My recap of the only football games that matter
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We are now about halfway through the NFL and college seasons. A little farther into the high school schedules. Didn't the season just start a couple of weeks ago?
The South Florida Bulls invaded the Friday night domain of the high schools with a game in Cincinnati. It was not a successful trip. I saw most of the first half. The score was 20-3 in favor of the Bearcats (is that a cat-like bear or a bear-like cat?) at intermission. Last week I turned off the Bulls game when they were way behind at halftime and they made a very big comeback for the win. I tried the same strategy but it didn't work this time. Cincinnati won 34-17. It was a sloppy performance by the Bulls. They only had 281 total yards, a mere 42 rushing, to Cincy's 590. They also had four turnovers and almost 100 yards of penalties. USF falls to 3-5, 2-2. Next game is at home against Houston.
We had a breakthrough for the Bell Blue Raiders. They won a game over the still winless Haltom Buffalos 39-22. Haltom must be pretty bad because the Raiders had 455 total yards. It usually takes them about three games to amass that much yardage. The 39 points is also a season high. With this win Bell is now 1-8, 1-4 on the season. They wrap up the year at home against the undefeated Southlake Carroll Dragons who are ranked #2 in the state. Good luck with that.
Bishop Kenny continued their winning ways with a 34-7 victory over the Yulee Hornets. The Crusaders built up a 28-0 lead before Yulee scored. Total yards were close at 409 to 361 but the Hornets also had two turnovers. Kenny had two long TDs, a 75 yard pass play and an 83 yard run, both in the first quarter. BK is now 6-1, 5-1 with two games to go. Next week is their last district game against 4-5, 3-3 Baker County.
On to the colleges. The good news is the Gators didn't lose and Jeff Driskel didn't throw an interception or fumble. Of course Florida didn't play either. Next is the cocktail party in Jacksonville against Georgia.
There were fireworks in Fort Worth as the #10 TCU Horned Frogs demolished the Texas Tech Red Raiders 82-27. It was the most points ever scored by the Frogs. It was also a record high score for a Big 12 (10 teams) conference game. TCU's quarterback, Trevon Boykin, threw for seven TDs and 433 yards and no interceptions. The Frogs had 785 total yards. Pretty good day. The defense also woke up in the second half. After giving up 20 first half points, they limited the Red Raiders to only one second half TD. TCU is now 6-1, 3-1. They have to travel now to play #20 West Virginia. That could be a tough game.
The SEC produced another upset when #24 LSU beat #3 Ole Miss 10-7. The Rebels had an excellent chance to tie the game late with a FG, but gambled on a TD attempt that resulted in an interception. The other four conference games went as expected and Arkansas beat UAB in the only non-conference game. Florida, Georgia and A&M all had an open week.
There weren't any other big upsets around the country. The Ole Miss lose did shake up the AP rankings a little at the top as they drop to #7. Mississippi State and FSU remain at the top. Alabama, Auburn and Oregon all move up one spot to fill out the top five. LSU jumps to #16. Despite their dominating performance, TCU remained at #10. The SEC still has five teams in the top 10 and six in the top 25.
On to the pros. As usual it was a perfect week as in perfectly winless. The Jags got back to their losing ways with a 27-13 lose to state rival Miami. The NFL initiation of Blake Bortles continues. He was only 18/34 for 221 yards, four sacks, two interceptions and a fumble. Both of his interceptions were returned for TDs, one for 81 yards and the other for 22 yards. Without those two plays it's a close game. Jax actually won the statistics battle in every category except turnovers. They are at 1-7 at the season midpoint. Next game is in Cincinnati. Hope they have better luck than USF did up there.
The Atlanta Falcons managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in London. They led 21-0 at the half but then forgot to come out for the rest of the game. They wound up losing 22-21 with Detroit's winning FG coming with time expired. It was a 48 yarder. The Lions missed a 43 yard attempt with four seconds remaining but were called for a delay of game penalty. They got another try and made it. Falcons QB, Matt Ryan was 16/17 for 160 yards in the first half but only 4/10 for 68 yards and an interception in the last 30 minutes. That's how you blow a 21 point lead. The Falcons get to rest next week after the long trip to London. They are 2-6 on the season.
The Buccaneers had their chance, but they too blew it. They scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to take a 13-10 lead but the Vikings kicked a tying FG with no time on the clock to force overtime. Tampa Bay got the ball first in OT but then immediately lost a fumbled. Minnesota returned the fumble for the winning TD. Overtime lasted all of 17 seconds. Final score 19-13. The Bucs were shutout the first three quarters and only had an anemic 225 total yards with two turnovers. Tampa is now 1-6. They go to Cleveland next week.
