#8 Jacson Sirmon on the sack of # 10 Drew Payne during between California Golden Bears vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on, September17, 2022. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
South Bend, IN-The Fighting Irish pull off their first win of the season at home over the California Bears 24-17. Cal did have one last Hail Mary attempt that fell short after it bounced off a few hands before hitting the ground.
Neither team really separated it self in the state column, with only one yard difference. Notre Dame amassed 297 total yards of offense.
California Golden Bears vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on, September17, 2022. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
“We found a way to finsh,” said Notre Dame coach Dennis Freeman, “It’s hard to win football games.”
Quarterback Drew Pyne was efficient throwing for 150 yards, 2 touchdowns completing 17/23 passes for the Irish. His favorite target for this game was Chris Tyree who caught 5 balls for 44 yards and a touchdown.
California Golden Bears vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on, September17, 2022. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
Cal’s running game kept the Irish defense honest behind DeCarlos Brooks with run for 43 yards on 5 carries to only be outshined by his quarterback Jack Plummer. Plummer ran in a touchdown, while throwing for 184 yards and a touchdown pass to J. Michael Sturdivant.
After being tied 17-17 in the 4th quarter it was Pyne who delivered a dime on a post route with 9:16 left in the game and just kept the Bears at bay for the remainder of the evening.
Coach Freeman asking the official what the call during between California Golden Bears vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on, September17, 2022. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
“We weren’t playing clean football,” said Freeman, “We are going to rely on our defensive and offensive line.”
Cal team behind coach Justin Wilcox were off to their best start in 6 years at 2-0. This was Cal first road game that took place before a hostile capacity crowd of 77,622 with only a few Bears sprinkled in.
California Golden Bears vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on, September17, 2022. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)
Irish first year coach Marcus Freeman has been working hard to get his team a victory starting off 0-2. Now they move to 1-2 record for the Irish and Freeman first of many victories to come in South Bend.
Cal will host Arizona Wildcats a PAC-12 opponent on September 24, while Notre Dame will travel to North Carolina and look to get back to .500.
Pasadena, CA – UCLA’s final non-conference game is against arguably South Alabama’s biggest game of their season. The Jaguars have never had a winning record since joining the Sun Belt Conference and have been far less than stellar appearing in two bowl games going 0-2. This on paper should be an easy win for the Bruins to pamper their record to 3-0 and look forward to a much more competitive Pac-12 conference.
Photo by fi360 News
Stats on paper unfortunately may not appear the way it should be. The Bruins never really got any of their footing throughout the game, and in many instances it put South Alabama with opportunities to stick around. The Bruins never really had any big plays, and their explosive running game never got off the ground. The Jaguars meanwhile capitalized when they needed to, going 9-for-14 on third down conversions, with most of them being converted on five yards or more.
A gift for the Bruins fell on their lap when the Jaguars could have been the team either with the football last or put UCLA in panic mode. On 4th and 2 on the Bruin 22 yard line and less than two minutes to go, the Jaguars line up for a field goal. Instead they set up a spread offense resulting in a Bruin sack. UCLA then jumps for joy and finally had the chance to play Chip Kelly’s game driving down the field with Dorian Thompson Robinson’s arm to start, and then Keegan Jones running for more yardage to set up a chip shot game winning field goal.
Photo by fi360 News
“We talk all the time about three things happen in a football game – momentum swings and random events and adversity,” Bruins head coach Chip Kelly said. “The key is that if you’re a competitor, you respond when that happens. Non-competitors react. And I think that our guys responded in a good manner today. We obviously found ourselves in a hole, but think that our sideline and our guys believed every single time that we were going to win the football game. We’ve just got to keep plugging away and keep playing.”
