Month: October 2020

Sep 26, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Scott Satterfield looks on from the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second quarter at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh won 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Hooker helps Virginia Tech knock off Louisville

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Hendon Hooker complemented a perfect passing performance with three rushing touchdowns, and Khalil Herbert capped his 147-yard rushing afternoon with a 24-yard touchdown run that sealed Virginia Tech’s 42-35 win over host Louisville in Atlantic Coast Conference play on Saturday.

Hooker went 10-of-10 passing for 183 yards, and contributed 68 of the Hokies’ 283 rushing yards. The performance was a significant bounce-back for the quarterback, who threw three interceptions at Wake Forest on Oct. 24, and for the Hokies (4-2, 4-2 ACC).

Coming off last week’s loss, in which Virginia Tech’s offense sputtered to just 16 points, the Hokies cleared that mark by the early second quarter. They took a 21-0 lead, all on Hooker touchdown runs, and looked headed for an easy win.

But Louisville (2-5, 1-5) whittled away at the deficit behind quarterback Malik Cunningham and running back Javian Hawkins. Cunningham went 23-of-35 for 350 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions, and Hawkins ripped off 7.6 yards per carry en route to 129 with a touchdown on the ground, and another score as a receiver.

Cunningham found Dez Fitzpatrick for 82 of Fitzpatrick’s 158 yards on a fourth-quarter touchdown. After holding Virginia Tech to a field goal, Maurice Burkley punched in a 13-yard touchdown that brought Louisville all the way back to within six points.

The second-half resurgence marked a dramatic departure from the first two-plus quarters. Cunningham threw two interceptions in the first half, and a third on the Cardinals’ first possession after intermission.

Devin Taylor, Divine Deablo and Chamarri Conner accounted for the three picks.

Despite the turnovers, Louisville racked up 548 yards to Virginia Tech’s 466.

The Cardinals attempted an onside kick following Burkley’s touchdown run. Tayvion Robinson — who set up Virginia Tech’s critical fourth-quarter field goal with a 42-yard reception — made perhaps his most important play of the day, charging in and snagging the recovery ahead of a Louisville player to give the Hokies possession.

The ensuing drive ended with Herbert’s touchdown run, punctuation on a productive day for the Hokies running back. Tre Turner added a goal-line touchdown rush for Virginia Tech.

–Field Level Media

Oct 31, 2020; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Indiana Hoosiers place kicker Charles Campbell (93) kicks a field goal held by punter Haydon Whitehead (94) during the first half as Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive back Tre Avery (21) defends at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

No. 17 Indiana wins at Rutgers behind Penix’s four touchdowns

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Michael Penix Jr. passed for three touchdowns and ran for another, and No. 17 Indiana was able to seal a 37-21 victory when a stunning eight-lateral touchdown from Rutgers was overturned Saturday in Piscataway, N.J.

Rutgers appeared to score with 1:31 left on a wild sequence that began at the Rutgers 45-yard line. But a replay review determined that one of the laterals was actually an illegal forward pass.

Two of Penix’s touchdown passes went to tight end Peyton Hendershot after Rutgers (1-1, 1-1 Big Ten) closed within 23-15 in the third quarter. Penix finished 17 of 26 for 238 yards for Indiana (2-0, 2-0), which was playing with its highest ranking in the AP poll since 1993.

Indiana scored 17 points off three interceptions of Noah Vedral. The Nebraska grad transfer was picked off on consecutive snaps in the second quarter, setting up the Hoosiers with short touchdown drives of 6 and 28 yards as they took a 20-7 lead at halftime.

Indiana capped a run of 23 consecutive points with a 31-yard field goal early in the third quarter before Rutgers’ running back Kay’Ron Adams sprinted 37 yards for a touchdown with 5:34 left in the quarter. A two-point conversion pass made it 23-15.

Penix followed by connecting with Hendershot on touchdown passes of 2 yards and 1 yard.

