10 Best Games of the Week - Week 4, 2008
Fresno State RB Ryan Mathews
Fresno State RB Ryan Mathews
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Sep 22, 2008


The best games, the biggest moments, and the most memorable battles of the week.


Week 3

Ten Best Games of the Week

10.
NC State 30 ... East Carolina 24 OT
In a wild finish, NC State got a five-yard touchdown catch from George Bryan, which was originally ruled incomplete, and then reversed after a lengthy review. In overtime, State's Shane McKeen forced a Patrick Pinkney fumble, and the Wolfpack offense took advantage almost immediately with a 10-yard Andre Brown scoring run to win the game. Brown caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson, who threw three touchdown passes on the day. East Carolina traded scores, but never led, getting a 39-yard scoring play off a short catch from Jarvis Williams in the third and a 42-yard Norman Whitely touchdown dash in the third from the offense, and started out the scoring with a 23-yard Van Eskridge interception return for a score in the first.
Player of the game: NC State QB Russell Wilson completed 21-of-31 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns, while running 12 times for 26 yards.
Stat Leaders: East Carolina  
- Passing: Patrick Pinkney, 19-32, 210 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Norman Whitley, 9-83. Receiving: Dwayne Harris, 10-88
NC State
- Passing: Russell Wilson, 21-31, 210 yds, 3 TDs
Rushing: Andre Brown, 12-73, 1 TD. Receiving: Jamelle Eugene, 7-50

9. Colorado 17 ... West Virginia 14 OT
West Virginia's Pat McAfee's field goal attempt in overtime bonked off the upright, and Colorado's Aric Goodman nailed his 25-yard field attempt for the win, and a scholarship, awarded to the walk-on after the game. It marked the end of a strange game for the Mountaineers, who came back after a 14-0 deficit with a six-yard Pat White touchdown run in the first quarter and a 39-yard White dash in the third, but a badly mismanaged final drive killed a chance to get into field goal range at the end of regulation. Colorado started out hot with Cody Hawkins touchdown passes from 38 yards out to Josh Smith on the first drive of the game and from 13 yards away to Patrick Devenney just two minutes later. WVU ran for 311 yards, but was held to 43 passing yards.
Player of the game: Colorado RB Rodney Stewart ran 28 times for 166 yards
Stat Leaders: West Virginia -
Passing: Pat White, 10-14, 43 yds
Rushing: Pat White, 19-148, 2 TD. Receiving: Noel Devine, 3-11
Colorado - Passing: Cody Hawkins, 22-33, 179 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Rodney Stewart, 28-166. Receiving: Josh Smith, 5-75, 1 TD

8. Connecticut 31 ... Baylor 28
In an entertaining, see-saw game, Connecticut took the lead for good on a three-yard Donald Brown touchdown run with just over six minutes to play, and Baylor couldn't answer. Robert Griffin had a great day for Baylor, throwing thee touchdown passes, but he couldn't get the Bears into field goal range, stalling at the UConn 39 in the final minute. The two teams trades scores in the second half including a two-yard touchdown run from Griffin, answered by a 34-yard touchdown dash from UConn QB Tyler Lorenzen. In the dead-even battle, Baylor outgained Connecticut 377 yards to 350.
Player of the game:
 Connecticut RB Donald Brown ran 34 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns
Stat Leaders: Baylor - Passing: Robert Griffin, 14-25, 208 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Jay Finley. 11-85  Receiving: Kendall Wright, 6-114, 1 TD
Connecticut - Passing: Tyler Lorenzen, 13-23, 125 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Donald Brown, 34-150, 2 TD. Receiving: Brad Kanuch, 4-30

7.
Pitt 21 ... Iowa 20
Pitt got first half touchdown run from Greg Cross and QB Bill Stull, and a 27-yard third quarter scoring dash from Lean McCoy, but it was the defense that came through late not letting Iowa get close to scoring range late. The Hawkeyes pulled within one on a 39-yard Trent Mossbrucker field goal in the fourth quarter, but was stuck with bad field position for the final drives. Iowa's touchdowns came on short runs from Shonn Greene and Jake Christensen to get up 17-14 going into the fourth quarter, but McCoy's touchdown turned into the game-winner. Pitt was outgained 361 yards to 259.
Player of the game: Pittsburgh RB LeSean McCoy rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, catching a pair of passes for 33 yards.
Stat Leaders: Iowa
- Passing: Jake Christensen, 12-24, 124 yds
Rushing: Shonn Greene, 23-147, 1 TD. Receiving: Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, 6-75
Pittsburgh
- Passing: Bill Stull, 11-25, 129 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: LeSean McCoy, 18-78, 1 TD. Receiving: LeSean McCoy, 2-33


