No. 17 Houston holds off S. Miss 50-43
October 31, 2009
HOUSTON (AP)—Case Keenum threw for a career-high 559 yards and had fivetouchdowns, his last coming with 21 seconds remaining, and No. 15 Houstonescaped with a 50-43 win over Southern Mississippi on Saturday.
Keenum broke the tie with a 46-yard pass to Patrick Edwards. The GoldenEagles had a chance to tie it, but Martevious Young’s heave from midfield wasknocked down in the end zone as the final seconds ticked off the clock.
Keenum’s other TD passes went for 33, 55, 14 and 17 yards as Houston won itsfourth straight game. James Cleveland finished with 13 catches for 190 yards,and Charles Sims ran 95 yards as the two teams combined 1,358 yards and 66 firstdowns.
The Cougars (7-1, 3-1 Conference USA) led by seven and were driving to putthe game away when Korey Williams forced a fumble by Bryce Beall, which SouthernMiss recovered on its own 23.
The Golden Eagles (5-4, 3-2) marched downfield and tied it 43-all on a13-yard reception by Gerald Baptiste with 57 seconds left.
Southern Miss had cut the lead to 43-36 on a 5-yard touchdown reception byBaptiste with 5 1/2 minutes left. That score was helped by a 36-yard quarterbackdraw by Young moments earlier.
Baptiste finished with 186 yards receiving and three scores, while Young was20 of 34 for 334 yards and ran for another 70.
Keenum had already thrown for more yards than the season-low 233 yards hehad last week with 11 1/2 minutes left before halftime. He had 244 yards passingafter a 55-yard catch and run score by Tim Monroe that made it 21-13.
Southern Miss answered with a 1-yard run by Young, but Daniel Hrapmann’sextra point attempt was blocked and Nick Saenz returned it to push Houston’slead to 23-19. After a field goal by Southern Miss, Keenum threw his third TD ofthe half to make it 30-22 at the break.
Matt Hogan added a 34-yard field goal earl in the third quarter, andKeenum’s second touchdown pass to Cleveland made it 40-22 early in the fourth.
The back-and-forth game continued when Southern Miss finished off a 70-yarddrive with Tory Harrison’s 1-yard run with about 9 minutes remaining. Hogan thenanswered with a 23-yard field goal that extended the lead to 43-29.
Southern Miss was in the game the entire way, mostly it took advantage ofmistakes. The Golden Eagles scored nine points off two first-half turnovers,including Williams’ fumble recovery on the first play of the game that set upFletcher’s 6-yard TD run.
The extra point was blocked, but an interception in the end zone by EddieHicks led to a 29-yard field goal by Hrapmann that got Southern Miss within23-22 about 3 minutes before halftime.
Hrapmann missed a 32-yarder in the third quarter.
Philly transit union puts off strike
October 31, 2009
PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Pennsylvania’s governor and Philadelphia’s mayor say thecity’s transit union has agreed not to go on strike during the World Series ascontract talks continue.
Gov. Ed Rendell and Mayor Michael Nutter held a news conference hours beforea 6 p.m. strike deadline Saturday—hours before Game 3 of the series—toannounce that “substantial progress” had been made.
The union had threatened to strike just after midnight Friday if there wasno accord with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. But itagreed to Rendell’s request to keep talking on Saturday, when the PhiladelphiaPhillies and the New York Yankees are scheduled to play.
The union representing more than 5,000 bus drivers, subway and trolleyoperators and mechanics voted Oct. 25 to authorize a strike.
Stanzi throws 5 INTs but No. 7 Iowa wins
October 31, 2009
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP)—Of all the holes Iowa has dug itself, this was thedeepest.
Indiana was leading by 14 in the third quarter and just two yards away fromthe Hawkeyes’ end zone. Given how poorly quarterback Ricky Stanzi was playing,one more touchdown might have brought their charmed season crashing down.
Tyler Sash instead returned an interception 86 yards for a touchdown, andStanzi bounced back from a career-high five interceptions to rally the No. 7Hawkeyes to a 42-24 victory, yet another improbable finish in a season full ofthem.