Vedral completed 21 of 34 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns, both to Bo Melton. The second score covered 16 yards with 3:21 to go, although the two-point conversion pass failed, leaving the score at 37-21. Rutgers recovered the onside kick but ultimately turned over the ball on downs when its apparent touchdown on the multiple-lateral play was overturned.

Indiana receiver Whop Philyor caught five passes for 137 yards. Stevie Scott III rushed 21 times for 81 yards. Penix ran for 20 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown sneak in the second quarter.

Indiana, coming off a thrilling overtime victory against Penn State, fell behind 7-0 in the first quarter but roared back behind interceptions from defensive lineman Jonathan King and defensive back Jaylin Williams that the Hoosiers turned into touchdowns. Micah McFadden had the third pick.

–Field Level Media

Oct 31, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores running back Keyon Henry-Brooks (21) fights for extra yards as he is tackled by Mississippi Rebels defensive back Keidron Smith (20) during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Corral (6 TDs) leads Ole Miss to rout of Vanderbilt

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Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral and wide receiver Elijah Moore shattered school records as the Rebels obliterated Vanderbilt in a 54-21 win at Nashville’s Vanderbilt Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Corral was 31 of 34 passing for 412 yards and tied Eli Manning’s single-game record with six touchdowns. Manning’s came in overtime, while Corral was done midway through the third quarter.

Moore set a single-game school record with 238 receiving yards, and tied school records for touchdown catches (three) and receptions (14) in a game.

Vandy (0-4) had three full weeks without a game to prepare, but it didn’t look that way. Ole Miss (2-4) scored touchdowns on eight of its first nine possessions, with the only blemish being a 23-second drive to end the first half. The Rebels led 33-14 and had 413 yards at half.

Moore got open deep for scores of 28 and 36 yards in the first half and took a shovel pass from Corral on an end-around from the 1 for the other.

Both quarterbacks came out on fire. Corral completed his first 19 passes and Vandy’s Ken Seals, his first 10. Neither team threw an incompletion until Seals lofted one out of bounds with 6:09 left in the second quarter.

The Rebels helped themselves with defensive tackle Ryder Anderson’s sack that took Vandy out of field goal range early; that set up a punt that led to a 93-yard scoring drive.

Soon after, Vanderbilt punter Jared Wheatley shanked a 4-yard punt into the stands, with Moore getting that 36-yard score on the next snap with 49 seconds left in the first quarter.

Seals found tight end Ben Bresnahan and wide receiver Chris Pierce with second-quarter scoring strikes.

The Rebels picked up where they left off at half, with Corral hitting wide receiver Dontario Drummond with a 14-yard touchdown pass to the right back corner of the end zone. Corral then scored on a 2-point play.

After Vandy wide receiver Jayden Harrison fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Rebels linebacker Zikerrion Baker fell on it at the VU 21, Corral hit Kenny Yeboah for a nine-yard score and a 48-14 lead with 7:06 left in the third quarter.

With Corral’s day done, backup quarterback John Rhys Plumlee hit wide receiver Braylon Sanders with a 37-yard touchdown pass with 37 seconds left in the third quarter.

Seals finished 31-for-40 and set a VU freshman record for passing yards (319).

–Field Level Media

Oct 31, 2020; Waco, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Derius Davis (12) heads for the end zone on a 66-yard punt return for touchdown during the first half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports

Barlow ignites fast start as TCU topples Baylor

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Freshman running back Darwin Barlow rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown to lead TCU to a 33-23 win at Baylor in a Big 12 contest on Saturday.

TCU (2-3, 2-3) jumped all over Baylor (1-3, 1-3) from the onset, scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter to take a 20-0 lead.

The first score was a 3-yard touchdown run by Barlow with 9:06 left in the first quarter that gave the Horned Frogs a 7-0 lead.

TCU seized a 14-0 lead with 7:54 left in the first on a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown by junior Derius Davis.

The third touchdown of the first quarter was a 13-yard scoring strike from sophomore quarterback Max Duggan to junior wideout Taye Barber.