6.
UNLV 34 … Iowa State 31 OT
In a wild finish, Iowa State forced overtime with a 28-yard touchdown catch from R.J. Sumrall with just three seconds to play. Grant Mahoney gave the Cyclones the lead with a 37-yard field goal in overtime, and UNLV needed just one play to answer getting a 25-yard Phillip Payne touchdown catch for the win. The Rebels got up 21-0 in the first half on a 20-yard Omar Clayton touchdown run and scoring passes from 48 yards out to Frank Summers and three yards out to Casey Flair. But Iowa State came back with Austen Arnaud throwing two second half touchdown passes and running for two scores, but UNLV stalled the run with a 12-yard Summers scoring run at the end of the third quarter. Iowa State converted a mere 2-of-14 third down chances. UNLV converted 6-of-12.
Player of the game: UNLV QB Omar Clayton completed 15-of-21 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran seven times for 24 yards and a score
Stat Leaders: UNLV
- Passing: Omar Clayton, 15-21, 235 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Frank Summers, 27-109, 1 TD. Receiving: Casey Flair, 7-92, 1 TD
Iowa State
- Passing: Austen Arnaud, 13-23, 155 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Austen Arnaud, 10-51, 2 TD. Receiving: R.J. Sumrall, 4-99, 2 TD


5. Purdue 32 … Central Michigan 25
Purdue RB Kory Sheets ran for a 46-yard touchdown, helped by a tremendous open field move, with one minute to play to save the Boilermakers from the upset. CMU got a six-yard Ontario Sneed touchdown catch with 1:18 to play, but it took just one play, after a big Desmond Tardy kickoff return and a facemask penalty, to get the win. Sheets also ran for a one-yard score in the second quarter, Desmond Tardy caught a two-yard touchdown pass, and Frank Duong picked off a pass for a touchdown as Purdue kept pace with a CMU attack that got a Sneed touchdown catch in the first quarter and a Dan LeFevour 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth.
Player of the game: Purdue RB Kory Sheets ran 17 times for 91 yards and two touchdowns, and added five catches for 23 yards.
Stat Leaders: Central Michigan
- Passing: Dan LeFevour, 25-44, 291 yds, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing: Dan LeFevour, 24-112, 1 TD. Receiving: Ontario Sneed, 6-57, 2 TDs
Purdue
- Passing: Curtis Painter, 27-36, 261 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Kory Sheets, 17-91, 2 TDs. Receiving: Keith Smith, 5-59


4. Colorado State 28 … Houston 25
On the CSU 15-yard line, Houston had a chance to kick the game-tying field goal with eight seconds to play but chose to try one more shot in the end zone. Case Keenum’s pass was picked off by Klint Kubiak, and Colorado State held on for the win. The Rams got up 21-0 on short touchdown runs from Kyle Bell and Gartrell Johnson, and they started out hot with a 79-yard Dion Morton touchdown catch in the opening minute, but Houston came roaring back with three Keenum touchdown passes including a three-yarder to L.J. Castile, along with a two-point conversion, to pull within three with 2:31 to play. The Cougar defense was able to force a three-and-out, before going on the final drive.
Player of the game:
Colorado State QB Billy Farris finished 24-of-33 for 276 yards and touchdown passes.
Stat Leaders: Houston - Passing: Case Keenum, 37-54, 380 yds, 3 TDs, 3 INTs
Rushing: Bryce Beall, 14-96. Receiving: Mark Hafner, 8-73, 1 TD
Colorado State - Passing: Billy Farris, 24-33, 276 yds, 2 TDs
Rushing: Gartrell Johnson, 19-69, 1 TD. Receiving: Dion Morton, 5-126, 1 TD

