Month: September 2023

Louisiana Tech athletic director Eric Wood gets some advice from Curt Joiner during Tuesday's Bulldog Blitz at Shreveport's Cantina Laredo.

Reports: La. Tech LB suspended for stepping on opponent’s head

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Louisiana Tech has suspended linebacker Brevin Randle indefinitely a day after cameras caught him stepping on an opponent’s head during the Bulldogs’ game against UTEP, multiple media outlets reported Saturday.

According to reports, Louisiana Tech athletic director Eric Wood announced the suspension through a statement, which in part read:

“In speaking with Brevin, he acknowledges that his action was wrong and understands the consequence of that action. Our University, athletic department, and football program believe in culture, class, and competitive excellence and in no way was that displayed in that moment.”

At the end of a run by UTEP quarterback Jake McNamara, Miners lineman Steven Hubbard appears to drive Randle into the ground (Hubbard was blocking Randle on the play) while other players scrambled for the ball after McNamara fumbled. Randle then rolls over on top of Hubbard and gives him a shove as leverage as Randle gets off the ground, then stomps on the side of Hubbard’s helmet/neck area with his right foot before walking away.

No penalty was called on the play, but after the game — a 24-10 Louisiana Tech win — UTEP coach Dana Dimel did say that officials acknowledged the missed call.

“The referee, who I really admire, came over at halftime and very gentlemanly said that he missed it,” Dimel told reporters. “That’s part of the game. (The official) was a class act, I really appreciated that.”

Randle, a redshirt senior who transferred to Louisiana Tech after four seasons at Stephen F. Austin, has 46 tackles (23 solo, 23 assisted) with two sacks and three tackles for loss this season.

–Field Level Media

Sep 30, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Missouri Tigers running back Cody Schrader (7) scores on a one-yard run against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

No. 23 Missouri rolls to 38-21 win over Vandy

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Brady Cook threw for 395 yards and four touchdowns, leading No. 23 Missouri to a 38-21 win over host Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday.

Cook picked apart the Commodores (2-4, 0-2 SEC) from start to finish. He hit 33-of-41 throws and didn’t throw an interception. He threw two scores to Luther Burden (11 catches, 140 yards) and one each to Theo Wease (10-118) and Marquis Johnson (3-64).

Vanderbilt benched starting quarterback AJ Swann for Ken Seals (20 of 31, 259 yards, two touchdowns, one pick), who made his first start since 2021. Vandy lost its fourth consecutive game, anyway.

The Tigers (5-0, 1-0) took a 24-7 lead with 10:37 left in the third quarter when Cook hit a diving Burden with an 18-yard, over-the-shoulder touchdown grab.

Seals threw a pick to Missouri’s Kris Abrams-Draine in the end zone with 2:23 left in the third. After the Tigers failed on a fourth-down attempt, Seals hit Will Sheppard with consecutive throws of 29 and 31 yards, the last for a score with 12:59 left.

Cook hit Johnson with a perfect 44-yard scoring strike with 11:10 to play, restoring the Tigers’ to lead 17.

Seals countered with a 45-yard throw to freshman Junior Sherrill for his first career score with 9:36 left.

After Missouri’s punt, the Commodores went for it on fourth-and-4 from their 32, but an Austin Firestone sack ended the drive.

Cook then hit Burden with another over-the-shoulder throw with 4:23 left to push the lead to 17.

Missouri used a slow, methodical, ball-control approach with its offense in amassing a 17-7 lead at the break. Despite kicking off, the Tigers outsnapped Vandy (39-25) and outgained the Commodores (263-98) in the first half and had 16 first downs.

Against Vandy’s starting freshmen corners Martel Hight and Trudell Berry, Cook was 20-for-24 for 217 yards in the first half, with a touchdown and no picks, including seven completions to Wease for 97 yards.

The Tigers’ first-half scores came on Cook’s 12-yard throw to Wease with 55 seconds left in the second quarter, Cody Schrader’s second-quarter scoring run and Harrison Mavis’s 23-yard field goal.

Vandy’s first-half points came on Seals’s 1-yard keeper.

–Field Level Media

Sep 30, 2023; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders tight end Mason Tharp (80) rushes against Houston Cougars defensive safety Antonio Brooks (20) in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Texas Tech buckles down in second half to top Houston

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Texas Tech leaned on its running game and second-half defense to cruise to a 49-28 victory over Houston in Lubbock, Texas, on Saturday.

The Red Raiders (2-3, 1-1 Big 12) roared back from a 21-14 deficit by scoring five of the last six touchdowns of the game, with their first three trips to the end zone during that stretch allowing them to take a 35-28 lead into halftime.