Brandon Wegher had a career-high 118 yards rushing and three TDs for theHawkeyes (9-0, 5-0 Big Ten), who scored 28 points in the fourth quarter to stunthe shell-shocked Hoosiers.
“No matter what happens, we know there’s still time left on the clock,”Stanzi said. “There’s a chance to win, so you can’t give up.”
Iowa is off to the best start in school history, thanks to four wins bythree points or less. And after needing two blocked field goals to beat FCSschool Northern Iowa in its opener, the Hawks control their own destiny in theBig Ten—with a chance to play for the BCS title.
“Our guys don’t buckle,” coach Kirk Ferentz said. “If they were evergoing to buckle, I think today would have been the day.”
Stanzi threw four interceptions in the third quarter alone on a windy day inIowa City, and Indiana (4-5, 1-4) took a 24-14 lead into the fourth.
Stanzi responded by hitting Marvin McNutt for a 92-yard touchdown pass and,moments later, connecting with Derrell Johnson-Koulianos from 66 yards to putIowa ahead 28-24 with 11:38 left.
Wegher made it 35-24 on a 6-yard TD run and added a 27-yard score with 1:12remaining.
Ben Chappell had 227 yards passing and two touchdowns to lead Indiana, whichmust have felt a case of deja vu. The Hoosiers blew a 25-point lead in a loss atNorthwestern last week.
“We got into the fourth quarter again and we couldn’t fight it off,”Indiana coach Bill Lynch said. “We just didn’t have enough plays in our arsenalto hang with them.”
Stanzi’s mental toughness has long been defended by Ferentz, and he showedwhy at the start of the fourth quarter. He hit McNutt on a play-action rolloutfor what turned out to be the fourth-longest pass play in Iowa history.Johnson-Koulianos did most of the work on the other long touchdown, weaving hisway through the Indiana secondary.
“No matter what happens, he keeps on playing,” Ferentz said of Stanzi, whothrew for a career-high 337 yards. “If there’s one thing I can say about Rick,it’s resiliency. He’s done a great job of leading our football team.”
Stanzi opened the second half throwing interceptions on back-to-backpossessions, and the Hoosiers moved to Iowa’s 2-yard line already leading 21-7.
That’s when Iowa’s defense made one more spectacular play.
Chappell was hit from behind as he dropped back to pass, and Sash gatheredthe loose ball in the air before racing 86 yards for a touchdown that broughtIowa within 21-14 and woke up a stunned crowd at Kinnick Stadium.
“It’s just something that jumps start everybody,” Iowa kicker DanielMurray said. “It just kind of gave us confidence that we were back in thegame.”
The Hoosiers appeared to have answered on a TD grab by Terrance Turner inthe corner of the end zone, but the call was overturned by video and NickFreeland missed a 28-yard field goal.
The game was strange right from the start—perfect these cardiac Hawkeyeson Halloween.
Iowa deferred on the opening kickoff, a rarity under Ferentz, and theHoosiers marched 69 yards into the wind for a 7-0 lead on Darius Willis’s 4-yardrun.
Ryan Donahue, one of the most reliable punters in the nation, shanked an8-yarder into the stands midway through the second quarter, giving the Hoosiersthe ball at the Hawkeyes 35. Five plays later, Chappell found Mitchell Evans fora 16-yard TD pass that made it 14-0.
The Hawkeyes answered on Wegher’s 4-yard TD run with 2:39 left in the firsthalf, but after holding Indiana, Amari Spievey inexplicably picked up a wobblypunt and fumbled it away deep in his own territory. Chappell found DamarloBelcher for a 9-yard TD with 9 seconds left.
It was a brutal end to the first half for Iowa, and a brutal end to the gamefor Indiana.
As a stunned and delighted crowd of Hawkeye fans filed out of KinnickStadium, they were serenaded—quite fittingly—by Bon Jovi’s “Living on aPrayer.”
