Music City Miracle Part 2; Huskies pull off upset; Yankee Stadium Thriller
UNC vs Tennessee
It was all over. The Music City crowd was celebrating. Even after a missed extra point and 2 interceptions from QB Tyler Bray, the Volunteers had held on for a 20-17 win. Until the refs decided otherwise.
They decided to put one second on the clock for the UNC Tar Heels, giving them a shot at a 39 yard field goal. Casey Barth drilled that and a 23 yarder, giving the Heels a 30-27 2OT win that was thrilling in every way.
North Carolina started with the ball, and Shaun Draughn would take advantage. He received a pitch from senior QB T.J Yates and found a seam to the left, picked up the first, made a juke and had 7 points for UNC. However, that wouldn't last long, for Bray found Gerald Jones wide open in the end zone for 6. Late in the second quarter the score was 10-7 in favor of the Heels, until the offenses got going.
Tennessee got the ball with about 2 minutes left in the half and with 1:30 left in the half, they went for a play action pass. A pumpfake did the rest, as Da'Rick Rogers caught a 45 yard touchdown pass. It looked like they would lead 14-10 at the half, but the Heels had other ideas.
On a play action pass, a corner bit on the fake and allowed Erik Highsmith to slip behind him. T.J Yates gave him a perfect throw, and he caught it in the end zone. At halftime, and midway through the fourth quarter, UNC led 17-14.
However, the Vols got into field goal range, as they had 3rd and 18 at the UNC 29. But they didn't need a field goal; Bray hit Demarius Moore on 3rd down and he found Justin Hunter for a touchdown. However Daniel Lincoln's extra point was blocked, and all UNC needed was a field goal for the tie.
And they got to the 25 yard line of Tennessee, where they went for a run to Shaun Draughn. Draughn picked up 4 yards, but some confusion went on between the field goal team and the offensive team. They needed to spike the ball, and they were able to get it off. But originally, the game was ruled over, with Tennessee triumphing 20-17.
But the refs went to review the play, and at the end, they decided that Yates spiked the ball with about 1/10 of a second left. So UNC brought on the field goal team, and Casey Barth split the uprights. The game went into OT.
UNC started with the ball, and after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Tennessee they got the ball at the 12 yard line. They would easily score, with T.J Yates diving over a pile of players to give UNC the lead. But that only lasted 2 plays, for an amazing catch by Luke Stockley and the PAT sent the game into double-overtime.
This time Tennessee got the ball first, and they were driving until a mistake by Tyler Bray. While attempting to throw a pass to the end zone, he didn't see linebacker Quan Sturdivant, who leapt up and snatched the ball. North Carolina now needed only a field goal for the win.
After the first play of overtime, it looked clear who would win. Shaun Draughn ran for 16 yards, finding a hole to the outside and making a juke to get inside the 10 yard line. After a 3 yard run from Draughn coach Butch Davis sent on Casey Barth and the field goal team. Barth drilled the 23 yard kick, giving North Carolina a miraculous win.
Kansas State vs Syracuse
It was no Music City miracle, but it was a very thrilling game that would leave one team feeling like they just needed to do this or that do win, with the other feeling like they got very lucky. Throw a controversial call into the mix, and you've got a pretty intriguing first Pinstripe Bowl.
Delone Carter ran for 2 TD's, Marcus Sales caught 3 touchdowns and an controversial celebration penalty cost Kansas State a chance at a win as the Orange won 36-34 in a game that involved many penalties and some bad coaching from Kansas State.
The Wildcats got the ball first and on the second play from scrimmage, Daniel Thomas ran for a 51 yard touchdown, giving K-State the early edge. However, after failing to convert on 4th and 9 the Orange got the ball back, and 'Cuse went for a flea flicker. Sales slipped behind his defender and caught the pass to tie the game. On Syracuse's next possession, Sales caught a slant pass and took it 36 yards to the house to give Syracuse the lead.
The game went back-and-forth, with Syracuse failing to convert on another fourth down and Josh Cherry of K-State missing a 38 yard field goal. However, it all evened out to a tie game midway through the third quarter.