Once Texas Tech got the lead, it rode the double-barrel backfield combination of Tahj Brooks and Cam’Ron Valdez to wear the Cougars down in the second half.

Both running backs amassed 106 yards on the ground to headline a 239-yard team effort. Brooks eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the third consecutive game, while Valdez lit a fuse early in the third quarter with a 54-yard ramble and averaged 21.2 yards per carry.

Meanwhile, the Red Raiders’ defense was a completely different unit after halftime.

Houston (2-3, 0-2) moved the ball at will for the majority of the opening 30 minutes, scoring on four of its first five offensive possessions — each on drives of 75 yards. Cougars quarterback Donavan Smith, a transfer from Texas Tech, was on fire in the first half with 264 passing yards and four touchdown passes.

Smith’s hot hand helped Houston generate 365 yards of total offense in the first half, but the Red Raiders clamped down after that. The Cougars ran 34 plays after halftime but managed only 124 yards and went three-and-out twice in a row when the game was still in doubt.

Texas Tech stuck close in the first half thanks to two huge special-teams plays, as Drae McCray returned a kickoff 100 yards to make it 7-7 after Houston’s first touchdown and Loic Fouonji blocked a punt, collected the ball on a bounce and carried it 7 yards to the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown.

Moments earlier, Fouonji snared a 25-yard touchdown pass from Behren Morton to even the score at 21-21.

Morton started in place of Tyler Shough, who suffered a broken leg last week in a road loss at West Virginia. Morton was efficient throwing the ball, completing 14 of 22 passes for 161 yards and two TDs.

Smith finished with 335 yards through the air but was knocked out of his comfort zone in the second half, failing to throw for another score.

–Field Level Media

Sep 30, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Baylor Bears tight end Drake Dabney (89) avoids a tackle against UCF Knights defensive back Demari Henderson (8) during the second quarter at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

Baylor rallies on 29 unanswered points to stun UCF, 36-35

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Baylor dug itself a 28-point hole midway through the third quarter but rattled off 29 unanswered points to come from behind and knock off host UCF 36-35 for its largest comeback in history on Saturday afternoon in Orlando, Fla.

Sophomore kicker Isaiah Hankins drilled a 25-yard field goal with 1:21 left to give the Bears the lead for good.

Baylor (2-3, 1-1 Big 12) struggled throughout the first half. Its furious comeback started when Hankins hit a 30-yard field goal to make it 35-10 with just 3:20 left in the third.

The Bears tallied 26 points in the fourth, starting with Dawson Pendergrass plunging in from six yards out and Ketron Jackson Jr. hauling in a 2-point conversion pass to make it 35-18.

The real turning point came when UCF (3-2, 0-2) was trying to put the game out of reach. UCF senior running back RJ Harvey fumbled and Baylor’s Caden Jenkins recovered and ran it back for a 72-yard TD to help put Baylor within two at 35-33 with six minutes remaining.

Baylor junior quarterback Blake Shapen finished 21 of 34 for 293 yards and threw a 5-yard TD to Monaray Baldwin that made it 35-26 with 9:38 remaining. Richard Reese totaled 100 yards rushing on 16 attempts.

Baldwin finished with a game-high seven receptions for 150 yards.

The Bears’ only offense in the first half came on a 10-play, 72-yard drive that ended when Shapen scored from 2 yards out to cut the deficit to 21-7.

Meanwhile, the Knights’ second-half collapse prevented them from picking up their first victory as a member of the Big 12 Conference.

Johnny Richardson recorded 105 yards rushing on just six carries, including a 79-yard touchdown sprint on UCF’s first play from scrimmage. Harvey carried 21 times for 95 yards.

Quarterback Timmy McClain completed 13 of 25 passes for 234 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Baylor was close to making it a one-score game early in the second quarter, but Dominic Richardson’s fumble in the red zone was returned 85 yards for a touchdown by UCF’s Demari Henderson that boosted the lead to 28-7.

–Field Level Media

Illinois Fighting Illini punter Hugh Robertson (19) and Illinois Fighting Illini place kicker Caleb Griffin (5) practice kicking ahead of the NCAA football game against the Purdue Boilermakers, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

Hudson Card helps Purdue outclass Illinois

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Hudson Card went 18-of-26 passing for 217 yards and two touchdowns to lead Purdue to a 44-19 win over Illinois in a Big Ten contest on Saturday at West Lafayette, Ind.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. rushed for 112 yards on 21 carries for Purdue (2-3, 1-1 Big Ten), which won its first home game in four tries this year.

Luke Altmyer went 16-of-25 passing for 202 yards and a touchdown in defeat for Illinois (2-3, 0-2).

