Whether you are looking to kill some time during work or catch-up on the best plays from this past weekend, we’ve got you covered.
There were more than enough spectacular plays throughout the nation Saturday, especially from LSU’s Leonard Fournette, who garnered himself three of this week’s top ten plays.
With roughly a quarter of the college football season in the books, let’s check out the plays from week three.
10. Daylon Mack blows up running play before it even starts.
Texas A&M’s Daylon Mack is a big boy and should never be ignored. Nevada neglected this fact. On a designed sweep from the shotgun, Nevada QB Tyler Stewart tried to hand it off to his running back James Butler but is halted by Mack.
Unblocked, Mack was able to penetrate the backfield almost immediately after the snap and tackle both Stewart and Butler before the handoff is even completed.
https://vine.co/v/eULg9M3tQBQ
That is possibly the most egregious missed assignment I’ve ever seen, how do you miss a 330 guy right in the middle?
9. Tennessee’s Evan Berry returns kickoff for a TD
Let it be known, the magnitude of this play was trivial. Tennessee was already up 34-3 against a Western Carolina team that didn’t look like they were ready to do battle, and Tennessee was not slowing down. Even so, a big play is a big play and this fits the bill.
Evan Berry was back returning kicks for the Volunteers and was poised to take this one to the house. It took a bit of patience and persistence, but Berry eventually burst through the W Carolina coverage team and scooted into the end zone.
Watch it all unfold below:
http://player.espn.com/player.js?playerBrandingId=4ef8000cbaf34c1687a7d9a26fe0e89e&adSetCode=91cDU6NuXTGKz3OdjOxFdAgJVtQcKJnI&pcode=1kNG061cgaoolOncv54OAO1ceO-I&width=576&height=324&externalId=espn:13695128&thruParam_espn-ui%5BautoPlay%5D=false&thruParam_espn-ui%5BplayRelatedExternally%5D=trueEvan wasn’t the only proud Berry that day. Sitting in the stands cheering Evan on was Kansas City Chiefs’ Safety Eric Berry. Perhaps Evan can join his brother in the ranks of the NFL.
8. Miami Defender catches interception from his back
Things just seemed to go Miami’s way this weekend. In a classic match-up between the Hurricanes and the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Miami came away with a victory after withstanding a great comeback by Nebraska. At the end of the 3rd, Nebraska QB rifled a pass to his WR but it was knocked up into the air.
By this time, Miami DB Deon Bush was already on his back from laying out to make the pass deflection. Still, Bush keyed in on the ball while it was in the air and was able to intercept the ball while lying flat on his back.
Miami held on 36-33 in OT after intercepting yet another of Armstrong’s passes on the first possession of overtime.
7. Missouri blocked punt leads to safety
Although this game was lacking in the scoring department, it still managed to produce lots of exciting plays, the first of which belongs to Missouri linebacker Clarence Green.
With UConn pinned on their own 4-yard-line and 4th down upcoming, the Huskies were getting ready to punt. Deep in his own end zone, UConn punter Justin Wain didn’t get the protection he wanted as Green came flying in to make a spectacular play. Green then pursued the blocked punt but it dribbled out the back, resulting in a safety.http://player.espn.com/player.js?playerBrandingId=4ef8000cbaf34c1687a7d9a26fe0e89e&adSetCode=91cDU6NuXTGKz3OdjOxFdAgJVtQcKJnI&pcode=1kNG061cgaoolOncv54OAO1ceO-I&width=576&height=324&externalId=espn:13689810&thruParam_espn-ui%5BautoPlay%5D=false&thruParam_espn-ui%5BplayRelatedExternally%5D=true
This turned out to be a pivotal scoring play as Missouri beat UConn 9 – 6. More from this game later.
6. Tyler Hunt bounces off Tackles on his way to 51 yard gain
Tyler Hunt, a former High School baseball star pitcher, saw some significant playtime for Missouri this weekend. At 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds, Hunt has been building his strength ever since he walked on at Mizzou three years ago, waiting for the opportunity to showcase his talent. Entering his Junior season, Hunt was offered a full football scholarship at running back.
Watch Hunt turn a screen pass into a big play after bulldozing a UConn defender.
https://vine.co/v/eUL0IqiDAln
Prior to this year, Hunt had 1 rush for 1 yard. After showing great explosiveness, expect those numbers to grow. Read more about Hunt and his rise to Mizzou glory here.