All in all, UCLA’s performance is rather concerning as they get ready for the Pac-12. South Alabama managed a two-score lead sparked by a goal line fumble by Zach Charbonnet. 99 yards later on the other end, the Bruins needed a lot to reflect on at halftime. The Bruins do take the lead by opening up just about everything in the playbook in the third quarter. But South Alabama found its way back scoring 14 points in just 13 seconds. Carter Bradley wasted no time executing on a big pass play that let to a touchdown about three minutes later. Then a Bruin fumble a play after the kickoff deep in the red zone gave Bradley another chance to take advantage of a Bruin miscue.
Photo by fi360 News
“I think Carter [Bradley] was outstanding” Kelly said. “He was a kid who had been in the [transfer] portal and he was at Toledo. A lot of people tried to recruit him. We’d talked about it in our visit with you guys on Monday, about how good of a football team that is. That is a really, really good football team. And we knew that this would be closer, back and forth football game all along. There is nothing that they did that surprised us. I thought their running back was outstanding. People bounced off of him. He broke tackles. I think that they got a good scheme, offensively. They did some nice things. So, sometimes you’ve got to give them credit. They made some plays when they had to.”
While UCLA managed a comeback, it took a lot for the Bruins to figure things out. There is really not much to gather about this team after three wins, especially with opponents that gone practically nowhere in seasons past. Fortunately for them, Colorado is next on their schedule. The Buffaloes, who are 0-3, have only scored 30 points in their three losses. We really will not know much about this Bruin team most likely until the end of September when Washington visits the Rose Bowl. By then we can see if the Bruins can be contenders, and maybe fill up more of their seats to give the fans something to look forward to.
Photo by fi360 News
“Nothing really matters on the field as long as we play the next play, forget the bad plays,” Bruin linebacker Mo Osling said. “We’ll try to fix them, go back to the film room and correct the correctables, but, at the end of the day, it’s about us.”
SAN DIEGO, CA – Aztec football hosted Idaho St. in a non-conference game where San Diego State was seeking their first win in Snapdragon Stadium. This game happened a week after a home loss to Arizona to start the season. After a strong week in practice, the Aztecs wanted to get back to their winning ways.
Photo by Rashad Griffin / fi360 News
The game didn’t start out too hot for San Diego State, on the second play from scrimmage the Bengals completed a 75-yard touchdown pass against a usually stout Aztec defense. Jordan Byrd would quickly stop the bleeding with a big 66-yard punt return to tie up the game. He went on to have an amazing first half which completely changed the tone of the game. Later in the half he would also have a long rushing touchdown to help extend the Aztec lead. However, his impact on special teams may have had the biggest impact. Byrd downed two punts inside the five-yard line putting the Bengals in tough starting field positions all half. After the game, Byrd talked about his special teams plays.
“Give credit to Jack [Browning]… he knows how to put the ball where he needs to put it. [I] just had the extra credit of just grabbing it. On punt return we were working all week… I give all the credit to the guys out there blocking for me,” Byrd stated.
Photo by Rashad Griffin / fi360 News
San Diego State went on to win this game 38-7. The work that the Aztecs put in this week was no secret. After losing to Arizona at home to start the season, there was a sense of urgency from the team. They used last week as motivation for this week, and are looking to continue to use that drive for the rest of the season. Coach Brady Hoke spoke about the vibe at practice this week.
Photo by Rashad Griffin / fi360 News
“I thought we had a good week. The guys came out on Monday after watching the tape and I really thought they had a lot of energy to them,” Hoke explained. The Aztecs are headed to Utah to play the 13th ranked Utes in what will likely be one of the biggest games of the season for them. They will look to carry over their strong play from Saturday and have another good week of practice.
EUGENE, OR – After falling to the Georgia Bulldogs in the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game last week, the now unranked Oregon Ducks returned to Autzen Stadium Saturday looking to get their 2022 season headed in the right direction. While the Ducks still have a lot to iron out before they head into an extremely competitive conference schedule, the future of Oregon Football with first year head coach Dan Lanning looked promising after they defeated Eastern Washington 70-14.