Leading 16-13 at halftime, Purdue blew the game open by scoring three touchdowns in the third quarter.

Purdue took a 23-13 lead with 9:59 remaining in the third on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Card to Garrett Miller.

Devin Mockobee scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with 3:41 to go in the third to make it 30-13, and then Card hit Deion Burks for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds remaining in the quarter to give Purdue a 37-13 lead.

Illinois drew closer, cutting its deficit to 37-19 with 6:27 remaining on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Altmyer to Pat Bryant.

Tracy then scored on a 1-yard touchdown run 1:58 left to cap off the scoring.

With 5:48 remaining in the first quarter, Purdue took a 6-3 lead when defensive lineman Malik Langham recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.

The fumble was caused after defensive back Markevious Brown came in on a blitz, sacked Altmyer at the Illinois 1-yard line and forced the ball loose. The extra point failed.

The Fighting Illini took a 10-6 lead with 7:52 remaining in the second quarter on a 7-yard touchdown run by Josh McCray, which capped off a 5-play, 80-yard drive.

Purdue regained the lead at 13-10 with 5:46 remaining until halftime on a 16-yard touchdown run by Dylan Downing to finish off a seven-play, 73-yard drive.

Purdue’s Julio Macias (from 40 yards) and Illinois’ Caleb Griffin (53) traded field goals in the final 30 seconds to make it 16-13 Purdue at halftime.

–Field Level Media

Sep 30, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Bowling Green Falcons quarterback Camden Orth (12) tries to score at the pylon past Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive back Kenan Johnson (10) during the first half at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Big underdog Bowling Green drubs Ga. Tech, 38-27

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Connor Bazelak threw for 263 yards and one touchdown and ran for another as Bowling Green went into Atlanta as a three-touchdown underdog and defeated Georgia Tech 38-27 in Saturday’s nonconference matchup.

Terion Stewart rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries, and Finn Hogan made six receptions for 102 yards, including a spectacular scoring catch in the second quarter, for Bowling Green (2-3). Bazelak went 21-of-32 passing.

The Falcons trailed 14-0 less than six minutes into the game but finished with 438 total yards to 417 for the Yellow Jackets and dominated time of possession 42:45 to 17:15.

Leading 17-14 coming out of halftime, Bowling Green went 75 yards on seven plays, capped by Bazelak’s 1-yard run. A 50-yard completion to Hogan on the first play set up the score.

Georgia Tech tried to answer, but its 62-yard drive to the Falcons’ 14-yard line ended when quarterback Haynes King couldn’t convert a fourth-and-1 rush.

Bowling Green then marched down the field again, covering 86 yards on 10 plays and scoring on Stewart’s 6-yard run for a 31-14 lead.

Deshawn Jones Jr. made it 38-14 on his 45-yard interception return for a touchdown.

King completed 23 of 37 passes for 348 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions for Georgia Tech (2-3), which added Malik Rutherford’s 15-yard scoring catch in the closing seconds of the third quarter. King threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Abdul Janneh with 1:35 left in the game.

Dominick Blaylock made seven catches for 131 yards, and Eric Singleton Jr. had three for 75 yards and a touchdown for the Yellow Jackets.

Georgia Tech led 14-10 early but opened the door for Bowling Green in the second quarter. From punt formation near midfield, the Yellow Jackets’ snap hit one of the up blockers, and Hogan made the recovery at the Georgia Tech 40.

Hogan then capped a 10-play drive with a highlight-reel 14-yard catch from Bazelak as he was being dragged down in the end zone for a 17-14 lead with 2:37 left in the half.

The Yellow Jackets scored first when King found Singleton wide open for a 53-yard touchdown. On their next possession, King connected with Christian Leary on an 11-yard touchdown for a 14-0 lead.

–Field Level Media

Sep 30, 2023; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Javon Bullard (22) tackles Auburn Tigers wide receiver Camden Brown (4) during the second quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1 Georgia comes alive to avoid upset, down Auburn

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Riding a huge second half from All-American tight end Brock Bowers and two touchdown runs by Daijuan Edwards, top-ranked Georgia avoided what would have been its first loss in nearly two years and rallied for a 27-20 road win over Auburn on Saturday afternoon.

The Bulldogs trailed 10-0 after the first quarter but outscored the Tigers 27-10 the rest of the way.

Bowers had two receptions for nine yards in the first half but finished leading all players in receptions (8) and yards (157) and was the only player to catch a touchdown as the Bulldogs (5-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) remained unbeaten. Edwards paced the ground attack with 19 carries for 76 yards and his two scores.

