WNBA 2017 championship coach Reeve celebrates with the Trophy. (Photo by Brian Few Jr.)
The 2017 WNBA Champions Minnesota Lynx with Sylvia Fowles hosting her MVP trophy. (Photo by Brian Few Jr.)
Minneapolis, MN – The 2017 WNBA Finals. The Los Angeles Sparks versus the Minnesota Lynx.
A repeat of the 2016 finals, and, as it was in last year’s championship bout, it came down to the wire. Each and every game.
Game 5 was no different.
“I know LA wanted to win.” said Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, “They hung in there.”
Sparks guard Odyssey Sims led a rally with less than a minute to play to cut the L.A. deficit to three.
Lynx point guard driving to the basket in do or die game 5 between Sparks vs Lynx on October 4, 2017. (Photo by Brian Few Jr.)
Trailing all game, the Sparks had all the momentum in the world one their side.
Then, Lynx guard Maya Moore drained a jumper from the free-throw line with 26 seconds left, all but sealing an 85-76 win over the Sparks to seal their fourth championship in seven season.
Moore led the Lynx with 18 points and posted 10 rebounds, while regular season and WNBA finals MVP Sylvia Fowles broke her own record of 17 rebounds with 20 in game 5.
“I think it’ll be hard to find another group that’s, as talented, as deep, but as selfless as this group.” said Moore
Fowles added another 17 points as all five Lynx starters tallied up double-digit scoring, as opposed to the Sparks’ three.
Candace Parker would play part of LA’s first 10 points, and eventually scored or assisted 20 of the Sparks 35, first-half points. She finished with a game-high 19 points and 15 rebounds for a double-double.
Minnesota dug a deep 7-0 hole for Los Angeles in the opening minutes of the game, before Parker’s layup put the Sparks on the board.
The 3-point woes continued for the Sparks as well, and went 0-and-8 in the first half. In total, the Sparks nailed seven from downtown in the last two games.
Los Angeles kept it close in the second frame, cutting the tie to three before the Lynx stretched its lead to 10. The Sparks fought back to make it a single-digit deficit at halftime.
The Sparks cut it to a six-point deficit in the third quarter, but the Lynx would pull away and make it a double-digit lead midway into the final quarter of the season.
Ogwumike fouled out with a healthy 5:30 left in the final frame, before Los Angeles went on a two-minute scoring drought.
“We’re not going to give up.” said Parker
Sims stole possession for Whalen for the 46.5 second layup to cut the deficit six.
The Sparks guard, who put eight on the board in the final minutes of game 4, continued to lead the rally and picked off Gray’s steal effort to make an and-1 play to cut it to a 79-76 Lynx lead with 34.9 left in the game.
Moore sunk a jumper at the free-throw line in the ensuing Lynx possession to push the lead to five.
Poor distance shots in the final moments doomed the Sparks. Whalen sank two free-throws with 8.3 left in the game to seal the franchise’s fourth championship.
The 2017 WNBA Champions – Minnesota Lynx (Photo by Brian Few Jr.)
Nov 14, 2015 Washington State wide receiver Gabe Marks (9) after his game winning touchdown catch during second half of Washington State vs UCLA football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Ca(Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Pac-12 Football Players of the Week – Week 5
OFFENSIVE: Bryce Love, Jr., RB, Stanford • Set Stanford’s single-game rushing record with 301 yards, tied for eighth-most in Pac-12 history. • Averaged 12.0 yards on his 25 carries and had a career-high three touchdown runs which went for 61, 43 and 59 yards. • In the last 20 years, Love and USC’s Reggie Bush are the only players with back-to-back 250-yard rushing games. Stanford had just one game with a 250-yard rusher in the program’s first 1,254 contests — Love has now reached that mark in back-to-back games. • Has also rushed for 100 yards in seven consecutive games (second-longest streak in school history), and is the only player in the last 20 years with a rush of 50 or more yards in seven straight games.