“I’ve never been in a game like this. I’ve never seen a game like this,”Ferentz said. “I can’t say enough about our players.”
Arenas leads undermanned Wizards by Nets
October 31, 2009
WASHINGTON (AP)—Gilbert Arenas(notes) scored 32 points, including a halfcourtbuzzer-beater at the end of the first quarter, Andray Blatche(notes) scored acareer-high 30, and the Washington Wizards overcame the absence of both of theirregular starting forwards Saturday night in a 123-104 win over the New JerseyNets.
With injured two-time All-Stars Caron Butler(notes) and Antawn Jamison(notes) on the benchin their expensive dark suits for the home opener, Arenas made 9 of 13 shots, 11of 12 free throws and had seven assists. Butler sat out after bruising his leftknee in Friday night’s loss to Atlanta, and Jamison is out at least two moreweeks with an injured right shoulder—bothersome news for a team that hasn’thad its top players healthy in a long time.
But Arenas and Blatche carried the load with room to spare. Blatche made hisfirst five shots and finished 15 for 18 from the field for the Wizards, who shot61.5 percent—their best shooting game in seven years.
New Jersey Nets forward Yi Jia… AP – Oct 31, 8:36 pm EDT New Jersey Nets guard Chris Do… AP – Oct 31, 8:27 pm EDT
New Jersey Nets guard Terrence… AP – Oct 31, 8:26 pm EDT
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Chris Douglas-Roberts(notes) had a career-high 25 points to lead the Nets, who weremissing point guard Devin Harris(notes)—out at least a week with an injured rightgroin. Rafer Alston(notes) scored 20 points starting in Harris’ spot.
The Wizards guessed right when they decided to pass out Arenas masks forHalloween, given that he was the only one of the team’s Big Three who couldplay. Though still announced as Agent Zero during the pregame hoopla, Arenaslooks as if he really has ditched his flamboyant alter ego. He was virtuallyexpressionless on the court and walked toward the bench after his halfcourtbuzzer jumper as if he were walking down a hallway somewhere—without evencracking a smile or raising his arms to acknowledge the cheers.
The shot gave the Wizards a 28-24 lead and had a carry-over effect. DeShawnStevenson(notes) hit a 3 to start the second quarter, and Blatche’s tip got the lead todouble figures a few minutes later. Arenas scored nine straight Washingtonpoints near the end of the half, helping his team to a 62-51 lead at the break.
The Nets never got within single digits in the second half. The highlightwas Blatche’s powerful baseline drive dunk that made the score 109-84 in thefourth quarter. Unlike Arenas, Blatche didn’t mind celebrating—he struttedaway from the basket and exchanged high-fives as he made his way down the court.
NOTES: Arenas, who missed most of the last two seasons with knee problems,last had a 30-point game on Nov. 14, 2007 against Indiana. … Harris, who alsohad a groin problem during preseason, felt it act up during the Nets’ loss toOrlando on Friday and will see a specialist in Chicago on Sunday. … Butler isexpected to return for Tuesday’s game against Cleveland. Mike Miller(notes) moved toButler’s small forward in the Wizards starting lineup, and Randy Foye(notes) started atshooting guard. … None of Washington’s starting five were playing for the teamat the start of last season. Arenas and Brendan Haywood(notes) were hurt, and Miller,Foye and Fabricio Oberto(notes) were acquired in the offseason. … Even though it wasthe home opener on Halloween night—and even though Arenas was playing well ina comfortable win—the Verizon Center was hardly a din of excitement. The crowdwas remarkably quiet during the decisive second quarter, behaving more like anaudience waiting out the intermission on Broadway.
Freshman QB Green powers Nebraska to win
October 31, 2009
WACO, Texas (AP)—Freshman Cody Green led Nebraska to points on its first threedrives in his first college start as the Cornhuskers ended a two-game losingstreak, beating Baylor 20-10 on Saturday.
Justin Blatchford returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, DontrayevousRobinson added a rushing score and Jared Crick had a school record of five sacksto help Nebraska (5-3, 2-2 Big 12) beat Baylor (3-5, 0-4) for the 10th-straighttime.