Despite a first-quarter interception, Carson Beck completed 23 of 33 passes for 313 yards. He connected with Bowers for the game-winning, 40-yard score with 2:52 to go in the game.

Georgia wideout Ladd McConkey suited up for the first time this season and had four receptions for 38 yards. Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (two catches for 44 yards), Dominic Lovett (three grabs for 25 yards) and Rara Thomas (two receptions for 24 yards) were also productive in the Bulldogs’ passing attack.

Payton Thorne (team-high 92 yards) led an Auburn rushing attack that ran for 219 yards. He added 82 yards passing, as well. Jarquez Hunter added 19 carries for 59 yards and a score for the Tigers (3-2, 0-2).

Running back Brian Battie (85 all-purpose yards) and tight end Rivaldo Fairweather (four receptions for 44 yards) were also productive for the Tigers.

Auburn jumped out to a 3-0 lead with 6:04 to play in the first quarter after kicker Alex McPherson capped an eight-play, 84-yard drive with a 27-yard field goal. A 61-yard run by Thorne sparked the scoring march.

The Tigers increased their lead to 10-0 with two minutes left to play in the opening quarter when Hunter scored on a 5-yard touchdown run seven plays after a Jaylin Simpson interception near midfield.

An Edwards 2-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter helped trim Auburn’s lead to 10-7. A key 10-yard pass to Thomas on third-and-7 from the Tigers’ 15-yard line set up Edwards.

Georgia tied the game at 10-all after kicker Peyton Woodring capped a 10-play, 61-yard drive with 5:57 left to play in the second quarter with a 37-yard field goal. A 26-yard reception by Rosemy-Jacksaint helped get the Bulldogs inside the red zone.

Following a fumble by Georgia tight end Oscar Delp on the first play of the second half, Auburn took a 17-10 lead when Robby Ashford scored on a 9-yard run. An 18-yard run by Ashford and a 5-yard run by Hunter set up the scoring play.

Having not lost since Dec. 4, 2021, against Alabama, the Bulldogs tied the game at 17-all with 1:03 to play in the third quarter when Edwards capped a 10-play, 98-yard drive with a 13-yard scoring run. Two key third-down receptions by McConkey and Thomas helped keep the drive alive.

Fourth-quarter field goals by Woodring and McPherson had the game tied at 20-all before the Bowers touchdown with less than three minutes to play in the game.

–Field Level Media

Sep 30, 2023; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (3) reacts after running for a touchdown during the first half against the Indiana Hoosiers at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Maryland improves to 5-0 with rout of Indiana

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Taulia Tagovailoa fueled the quick-strike offense of Maryland, throwing a career-high five touchdown passes as the Terps rolled to a 44-17 Big Ten win over visiting Indiana on Saturday in College Park, Md.

Tagovailoa completed 24 of 34 passes for 352 yards without an interception. He also ran for a score and facilitated a career performance from Tai Felton, a junior who made his first three touchdown catches this season.

The defense of Maryland (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) also excelled, helping the Terps to their quickest start since 2001. It also is their first 2-0 start in the Big Ten since joining the league in 2014.

Indiana (2-3, 0-2) dominated time of possession, 38:04 to 21:56, but didn’t get into the end zone until the fourth quarter.

The Terps scored on three of their first four possessions and needed just six plays to do it.

Their first touchdown came 25 seconds into the game when Felton caught a 13-yard touchdown pass, two plays after Tagovailoa and Jones hooked up for 62 yards on the game’s first snap.

After a short punt and a penalty on the Hoosiers, it took Tagovailoa and Felton just one play to connect for a 29-yard touchdown and a 14-3 lead.

A 23-yard punt return by Jones put Maryland back in scoring position and two plays later, Tagovailoa sprinted 19 yards on a read-option touchdown run and a 21-3 lead.

In the final minute of the first half, Tagovailoa threw a 9-yard touchdown pass over the middle to Felton for a 27-3 lead.

Felton nearly had a fourth touchdown grab but his 46-yard reception of an underthrown Tagovailoa pass set up a 3-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Wade for a 37-3 lead.

Felton finished with 134 yards on seven receptions, both career highs. Jones caught six for 121 yards.

Indiana’s Tayven Jackson finished with 17 completions in 29 attempts for 113 yards and one interception.

Brendan Sorsby came off the bench in the fourth quarter for the Hoosiers and threw the first two touchdown passes of his college career. He completed 7 of 11 passes for 84 yards.

Now comes the hard part for Maryland as three of its next six games come against Big Ten teams who entered Saturday ranked in the top six.

