College Football Recap
Iowa vs Northwestern
In a game where Northwestern has had so much success, rallying from double-digit deficits and playing great defense, this game appeared different. Iowa was shutting down Dan Persa and Northwestern and the Hawkeyes held a 17-7 lead in the middle of the fourth quarter.
But in this situation, Dan Persa came up big.
Persa scored 3 total touchdowns and led Northwestern 91 yards on the final drive as Northwestern rallied for their second straight win against a ranked Iowa team. Ricky Stanzi led Iowa into Northwestern territory, but his desperation heave was knocked down with 6 seconds to end the game.
The Wildcats struck first, with Dan Persa leading a 62 yard scoring drive and punching the ball in to give Northwestern a 7-0 first quarter lead. And just like they did in other games against the Hawkeyes, they shut down the Iowa offense, allowing only a field goal with 24 seconds left in the half. Northwestern led 7-3 at halftime.
But on the opening second half drive Iowa looked like Iowa. Adam Robinson gained 34 yards on 4 carries, and Ricky Stanzi hit Marvin McNutt for the go-ahead touchdown. The Hawkeyes had the lead, and the momentum.
The next time the Hawkeyes got the ball, it ended the same. Stanzi hit Derrell Johnson-Koolianos over the middle for a 70 yard scoring strike. All the Iowa defense had to do was not allow 10+ points in the fourth quarter and they would escape Evanston with a W.
But that would prove to be hard. Persa led Northwestern to the Hawkeye 38, but he threw an interception. Once Stanzi threatened to bring Iowa a 24-7 lead, the game looked over. But Brian Peters intercepted Stanzi at the 5, and returned it to the 15.
The Wildcats didn't waste the momentum. Persa got to work right away, completing 3 passes for 30 yards to get Northwestern to the 45. After a 9 yard sack Persa completed a 21 yard pass for the first, and he still kept going. He lofted a pass to Jeremy Ebert in the corner of the end zone, and Ebert caught it. The score was now 17-14.
The Northwestern defense played just like old times, stopping Iowa. But after a call to have all 11 men attempt to block the punt, Northwestern was pinned back at the 9.
Iowa forced a 3rd and 4, but Persa took over. He ran up the middle then cut back to the right and picked up 22 yards for a first down. On a 3rd and inches Persa snuck through for a first. On 3rd and 3 Persa broke a tackle and rumbled forward for a first, before finding Mike Trumpy on a slant route for 21 yards.
The next play called for Demetrius Fields to run a 7 route. Persa would either hit Fields in the corner of the end zone or run. But Iowa blitzed on the play, making Persa hurry his throw. However, Fields caught it in the end zone, and the Wildcats took the lead.
Iowa got down to the Northwestern 39, but they were soon forced to a 4th and 16. Stanzi's desperation heave was knocked down, and Northwetsern won a thriller to ensure a trip to a bowl game.
Other headlines
Oregon vs California
Cliff Harris returned a punt for a touchdown, Jeff Maehl caught a 28 yard TD as Oregon survived Cal 15-13. LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner used their cuts and explosiveness to chew up the final 9 and a half mintues and seal the deal.
Oregon went 3 and out twice and Cal scored on their opening drive, bringing life into the Bear crowd. But after Cal went 3 and out from their own 3, Cal had to punt. Cliff Harris took the punt to the left, cut back in, raced down the sideline and scored to make it 7-6. The Ducks converted the 2 point conversion, and the score was 8-7 at the half.
Cal started the second half with the ball, but Shane Vereen fumbled and Oregon recovered. On the first play of the Oregon drive Darron Thomas hit Jeff Maehl on a slant for a 29 yard TD. Oregon led 15-7 after that.
After Cal had to punt, the game looked like another Oregon second-half blowout. But Derrick Hill got to Darron Thomas and forced a fumble, and he recovered in the end zone. The Bears missed the 2 point conversion, but the game was still 15-13.
But the Duck defense couldn't come through. Shane Vereen got the Bears to the 4, and after a loss of 3 yards they were set up to kick a field goal. Giorgio Tavecchio made the kick, but he erased the kick with an illegal motion penalty. He was wide right from 29 yards, and the Ducks still had the lead.
With 9:25 left the Ducks got the ball at the 20 yard line. With Cal fans thinking they could get the ball back with 8 minutes left, the Bears defense had pressure on them. But with 3rd and 6, it looked like Cal could get the ball back. But Kenjon Barner caught a pass, broke a tackle and picked up the first.
Barner kept going. With superb vision, he would get the ball, find a hole, and cut into it. That ability helped him pick up another Duck first down. Oregon was forced to another 3rd down, but Darron Thomas broke a tackle and picked up just enough for the first.
Again Oregon was forced to a 3rd down, but again they converted. LaMichael James made a slight change in direction to help pick up the first for Oregon, and the Ducks were in need of only one more first down for a W.
A holding penalty seemed to hurt Oregon, but the desperate Bears declined the penalty. James made them pay, gaining just enough for a first down. Oregon ran out the clock and kept their title hopes alive with a sloppy 15-13 win over Cal.
Other headlines
212 yards, 3 scores from Marcus Lattimore help South Carolina beat Florida 36-14, clinch SEC East title.
Cam Newton puts mind off allegations, leads Auburn to SEC West title with win over Georgia
2 touchdowns from Owen Marecic help Stanford survive Arizona State 17-13.
Explosive offense leads Wisconsin to 83-20 win over Indiana.
Defense helps Washington State beat Oregon State 31-14, end 16 game conference losing streak.
4 TD passes from Andy Dalton help TCU survive San Diego State 40-35, stay undefeated.
Blaine Gabbert threw 2 touchdowns and ran for one as Missouri beat Kansas State 38-28.