Green, a Texas high school star from a town about 200 miles southeast ofWaco, was 12 of 21 for 128 yards passing to stake Nebraska to a 20-0 lead. TheHuskers had scored a just 17 combined points in recent home losses to Texas Techand Iowa State, and they matched a school record with eight turnovers againstthe latter.
Nebraska Dontrayevous Robinso… AP – Oct 31, 2:48 pm EDT Nebraska Deion Gomes (7) pulls… AP – Oct 31, 2:47 pm EDT YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 1; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091031/capt.18eaf2acdb814c579e32cac8c763c840.nebraska_baylor_football_txwac102.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=39&yc=1&wc=332&hc=369&q=70&sig=.d3ZccxiaF.l23WNJyFj6A--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 2 Neb-Bay Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();
Baylor lost its fourth in a row and hasn’t beaten Nebraska since 1956.Clifton Odom returned an interception for a touchdown in the third quarter tobring the Bears within 10.
Nebraska coach Bo Pelini promised personnel changes earlier this week afterwatching his offense sputter in consecutive lackluster performances. The biggestmove came at quarterback, where junior Zac Lee had started the first seven gamesof the season.
Green got a hand from the Huskers’ special teams before he even took thefield.
Eric Martin came up the middle and blocked Derek Epperson’s punt on thefirst series of the game. Blatchford scooped up the loose ball at 25 and doveinto the end zone right in front of the red-clad Nebraska contingent.
Green and the Huskers offense received a hearty applause from Nebraska’sfans when they first took the field.
The 18-year-old from Dayton, Texas scrambled for 10 yards to earn a firstdown on third-and-5 during Nebraska’s opening offensive series, which ended inAlex Henery’s 45-yard field goal.
Green was 3 of 5 passing on his second drive, including a 22-yard toss toKyler Reed that set up another Henery field goal.
Green dropped a perfect throw just over Niles Paul’s shoulder for 45 yards,giving the Huskers the ball at the Baylor 1. Robinson scored two plays later,extending Nebraska’s lead to 20-0 with 9:28 left in the first half.
Nebraska had 273 yards of offense, 30 fewer than what it averaged inconference play. The Huskers, though, capitalized on their opportunities,something they didn’t do when they turned the ball over four times inside the 5last week.
The Huskers then went more than a quarter without a first down to helpBaylor get back in the game.
Ben Parks kicked a 41-yard field goal to cap the Bears’ first possessionafter halftime, then Green made his biggest mistake of the game.
Odom stepped in front of Paul and intercepted Green’s pass, returning for atouchdown with 3:27 left in the third.
The Bears drove inside the Nebraska 20 twice in the fourth quarter but cameaway with no points. Parks missed a 24-yard field goal and turned the ball overon downs as Baylor failed to cut into Nebraska’s lead.
Nebraska’s defense constantly badgered quarterback Nick Florence, whostarted the season third on the depth chart before he was forced into actionbecause of injuries.
Florence, 19 of 38 for 222 yards, was intercepted twice and sacked seventimes. David Gettis caught seven passes for 124 yards.
NASCAR tries to avoid another Talladega disaster (PA SportsTicker)
October 31, 2009
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
TALLADEGA, Ala.(AP)—Michael Waltrip pulled up to the back of Jimmie Johnson’s car, settled in on his bumper and shoved him all the way around Talladega Superspeedway as the two drivers worked on a strategy for NASCAR’s fastest race track.
“We got hooked up and started flying,” said Johnson.
Only problem? NASCAR doesn’t want to see such aggressive drafting anymore, and when Waltrip didn’t heed a warning to back off a bit, he was yanked out of the final practice session leading into Sunday’s race.
It was NASCAR’s way of sending a message to the drivers: They can police themselves or NASCAR will do it for them.