Los Angeles, CA September 9, 2017: vs USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 News)
DEFENSIVE: Jahad Woods, RFr., LB, Washington State • In just his second career start, led WSU defensively as the Cougar defense held the Trojans to 10 points below their season average in a 30-27 Cougar victory. • Posted a game-high nine tackles, including a sack, tackle-for-loss and a forced fumble. • Woods preserved the Cougar victory by sacking Sam Darnold on the Trojans’ final possession, forcing the fumble that the Cougars recovered.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Erik Powell, RSr., K, Washington State
• Accounted for 12 points with three field goals and three extra points, in WSU’s 30-27 upset of No. 5 USC. • Connected on all three field goal attempts from 44, 33 and 32 yards. • His 32-yards FG with 1:40 proved to be the game-winner. It marked the 39th of his career, 5th in WSU history. • Powell added three punts for 111 yards, a 37.0 average with a long of 53.
ALSO NOMINATED: OFFENSIVE: Kani Benoit, ORE; Jordan Lasley, UCLA; Dante Pettis, WASH; Luke Falk, WSU. DEFENSIVE: Henry Mondeaux, ORE; Justin Reid, STAN; Kenny Young, UCLA. SPECIAL TEAMS: Brady Breeze, ORE; Jake Bailey, STAN.
WNBA Finals 2017: Minnesota Lynx vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on October 1, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
WNBA Finals 2017: Opening tip for game 4 of the Minnesota Lynx vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on October 1, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Los Angeles, CA – It started with missing 3 pointers.
Then, the struggle to sink mid-range jumpers crept in.
Finally, the lay ups would just bounce off one part of the rim and out the other.
And the one-point lead turned to 16. Then 17. Then 19.
WNBA Finals 2017: Candace Parker tying up Sylvia Fowles to get a jump ball in the Minnesota Lynx vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on October 1, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
The deficit was too much for the Los Angeles Sparks as the Minnesota Lynx evened out the WNBA Finals 2-2 with a 80-69 win in Los Angeles.
“I thought they played extremely well, played to their strengths, played determined.” said coach Brian Agler, “We’ll have to regroup and get ready for Game 5.”
Sylvia Fowles continued her double-double of points and rebounds average, posting up 22 points and 13 rebounds.
Rebekkah Brunson added 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Maya Moore scored 15.
Odyssey Sims turned it up in the final quarter with a pair of 3s and 10 points to finish with 18. Nneka Ogwumike added 17 points and eight rebounds.
No one on Los Angeles had double-digit rebounds, and to make matters worse, the Lynx out-rebounded the Sparks 48-27.
“To compete with Minnesota you have to stay in the game with them with the rebounding,” said Agler, “obviously that was a wide margin tonight.”
The Sparks weren’t driving to the rim as they normally did in previous games and looked to have burned out midway into the first quarter.
Los Angeles hit shots from distance only for them to come up short.
WNBA Finals 2017: Nneka Ogwumike going in for a layup in the Minnesota Lynx vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on October 1, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
The Sparks were 1-for-10 from downtown in the first half, sinking their first 3-ball with 3:24 left in the half courtesy of Odyssey Sims. She’d have four of the Sparks’ five three-pointers.
Los Angeles started aggressive and once they diverted their game to the perimeter, the Lynx started to gain composure and momentum, eventually taking the lead and extending it to as much as a 15-point advantage.
The Lynx dominated on offense and on rebounds for the most part, going on a 9-0 run with minutes left in the first quarter to make it a double-digit lead.
The inconsistent shooting continued in the second quarter, but this time, the Sparks started missing lay ups as well. Then they started missing their mid-range jumpers.
Though the Sparks took less attempted threes in the third quarter, the Lynx were still bossing them around on the court, notably Fowles’ block on defense transitioning to her assist on the other end.
By the final 10 minutes, only Ogwumike was in double-digit scoring with 12 points for the Sparks. The Lynx had three players, two knocking on 20.
WNBA Finals 2017: Odyssey Sims elevates for a shot in the Minnesota Lynx vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on October 1, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Sims started getting in the groove in the fourth quarter and drained five points in the opening 90 seconds of the final frame.
She later hit one from downtown on the right flank to make it a 10-2 Sparks run at the start of the quarter and cut the double-digit lead to a 9-point, 63-54, Lynx advantage.
UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) throws a pass in NCAA Football 2017 Colorado Buffaloes vs UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Ca. on September 30, 2017 (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
UCLA Bruins running back Soso Jamabo (1) being a patient runner during the Colorado Buffaloes vs UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Ca. on September 30, 2017 (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Pasadena, CA – Josh Rosen didn’t have to throw for multiple touchdowns for the Bruins Saturday night en route to a 27-23 victory over Colorado at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
“I’m just proud of those young men, for a lot of reasons,” said UCLA head coach, Jim Mora, “Through two weeks of tough losses they have just gotten closer.”
A defense plagued all season with targeting penalties was haunted once again tonight as freshman defensive back Darnay Holmes was disqualified in the first quarter after referees reviewed his hit on Colorado RB Phillip Lindsay.
UCLA Bruins defensive back Darnay Holmes (1) delivering a hit on running back Phillip Lindsay (23) that was called targeting at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Ca. on September 30, 2017 (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
“The targeting penalty on Darnay I think was a good call,” said Mora. “We have to keep players safety at a premium, we have to be careful.”
On the very next play Colorado QB Steven Montez connected with Lindsay once again for the game first touchdown and score of the game.
Rosen shook off a rusty first possession and came back throwing a couple strikes to Jordan Lasley, which would eventually lead to a 12-yard touchdown pass to TE Austin Roberts.
Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Steven Montez (12) standing tall in the pocket during the Colorado Buffaloes vs UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Ca. on September 30, 2017 (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
UCLA obtained its first lead of the game in the 2nd quarter. Despite a couple early drops by WR Lasley, Rosen’s trust in him never faltered. After ripping a 44-yard catch and run on UCLA’s previous scoring drive, Lasley’s big play ability came out on display once again getting behind the defense this time on a 46-yard reception. Two plays later, RB Jalen Starks took it in for the touchdown from 1-yard out to give UCLA a 14-10.
Colorado gambled on a fake field goal attempt that would have made it a one-point game with 54 seconds left in the 1st half but the Buffaloes were unable to convert.
The Tight Ends for the Bruins stepped up for Rosen to begin the team first drive of the second half. Rosen hit Roberts for a 30-yard gain to start the drive. Rosen also connected with Caleb Wilson twice with catches of 19 and 21-yards. Two plays later RB Soso Jamabo found the end zone from 2-yards out to give the Bruins a 21-10 lead.
Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Devin Ross (2) trying to find someone to run after a catch during the Colorado Buffaloes vs UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Ca. on September 30, 2017 (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
The Buffaloes would answer back with a touchdown of its own. Colorado cut UCLA’s lead to 4 on a 10-play drive capped by a 2-yard TD run from Lindsay. Colorado’s defense stepped up on UCLA’s next possession intercepting Rosen. The Buffaloes fell short of getting 7 and settled for a field goal cutting the Bruins lead 21-20.
UCLA was able to maintain its lead majority of the game with the help of its red zone defense. In 5 trips to the red zone for Colorado, the Buffaloes only scored one touchdown and were held to 3 field goals.
Rosen finished the night 28 of 45 for 372 yards and 1 touchdown. It is the 15th time he has thrown for more than 300 yards leading every quarterback in school history.
“I think a couple throws got away from him early. I think that he has set the bar so incredibly high that we all have to be a little bit measured of our evaluation of him,’” said Mora of Rosen.
UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) getting ready to throw during the Colorado Buffaloes vs UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Ca. on September 30, 2017 (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
The Bruins head into their bye week snapping its two game losing skid and although Mora says it feels good to get the taste of losing out of his mouth.
“You can take a sigh of relief but you can’t act like it is all fixed. There is a lot of work to do.”
Sylvia Fowles looking over the defense during the Showdown Minnesota Lynx vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on June 21, 2016. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
ALL-WNBA Dallas Wings Diggs and Los Angeles Sparks Parker battling at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on June 13, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2017 – Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles, the 2017 WNBA Most Valuable Player, headlines the 2017 All-WNBA First Team, the WNBA announced today. She is one of four regular-season MVPs named to the First Team, while the Second Team includes two former MVP winners.
Fowles earned 39 of 40 First Team votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, finishing with 195 points. She is joined on the First Team by New York Liberty forward Tina Charles (166 points), Dallas Wings guard Skylar Diggins-Smith (151), Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker (137) and Lynx guard Maya Moore (127).