5. Michigan St. Aaron Burbridge keeps one foot down in miraculous TD catch
Michigan St. Senior WR Aaron Burbridge sure made a name for himself this weekend. Leading Air Force 14-7 early in the 2nd quarter, Burbridge makes a full extension grab in the end zone to increase his team’s lead. Initially, the pass was ruled incomplete, but upon closer examination, the refs discerned that he successfully maintained possession while getting one foot in the end zone. Incredible.
https://vine.co/v/eU3YYJeYxpW
This was one of Burbridge’s three receiving TDs on the day, earning him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week Honors.
4 through 2: Leonard Fournette single-handedly dominates the Auburn Defense
I don’t know if this is cheating, but #4-2 on the list are all plays by LSU’s Leonard Fournette from his game against Auburn. The way Fournette doesn’t shy away from contact is reminiscent of Herschel Walker as it always feels like he’s running downhill. So many backs nowadays are concerned with running past and around defenders that they forget they can go through them. Fournette hasn’t forgotten.
Run #1: This is the first play of the game. While most running backs would be content to ease their way into the game, Fournette hits the line of scrimmage like a bull out of a gate. Fournette deftly brushes off arm tackles on his way to a 71-yard scamper.
Run #2: This is probably my favorite of the three runs. As per usual, Fournette has a ton of running room and gets a great block from FB John David Moore to seal the lane upfield. Fournette strides through the Auburn and isn’t really confronted with a real potential tackler until late in the second level. The last line of defense for Auburn comes in the form of defensive back Blake Countess. Countess trusts his intuition and approaches the situation like he would for any other back; this is not any other running back. Fournette sees Countess’ hesitation and takes it as an invitation to embarrass his opponent. Fournette lowers his shoulder and Countess is crushed upon impact. Fournette gallops into the end zone and appropriately starts pounding his chest like the beast he is.
Run #3: LSU had been giving Fournette room to run all game, and this play is an exhibition. After Fournette hit the hole with a head of steam, he juked one defender and continued downfield. This is where the fun begins. Fournette is then met by sophomore defensive back, Tray Matthews. From the look of it, Matthews then forgets any and all proper tackle fundamentals he had ever learned and tried to take down Fournette via Batman takedown. Granted, I have never played full-pads tackle football, but to me, that does not look like an effective way to tackle. As I always heard, it goes “When in doubt, go low.” Matthews ignores both common sense and presumably his better judgment on his way to becoming a temporary backpack for Fournette. After shedding Matthews like dandruff in a Selsun Blue commercial, Fournette cuts back on a dime, making another man miss on his way into the end zone.
Fournette finished the day with 228 yards, 3 TDs, with a grotesque 12.0 yard-per-carry average.
A 6’1’’ 230lb Fournette is poised to take the NCAA by storm with the vision, work ethic, and natural ability to back it up. By the looks of it, it’s Fournette’s Heisman to lose.
1. Tipped pass falls in the lap of Ole Miss WR before streaking for a TD
Leading #2 Alabama 17-10 early in the 3rd Quarter, Ole Miss is desperate to maintain their lead against the SEC’s highest-ranked team. Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly readies the offense and calls for the snap in the shotgun formation.
The snap is high, forcing Kelly to tip it high into the air behind him. He tracks it down, but by the time he catches it, the Alabama defense is already bearing down on him. With an Alabama defender drilling him in his chest, Kelly manages to fire a pass towards the left sideline, high in the air and ill-advised.
After a series of Alabama defenders and Ole Miss players all vying for possession in the air, it tips serendipitously (unless you’re a Tide fan) to WR Quincy Adeboyejo.
With all the Alabama defenders trying to intercept the ball, Adeboyejo is alone behind the defense and runs unabated into the end zone.
The most unlikely TD in college football this year scored by Ole Miss pic.twitter.com/UDiJOEJWYj
— CJ Fogler #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) September 20, 2015
This is a soul-crushing play for the Crimson Tide, especially because they couldn’t have done anything better really. The Tide found themselves down 24-10 to a strong Ole Miss team and couldn’t find a way back. Ole Miss held on by (what do you know!) one touchdown, 43-37. Sometimes it better to be lucky than good.
If you missed any of the previous week’s top ten, be sure to check them out here: Week 1, Week 2.
Can’t get enough of Campus Sports? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with the latest news and exclusive giveaways!
*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