But that tie game wouldn't last long, for Delone Carter stepped up for the Orange. He found a seam on the left side and raced 15 yards into the end zone. However, Ross Krautmann missed the extra point, and it ended up costing the Orange (until the end of the game). Daniel Thomas took an option pitch and scored on 4th and goal at the 1, and K-State held the 28-27 lead.
However, that wouldn't last long or matter. Sales slipped behind his defender on a PA Post route, and he gave Syracuse the lead. On Kansas State's next possession, they failed to convert a fake field goal. Krautmann made up for his missed PAT with a 39 yard field goal, and Syracuse held a 36-28 lead late.
In a game of offense, Kansas State wouldn't screw up. Adrian Hilburn caught a pass, broke a tackle and got into the end zone, making it a 2 point game. However, he saluted the crowd and was called for a celebration penalty, pushing the conversion back to the 18 yard line. K-State failed to convert, and they were forced to recover the onside kick.
The funny thing about that is, well, they did recover it. But another penalty gave the ball to Syracuse, who only had to take a knee to win the game. They did, and they took home a classic win in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
Armed Forces Bowl (1 paragraph)
2 early interceptions and a fumble returned for a touchdown helped Army survive SMU 16-14 and take home their first bowl win in 25 years. Josh McNary scooped up a loose ball and took it to the house to make it 7-0 early, and after taking a 16-0 lead they wouldn't look back. SMU also went 0/2 on field goals, with Matt Szymanski missing from 35 and 47 yards away to give Army the win.
Holiday Bowl Upset; How it happened
Washington did exactly what they needed to do on defense; blitz and force Taylor Martinez into making bad decisions. Martinez wasn't able to do anything right, with his only up being a TD pass in the second quarter. Backup QB Cody Green went 3/12 as well. Nebraska's QB's combined to go 10/21 with a TD and an interception, and they were sacked 5 times combined.
Nebraska got the ball first and drove into Washington territory, but a Rex Burkhead fumble set up a 3 yard TD run from Chris Polk. Erik Folk made a field goal, and after a Cornhusker TD it was 10-7 UW. In the third quarter Jake Locker scored on a QB Draw, running right, breaking a tackle and putting UW up 17-7. A penalty in the end zone gave Washington a safety, and they won 19-7.
It was all over. The Music City crowd was celebrating. Even after a missed extra point and 2 interceptions from QB Tyler Bray, the Volunteers had held on for a 20-17 win. Until the refs decided otherwise.
They decided to put one second on the clock for the UNC Tar Heels, giving them a shot at a 39 yard field goal. Casey Barth drilled that and a 23 yarder, giving the Heels a 30-27 2OT win that was thrilling in every way.
North Carolina started with the ball, and Shaun Draughn would take advantage. He received a pitch from senior QB T.J Yates and found a seam to the left, picked up the first, made a juke and had 7 points for UNC. However, that wouldn't last long, for Bray found Gerald Jones wide open in the end zone for 6. Late in the second quarter the score was 10-7 in favor of the Heels, until the offenses got going.
Tennessee got the ball with about 2 minutes left in the half and with 1:30 left in the half, they went for a play action pass. A pumpfake did the rest, as Da'Rick Rogers caught a 45 yard touchdown pass. It looked like they would lead 14-10 at the half, but the Heels had other ideas.
On a play action pass, a corner bit on the fake and allowed Erik Highsmith to slip behind him. T.J Yates gave him a perfect throw, and he caught it in the end zone. At halftime, and midway through the fourth quarter, UNC led 17-14.
However, the Vols got into field goal range, as they had 3rd and 18 at the UNC 29. But they didn't need a field goal; Bray hit Demarius Moore on 3rd down and he found Justin Hunter for a touchdown. However Daniel Lincoln's extra point was blocked, and all UNC needed was a field goal for the tie.
And they got to the 25 yard line of Tennessee, where they went for a run to Shaun Draughn. Draughn picked up 4 yards, but some confusion went on between the field goal team and the offensive team. They needed to spike the ball, and they were able to get it off. But originally, the game was ruled over, with Tennessee triumphing 20-17.
But the refs went to review the play, and at the end, they decided that Yates spiked the ball with about 1/10 of a second left. So UNC brought on the field goal team, and Casey Barth split the uprights. The game went into OT.