TCU then made it 27-0 with 13:20 remaining until halftime on a 30-yard touchdown run by freshman running back Zach Evans.

Following a 33-yard field goal by Griffin Kell with 9:07 left in the second quarter, Baylor finally got on the scoreboard right before halftime. The Bears cut into their deficit on a 1-yard touchdown pass from senior Charlie Brewer to sophomore tight end Ben Sims with 14 seconds left until the half.

After TCU went up 33-7 with 10:24 left in the third quarter on a 34-yard field goal by Kell, Baylor began its attempted comeback by scoring 16 straight points.

Brewer hit Sims for a 3-yard touchdown pass. After a 27-yard field goal by sophomore John Mayers, freshman running back Craig Williams scored on a 32-yard touchdown run with 10:25 remaining to cut TCU’s lead to 33-23.

Baylor quickly got the ball back and drove to the TCU 42-yard line, but failed on a fourth-and-2 conversion attempt with 6:24 remaining.

Baylor did not get the ball back, as TCU mounted a drive down inside the Baylor 10-yard line to kill the clock.

–Field Level Media

Oct 24, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Ian Book (12) looks on from the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Fighting Irish won 45-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Book helps No. 4 Notre Dame cruise past Georgia Tech

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Ian Book threw for 199 yards and one touchdown and Kyren Williams ran for two touchdowns to help No. 4 Notre Dame to a 31-13 win over Georgia Tech on Saturday in Atlantic Coast Conference play at Atlanta.

Book completed 18 of 26 passes and improved his record to 26-3 as a starter for Notre Dame (6-0, 5-0 ACC). He directed the methodical Fighting Irish offense to 426 total yards. Williams carried 15 times for 76 of the team’s 227 rushing yards.

Georgia Tech (2-5, 2-4) had no luck against the veteran Notre Dame defense, which had five sacks and nine tackles for loss, and dropped its third straight decision. Notre Dame’s Daelin Hayes had five tackles, two sacks, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one quarterback hurry.

Yellow Jackets quarterback Jeff Sims completed 15 of 26 passes for 150 yards. Jahmyr Gibbs led the team with 61 yards rushing on 14 carries and had five catches for 49 yards.

Notre Dame opened the game with a 15-play 81-yard drive that culminated with Book’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Joe Wilkins Jr. Book was 8-for-8 passing on the drive.

Later, the Irish drove to the Georgia Tech 13-yard line, but Williams had the ball knocked loose by Juanyeh Thomas and it was recovered and returned 93 yards by Zamari Walton to tie the game. It was the longest fumble return in school history.

Notre Dame responded with a 75-play drive capped by Williams’ 2-yard run and tacked on a 32-yard field goal from Jonathan Doerer for a 17-7 halftime lead.

Williams added a 4-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and Georgia native C’Bo Flemister scored on a 3-yard run early in the fourth to stretch Notre Dame’s lead to 31-7.

Georgia Tech produced an offensive touchdown midway in the fourth quarter with Jordan Mason scoring from the 1.

The win sets up a showdown for Notre Dame against No. 1 Clemson on Saturday.

–Field Level Media

Oct 31, 2020; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette (6) is thrown into the air by Northwestern Wildcats linebacker Erik Mueller (35) during the second quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Northwestern rallies to upend Iowa, 21-20

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The Northwestern Wildcats came back from a 17-point first-half deficit to defeat the host Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday, 21-20.

It was a game of contrasting styles, as the Wildcats (2-0) utilized a heavy run game, running the ball 60 times while the Hawkeyes (0-2) threw the ball over 50 times.

Northwestern had two big fumbles in the first five minutes of the game. After forcing a 3-and-out, punt returner Kyric McGowan muffed the Iowa punt, which the Hawkeyes recovered at the 7-yard line. On the next play, Spencer Petras found Brandon Smith on a fade route for the first score of the game.