It’s all part of a concerted effort to avoid a repeat of the spectacular last-lap accidents that marred the last two restrictor plate races this season. Carl Edwards went airborne into the Talladega safety fence on the final lap of April’s race, and Kyle Busch sailed hard into an outside wall at Daytona in July.
In Edwards’ accident, the frontstretch fence bowed, but held, and flying debris injured seven fans in the grandstands. After crossing the finish line on foot, Edwards issued a dire warning about the racing conditions.
“We’ll race like this until we kill somebody,” Edwards said, “then (NASCAR) will change it.”
NASCAR listened, and precautions have been taken headed into Sunday’s race.
Track operator International Speedway Corp. has raised the fencing to 22 feet from 14 feet at the recommendation of an outside engineering firm, and NASCAR reduced the size of the holes in the restrictor-plates, which are used to throttle back the horsepower at the two biggest tracks on the circuit.
The smaller holes are intended to cut anywhere from 12 to 15 horsepower and slow the cars just a tick.
Whether that’s enough to eliminate “The Big One” – the massive accidents that these races are generally remembered for – remains to be seen. But drivers seemed skeptical and worried the new plates are actually going to create more mayhem than usual.
“I don’t want to go flipping across the finish line,” Dale Earnhardt Jr., a five-time Talladega winner, recently said. “The measures of raising the fences are good, but cars go through them fences, parts go through them. And it seems like the smaller the plate gets, the more we wreck, in my opinion.
“The smaller you make the plate, the more on top of each other we race and the more we’re going to wreck. Every time that plate gets smaller, it gets more dangerous.”
That’s the predicament NASCAR finds itself in as the series heads into what is traditionally one of the most exciting races of the year. The action is intense for the entire 500 miles, as cars jockey for position at speeds of almost 200 mph.
Because of the restricted horsepower, the traffic is typically one massive pack of cars running door-to-door and bumper-to-bumper in three- and four-wide lanes. Drivers hook onto each other’s bumpers to draft their way around the speedway, and one small wiggle can trigger a wicked wreck.
NASCAR thinks the drivers are capable of preventing the multicar accidents, if they’d just back off and not be so aggressive. But even after warning drivers before Friday practice that they weren’t going to allow bump-drafting, almost everyone did it during two lively sessions.
“Every time, it evolves because the drivers continue to push what the car is capable of and what the drivers are capable of,” said six-time Talladega winner Jeff Gordon. “I thought there were no-bump zones or something like that, but the reason why that’s happening is because NASCAR is allowing the cars to push one another through the corners.
“Until they crack down on that, you’re going to see it come down to two guys locking up together and pushing one another and then trying to figure out how to decide it among themselves.”
That’s what happened in the last two races. Edwards was running in a two-car breakaway with Brad Keselowski when he tried to block Keselowski’s attempt at a race-winning pass. Contact between the two cars initiated his flight into the fence, and the scene was nearly repeated at Daytona in July when Busch and Tony Stewart battled for the win.
No amount of warnings will change that, either. With a win up for grabs, every driver is going to do anything possible to get to the finish line first.
And not everyone is convinced that NASCAR should intervene.
“Blocking has always been an issue,” Ryan Newman said. “I think it was Richard Petty who said when they created the second car, the potential for racing started and as soon as racing started there was a potential for blocking.
“Blocking is a part of this sport. It’s frowned upon by most drivers, but there are a few drivers that try to take advantage of the situation. I think the drivers are fully capable of managing their situations, and having NASCAR let us manage those situations is important.”
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Britton has 1-shot lead at Senior PGA Professional
October 31, 2009
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP)—Bill Britton shot a 7-under 65 to take a one-strokelead over Paul Daniels after the third round of the Senior PGA ProfessionalNational Championship at PGA Golf Club on Saturday.
The low 35 finishers will qualify for the 2010 Senior PGA Championship inMay at Colorado Golf Club near Denver.
Britton, the PGA director of instruction at Trump National Golf Club ColtsNeck in New Jersey, followed up back-to-back 69s with a third round highlightedby eight birdies that left him at 13-under 203.