3.
Vanderbilt 23 … Ole Miss 17
Vanderbilt’s Ryan Hamilton picked off three passes, came up with a goal line stop of Ole Miss RB Cordera Eason, and came up with a recovered fumble off a muffed punt, but it was a big play from Chris Marve to save the game. Ole Miss WR/RB Dexter McCluster was pushing his way toward the end zone when Marve stripped the ball loose. D.J. Moore recovered it in the end zone, and the Commodores had preserved the six-point win. Ole Miss took a 17-7 first quarter lead when Mike Wallace answered a Hamilton 79-yard interception return for a score with a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. The Ole Miss offense never found the end zone as DT Peria Jerry scored on a 13-yard fumble return. The Commodores scored 16 unanswered points as Bryant Hahnfeldt nailed field goals from 34, 31 and 40 yards out after Jared Hawkins caught a nine-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter.
Player of the game: Vanderbilt FS Ryan Hamilton made six tackles, picked off three passes, taking one 79 yards for a touchdown, made a goal line tackle, and recovered a fumble.
Stat Leaders: Vanderbilt
- Passing: Chris Nickson, 6-7, 40 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Jared Hawkins, 17-72. Receiving: Sean Walker, 3-12
Ole Miss
- Passing: Jevan Snead, 12-25, 184 yds, 4 INT
Rushing: Cordera Eason, 12-88. Receiving: Dexter McCluster, 7-132


2. Fresno State 55 … Toledo 54 2OT
Toledo gambled and lost. After answering a one-yard touchdown run from Fresno State QB Tom Brandstater with a three-yard John Allen touchdown catch in the second overtime, Toledo decided to go for two rather than force a third overtime by kicking the extra point. The pass was broken up, and Fresno State escaped. The Rockets rolled up 598 yards of total offense to Fresno State’s 420, but Brandstater kept the Bulldogs ahead with four touchdown passes including a 38-yarder to Marlon Moore to go up 10 with just over 10 minutes to play. But Toledo roared back with a 44-yard Stephen Williams touchdown catch with 3:07 to go, and forced overtime with a 33-yard Alex Steigerwald kick that set the MAC record for the most consecutive field goals made with 20. The two teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime.
Player of the game: Fresno State QB Tom Brandstater completed 22-of-28 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns, and he ran for a score.
Stat Leaders: Toledo
- Passing: Aaron Opelt, 22-41, 265 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Morgan Williams, 23-142 1 TD. Receiving: John Allen, 8-93, 1 TD
Fresno State
- Passing: Tom Brandstater, 22-28, 231 yds, 4 TD
Rushing: Ryan Mathews, 18-87. Receiving: Marlon Moore, 5-79, 1 TD


1. LSU 26 ... Auburn 21
In a terrific game, Jarrett Lee came off the bench in place of Andrew Hatch, who suffered a concussion, and threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Chris Mitchell in the third quarter and an 18-yard touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell with just over a minute to play for the win. Auburn had one final shot, but Chris Todd's 4th and 25 pass came up just short. Auburn took a 14-3 lead, and the momentum, into halftime as Gabe McKenzie picked off a Lee pass for a 24-yard touchdown, but the LSU offense took over in the second half with the Mitchell touchdown catch and a halfback option pass from Keiland Williams to Demetrius Byrd from 22 yards out for a score. But Auburn came back with a 15-yard touchdown catch from Robert Dunn with 6:40 to play. LSU went 54 yards in 2:57 for the game-winning touchdown.
Player of the game:
LSU QB Jarrett Lee completed 11-of-22 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.
Stat Leaders: Auburn
- Passing: Chris Todd, 17-32, 250 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Ben Tate, 19-45, 1 TD. Receiving: Rodgeriqus Smith, 5-73
LSU - Passing: Jarrett Lee, 11-22, 182 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Charles Scott, 21-132. Receiving: Brandon LaFell, 4-92, 1 TD

Worst Game of the Weekend

Northern Illinois 48 … Indiana State 3
Northern Illinois got a 19-yard touchdown pass and a six-yard scoring run from Demarcus Grady and Bradley Pruitt returned an interception 54 yard for a touchdown as part of a 21-point second quarter and a 31-0 NIU lead. Indiana State managed a 42-yard field goal at the end of the first half, but it was only held to 154 yards of total offense with 31 on the ground. The two teams combined to turn it over seven times.
Player of the game:
Northern Illinois DE Brandon Bice had five tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack.
Stat Leaders: Indiana State
- Passing: Calvin Schmidtke, 9-18, 46 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Chuck Dowdell, 4-22. Receiving: Ryan Patrick, 4-23
Northern Illinois
- Passing: Dan Nicholson, 5-10, 37 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Chad Spann, 3-73, 1 TD. Receiving: Matt Simon, 3-42, 1 TD