ALL-WNBA second team Chelsea Gray turning the corner at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on June 18, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
ALL-WNBA second team Nneka Ogwumike finding space at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on July 2, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
The Second Team includes two Los Angeles players, forward Nneka Ogwumike (135 points) and guard Chelsea Gray (100), as well as two members of the Phoenix Mercury, center Brittney Griner (91) and guard Diana Taurasi (71). Connecticut Sun forward Jonquel Jones (106) completes the Second Team and joins Gray as the two first-time selections on this year’s All-WNBA Teams.
Voting for the All-WNBA First and Second Teams was conducted at the conclusion of the regular season. Players were selected by position and received five points for each First Team vote and three points for each Second Team vote.
Five of the 10 players selected to the All-WNBA Teams are part of the matchup between Minnesota and Los Angeles in the WNBA Finals 2017 presented by Verizon. With the series tied at 1-1, the Sparks will host the Lynx in Game 3 on Friday, Sept, 29 at 9 p.m. ET in ESPN2.
The 2017 All-WNBA Teams feature six MVPs winners: Fowles (2017), Charles (2012), Parker (2008, 2013) and Moore (2014) on the First Team, and Ogwumike (2016) and Taurasi (2009) on the Second Team.
Fowles, now a six-time All-WNBA selection and three-time First Team pick, earned her first regular-season MVP award after ranking fifth in the league in scoring (18.9 ppg), second in rebounding (10.4 rpg) and tied for second in blocked shots (1.97 bpg). She also shot a WNBA-best and career-high 65.5 percent from the field.
Charles has been an All-WNBA selection in every season of her eight-year career, including five First Team nods. In leading the Liberty (22-12) to the WNBA’s third-best record, she averaged 19.7 points (third in the league) and 9.4 rebounds (fourth in the league). The 2017 WNBA MVP runner-up earned seven Player of the Week honors, matching a WNBA record that she set last season.
Diggins-Smith was named to the All-WNBA First Team for the second time. She averaged 18.5 points (seventh in the WNBA) and a career-high 5.8 assists (fourth in the WNBA) while leading the league in minutes (34.2 mpg). The Dallas All-Star also attempted a WNBA-high 218 free throws and shot 89.4 percent from the free throw line (sixth in the league).
Parker’s seventh All-WNBA selection (fifth on the First Team) follows a season in which she averaged 16.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.45 steals and 1.67 blocks – a top-11 ranking in the league for each category. Her 10th WNBA season included the sixth regular-season triple-double in league history as she finished with 11 points, 17 rebounds and 11 assists against the San Antonio Stars on July 28.
Maya Moore of the Minnesota Lynx playing defense at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on August 27, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Moore was chosen to the All-WNBA First Team for the fifth consecutive season. With averages of 17.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.88 steals, Moore joined Fowles in helping the Lynx (27-7) post the WNBA’s best record and secure its seventh straight 20-win season.
The All-WNBA Second Team includes Ogwumike and Gray as they join Parker to make the second-seeded Sparks (26-8) the only team with three players on the 2017 All-WNBA Teams.
Ogwumike ranked sixth in the WNBA in scoring (18.8 ppg), eighth in rebounding (7.7 rpg), third in steals (1.85 spg) and tied for fourth in field goal percentage (56.1). Gray, in her third season, averaged a career-high 14.8 points, led the WNBA in three-point field goal percentage at 48.2 and contributed 4.4 assists (sixth in the league).
Diana Taurasi shooting at The Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, Ca on September 14 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Brittney Griner going up at The Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, Ca on September 14 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Griner and Taurasi both made history this season with the Mercury. In averaging 21.9 points and 2.50 blocks, Griner became the first player ever to lead the league in both categories in the same season. Taurasi, meanwhile, broke WNBA career records for points and three-pointers made. This year marked the 10th time in 13 seasons that Taurasi (17.9 ppg) averaged at least 17.0 points.
Connecticut’s Jones also produced a record-setting season. A first-time WNBA All-Star in her second season, Jones set single-season records with 11.9 rebounds per game, 403 total rebounds and 280 defensive rebounds. She also averaged 15.4 points to help the Sun (21-13) reach the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
In honor of being named to the All-WNBA First and Second Teams, each member of the First Team will receive $10,000, while each member of the Second Team will receive $5,000.
