As I predicted, Tech struggled on the road against an unfamiliar team. Scouting reports should’ve told them to kick away from South Florida’s Olympic sprinter return man, but twice the Jackets allowed him to return kicks for touchdowns – quite possibly the difference in the game.
Senior QB Taquon Marshall again ran well but passed poorly before leaving the game with a toe injury. While he was out his backup Oliver picked up the pace, showing perhaps even more speed and quickness than Marshall. The Jackets seemed to move the ball even better, perhaps because Paul Johnson was finally hesitant to call pass plays. Oliver scored three times.
Unfortunately in the second half the Tech defense simply could not stop the South Florida offense, who ran the ball at will. The Bulls’ QB had several key runs – and he’s not even a running QB. Johnson put Marshall back in the game and the Jacket offense stalled, turning the ball over on a punt, fumble, and a Marshall interception. Tech lost a ten point fourth quarter lead, and South Florida won going away. Should’ve kept Oliver in the game.
If Tech can’t stop South Florida, how will they stop ACC offenses? Forget Clemson, Miami, and Virginia Tech. Stopping Duke, Virginia, and North Carolina will be the big question mark. Looks like it will be another long year.
Georgia went into Williams-Bryce Stadium and quickly sucked the momentum out of the Gamecock fans and team. The Dawgs intercepted three South Carolina passes, including a pick six on the first possession. At one point Georgia was on track to win 168-0. Fromm was 15-18. In the third quarter after extending the UGA lead to 41-10
In the third quarter Fromm gave way to freshman Justin Fields, who mostly handed off for the rest of the game. The Dawgs amassed 279 rushing, splitting the load between their stable of five backs. Swift, Holyfield, and Herrien each scored a touchdown. Had to be especially demoralizing for Gamecock fans in the fourth quarter when an unknown white running back for UGA was knocking out 5 and 6 yards a carry.
Clemson/Texas A&M: sometimes even the best teams need a little luck. The Tigers went on the road to the SEC and came up against a vastly improved A&M team. After the Aggies claimed early momentum, driving the field on their first possession and taking an early 3-0 lead on their second, Clemson’s dominant defense settled in and slowed the pace. Nothing against young Master Lawrence’s golden locks, but the Aggies have just too many crazed players with really long hair. It’s one thing for one player to be running around with long hair, but when more than half the team does it’s not so special.
In the second half Bryant calmed down and dueled A&M QB Kellen Mond, who continued to give the Tiger defense fits. Early in the fourth quarter Bryant went 6-6 on the touchdown drive, stretching the Clemson lead to 28-13. But up eight a near interception on third down forced the Tigers to punt. For every big play Bryant made, there seemed to be a bad play, a pass off the mark or a sack.
Clemson dropped at least three near interceptions. They got lucky on the fumble through the end zone, but the pylon cam clearly showed the ball passing directly over the pylon - despite what Herbstreit and Davis said. Still, the Aggie receiver should’ve held onto the ball. Credit Clemson for forcing the fumble.
But on the next possession Bryant couldn’t convert a first down, and Dabo’s rugby punt call backfired. Then pass interference. All night the vaunted Clemson D-line pressured Mond, but the Aggie QB continuously stepped up in the pocket and completed passes down the middle to wide open receivers.
After the juggling touchdown catch brought A&M within two, the Tigers rose up and snuffed the two point conversion. Ball game. As all the announcers said, Clemson gained much more from this win than had they played another cupcake. The same goes for the Aggies.
Herbstreit and Maria Taylor credited Bryant’s steady play as a key to the victory, and they’re right. Faithful Clemson fans say the senior has earned the right to play. Like last year, Bryant has the ability to lead the Tigers to another ACC Championship and a berth in the playoff. But if Bryant plays like he did in College Station, Clemson won’t be able to beat Bama, Ohio State, or Georgia.
Bryant continued to struggle in a tough environment, throwing poor passes and failing to get plays off in time. To be fair, the senior did make a few good plays before freshman sensation Trevor Lawrence made an appearance. Then Lawrence’s first pass went for a 64 yard touchdown, his fourth TD in his first ten completions. Whereas at most half of Bryant’s throws are on the mark, almost all of Lawrence’s passes are delivered where they’re supposed to go. Lawrence is more apt than Bryant to find his secondary receivers, and less likely to take a sack. Bryant appears tense in pressure situations, but Lawrence remains cool and collected under pressure – often with a smile on his face.
Dabo is handling the QB situation correctly: playing Bryant but mixing in Lawrence more and more. In the coming weeks the freshman will be able to get more and more playing time. Dabo will let Bryant cook his own goose. My prediction: Lawrence will continue to play well. Bryant will continue to be inconsistent, playing well against lesser teams but committing key mistakes in bigger games. The pressure to play well will cause him to struggle. But what do I know? I’ve only been following football for fifty-something years.
The great Penn State Nittany Lions struggled against lowly Pitt, before pulling away in the second half.
FSU trailed lowly Samford at the half, twice letting receivers get behind the secondary for easy touchdowns. Burt Raynolds was turning over in his grave. The Noles finally came back, winning 36-26 in part thanks to the dreaded turnover backpack.
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