CFN's 2007 Annual Ultimate
College Football Playoff
South Division - Semifinals
South
Semifinals
North |
East |
West
Third
Round
North |
South
East |
West
Second
Round
North |
South
East |
West
First
Round
North |
South
East |
West
-
Ultimate National Title
Seedings & Brackets
1. LSU
2. Louisville
3. UCLA
4. Clemson
5. Rutgers
6. West Virginia
7. TCU
8. Arkansas
9. Arizona State
10. Texas Tech
11. Purdue
12. Wake Forest
13. NC State
14. Michigan State
15. Vanderbilt
16. Northwestern
17. Cincinnati
18. Indiana
19. Western Michigan
20. San Jose State
21. Tulsa
22. Toledo
23. Marshall
24. Kent State
25. Ohio
26. Louisiana Tech
27. Tulane
28. North Texas
29. UL Lafayette |
No. 4 Clemson 14 ... No.
1 LSU 10
All week long leading up to the game, Clemson was talking about winning
the game in Baton Rouge for the right to take the Death Valley all for
itself. LSU was well motivated to begin with, and the smack talk only
heightened the intensity ... at least on defense.
LSU's defense completely shut down the star Tiger rushing tandem
of James Davis and C.J. Spiller, keeping them to just 68 yards combined.
Clemson QB Cullen Harper had an even rougher day, getting sacked five
times and completing just five of 18 passes with three interceptions.
Fortunately for Clemson, it had Jacoby Ford.
Ford started off the scoring in the second quarter with a
68-yard punt return for a touchdown, and set up a one-yard Davis
touchdown run early in the fourth by answering a 39-yard LSU field goal
with an 89-yard kickoff return. The Clemson defense was up to the
challenge, keeping LSU's offense outside of the CU 35 outside of the
first half field goal drive and a fourth quarter Tiger march that led to
a five-yard Keiland Williams touchdown run with just under four minutes
to play.
LSU attempted an onside kick, but Clemson recovered. The offense went
nowhere, but it was able to run off just enough time to give LSU the
ball back on its own 17 with just 58 seconds to play. The Tigers weren't
able to get past midfield.
"Call it winning ugly, call it whatever you want," said
Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden. "We just went into one of the
toughest places in America to play and came out with a win. That's all
that matters. Our defense was unbelievable."
Clemson's defense didn't give up a third down conversion over
the final three quarters and came up with three sacks and three
turnovers.
Player
of the Game - Clemson WR/KR Jacoby Ford caught one pass
for 11 yards, returned four kickoff for 139 yards, and returned six
punts for 109 yards and a touchdown
Fun Stat - Total yards: LSU 387 - Clemson 166
No. 3 UCLA 23 ... No. 2 Louisville
20
UCLA's defense was in the face of Louisville QB Brian Brohm all game
long, with four sacks, including one for a safety, and several more
pressures forcing two interceptions and several off throws. Even so,
Brohm had his shot to pull off the win with the ball on the UCLA 19
with five seconds to play, but his final pass into the end zone was
just over the head of Mario Urrutia.
UCLA got on the board first on a 15-yard catch from Joe Cowan in
the first quarter, but Louisville answered right back with its best
drive of the day going 69 yards in ten plays with Anthony Allen
scoring untouched from six yards out. UCLA was forced to punt on its
next series, but Aaron Perez nailed a nearly perfect 58-yard punt
that rolled out at the Louisville two. After two running plays, a
holding call put the ball on the one. UCLA took advantage as Bruce
Davis was able to trip up Brohm for the safety and a 9-7 lead. The
Bruins took the ensuing free kick 71 yards in 11 plays, finishing
with a six-yard Chris Markey touchdown run. Louisville got a 41-yard
Art Carmody field goal to cut it to 16-10 going into halftime.
The Bruin defense kept up the pressure in the second half, but
Brohm was able to get time on two straight plays, and he made the
most of the opportunity hitting Urrutia for 39 yards and Harry
Douglas for a 34-yard score and the only Cardinal lead of the day.
UCLA took the lead for good early in the fourth quarter on a 25-yard
Marcus Everett touchdown catch. And then the defense did the rest,
limited Louisville to a 39-yard Carmody field goal the rest of the
way.
"Our defense did a great job disrupting what they were
trying to do," said Davis. "If you give Brohm time, he'll
carve you up. We didn't give him that time."
The performance by the Bruin defense overshadowed a strong game
from QB Ben Olsen, who completed 16 of 26 passes for 218 yards and
two touchdowns with no interceptions.
Player
of the Game - UCLA DE Bruce Davis came up with six
tackles, two sacks, a safety, and consistent pressure all game long
Fun Stat - Net rushing yards: UCLA 198 - Louisville
43
South Finals - No. 4 Clemson
vs.
No. 3 UCLA