Below are the voting results for the 2017 All-WNBA Teams.
2017 ALL-WNBA FIRST TEAM
Player Team Position Points
Sylvia Fowles Minnesota Lynx Center 195
Tina Charles New York Liberty Forward 166
Skylar Diggins-Smith Dallas Wings Guard 151
Candace Parker Los Angeles Sparks Forward 137
Maya Moore Minnesota Lynx Guard 127
2017 ALL-WNBA SECOND TEAM
Player Team Position Points
Nneka Ogwumike Los Angeles Sparks Forward 135
Jonquel Jones Connecticut Sun Forward 106
Chelsea Gray Los Angeles Sparks Guard 100
Brittney Griner Phoenix Mercury Center 91
Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury Guard 71
About the WNBA
The WNBA – which features 12 teams and is the most successful women’s professional team sports league in the world – is a unique global sports property combining competition, sportsmanship, and entertainment value with its status as an icon for social change, achievement, and diversity. The league, which counts Verizon as its league wide marquee partner, concluded its 21st regular season on Sept. 3, 2017.
Through WNBA Cares, the WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, increase breast and women’s health awareness, support youth and family development, and focus on education.
WNBA 2017: Minnesota Lynx vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on August 27, 2017. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
File Photo WNBA Finals 2016: Minnesota Lynx vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Ca on October 16, 2016. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Los Angeles, CA – It feels like deja vu with the 2017 WNBA Finals.
Just like in 2016, the Minnesota Lynx hosted the Los Angeles Sparks for the first two games of the finals, and both ended up sharing the spoils of the first two matchups.
And just like the 2016 finals, the first two games were tight and intense contests.
For the 2017 Finals, the Sparks host the Lynx for games 3 and 4, and will head into Friday’s third game hoping to take command of a 1-1 series tie at STAPLES Center at 6:00 pm.
File Photo Sparks Defensive playing tough during WNBA Finals 2016: Minnesota Lynx vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Galen Center in Los Angeles, Ca on October 14, 2016. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
The second game of the finals ended in intense and confusing circumstances.
Sparks guard Alana Beard turned the ball over attempting to inbound the ball and infringing on the five-second rule with about 13 seconds remaining.
It seemed all but over until the Lynx guard Seimone Augustus coughed up the inbound to give the ball back to the Sparks.
But as the Sparks tried to find a shot, Game 1 hero Chelsea Gray turned the ball over, and the Lynx leveled the series 1-1.
Game 2’s contest was decided by two points after the Lynx led the game in double-digits early on before the Sparks fought back to make it a two-point contest.
If that wasn’t enough, the Sparks led 28-2 in the first quarter of Game 1 before the Lynx clawed their way back to even it midway into the final quarter.
The two fought back and forth before Gray hit the game-winner to claim Game 1 by a single point.
File Photo WNBA Finals 2016: Minnesota Lynx vs Los Angeles Sparks game at Galen Center in Los Angeles, Ca on October 14, 2016. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Least to say, Game 3 will hopefully be as intense and gritty as the first two was in Minnesota.
The Sparks hosted the Lynx last season for Game 3’s dominant 92-75 win to take a 2-1 lead.
Nneka Ogwumike is averaging 11 points and 9.5 rebounds in two games, and Candace Parker is averaging 16 points, 8.5 boards and five assists. Gray is averaging 21 points.
WNBA regular season MVP Sylvia Fowles struggled in the first half of Game 1 only to bounce back in Game 2 and is averaging a double-double of 17.5 points and 10 rebounds in the finals. Maya Moore is averaging 20 points for the Lynx.
OFFENSIVE: Bryce Love, JR, RB, Stanford • Love finished with 263 rushing yards (8.8 yards per carry), the second-highest single-game rushing total in school history, against UCLA on Saturday. • Stanford trailed UCLA, 13-6, midway through the second quarter — from that point on, Love rushed 21 times for 233 yards (11.09 yds/carry) and had the back-breaking 69-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter of a 58-34 victory. • He had a 50+ yard rush for the sixth straight game — the only college player in the last 20 years to do so. Love also rushed for over 100 yards for the sixth straight game to extend his school record as the only Cardinal to eclipse 100 yards in his first six career starts.