Bo Nix (Photo by Megan Connelly / fi360 News)
Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and the entire Ducks offense shook off the dirt from last week’s loss and posted an impressive 604 total yards. Nix finished the day 28/33 with 277 yards and 5 touchdowns, while also managing to avoid any turnovers.
Terrance Furgeson record the Ducks’ first TD of 2022 season early in the first quarter after fighting his way into the endzone on a 13-yard reception.
Oregon quickly jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the second quarter before Eastern Washington got on the board with a 7-yard touchdown pass by Gunner Talkington where he found Dylan Ingram, cutting Oregon’s lead to twenty five points at 35-7.
Photo by Megan Connelly / fi360 News
The Eagles were outmatched the entire game, but the Ducks blew it open in the second half. Oregon scored on their opening drive of the third quarter when Bo Nix found tight end Cam McCormick for a 2-yard touchdown pass, and then on the first play of Eastern Washington’s drive Talkington threw his second interception of the night, which was picked off by Trikweze Bridges. Oregon defensive lineman Casey Rogers ultimately recorded the touchdown after Bridges fumbled the return on the 2-yard line, adding onto the damage making the score 56-7.
Oregon’s new Offensive Coordinator, Kenny Dillingham, had his offense cruising all night. The comfortable lead allowed Dillingham to get multiple guys involved, a luxury he didn’t have last week against Georgia. Nix found 4 different targets for scores, and 4 different running backs scored on the ground.
Photo by Megan Connelly / fi360 News
Dillingham also gave former five-star recruit Ty Thompson and Jay Butterfield time at quarterback. Thompson was met with loud applause by the Oregon fans who were eager to see him in last week’s game and led the Ducks down the field for an efficient drive which was capped by an impressive 6-yard touchdown rush from Kilohana Haasenritter, bringing the game to its final score of 70-14.
Berkley, CA September 10 UNLV at Cal, Memorial Stadium. Cal’s WR Jeremiah Hunter(3) catches a 37 yard pass to set up Cal’s first touchdown in the 1st quarter. Jorge Birelas fi360 News.
Berkley, CA- Certain games come down to a single drive down field. When you end the game on a deciding drive where you have back-to-back sacks and a game winning interception, those are season defining games. Cal’s defense had that exact drive and it could be the push they need to keep their momentum high this season.
Cal’s defense against UNLV was a huge topic of conversation. They start the game forcing a 3 and out and that would be a small foreshadowing of the game. UNLV would go 3 and out 5 times total this game and it was caused by heavy pressure.
The first half was dominated by Cal. Jaydn Ott and Jack Plummer continued their explosive connection getting 2 touchdowns in the first quarter. UNLV would finally get its first touchdown with an 11-yard toss to Kyle Williams.
The 2nd quarter was a defensive battle from both teams. The Cal offensive line wasn’t 100% ready for UNLV and the Rebels knew it. Forcing Plummer out of the pocket almost every drive, they sacked him a couple times, and forced him to make some questionable throws that would result in an interception like what happened in the middle of the second quarter.
Berkley, CA September 10 UNLV at Cal, Memorial Stadium. Cal’s QB Jack Plummer(7) gets sacked by UNLV DE Adam Plant Jr.(7) Jorge Birelas fi360 News.
Cal would end the second quarter with a field goal and at the half it was 17-7 Cal. The second half would start with a solid drive that led to FG and it seemed Cal was gonna blow this game wide open. UNLV had other plans. After a couple big passes by QB Doug Brumfield, UNLV would score with a 31-yard touchdown run from Aidan Robbins making the game 20-14.
It would be this way all the way until late into the 4th quarter which is where the game would hit its climax. After Cal went 3 and out, UNLV had one drive to win the game with 2 minutes left. First play was a big pass to Ricky White, refs think he’s out of bounds, it’s ruled incomplete, but after a booth review, play is overturned and we have a first down for UNLV. The next 2 plays would be huge sacks for Cal.
