It was a nice week for the PAC 12, coming home with a 4-0 non-conference record, while both league games were close, exciting affairs. Offense was certainly at the fore in both PAC 12 matchups, but the conference flexed its defensive muscles against its out-of-conference opponents, allowing a combined 43 points in four games. With the league games dominating the slate from here on in, let’s hope all the kinks have been ironed out.
Game of the Week
California Golden Bears @ Arizona Wildcats
Cal has been something of a surprise team this season, winning their first couple of games after a disastrous 2013. Arizona, on the other hand, opened the season 3-0, but just did enough to get by, winning their last two contests by far closer margins than hoped. Even so, no one really expected the Bears to dominate the early going, almost scoring at will en route to a 31-13 lead going into the fourth quarter. The defense was the high point, putting the clamps on the Wildcats’ explosive offense. Then everything went wrong.
Arizona suddenly woke from their three quarter slumber, while the Bears defense went into hibernation. Wildcats quarterback Anu Solomon, who’d been off-target for much of the night, suddenly started hitting his targets, and threw four of his five TD passes in the fourth quarter alone. He threw his penultimate TD with 2:44 left to pull to within two points, but the potentially tying conversion failed. California recovered the ensuing onside kick, but couldn’t sustain a drive to run out the clock. Instead, kicker James Langford missed a 47-yard attempt, giving the Wildcats 52 seconds to try and score. Despite an offensive interference call negating their first play and driving them back, Solomon and the Wildcats moved to the Cal 47, spiking the ball and setting up one last heave to the end zone. The freshman quarterback heaved the ball into a crowd of players, but senior receiver Austin Hill, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, rose about the waiting mob, and came down with the ball – and the win. Solomon completed 47 of 73 passes for 520 yards, but also threw two interceptions, while receivers Cayleb Jones and Hill combined for 21 receptions, 313 yards and five TDs. Cal quarterback Jared Goff threw for 380 yards and three TDs in a losing cause.
Offensive Player of the Week
Marcus Mariota, Oregon Ducks
Despite Washington State making this matchup more of a game than many expected, when all was said and done, Mariota showed why he’s a Heisman favorite and potential top pick in the NFL draft. Despite a Cougar defense that was hellbent on disrupting the Oregon attack, sacking Mariota seven times, WSU struggled to contain the Ducks as Mariota went on the rampage. Completing 21 of 25 passes for 329 yards and five TDs without an interception, he moved the offense down the field despite a running game that was worse than its usually efficient self. Excluding the seven sacks, Mariota also ran for 106 yards on six carries. If Mariota can continue to play close to this level all season, the Ducks could be playoff bound.
Defensive Player of the Week
Greg Henderson, Colorado Buffaloes
Colorado hasn’t had a lot of good press lately, and deservedly so, but the defensive effort against a tough Hawaii outfit helped overcome a lackluster performance from the offense. The Warriors moved the ball well enough, but bogged down whenever they got close to the Buffalo endzone as the Colorado defense stiffened. Hawaii managed just four field goals, despite five trips inside the Buffalo 25. Greg Henderson set the tone for the day on the first of those trips, sacking quarterback Ikaika Woolsey, forcing him to fumble, and recovering said loose ball. The big play inspired the defense, but Henderson continued to make plays, making six more tackles, and also breaking up four passes.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Kaelin Clay and Andy Phillips, Utah Utes
You have to give it to the Utes, they sure know how to play special teams. Their strong defense kept Michigan under control, but the special teams unit helped out an offense that had some tough times against the Wolverines. Clay returned his third kick for a TD this season, this one a 66-yard punt return, while adding another 17-yard effort, as well as a 33-yard kick return. Phillips missed a 41-yard field goal, but he made four others, from 35, 38, 48 and 50 yards, continually adding to the Utes’ lead and putting a positive stamp on their drives in the 26-10 victory.
Team of the Week
Utah Utes
Going into a hostile environment? Check. Defense keeping big plays to a minimum and forcing turnovers? Check. Making the most of opportunities and winning the field position battle? Check. The Utes went to the Big House and controlled the entire game from start to finish. The defense was outstanding, giving up 308 yards and forcing four turnovers, holding Michigan to a solitary field goal, while the special teams played a huge role, including a punt return for a score. The offense found the going tough against the Wolverines’ athletic defense, and went through a scary moment when quarterback Travis Wilson landed on his head at the end of a scramble. But they made the most of their opportunities, and only made one bad mistake (a pick-six by Michigan’s Willie Henry). An impressive all-round performance from a team that looks like it could make some noise in conference play this season.
*Section Photo credit to Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star; Featured Photo (above) credit to Tyler Baker, THE DAILY WILDCAT