Los Angeles, CA September 9, 2017: Stanford vs USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 News)
DEFENSIVE: Jack Jones, SO, CB, USC • Jones picked off a pair of passes at California to help USC post six takeaways, its most in a game since 2012. • His first theft led to USC’s first points of the game in the first quarter and his second interception was midway through the fourth quarter. • Jones now has three interceptions in 2017.
Jack Jones #25 September 9, 2017: in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 News)
SPECIAL TEAMS: Brandon Ruiz, FR, PK, Arizona State • Was 3-3 in field goals (including game-winning FG) and 4-4 in PATs in ASU’s 37-35 upset of No. 24 Oregon. • Made field goals from 29, 24 and 41 yards. The make from 41 yards came with 2:33 remaining and proved to be the winning points after Oregon took a 35-34 lead with 6:41 left. • Was also successful with an onside kick that ASU recovered in the first quarter. The Sun Devils would go on to score on the possession (Ruiz 29-yard FG) to take a 17-7 lead late in the quarter.
ALSO NOMINATED: OFFENSIVE: Manny Wilkins, ASU; Deontay Burnett, USC; Myles Gaskin, WASH; Luke Falk, WSU. DEFENSIVE: Alani Latu, ASU; Justin Reid, STAN; Casey Hughes, UTAH; Jalen Thompson, WSU. SPECIAL TEAMS: Jet Toner, STAN; Chase McGrath, USC; Matt Gay, UTAH.
Larry Scott during the PAC-12 Football Media Day 2017. Live at Ray Dolby Ballroom at the Hollywood and Highland Entertainment Center in Los Angeles, Ca. on July 26, 2017 (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
OFFENSIVE: Luke Falk, SR, QB, Washington State • In WSU’s 52-23 win over Oregon State, Falk completed 37-of-49 passes (75.5 percent) for 396 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. • Falk’s six touchdown passes pushed his career total to 98, passing Jared Goff (Cal) for 4th-most in Pac-12 history. • Falk recorded his eighth career 5-TD game and tied a WSU record with six touchdown passes. • Falk threw for 396 yards, upping his career total to 11,793, 5th-most in Pac-12 history and tallied 380 yards of total offense, upping his career total to 11,521, 7th-most in Pac-12 history.
DEFENSIVE: Devante Downs, SR, LB, California • Downs totaled a career-high and game-high-tying 14 tackles, 2.0 sacks (-13 yards) and 3.0 tackles for loss (-21 yards). He added his fifth career interception and second of the season in leading Cal to a 27-16 win over Ole Miss. • Downs is also the Pac-12’s leading tackler, and tied for 14th nationally, over the first three games of the 2017 campaign with 10.7 tackles per game. • Downs has been key in leading a Cal defense that has allowed an average of 22.0 points per game in the opening three contests after giving up 42.6 points per game in 2016.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Dante Pettis, SR, PR, Washington • Pettis tied two NCAA records and one school record in the sixth-ranked Huskies’ 48-16 win over Fresno State. • Pettis returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown, tying the NCAA record for career punt return TDs, with his eighth. • He’s also the third player in NCAA history to return a punt for a score in three consecutive games, as he also did it against Rutgers and Montana. He’s already tied the UW record for single-season punt return TDs with three this year (with at least nine games to play). • He also had five receptions for 92 yards and three touchdowns, scoring from four, seven and 73 yards to tie his career high for TD receptions in a game. And for good measure, he also completed a 39-yard pass to tight end Hunter Bryant on Washington’s first offensive play of the game.
ALSO NOMINATED: OFFENSIVE: Brandon Dawkins, ARIZ; Manny Wilkins, ASU; Jake Curhan, CAL; Steven Montez, COLO; Royce Freeman, ORE; Bryce Love, STAN; Darren Andrews, UCLA; Deontay Burnett, USC; Tyler Huntley, UTAH. DEFENSIVE: Colin Schooler, ARIZ; Troye Dye, ORE; Harrison Phillips, STAN; Christian Rector, USC; Sunia Tauteoli, UTAH; Frankie Luvu, WSU. SPECIAL TEAMS: Shun Brown, ARIZ; Dylan Klumph, CAL; Chase McGrath, USC; Matt Gay, UTAH.