Berkley, CA September 10 UNLV at Cal, Memorial Stadium. Cal’s LB Jackson Sirmon(8) with the big hit on UNLV QB Doug Brumfield(2) in the 4th quarter. Jorge Birelas fi360 News.
One by Henry Ikahihifo and another by Myles Williams. The game came down to one final play while seconds rolled off the clock. Cal had been sending their safety Daniel Scott on blitzes all game and in the 4th quarter those blitzes would keep Doug Brumfield and that UNLV offense on their toes and the last play of the game was no different. When the ball was snapped, Scott looked like he was already in the backfield and Brumfield was able to evade Scott and get the ball out and before you know it with all 0s on the game clock, cornerback Isaiah Young snatches the ball outta the overcast sky and goes straight to the ground and the Cal Bears begin celebrating their second win of the season.
After a game like this, a team’s locker room has more energy than a group of friends on vacation in Miami, but they have to keep that energy in check considering their next game is an away game in South Bend against Notre Dame.
Berkley, CA September 10 UNLV at Cal, Memorial Stadium.
Even though the Fighting Irish are going to be coming off their second loss of the season versus Marshall of all teams, they’ll have a lot of fight in them. Cal needs their defense to be not only in sync like they were today, but they need to be ready to silence a crowd that will be starving for a victory and considering the fact the Bears are approaching this game with a now 2-0 record, I’m sure that Notre Dame crowd would love to set the clock to midnight on the Cinderella story currently in Berkeley.
PASADENA, Calif. — Backup quarterback Ethan Garbers threw for 164 yards and ran for two touchdowns to lead UCLA to a 45-7 nonconference rout Saturday over Alabama State before 33,727 at the Rose Bowl.
Photo by fi360 News
UCLA put up 485 yards, Garbers completing passes to six different receivers, Carsen Ryan with three balls for 58 yards. UCLA held Alabama State to 87 rushing yards, and dating back to last season, UCLA has scored at least 42 points in five consecutive games.
UCLA improved to 2-0 on the season, and Alabama State falls to 2-1.
“That’s a really well coached football team,” said UCLA coach Chip Kelly about Alabama State.
Alabama St Band. Photo by fi360 News
At halftime, UCLA led 31-7. Garbers entered the game early in the second quarter when Dorian Thompson-Robinson left the game with an ankle injury. After a late first-quarter touchdown, Alabama State’s final eight drives: punt, punt, end of half, interception, punt, punt, punt, interception.
Garbers was 14 of 18 with one interception. TJ Harden carried seven times for 56 yards and a touchdown.
T.J. Harden carries the football. Photo by fi360 News
Alabama State’s Myles Crawley was 16 of 27 for 177 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Myles Crawley tries to get away. Photo by fi360 News
Next week, UCLA hosts Southern Alabama. Alabama State hosts Prairie View A&M.
Seattle, WA- A balanced attack though the air and on the ground was the Washington Huskies gameplan to drop Portland State Vikings 52-6.
Huskies receiver Jalen McMillan showed off the team speed catching a skinny post route going 84 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. McMillan finished with 4 receptions for 127 yards averaging 31 yards a catch to go along with his touchdown.
Photo by Jason Palmer / fi360 News
“I’m just proud of the way we start fast, especially in the first half,” said Washington coach Kalen DeBoer, “Looking forward to seeing the energy we have going into next week.
Washington offense amassed 617 total yards with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. who completed 20/27 passes for 337 yards. Running back Wayne Taulapapa took a few snaps under center in the wildcat to create a mismatch. He led the team with 94 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown.
“As long as I continue to trust the preparation, I’m always going to just keep going back to that,” said Penix Jr. “Trust in the preparation and the play calling.”
Photo by Jason Palmer / fi360 News
Portland St on had 131 yards of offense, Dante Chachere was under pressure all game from the Huskies front line.