In a game where Northwestern has had so much success, rallying from double-digit deficits and playing great defense, this game appeared different. Iowa was shutting down Dan Persa and Northwestern and the Hawkeyes held a 17-7 lead in the middle of the fourth quarter.
But in this situation, Dan Persa came up big.
Persa scored 3 total touchdowns and led Northwestern 91 yards on the final drive as Northwestern rallied for their second straight win against a ranked Iowa team. Ricky Stanzi led Iowa into Northwestern territory, but his desperation heave was knocked down with 6 seconds to end the game.
The Wildcats struck first, with Dan Persa leading a 62 yard scoring drive and punching the ball in to give Northwestern a 7-0 first quarter lead. And just like they did in other games against the Hawkeyes, they shut down the Iowa offense, allowing only a field goal with 24 seconds left in the half. Northwestern led 7-3 at halftime.
But on the opening second half drive Iowa looked like Iowa. Adam Robinson gained 34 yards on 4 carries, and Ricky Stanzi hit Marvin McNutt for the go-ahead touchdown. The Hawkeyes had the lead, and the momentum.
The next time the Hawkeyes got the ball, it ended the same. Stanzi hit Derrell Johnson-Koolianos over the middle for a 70 yard scoring strike. All the Iowa defense had to do was not allow 10+ points in the fourth quarter and they would escape Evanston with a W.
But that would prove to be hard. Persa led Northwestern to the Hawkeye 38, but he threw an interception. Once Stanzi threatened to bring Iowa a 24-7 lead, the game looked over. But Brian Peters intercepted Stanzi at the 5, and returned it to the 15.
The Wildcats didn't waste the momentum. Persa got to work right away, completing 3 passes for 30 yards to get Northwestern to the 45. After a 9 yard sack Persa completed a 21 yard pass for the first, and he still kept going. He lofted a pass to Jeremy Ebert in the corner of the end zone, and Ebert caught it. The score was now 17-14.
The Northwestern defense played just like old times, stopping Iowa. But after a call to have all 11 men attempt to block the punt, Northwestern was pinned back at the 9.
Iowa forced a 3rd and 4, but Persa took over. He ran up the middle then cut back to the right and picked up 22 yards for a first down. On a 3rd and inches Persa snuck through for a first. On 3rd and 3 Persa broke a tackle and rumbled forward for a first, before finding Mike Trumpy on a slant route for 21 yards.
The next play called for Demetrius Fields to run a 7 route. Persa would either hit Fields in the corner of the end zone or run. But Iowa blitzed on the play, making Persa hurry his throw. However, Fields caught it in the end zone, and the Wildcats took the lead.
Iowa got down to the Northwestern 39, but they were soon forced to a 4th and 16. Stanzi's desperation heave was knocked down, and Northwetsern won a thriller to ensure a trip to a bowl game.
Other headlines
Oregon vs California
Cliff Harris returned a punt for a touchdown, Jeff Maehl caught a 28 yard TD as Oregon survived Cal 15-13. LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner used their cuts and explosiveness to chew up the final 9 and a half mintues and seal the deal.
Oregon went 3 and out twice and Cal scored on their opening drive, bringing life into the Bear crowd. But after Cal went 3 and out from their own 3, Cal had to punt. Cliff Harris took the punt to the left, cut back in, raced down the sideline and scored to make it 7-6. The Ducks converted the 2 point conversion, and the score was 8-7 at the half.
Cal started the second half with the ball, but Shane Vereen fumbled and Oregon recovered. On the first play of the Oregon drive Darron Thomas hit Jeff Maehl on a slant for a 29 yard TD. Oregon led 15-7 after that.
After Cal had to punt, the game looked like another Oregon second-half blowout. But Derrick Hill got to Darron Thomas and forced a fumble, and he recovered in the end zone. The Bears missed the 2 point conversion, but the game was still 15-13.
But the Duck defense couldn't come through. Shane Vereen got the Bears to the 4, and after a loss of 3 yards they were set up to kick a field goal. Giorgio Tavecchio made the kick, but he erased the kick with an illegal motion penalty. He was wide right from 29 yards, and the Ducks still had the lead.
With 9:25 left the Ducks got the ball at the 20 yard line. With Cal fans thinking they could get the ball back with 8 minutes left, the Bears defense had pressure on them. But with 3rd and 6, it looked like Cal could get the ball back. But Kenjon Barner caught a pass, broke a tackle and picked up the first.
Barner kept going. With superb vision, he would get the ball, find a hole, and cut into it. That ability helped him pick up another Duck first down. Oregon was forced to another 3rd down, but Darron Thomas broke a tackle and picked up just enough for the first.
Again Oregon was forced to a 3rd down, but again they converted. LaMichael James made a slight change in direction to help pick up the first for Oregon, and the Ducks were in need of only one more first down for a W.
A holding penalty seemed to hurt Oregon, but the desperate Bears declined the penalty. James made them pay, gaining just enough for a first down. Oregon ran out the clock and kept their title hopes alive with a sloppy 15-13 win over Cal.
Other headlines
212 yards, 3 scores from Marcus Lattimore help South Carolina beat Florida 36-14, clinch SEC East title.
Cam Newton puts mind off allegations, leads Auburn to SEC West title with win over Georgia
2 touchdowns from Owen Marecic help Stanford survive Arizona State 17-13.
Explosive offense leads Wisconsin to 83-20 win over Indiana.
Defense helps Washington State beat Oregon State 31-14, end 16 game conference losing streak.
4 TD passes from Andy Dalton help TCU survive San Diego State 40-35, stay undefeated.
Blaine Gabbert threw 2 touchdowns and ran for one as Missouri beat Kansas State 38-28.
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