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Jalen Greene shaking off defender in a game between the Texas Longhorns vs USC Trojans on September 16, 2017 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 News)
Cameron Green chasing down Longhorns quarterback in a game between the Texas Longhorns vs USC Trojans on September 16, 2017 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 News)
Los Angeles, CA – It had the feeling of a championship game even though it was only third week of the season for the Texas Longhorns and the USC Trojans on Saturday night prime time game.
Fitting the game had all suspense of the teams last meeting in 2006 Rose Bowl but this time it was Trojans defeating the Longhorns in double overtime field goal win 27-24.
The unlikely hero was freshman walk-on kicker Chase McGrath who had kicks from 31 yards with 2 seconds on clock to send game into overtime bat 17-17. Then came back in second overtime to kick game winner from 43 yards right down the center.
“Our defense put us in situation to kick a field goal,” said USC coach Clay Helton, “That what great teams do they find a way to win.”
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Stephen Carr rushing in a game between the Texas Longhorns vs USC Trojans on September 16, 2017 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 News)
These two college football’s bluebloods played some solid defense all night. When you need a big play by either team it was the defenses. Neither team was able to break out and take control of the game.
Texas under new head coach Tom Herman really come to Coliseum to play and leave it all on the field.
“We wanted to win, a lot of tears, a lot of sorrow, dejection in that locker room.” said coach Herman, “We will be able build upon this immensely”
A big momentum change was Darnold second interception of the game to safety DeShon Elliott to USC 30 yard line with 10:43 left in the game only trailing 14-10.
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Jalen Greene shaking off defender in a game between the Texas Longhorns vs USC Trojans on September 16, 2017 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 News)
Texas defense steps up big time on fourth and goal from one yard line to stop the Trojans with 4:32 in first quarter. The front defensive seven had more push upfront, which was Trojans second turnover on downs.
Darnold never got rattled he just kept a short memory finishing with 397 yards with 3 touchdowns. The Trojans seem to abandon the running game so it was all on ten different receivers who had catches in the game.
Defensive back Ajene Harris was in the right place at the right time in overtime pickup a fumble from Texas quarterback who was stripped fight for extra yards.
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Steven Mitchell after a catch in a game between the Texas Longhorns vs USC Trojans on September 16, 2017 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/fi360 News)
That was the Longhorns last offensive snap and was forced to watch the Trojans go for the win.
“I told yall we were going to win this game.” said former Longhorn Vince Young after they took lead in closing minute of regulation.
Now it’s 2017 at Coliseum and the storybook ending was in USC favor this time.
Jordan Lasley hitting the corner during the Texas A&M Aggies vs UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Ca. on September 3, 2017 (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
UCLA Josh Rosen on September 3, 2017 (Photo by Jevone Moore/Full Image 360)
Memphis, TN- The UCLA Bruins brought their Top 25 ranking into the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium and could not keep pace with the Memphis Tigers losing 48-45.
They had one of the hottest offense with Josh Rosen scoring on his last 12 series that all came to halt on the opening drive.
The Tigers came out just as hungry of offensive scoring in just three plays behind 80 yard run by running back Darrell Henderson. The tone was set that this was going to be a race to the finish.
Early on UCLA’s big back Jalen Starks rumbled for a touchdown and huge 50 yard catch on Bruins 17 unanswered points.
Once the Tigers did respond in first half with a screen game that was on fire behind quarterback Riley Ferguson selling them to score two touchdown on UCLA in first half.
Ferguson threw for six touchdowns with one interception for 398 yards compared to Rosen four touchdowns with two costly interceptions for 463 yards.
The UCLA defense having very different look with two new starting safeties in replace of injured Jaleel Wadoo, Adrius Pickett with total of 5 new starters.
Pickett was inserted in second series and the Bruins forced a punt with the change in the line up.
The teams exchanged turnovers in first quarter that didn’t return any points on the board. It was Rosen last turnover that closed the door on the Bruins magic.
In the second half the teams matched each other point for point that allowed Texas the three point edge from second quarter.
The Bruins again were led by Darren Andrews with 10 catches on 175 yards and one touchdown. The rushing game did improve with 170 total yards and 4.9 average on undersized Memphis front.
The Bruins will travel next Saturday to Stanford to play the very physical Cardinal team.