Jalynnee McGee was able to rush for 58 yards and lead his team with 12 carries. His running mate Andrew Van Buren carried 8 times for 22 yards.
The Huskies crowd was enjoyed watching their team dominate as they moved to 2-0 record anticipating a bigger challenge next Saturday.
Photo by Jason Palmer / fi360 News
Washington will host the Michigan State from the Big Ten and Portland State will travel to play Montana on September 17th.
Colorado linebacker Quinn Perry (12) dives for Air Force quarterback Haaziq Daniels (4) as Daniels turns the corner in the third quarter at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, CO on Saturday September 10, 2022. Air Force won by a score of 41 to 10. (Photo by Laura Domingue/fi360 News)
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, CO — Fullback Brad Roberts ran for 174 yards and three touchdowns to lead Air Force to a 41-10 nonconference victory Saturday over Colorado before 46,692 at Falcon Stadium.
Air Force put up 443 yards, with 435 coming on the ground. This marks consecutive games won over the Buffaloes. Air Force last defeated Colorado in Boulder in 2019. Colorado has opened the season 0-2 for the first time since 2012.
Air Force running back Brad Roberts (20) is tackled by Colorado linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo (8) in the second quarter at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, CO on Saturday September 10, 2022. Air Force won by a score of 41 to 10. (Photo by Laura Domingue/fi360 News)
“It’s an awesome feeling (to beat Colorado),” Roberts said, who hails from a Denver suburb and attended a few Buffalo games as a child. “We played a really good game, and our defense really stepped up to the plate.”
With the win, Air Force improves to 2-0 on the season.
At halftime, Air Force led 20-10. The game turned in the third quarter when Air Force scored 21 straight points. After a late second-quarter field goal, Colorado’s final six drives: fumble, turnover on downs, punt, turnover on downs, punt, punt.
Colorado quarterback J.T. Shrout (5) hands off to tailback Deion Smith (20) in the second quarter against Air Force at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, CO on Saturday September 10, 2022. Air Force won by a score of 41 to 10. (Photo by Laura Domingue/fi360 News)
“Today was a disappointing performance,” Colorado head coach Karl Dorrell said. “We didn’t play well. We didn’t play to our capabilities. … We’ve got to continue this work and develop this football team. It’s unfortunate, though, that we had a performance like that.”
Roberts led the rushing attack with 24 carries. John Lee Eldridge III carried eight times for 88 yards and a touchdown.
Colorado’s Deion Smith carried 11 times for 59 yards and a touchdown.
Colorado tailback Deion Smith (20) takes the handoff towards the edge while tight end Brady Russell (38) blocks Air Force linebacker Bo Richter (8) in the firs quarter at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, CO on Saturday September 10, 2022. Air Force won by a score of 41 to 10. (Photo by Laura Domingue/fi360 News)
“I’m trying to make (fullback) hip again,” Roberts said. “I love being a fullback, especially the way we run our fullbacks in this offense. It is awesome.”
Colorado safety Isaiah Lewis (23) dives in an attempt to tackle Air Force quarterback Zac Larrier in the first quarter at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, CO on Saturday September 10, 2022. Air Force won by a score of 41 to 10. (Photo by Laura Domingue/fi360 News)
Next week, Colorado travels to Minnesota. Air Force travels to Wyoming on Friday to open Mountain West Conference play.
Logan, UT – Maverick stadium today Weber Head Coach Jay Hill notches a big win Saturday evening not just his first FBS win since 93’.
You’d have to go back to 1978 if you’re looking for the last time the Wildcats beat Utah State two big victories separated by 44 years 1978 was a roughing up of the Aggies 45-6 Weber State takes the win. Let’s go back to the future September 10,2022.
Utah State answers an early field goal from Weber State. Kyle Thompson with an electric 100-yard return coming via Terrell Vaughn who founds his blockers and a path wide open to the house. Get this Aggies crowd, was hyped!