The 54-year-old had only one hiccup, a three-putt bogey on No. 11.
“I really did putt well all day, and made some long ones,” Britton said.“I put my approach on No. 18 to a foot, which was a great way to finish.”
Daniels, from Port St. Lucie, Fla., had a 66 and Perry Arthur of Plano,Texas, shot a 67 to sit another stroke back in third.
Overnight co-leader Jim White shot a 72 and was among a group of six playerstied for fourth at 207 that included defending champion Kirk Hanefeld of Acton,Mass. Second-round co-leader Kim Thompson was alone in 11th after a 73.
Daniels, the second alternate in the South Florida PGA Section, didn’t knowthat he had landed a berth in the field until 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
“I am just relaxed and glad that I have this opportunity,” he said. “Ihad never made a cut in a national championship. Today, what can you say? Nobogeys and six birdies.”
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Pac-10, suspended RB Blount set to meet
October 31, 2009
EUGENE, Ore. (AP)—Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott says he will meet withsuspended Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount and school officials overpossible reinstatement.
Scott made the comments before No. 10 Oregon’s game against No. 4 USC onSaturday.
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Blount was suspended for the season after punching a Boise State player inthe aftermath of Oregon’s 19-8 loss to the Broncos in the season opener.
Scott says he’ll meet with Blount, Oregon counsel, university presidentRichard Lariviere, athletic director Mike Bellotti and coach Chip Kelly andmembers of his staff.
Scott says the university has not made formal moves to reinstate Blount andhis role “completely depends on the university and whether they want thepenalty revisited.”
No. 5 Cincinnati stays unbeaten
October 31, 2009
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP)—Zach Collaros threw four touchdown passes, the Cincinnatidefense forced two critical turnovers and the No. 5 Bearcats beat Syracuse 28-7on Saturday.
Collaros hit Armon Binns on scoring passes of 81 and 13 yards, Kazeem Allifor 16 yards off a botched field goal, and Adrien Robinson for 4 yards asCincinnati (8-0, 4-0 Big East) won its 14th straight regular-season game toremain in contention for the national championship.
Collaros finished 22 of 28 for 295 yards and no turnovers against Syracuse(3-5, 0-3), playing again in place of injured quarterback Tony Pike.
Drew Frey intercepted Greg Paulus’s pass in the back of the end zone late inthe second quarter and defensive tackle Derek Wolfe forced and recovered afumble on a first-and-goal carry from the Cincinnati 7 by Delone Carter late inthe third to help seal the win.
Cincinnati is one win off the best start in school history—the 1951 teamwon nine straight to begin the season. Its mistake-free offense—the Bearcatsdid not have a turnover and remain the only team in the nation not to lose afumble this season—and opportunistic defense made the difference.
Standout wideouts Mardy Gilyard of Cincinnati and Mike Williams of Syracusewere hardly noticed. Gilyard finished with six catches for 62 yards, whileWilliams caught four passes for 34 yards in his return from a one-gamesuspension. They entered the game ranked 1-2 in the Big East in receiving,Williams with 118.7 yards per game and Gilyard with 96.3.
Collaros’ ability to dodge the rush frazzled the Orange, who registeredeight tackles for losses but just one sack. Collaros had three TD passes in hisfirst college start a week ago, a 41-10 victory over Louisville, and was able toscramble away from trouble and find wide open receivers most of the afternoon.
Even when his receivers were covered, it didn’t matter. Facing asecond-and-9 and leading 14-7 early in the third quarter, Collaros rolled rightand, just when he seemed out of time, hit Binns in the corner of the end zonedespite solid coverage by Da’Mon Merkerson.
Paulus was 12 of 17 for 85 yards, with one score and his 11th interceptionof the season. Backup Ryan Nassib was 7 of 10 for 97 yards.
Cincinnati didn’t waste time getting on the board. Two plays after a holdingcall nullified a 50-yard reception by D.J. Woods, Collaros scrambled and hitBinns all alone in the right flat, and he raced 81 yards to give the Bearcats a7-0 lead after four plays from scrimmage.