On the next Wildcats possession, Zach VanValkenburg forced and recovered a fumble from Isaiah Bowser around midfield. Less than 90 seconds later, Tyler Goodson scampered in from 15 yards out on a draw play.

The Hawkeyes added a chip shot field goal at the end of the quarter to go up 17-0.

Northwestern started to turn it around in the second quarter, driving down the field on its first drive. The Wildcats converted one fourth down and four third downs. On the fourth third-down conversion, McGowan received a handoff on a jet sweep and entered the end zone from three yards away to cut the deficit to 17-7.

But Iowa scored immediately afterward. Following a couple of rushes and a 22-yard pass, Iowa was in field goal range again with Keith Duncan nailing a 47-yarder.

But the Wildcats had found their rhythm by relying on the run game and that continued on the next possession. Passing the ball only twice, Northwestern drove 79 yards, finishing the drive with a Jesse Brown 1-yard touchdown run.

In the third, Brandon Joseph picked off a Petras pass and set up the Wildcats in great field possession at the Iowa 35-yard line.

Continuing to run the football, Northwestern drove quickly into the red zone and Brown once again capped off a drive, this time with a 2-yard rushing touchdown to put Northwestern up 21-20.

In the fourth, Northwestern quarterback Peyton Ramsey’s interception set Iowa up in good field position, but Brandon Joseph picked off Petras to end the Hawkeyes’ advance.

Iowa had one final chance at the end of the game, but Bryce Gallagher picked off Petras to seal the victory.

–Field Level Media

Oct 31, 2020; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Bo Nix (10) carries against the LSU Tigers during the second quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Nix, Bigsby propel Auburn in rout of LSU

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Bo Nix threw three touchdown passes and ran for another as host Auburn breezed to a 48-11 victory over LSU on Saturday in a Southeastern Conference game.

Nix completed 18 of 24 for 300 yards and Tank Bigsby added two touchdown runs for Auburn (4-2, 4-2).

Freshman T.J. Finley made his second consecutive start at quarterback for LSU (2-3, 2-3) in place of injured Myles Brennan.

After completing 17 of 21 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns in a 52-24 victory against South Carolina last week, Finley threw two interceptions and lost a fumble to lead to three Auburn touchdowns. He completed 13 of 24 for 143 yards before being replaced by Max Johnson early in the third quarter.

Nix ran five yards for a touchdown on the first possession of the second half to give Auburn a 28-3 lead.

Big Kat Bryan intercepted Finley on the next play, setting up Bigsby’s 2-yard touchdown for a 35-3 lead. Bigsby added a 3-yard touchdown and Nix threw a 91-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Schwartz increased the lead to 48-3 at the end of the third quarter. It was a career-long for both players.

Johnson threw a 43-yard touchdown to Kayshon Boutte and ran for a two-point conversion to complete the scoring. Johnson completed 15 of 24 passes for 172 yards.

After a scoreless first quarter, LSU’s Cade York was wide right on a 54-yard field-goal attempt on the first play of the second.

Nehemiah Pritchett intercepted Finley and returned the ball to the LSU 4, setting up Nix’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Eli Stove for a 7-0 Auburn lead.

Derick Hall sacked Finley, who fumbled, and Christian Tutt picked up the football and ran 20 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

Nix’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Ze’Vian Capers with 40 seconds left in the second quarter completed a 99-yard touchdown drive that gave Auburn a 21-0 lead.

York’s 51-yard field goal as time expired cut the lead to 21-3 at halftime.

–Field Level Media

Feb 2, 2020; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Tevin Coleman (26) against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

49ers RB Coleman, CB Williams activated off IR

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San Francisco 49ers running back Tevin Coleman and cornerback K’Waun Williams were activated off injured reserve and will be available to play in the team’s road game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

The 49ers also announced on Saturday that they placed running back Jeff Wilson Jr. on injured reserve. Wilson, who is nursing a high-ankle sprain, will sit out at least the next three games.

Coleman’s return comes at an opportune time with both Wilson and fellow running back Raheem Mostert nursing injuries.