UNC started with the ball, and after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Tennessee they got the ball at the 12 yard line. They would easily score, with T.J Yates diving over a pile of players to give UNC the lead. But that only lasted 2 plays, for an amazing catch by Luke Stockley and the PAT sent the game into double-overtime.
This time Tennessee got the ball first, and they were driving until a mistake by Tyler Bray. While attempting to throw a pass to the end zone, he didn't see linebacker Quan Sturdivant, who leapt up and snatched the ball. North Carolina now needed only a field goal for the win.
After the first play of overtime, it looked clear who would win. Shaun Draughn ran for 16 yards, finding a hole to the outside and making a juke to get inside the 10 yard line. After a 3 yard run from Draughn coach Butch Davis sent on Casey Barth and the field goal team. Barth drilled the 23 yard kick, giving North Carolina a miraculous win.
Kansas State vs Syracuse
It was no Music City miracle, but it was a very thrilling game that would leave one team feeling like they just needed to do this or that do win, with the other feeling like they got very lucky. Throw a controversial call into the mix, and you've got a pretty intriguing first Pinstripe Bowl.
Delone Carter ran for 2 TD's, Marcus Sales caught 3 touchdowns and an controversial celebration penalty cost Kansas State a chance at a win as the Orange won 36-34 in a game that involved many penalties and some bad coaching from Kansas State.
The Wildcats got the ball first and on the second play from scrimmage, Daniel Thomas ran for a 51 yard touchdown, giving K-State the early edge. However, after failing to convert on 4th and 9 the Orange got the ball back, and 'Cuse went for a flea flicker. Sales slipped behind his defender and caught the pass to tie the game. On Syracuse's next possession, Sales caught a slant pass and took it 36 yards to the house to give Syracuse the lead.
The game went back-and-forth, with Syracuse failing to convert on another fourth down and Josh Cherry of K-State missing a 38 yard field goal. However, it all evened out to a tie game midway through the third quarter.
But that tie game wouldn't last long, for Delone Carter stepped up for the Orange. He found a seam on the left side and raced 15 yards into the end zone. However, Ross Krautmann missed the extra point, and it ended up costing the Orange (until the end of the game). Daniel Thomas took an option pitch and scored on 4th and goal at the 1, and K-State held the 28-27 lead.
However, that wouldn't last long or matter. Sales slipped behind his defender on a PA Post route, and he gave Syracuse the lead. On Kansas State's next possession, they failed to convert a fake field goal. Krautmann made up for his missed PAT with a 39 yard field goal, and Syracuse held a 36-28 lead late.
In a game of offense, Kansas State wouldn't screw up. Adrian Hilburn caught a pass, broke a tackle and got into the end zone, making it a 2 point game. However, he saluted the crowd and was called for a celebration penalty, pushing the conversion back to the 18 yard line. K-State failed to convert, and they were forced to recover the onside kick.
The funny thing about that is, well, they did recover it. But another penalty gave the ball to Syracuse, who only had to take a knee to win the game. They did, and they took home a classic win in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
Armed Forces Bowl (1 paragraph)
2 early interceptions and a fumble returned for a touchdown helped Army survive SMU 16-14 and take home their first bowl win in 25 years. Josh McNary scooped up a loose ball and took it to the house to make it 7-0 early, and after taking a 16-0 lead they wouldn't look back. SMU also went 0/2 on field goals, with Matt Szymanski missing from 35 and 47 yards away to give Army the win.
Holiday Bowl Upset; How it happened
Washington did exactly what they needed to do on defense; blitz and force Taylor Martinez into making bad decisions. Martinez wasn't able to do anything right, with his only up being a TD pass in the second quarter. Backup QB Cody Green went 3/12 as well. Nebraska's QB's combined to go 10/21 with a TD and an interception, and they were sacked 5 times combined.
Nebraska got the ball first and drove into Washington territory, but a Rex Burkhead fumble set up a 3 yard TD run from Chris Polk. Erik Folk made a field goal, and after a Cornhusker TD it was 10-7 UW. In the third quarter Jake Locker scored on a QB Draw, running right, breaking a tackle and putting UW up 17-7. A penalty in the end zone gave Washington a safety, and they won 19-7.
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