otherewise GKHS dominates Rams wire-to-wire, even recovers a fumble in the Rogers endzone to rub salt in the wound.

Parting shot:

Latest Lane Kiffin sighting.  Nice tie, coach.