— Field Level Media

Sep 10, 2022; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back Samuel Brown V (27) runs for a touchdown against the Wagner Seahawks during the second half at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Rutgers thrives on ground, dismantles Wagner

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Gavin Wimsatt ran for two touchdowns and passed for another as Rutgers handled FCS Wagner 52-3 on Saturday in Piscataway, N.J.

The Scarlet Knights (4-1) scored on every possession besides their drive at the end of the first half, returning to the win column after a loss at No. 2 Michigan last week.

Samuel Brown V, Kyle Monangai, Ja’shon Benjamin and Aaron Young all scored on the ground for Rutgers, with Monangai leading the Scarlet Knights with 19 carries for 87 yards. Wimsatt completed 12 of 19 passes for 146 yards and ran seven times for 15.

Wagner (2-3) mustered just 106 yards of offense. Rickey Spruill paced the Seahawks with 36 yards on seven carries.

Rutgers was held to a 44-yard field goal by Jai Patel on its first drive. But in the final minute of the first quarter, Wimsatt hit Christian Dremel on fourth-and-goal from the 4 for a 10-0 lead.

Rutgers then botched an onside kick and handed Wagner ideal field position, but the Seahawks’ Ryan Liszner missed a 38-yard field goal try early in the second.

Wide receiver JaQuae Jackson laid out to make a 41-yard catch down the right sideline on Rutgers’ next drive. Dremel later appeared to score his second touchdown, but on review he was ruled down at the 1-yard line. Brown punched it in on the next play for a 17-0 lead with 9:02 to go.

The Seahawks failed to convert a fourth-and-1 from their own 27, and, six plays later, Wimsatt scrambled into the end zone from 5 yards out with 2:50 to go.

Wagner’s Kobi Ray-Reed followed with a 67-yard kickoff return, setting his team up to get on the board. Liszner was successful from 29 yards with 1:23 left to cut the deficit to 24-3 at halftime.

Rutgers’ Rashad Rochelle returned the opening kick of the second half 88 yards to the Wagner 7. Wimsatt ran it in from there two plays later for a 31-3 lead one minute into the third quarter.

Monangai added a 4-yard rushing score with 3:41 left in the third, and Benjamin scored his 6-yard touchdown with 11:38 to play in the fourth.

Backup quarterback Ajani Sheppard guided a scoring drive for Rutgers in the final minutes. Young scored a 3-yard rushing touchdown with 13 seconds left.

–Field Level Media

Texas Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks makes a long run against the Kansas Jayhawks in the second quarter at Royal-Memorial Stadium on Saturday September 30, 2023.

Jonathon Brooks carries No. 3 Texas past No. 24 Kansas

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jonathon Brooks ran for career-high 217 yards and two touchdowns as No. 3 Texas ran up and down the field on short-handed No. 24 Kansas in a 40-14 win on Saturday in Austin, Texas.

It was the first time the teams have faced each other with both being ranked in the Associated Press poll.

The Longhorns dominated throughout, racking up 661 total yards to just 260 for Kansas, which played without star quarterback Jalon Daniels, the preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Daniels missed the game because of a back issue that flared up in pregame warmups.

Quinn Ewers passed for 325 yards and a touchdown and ran for two more scores as Texas (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) has won its first five games for the first time since 2009. Adonai Mitchell hauled in 10 catches (one for a TD) for 141 yards to lead the Longhorns’ receiving corps.

Jason Bean was just 9-of-21 passing for 136 yards in Daniels’ stead, with 58 of those yards on his lone scoring pass. Kansas (4-1, 1-1) had a four-game winning streak snapped.

Texas drove 88 yards in seven plays to the game’s opening score, Ewers’ 30-yard TD run with 10:06 to play in the first quarter. The Longhorns added a 26-yard field goal from Bert Auburn with 1:52 to play in the quarter.

Kansas got on the board when Daniel Hishaw picked up a fumble by Bean and scooted 18 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 10-7 with 14:05 to play in the second quarter.

The Longhorns answered with a 30-yard FG by Auburn at the 11:15 mark three snaps after Brooks ripped off a 67-yard run.

Brooks broke through a huge hole up the middle and ran untouched for a 54-yard TD on the first possession of the third quarter that pushed Texas’ lead to 20-7.

The Jayhawks responded immediately as Bean hit Trevor Wilson on a 58-yard scoring pass to bring the deficit back to six points.

Brooks racked up his second rushing TD on a 1-yard plunge at right guard to make it 26-14 with 2:33 to play in the third.

Texas added fourth-quarter TDs on a 9-yard Ewers-to-Mitchell pass and a 1-yard quarterback keeper.

–Field Level Media