Football 2015 - Week 4

The football weekend started out good with a 33-20 win by Bishop Kenny over Westside (formerly Forrest) in a District 4-5A game. Once again the reported statistics were minimal. Kenny led 24-12 at halftime. Kenny had at least 300 total yards pretty evenly divided between ground and air. The Wolverines also had three fumbles. The Crusaders are now 2-2 on the season and 1-0 in district play. They host the Baker County Wildcats next.

Bell continued their losing ways with a 44-14 defeat at the hands of Abilene in a non-district game. The Eagles amassed over 500 total yards, 407 on the ground. Meanwhile, the Raiders had a miserable 34 yards passing on 2-14 with one interception. This brings Bell to 0-4 on the year. They next host the Coppell Cowboys in their first district game. 

College Saturday started poorly with a 34-17 USF loss at Maryland. The Bulls had 60 yards passing with two interceptions and one TD. Meanwhile, the Terrapins had 297 yards and four TDs through the air. USF continues to be inept on offense. Is it the talent (or lack of talent), the offensive scheme or the coaches? South Florida is 1-2 so far and opens their conference schedule at home against 3-0 Memphis. 

Things got better with the battle of the D/FW Metroplex between SMU and #3 TCU. This year the game was at Amon Carter Stadium in Fort Worth. Although TCU was ranked #3, this is one of those rivalry games that often provides an upset. Not this year, the Frogs won 56-37. Those 56 points were evenly distributed with 14 points in each quarter. TCU's Heisman Trophy candidate QB, Trevone Boykin, threw for 454 yards and five TDs. He also rushed for 50 yards and one TD. Not a bad afternoon. The Horned Frogs remain at #3 in the AP poll and next open their Big 12 (which has only 10 teams) schedule with a trip to Lubbock to play Texas Tech. 

In the night game good news continued, barely. Florida traveled to Kentucky for their first SEC game and somehow managed to beat the always powerful Wildcats 14-9. Oh wait, Kentucky is only good in basketball and this was a football game. The Gators led 14-3 at the half and then just held on for the win. Where the hell is the offense? Looking at the stats, this game was even. Passing was 125-126, rushing was 120-115. Florida had an interception with about 30 seconds to go in the game to seal the deal. Amazingly the Gators are 3-0 for the season but things get much tougher. Next up Tennessee comes to The Swamp. The Vols look better than they have in recent years so this may be an indication of what kind of team Florida has. So far it looks like the defense will have to carry the team.

Although the SEC is 23-4 in non-conference games I get the impression that the conference may not be as strong as in previous years. Maybe it's just a changing of the guard. #15 Ole Miss had a huge upset over #2 Alabama. Preseason #6 Auburn has been pitiful. Overall there are still six SEC teams in the AP top 25, five in the top 14. 

Sometimes miracles do happen. It was a perfect 3-0 for my NFL teams. I can't remember the last time that happened. A normal week is 0-3 or 1-2 at best. 

Atlanta traveled to New Jersey to play the Giants. The Falcons trailed 13-10 at the half and 20-10 after three quarters but managed to score 14 in the final period for a 24-20 victory. Team statistics were pretty even and relatively mistake free, only one turnover by NY. The Falcons are now 2-0 after knocking off two weak NFC East teams. They continue with the NFC East when they travel to Jerry's World to play the crippled Cowboys who are now missing Dez Bryant and Tony Romo. Atlanta's schedule looks fairly easy so they probably have a chance to make the playoffs.

The winning continued when Tampa Bay upset the Saints in New Orleans. #1 draft choice Jameis Winston had a miraculous turnaround from his first game. He went 14/21 for 207 yards, a TD and no interceptions. The Bucs led by as much as 23-7 after three quarters and then held on at the end for a 26-19 victory. This puts Tampa at 1-1, that's a .500 record for the first time since I don't know when. The Buccaneers now have to travel to Houston to face the winless Texans. Which Tampa Bay and Jameis will show up for that game?

Finally in the late game, the perpetually inept Jaguars beat the Dolphins in an intra-state game. Jax QB Blake Bortles went 18/33 for 273 yards and two TDs. Jax led 20-13 at the half. The game was tied at 20 after three and the Jags kicked a field goal with 40 seconds to go for the win. As you would expect from the score, the game was almost a statistical dead heat. Neither team had a turnover so they are both either very good on defense or incompetent offensively. I know which one Jax has been. Like the Bucs, it has been forever since the now 1-1 Jaguars have had a .500 record. Let's enjoy the victory while we can. Next game is a killer as the Jags have to travel to New England to play the Pats. That could be ugly. 

Overall my teams were 6-2 last week. That's about as good as it gets for me.

wjh