If you are keeping track, my pro teams are now 4-19 at the halfway point. I think the playoffs may be a little out of reach this year.
wjh
The South Florida Bulls invaded the Friday night domain of the high schools with a game in Cincinnati. It was not a successful trip. I saw most of the first half. The score was 20-3 in favor of the Bearcats (is that a cat-like bear or a bear-like cat?) at intermission. Last week I turned off the Bulls game when they were way behind at halftime and they made a very big comeback for the win. I tried the same strategy but it didn't work this time. Cincinnati won 34-17. It was a sloppy performance by the Bulls. They only had 281 total yards, a mere 42 rushing, to Cincy's 590. They also had four turnovers and almost 100 yards of penalties. USF falls to 3-5, 2-2. Next game is at home against Houston.
We had a breakthrough for the Bell Blue Raiders. They won a game over the still winless Haltom Buffalos 39-22. Haltom must be pretty bad because the Raiders had 455 total yards. It usually takes them about three games to amass that much yardage. The 39 points is also a season high. With this win Bell is now 1-8, 1-4 on the season. They wrap up the year at home against the undefeated Southlake Carroll Dragons who are ranked #2 in the state. Good luck with that.
Bishop Kenny continued their winning ways with a 34-7 victory over the Yulee Hornets. The Crusaders built up a 28-0 lead before Yulee scored. Total yards were close at 409 to 361 but the Hornets also had two turnovers. Kenny had two long TDs, a 75 yard pass play and an 83 yard run, both in the first quarter. BK is now 6-1, 5-1 with two games to go. Next week is their last district game against 4-5, 3-3 Baker County.
On to the colleges. The good news is the Gators didn't lose and Jeff Driskel didn't throw an interception or fumble. Of course Florida didn't play either. Next is the cocktail party in Jacksonville against Georgia.
There were fireworks in Fort Worth as the #10 TCU Horned Frogs demolished the Texas Tech Red Raiders 82-27. It was the most points ever scored by the Frogs. It was also a record high score for a Big 12 (10 teams) conference game. TCU's quarterback, Trevon Boykin, threw for seven TDs and 433 yards and no interceptions. The Frogs had 785 total yards. Pretty good day. The defense also woke up in the second half. After giving up 20 first half points, they limited the Red Raiders to only one second half TD. TCU is now 6-1, 3-1. They have to travel now to play #20 West Virginia. That could be a tough game.
The SEC produced another upset when #24 LSU beat #3 Ole Miss 10-7. The Rebels had an excellent chance to tie the game late with a FG, but gambled on a TD attempt that resulted in an interception. The other four conference games went as expected and Arkansas beat UAB in the only non-conference game. Florida, Georgia and A&M all had an open week.
There weren't any other big upsets around the country. The Ole Miss lose did shake up the AP rankings a little at the top as they drop to #7. Mississippi State and FSU remain at the top. Alabama, Auburn and Oregon all move up one spot to fill out the top five. LSU jumps to #16. Despite their dominating performance, TCU remained at #10. The SEC still has five teams in the top 10 and six in the top 25.
On to the pros. As usual it was a perfect week as in perfectly winless. The Jags got back to their losing ways with a 27-13 lose to state rival Miami. The NFL initiation of Blake Bortles continues. He was only 18/34 for 221 yards, four sacks, two interceptions and a fumble. Both of his interceptions were returned for TDs, one for 81 yards and the other for 22 yards. Without those two plays it's a close game. Jax actually won the statistics battle in every category except turnovers. They are at 1-7 at the season midpoint. Next game is in Cincinnati. Hope they have better luck than USF did up there.
The Atlanta Falcons managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in London. They led 21-0 at the half but then forgot to come out for the rest of the game. They wound up losing 22-21 with Detroit's winning FG coming with time expired. It was a 48 yarder. The Lions missed a 43 yard attempt with four seconds remaining but were called for a delay of game penalty. They got another try and made it. Falcons QB, Matt Ryan was 16/17 for 160 yards in the first half but only 4/10 for 68 yards and an interception in the last 30 minutes. That's how you blow a 21 point lead. The Falcons get to rest next week after the long trip to London. They are 2-6 on the season.
The Buccaneers had their chance, but they too blew it. They scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to take a 13-10 lead but the Vikings kicked a tying FG with no time on the clock to force overtime. Tampa Bay got the ball first in OT but then immediately lost a fumbled. Minnesota returned the fumble for the winning TD. Overtime lasted all of 17 seconds. Final score 19-13. The Bucs were shutout the first three quarters and only had an anemic 225 total yards with two turnovers. Tampa is now 1-6. They go to Cleveland next week.
If you are keeping track, my pro teams are now 4-19 at the halfway point. I think the playoffs may be a little out of reach this year.
wjh
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