10 Best Games of the Week - Week 7, 2008
Texas WR Jordan Shipley
Texas WR Jordan Shipley
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Oct 14, 2008


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



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Ten Best Games of the Week

10.
Wake Forest 12 ... Clemson 7
D.J. Boldin caught a seven-yard touchdown pass with 5:28 to play, and Clemson couldn't answer despite a big 19-yard fourth down completion to keep the final drive alive. In the defensive slugfest, Shane Popham, in place of an injured Sam Swank, hit field goals from 22 and 32 yards out for the Demon Deacons, but Clemson had the lead until late thanks to a juggling 10-yard touchdown catch form Jacoby Ford. Wake Forest outgained Clemson 342 yards to 198, while the Tigers converted just two of 14 third down chances.
Player of the game: Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry made nine tackles.
Stat Leaders: Clemson
- Passing: Cullen Harper, 15-35, 177 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: James Davis, 12-25. Receiving: Jacoby Ford, 5-43, 1 TD
Wake Forest
- Passing: Riley Skinner, 22-34, 186 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Riley Skinner, 11-73. Receiving:
Ben Wooster, 5-36

9. North Carolina 29 … Notre Dame 24
Notre Dame took a 17-9 lead into halftime helped by two Jimmy Clausen touchdown passes, and then North Carolina took over on both sides of the ball. The Tar Heels got a 32-yard interception return for a touchdown from Quan Sturdivant on the first play of the second half, but James Aldridge ran for a two-yard score to give the Irish an eight point lead. Ryan Houston ran for a one-yard score, but the Tar Heels missed on the two point conversion. Cam Sexton put UNC up for good on a four-yard touchdown run, and Deunta Williams helped put it away with a pick. The Irish had one final shot, but turned the ball over again. In all Notre Dame turned it over five times, North Carolina didn’t give it away.
Player of the game: North Carolina LB Quan Sturdivant made 10 tackles, half a tackle for loss, and an interception return for a score
Stat Leaders: Notre Dame - Passing: Jimmy Clausen, 31-48, 383 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Armando Allen, 11-60. Receiving: Armando Allen, 7-47
North Carolina - Passing: Cam Sexton, 18-32, 201 yds
Rushing: Shaun Draughn, 17-91. Receiving: Hakeem Nicks, 9-141

8. Minnesota 27 ... Illinois 20
The Minnesota defense gave up 462 passing yards to Juice Williams, but it stopped him just short on a fourth and goal run and forced a late fumble, which Simoni Lawrence returned nine yards for a touchdown with just over five minutes to play. The Illini tried to come back as A.J. Jenkins caught a 35-yard touchdown pass, to go along with a 54-yard touchdown earlier in the fourth quarter, but a final Hail Mary attempt got knocked away. DeLeon Eskridge ran for touchdowns from one and 54 yards out for the Gophers, and Eric Decker caught a 25-yard scoring pass. The two teams combined for eight sacks.
Player of the game: Minnesota LB Simoni Lawrence made nine tackles with a sack, two tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery for a score.
Stat Leaders: Illinois - Passing: Juice Williams, 26-41, 462 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing:
Juice Williams, 18-41. Receiving: Arrelious Benn, 12-181
Minnesota
- Passing: Adam Weber, 18-26, 184 yds, 1 TD
Rushing:
DeLeon Eskridge, 26-124, 2 TD. Receiving: Eric Decker, 9-86, 1 TD


7. New Mexico State 48 … Nevada 45
In a wild shootout, New Mexico State got three touchdown passes from Chase Holbrook and a 83-yard fumble return for a touchdown to pull off the upset. Nevada roared on the ground with 313 yards helped by a 32-yard scoring run from Colin Kaepernick, but it was the four touchdowns from Vai Taua that helped the Wolf Pack keep up the pace. Kaepernick hit Chris Wellington for a 19-yard touchdown pass to pull the Pack within three with just under four minutes to play, but the Aggies were able to run out the clock. The two teams combined for 56 first downs and 1,020 yards.
Player of the game: New Mexico State QB Chase Holbrook completed 28-of-47 passes for 409 yards and three touchdowns with an interception, and ran for a score
Stat Leaders: Nevada - Passing: Colin Kaepernick, 15-26, 194 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Vai Taua, 20-188, 2 TD. Receiving: Marko Mitchell, 5-97
New Mexico State - Passing: Chase Holbrook, 28-47, 409 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Marquell Colston, 24-118, 1 TD. Receiving: Wes Neiman, 7-82, 1 TD


