USC, Michigan Win
USC at Notre Dame
Billed as one of the best games of the season, and hyped up all week long, this one lived up to all expectations and more as this game will probably end up going down as one of the greatest in the USC and ND rivalry.
Notre Dame and USC traded punts early in the first quarter. After USC punted to Notre Dame, Brady Quinn got brushed and threw an errant pass that got intercepted at the 40 yard line and returned for 10 yards to the 50. One play later, the scoring got started when Reggie Bush took it to the endzone after leaping over one defender for a 36 yard touchdown run. USC went on top 7-0.
USC kicked off to Notre Dame, and the on ensuing possession Notre Dame ran a couple of plays that were hardly memorable. On fourth and one (I think it was one, all I know is that it was short) Weis made the decision to go for it deep in their own territory. Notre Dame converted, and took the ball the rest of the way down the field. Travis Thomas took it in on a nice 16 yard run to tie it up at 7-7.
USC responded relatively quickly by scoring about a minute later after 3 plays on a Lendale White 3 yard run up the middle to bring the Trojans on top again, 14-7.
Notre Dame wasted little time and responded with a 10 play 75 yard drive. Brady Quinn threw a beautiful 32 yard pass to Jeff Samardzija to tie it up at 14-14.
USC got the ball, but went three and out. Time to punt. What happened next really got my attention.
USC punted the ball to Tom Zbikowski and after several great blocks during the run had returned the punt 60 yards for a touchdown to put the Irish on top 21-14 and the score would stay that way for the rest of the first half.
Whoa, already I’m going crazy. I’m starting to think that Notre Dame is going to pull off one of the greatest upsets I’ve ever seen in my life and beat the team that started out in such dominating fashion early in the season.
Alright, so the second half begins, and the Trojans get the ball after a an Irish three and out. Reggie Bush takes it in untouched from 45 yards out on a beautifully blocked run up the middle, putting him over the century yard mark for the fifth straight game and tying the game at 21-21.
Notre Dame drives the ball several possessions later hit a 32 yard field goal to go on top 24-21.
With five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Reggie Bush (have you heard that name enough?) takes it in from 9 yards out to put the Trojans on top 28-24.
The Irish take the ball on their next possession and drive 87 yards to go on top 31-28 after Brady Quinn dives into the endzone from 5 yards with 2 minutes remaining. Irish fans were going crazy.
Ok, USC gets the ball. After a few botched plays and penalties, the Trojans end up with a fourth and 9 at their own 26. True to his Heisman winning heritage, Leinart threw a nice, almost perfect, 62 yard pass over a defensive back to Jarret to convert and set up the Trojans in scoring distance. Leinart then drops back to pass, but has no one open and tries to run it in, but gets hit at the one and has the ball come loose and go out of bounds. In error the game clock ticks down to zero and Notre Dame and her fans think they’ve just won the game. They rush the field and everyone goes wild. The referees have to clear the field, and put 7 seconds back on the clock. Trojan ball, 1st and goal at the one yard line.
Leinart calls his own number and after a lumbering spin move as well as the assistance of Reggie Bush, punches it in from one yard out to put the Trojans on top for good 34-31. In the span of only a few seconds the Irish go from winning the game to losing a heartbreaker. I couldn’t believe what I had just seen, and I figured it would be close, but not this close.
I thought that whoever could pass on who would be the team to win, but in the end, it was the running of Reggie Bush that gave the Trojans any chance to win. Sure the heroics of Leinart were huge, but other than his 301 yards passing and one yard touchdown run, he had a relatively un-Leinart like day having no passing touchdowns and two interceptions.
Even though I’m not a Notre Dame fan and I was rooting for USC, I felt like ND played the better game. They made plays on special teams, defense, and on offense when they needed it the most and they just dominated time of possession. Except for that final drive, the Irish won the game in my book. But the ending is what makes champions champions. I loved the win, and putting the time back on the clock was the right thing to do. However, the win somehow feels tainted.
What an unbelievable game.
Penn State at Michigan
I didn’t get a chance to enjoy this thriller of a Michigan victory, but I knew the Maize and Blue weren’t nearly as bad as their record indicated.
This one came down to the final second. On a fourth and four, Michigan’s Chad Henne threw a touchdown to Manningham in the back of the endzone to put the Wolverines on top 27-25. Wolverine fans everywhere went crazy.
I’ve seen the highlights of this one, and I love it. A huge win at the Big House.
This weekend had a lot of amazing college football. Too bad I have to watch the NFL on Sunday.
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