Syracuse responded with a six-play, 75-yard drive to tie it. Nassib hittight end Cody Catalina for 17 yards to get the Orange going. Two plays later,Antwon Bailey caught a 31-yard pass from Paulus, making a nice diving catch atthe Cincinnati 9. After a pretty backfield fake on the next play, Paulus hitCatalina to tie it late in the first.
Facing fourth-and-4 at the Syracuse 16, the Bearcats lined up for a fieldgoal and Collaros, the holder, rolled right after the botch and hit Alli nearthe goal line for a 14-7 lead early in the second.
The Orange defense rose up midway through the quarter. A sack by ArthurJones on third-and-5 was nullified by a personal foul against linebacker DougHogue. Two plays later, Jones had another sack and forced Cincinnati to punt.
Syracuse got a break when Jake Rogers shanked the kick 13 yards, and Paulusdrove the Orange inside the Cincinnati 10 with under 2 minutes left in the half.On first down, his pass to the back of the end zone for Williams sailed too farand Frey intercepted.
No. 17 Ohio St. rips New Mexico St. 45-0
October 31, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)—Ohio State needed a tuneup. New Mexico State needed$850,000.
Both got what they wanted Saturday, when Dane Sanzenbacher caught twotouchdown passes and Terrelle Pryor threw for one and ran for another in the No.17 Buckeyes’ 45-0 victory.
The game was a respite for Ohio State (7-2), which closes the regular seasonwith pivotal Big Ten games at Penn State, against Iowa and at Michigan.Tempering the win was the possible loss of kicker Aaron Pettrey, who left withan apparent knee injury.
New Mexico State (3-6), last among all Bowl Subdivision teams in totaloffense, mustered 62 yards total against the 13th-best defense. To compound theproblems, the defensive front for the 44-point underdogs was outweighed byalmost 50 pounds by the Buckeyes’ offensive line.
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, frequently criticized for hisultraconservative play-calling, had his team onside kick after its firsttouchdown and later called a double-reverse wide receiver pass that resulted inDeVier Posey’s 39-yard touchdown hookup with Sanzenbacher.
Pryor, who didn’t play in the second half, completed 11 of 23 passes for 135yards. The sophomore quarterback also ran for 83 yards on nine carries, scoringon an 8-yard run before taking off his pads and watching the rest of the gamefrom the sideline.
The Buckeyes poured it on in the third quarter, when Brian Rolle fell on amuffed Aggie snap that bounced into the end zone and Dan Herron rumbled 53 yardsthrough a hole as wide as the hash marks.
Ohio State got off to a slow start offensively but had more than enoughfirepower for a 28-point second quarter that put the game out of reach.
On the first play of the period, Pryor took a shotgun snap and sprintedthrough a gaping hole at right tackle, going untouched.
Pettrey kicked onside on the ensuing kickoff and was all alone in the middleof the field, waiting for the ball to go the required 10 yards, before fallingon it. A pass interference call—even though Pryor overthrew Posey by severalyards in the end zone—helped set up his scoring strike to Sanzenbacher.
After the teams traded three turnovers in the span of six plays, Pettreybadly missed his second 52-yard field goal attempt of the half. The Buckeyeswere only 1 of 5 on field goals and also had a bad punting day.
Pryor then pitched the ball to Herron, who pitched back to the left-handedPosey, who set his feet and threw a 40-yard spiral to Sanzenbacher for a 21-0lead.
Pettrey kicked the extra point and was covering the ensuing kickoff when hewas blocked on his right knee and lay for several minutes on the field. He washelped off and spent the next few minutes on an observation table behind theOhio State bench. He later stood on the sidelines in a warmup suit withoutcrutches.
Backup kicker Ben Buchanan didn’t dress after suffering from an illness allweek. Third-stringer Devin Barclay added the point-after after another passinterference call led to Brandon Saine’s 3-yard TD run with just under a minuteleft in the half.
It was the first time in three years that Ohio State scored 28 points in aquarter.