6. Stanford 24 … Arizona 23
Alex Loukas stepped in and hit a big 21-yard pass and ran for 39 yards leading the way to a one-yard Toby Gerhart touchdown run with 25 seconds to play to tie the score, and Aaron Zagory hit the extra point for the win. The Cardinal ran for 286 yards with Gerhart and Anthony Kimble leading the attack, but it was the defense that came through in the second half allowing just two Jason Bondzio field goals. Arizona’s offense only managed one touchdown, a 25-yard Nicholas Grigsby run, and the defense got in the act with a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown from Nate Ness. But the offense struggled from then on as the Cardinal outscored the Cats 17-6 over the final 31 minutes.
Player of the game: Stanford RBs Toby Gerhart and Anthony Kimble combined for 226 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries
Stat Leaders: Arizona - Passing: Willie Tuitama, 22-34, 259 yds
Rushing: Nicolas Grigsby, 15-66, 1 TD. Receiving: Terrell Turner, 10-175
Stanford - Passing: Tavita Pritchard, 13-17, 113 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Toby Gerhart, 24-116, 1 TD. Receiving: Ryan Whalen, 5-62


5. Bowling Green 37 … Akron 33
Bowling Green scored 23 fourth quarter points helped by a 21-yard Corey Partridge touchdown catch, and halfback option pass from Anthony Turner to Jimmy Scheidler, and a 19-yard Tyler Sheehan run to overcome a 13-point deficit. Akron got a big day from Dennis Kennedy, who ran for 182 yards with touchdown runs from three and 19 yards out, but the offense stalled in the third quarter leading to two Igor Iveljic field goals. The Zips finally got into the end zone again midway through the fourth on a Merce Poindexter catch, but the defense couldn’t slow down the Falcons.
Player of the game: Bowling Green RB Anthony Turner ran 19 times for 126 yards and threw a five-yard touchdown pass.
Stat Leaders: Akron - Passing: Chris Jacquemain, 19-34, 161 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Dennis Kennedy, 29-182 yds, 2 TD. Receiving: Deryn Bowser, 5-67, 1 TD
Bowling Green - Passing: Tyler Sheehan, 26-41, 239 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Anthony Turner, 19-126. Receiving: Corey Partridge, 7-58, 2 TD


4. Texas Tech 37 … Nebraska 31 OT
Texas Tech got a one-yard touchdown run from Eric Morris in overtime, but the point after attempt was blocked. Nebraska wasn’t able to take advantage as Joe Ganz threw an ill-advised pass into the arms of Red Raider DB Jamar Wall to end the thriller. The Huskers had forced overtime with a 17-yard Todd Peterson touchdown catch with just 29 seconds to play as a response to a great late drive from Texas Tech that finished with a one-yard Graham Harrell scoring plunge. Tech held a 24-10 with just over 12 minutes to play, but Ganz ran for a touchdown and threw for two scores in a wild fourth quarter. Michael Crabtree caught touchdown passes from 35 and four yards out for the Red Raiders.
Player of the game: Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree caught five passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns
Stat Leaders: Nebraska - Passing: Joe Ganz, 36-44, 349 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Marlon Lucky, 16-66. Receiving: Todd Peterson, 8-77, 1 TD
Texas Tech - Passing: Graham Harrell, 20-25, 284 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Baron Batch, 10-97. Receiving: Michael Crabtree, 5-89, 2 TD