Photo by Jason Strother / fi360 News
Aggies with their first lead off the evening 7-3 didn’t hold up as long as they may have liked as Wildcat’s Josh Davis takes the hand off from 17 yards out for a touchdown, its followed with a missed extra point.
Logan Bonner 6 of 19 for 62 yards 2 interceptions only one part of the Aggies troubles as the run game was being suffocated by Wildcat’s defense as the boo’s reign down from the Aggies faithful of the blue. With 22 seconds before the half 2nd and 8 to go from the 8-yard line run up the middle no gain. Time out Aggies bring up 3rd goal Logan Bonne rolling to his left throws for the end zone, and it’s picked off huge, missed opportunity there to go up by 1 heading in the locker room plenty of football left yet.
Photo by Jason Strother / fi360 News
Both offenses needing to adjust at just 13-7 game is still up for grabs both teams come and quickly go 3 and out. Hills squad would be the ones to shake it’s first half woes. 8:57 remaining in the 3rd Bronson Barron scrambles for the 1st down to keep the drive alive now Weber State moves to the no huddle another 3rd down conversion for Weber States a 15-yard pass on a crossing route brought down at mid field.
Now we have an offense sustaining a drive eating up yards and clock, here we go again Weber State facing another 3rd down this time, 5 to go for a 1st Josh Davis picks up 7 yards and a new set of downs. 4 for 4 on 3rd downs this drive Bronson Barron with another completion.
This time Creyton Cooper for 3 yards why not another Wildcat 3rd down Bronson Barron hands to Josh Davis gets 7 for that right Weber State first down a remarkable 5 for 5 on 3rd conversions Weber faces another 3rd down this time from just inside the 10 Bronson Barren drops back steps up throws for the corner of the end zone he finds Ty Macpherson for 6..
Bronson Barron orchestrates an incredible 18 play 86 yards while eating up 9:29 off the clock Wildcat’s offense emerges flawless on 3rd down attempts going 6 for 6 in what essentially secures the upset for Weber State.
UC Davis Aggies Vs. California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium on, September 03, 2022. (photo by Jorge Birelas / fi360 News)
Berkley, CA- Saturday’s game for Cal football was not only a big debut for the Bears, but a historic day for freshman running back Jaydn Ott, who recorded the most yards from scrimmage for a Cal player in their debut since Keenan Allen in 2010. Ott booked 130 yards from scrimmage in his NCAA debut. Keenan Allen on his debut, 158 yards.
The California Bears offense was flowing like a river down the field and the rushing game was the key point in the flow. In the second quarter Jaydn Ott took over the majority of the rushing snaps and would do so for the rest of the game. Ott’s downhill style of play averaged him 6 yards a run, which would set up Jack Plummer to get a pass off that would extend their drives into the red zone and eventually score.
Ott wasn’t just the main piece of the rushing game, he would also catch 1 of those Plummer touchdown passes in the second quarter. Ott’s 130 yards from scrimmage are an example of how fluid this Bears offense is and going into their next game against UNLV, they’ll need this offense to keep firing on all cylinders.
Plummer back to pass during the UC Davis Aggies vs. California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium on, September 03, 2022. (photo by Jorge Birelas / fi360 News)
Ott ‘s big running day freed up Plummer to see every option and if the offensive line can hold back UNLV longer than they did UC Davis, Ott will have another big game, possibly even adding his first NCAA career touchdown to his already impressive stat sheet. Unlike Keenan Allen who recorded his debut 158 yards with 120 receiving yards and 38 rushing, Jaydn Ott ran for 104 yards and got 26 yards receiving, again showcasing how his contribution was the legs holding the table that is the Cal Bears offense.
Saturday, September 10th in Berkeley, Cal will face UNLV and eyes will be on the whole team once again, but scouts will have their eyes on the freshman running back. Jaydn Ott. Between Ott, Mavin Andersen, and J. MIchael Sturdivant the freshman pieces on this offense are worth watching.