The 27-year-old Coleman, who will join Jerick McKinnon and rookie JaMycal Hasty as options in the backfield on Sunday, sustained a knee injury during San Francisco’s 31-13 victory over the New York Jets on Sept. 20.

Coleman has rushed 18 times for 30 yards and has three catches for 34 yards this season for the 49ers (4-3). He gained 724 yards from scrimmage and scored seven TDs in his first season with San Francisco in 2019.

Williams is returning to action after being sidelined with both knee and hip injuries.

The 29-year-old has recorded 12 tackles in four games (two starts) this season. He has collected 239 tackles, four sacks and three interceptions in 73 career games (36 starts) with the Cleveland Browns and 49ers.

Also on Saturday, the 49ers activated wide receiver River Cracraft and safety Johnathan Cyprien from the practice squad and downgraded wideout Richie James Jr. (ankle) and safety Jaquiski Tartt (groin) from doubtful to out against the Seahawks (5-1).

Defensive lineman Kentavius Street (illness) was also downgraded from questionable to doubtful for Sunday’s game.

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2019; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Boise State Broncos quarterback Hank Bachmeier (19) warms up before a game against the UNLV Rebels at Sam Boyd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Boise State QB Bachmeier sidelined vs. Air Force

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Boise State sophomore quarterback Hank Bachmeier didn’t travel with the team and missed Saturday’s road game at Air Force.

Sophomore starting safety JL Skinner also missed the Mountain West contest.

No. 25 Boise State reportedly confirmed one player missed the game due to a positive COVID-19 test but didn’t reveal the identity.

Transfer Jack Sears, a former Southern California starter, took Bachmeier’s place. Sears threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver CT Thomas on the game’s first offensive play.

Sears, a fourth-year junior, started one game for USC. He completed 20 of 28 passes for 235 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions during a 38-35 loss to Arizona State on Oct. 27, 2018.

Air Force sophomore quarterback Haaziq Daniels departed the game in the first quarter with an injury. Junior Warren Bryan replaced him.

–Field Level Media

Oct 24, 2020; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) makes a pass during their game in the second half against Syracuse at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports

Lawrence out for No. 1 Clemson’s matchup at No. 4 Notre Dame

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Top-ranked Clemson will be without star quarterback Trevor Lawrence for next week’s game at No. 4 Notre Dame, head coach Dabo Swinney announced following Saturday’s 34-28 win over Boston College.

Swinney, who revealed Thursday that the junior tested positive for the coronavirus, said Lawrence will not be cleared from a protocol standpoint.

“Trevor will not be able to play; I want to go ahead and get that out there,” Swinney said per thestate.com. “He’s doing great. He zoomed with the team last night. I talked to him this morning. He feels like he can play today. He’s doing well, but obviously there’s protocol.”

Freshman D.J. Uiagalelei, who passed for 342 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a third against Boston College, will get his second start.

Lawrence, who watched Saturday’s game while isolating from the team, tweeted congratulations following the win: “LETS GO!!! So happy for this team. Great win. Miss being there more than anything. @DJUiagalelei did your thing proud of you.”

Per the Atlantic Coast Conference’s guidelines for players who test positive for coronavirus, Lawrence is required to isolate for a minimum of 10 days before being allowed to return to practice, barring any other lingering symptoms. The school’s announcement of Lawrence’s positive test came nine days prior to Clemson’s visit to No. 4 Notre Dame next Saturday. However, the statement did not specify when Lawrence’s positive test was taken.

The rules set forth by the ACC’s Medical Advisory Group require anyone testing positive for COVID-19 to isolate for at least 10 days after the test before returning to practice, assuming they are no longer showing symptoms.

Lawrence had started every game for Clemson since arriving on campus as a freshman in 2018, when he led the Tigers to a national championship. Clemson’s record under Lawrence is 35-1.

In six games this season, Lawrence has completed 70.7 percent of his passes for 1,833 yards with 17 touchdown passes and just two interceptions.

–Field Level Media