3. Western Michigan 34 … Buffalo 28 OT
Western Michigan forced overtime on a Jamarko Simmons nine-yard touchdown catch with five seconds to play. Buffalo got the ball first, but QB Drew Willy was intercepted by Louis Delmas on a tipped pass, and Brandon Ledbetter ended it on a two-yard touchdown catch. Buffalo had a 21-3 lead late in the third quarter on James Starks touchdown runs from six, 66 and two yards out, and then it was all WMU. Tim Hiller threw the ball 63 times with four touchdown passes in the final 9:43 and overtime. The Broncos only managed two John Potter field goals over the first 50 minutes.
Player of the game: Western Michigan QB Tim Hiller completed 42-of-63 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns with an interception
Stat Leaders: Buffalo - Passing: Drew Willy, 17-34, 157 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: James Starks, 28-125, 3 TD. Receiving: Naaman Roosevelt, 4-44
Western Michigan - Passing: Tim Hiller, 42-63, 345 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Brandon West, 11-59. Receiving: Schneider Julien, 12-111, 1 TD

2.
Oklahoma State 28 … Missouri 23
Oklahoma State got two Zac Robinson to Damian Davis touchdown passes from 40 and 31 yards out, and the defense held with three interceptions of Chase Daniel including a diving pick from Patrick Levine on the Cowboy 37 to snuff out a final chance. Daniel hit Danario Alexander for a seven-yard score in the final five minutes, but the two point conversion was broken up. Jimmy Jackson and Derrick Washington each ran for short scores, but the Cowboys kept up the pace with a six-yard Robinson run for a score and on the second play of the second half, a 68-yard Kendall Hunter touchdown dash.  OSU’s Andre Sexton and Orie Lemon combined for 25 tackles.
Player of the game: Oklahoma State RB Kendall Hunter ran 24 times for 154 yards and a touchdown, and caught four passes for 27 yards
Stat Leaders: Missouri - Passing: Chase Daniel, 39-52, 390 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: Chase Daniel 7-46. Receiving: Chase Coffman, 11-104
Oklahoma State - Passing: Zac Robinson, 19-28, 215 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Kendall Hunter, 24 154, 1 TD. Receiving: Dez Bryant, 7-47


1. Texas 45 … Oklahoma 35
In a wildly fun game with each offense throwing haymaker after haymaker, Texas overcame an early 14-3 deficit thanks to a 96-yard kickoff return for a score and a 25-7 second half run to close out the game. Cody Johnson ran for three short scores and Shipley caught a two-yard touchdown pass for the Longhorns, while Sam Bradford threw five touchdown passes including three to Manuel Johnson and a 52-yarder to Jermaine Gresham. The 80 combined points were the most ever in the 103 times the two teams have played,
Player of the game: Texas WR Jordan Shipley caught 11 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown, and he returned two kickoffs for 112 yards and a score
Stat Leaders: Texas - Passing: Colt McCoy, 28-35, 277 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Chris Ogbonnaya, 15-127. Receiving: Jordan Shipley, 11-112, 1 TD
Oklahoma  - Passing: Sam Bradford, 28-39, 387 yds, 5 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Chris Brown, 7-29. Receiving: Juaquin Iglesias, 7-92


Worst Game of the Weekend

Oregon State 66 … Washington State 13
Oregon State set a school record for the most points scored in a game kicked off with a 21-point first quarter on a 30-yard Sammie Stroughter touchdown catch, a 20-yard scoring grab from Shane Morales, and a three-yard Jacquizz Rodgers run. Washington State appeared ready to make it a game with a one-yard Chantz Staden run and a 16-yard Louis Bland interception return for a score. And then it was all Beavers as they scored the 52 unanswered points helped by a touchdown catch and a blocked punt for a score from Damola Adeniji, and short touchdown runs from Lyle Moevao, Ryan McCants and Jeremy Francis. OSU outgained Wazzu 548 yards to 132.
Player of the game: Oregon State RB Jacquizz Rodgers ran 23 times for 168 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for seven yards
Stat Leaders: Washington State - Passing: Marshall Lobbestael, 7-17, 79 yds
Rushing: Chantz Staden, 17-47, 1 TD. Receiving: Brandon Gibson, 2-26
Oregon State - Passing: Lyle Moevao, 12-24, 186 yds, 2 TD, 4 INT
Rushing: Jacquizz Rodgers, 23-168, 1 TD. Receiving: Sammy Stroughter, 6-116, 1 TD