Freshman and offense highlight Big 12 in Week 3
The Big 12 delivered in Week 3 as nine of 10 teams came away with victories.
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The conference averaged 41.6 points in last week's games (up from 28.92 in Week
2) with three teams breaking the 50-point barrier; Texas Tech (70), Oklahoma
State (59), Colorado (52). Nebraska bounced back with a big road win at Pitt.
Missouri's defense put Troy in the past to get the shutout against Ball State
at home and Texas A&M took down the Big 12's lone ranked opponent, Clemson,
in College Station. The wins helped propel Oklahoma State into the top 25 in
both polls, giving the Big 12 a total of three ranked teams (No. 2 Oklahoma
and No. 5 Texas).
He's Baaaack: After getting just 37 yards on the ground during the 45-21
loss to Fresno State, Darren Sproles
got back on track in a big way Saturday. Sproles set a Kansas State record with
292 yards rushing in 40-20 victory against Louisiana-Lafayette, breaking his
old mark of 273 yards set last year against Missouri. The explosion dropped
the Ragin' Cajuns from 106th in the nation against the run to 113th (292.67
per game).
Scarlet Letters: Give credit to the Nebraska defense. Its rushing defense
ranks No. 1 in the nation and the Cornhuskers rank No. 6 in overall defense.
Throw in a Big 12 leading 10 takeaways (tied with Oklahoma State) and all should
be rosy in Lincoln right? Well, things are getting better. Saturday's 24-17
victory at Pittsburgh was more than just a big road win. For the first time
all season, Nebraska held the edge in turnovers giving away one and taking four
from Pitt. That's hard to imagine when you're averaging more than three takeaways
a game yourself. If the Husker offense has a turnover relapse in two weeks against
Kansas, the Blackshirts may require the offense to wear a big red "T" on its
jersey when Nebraska heads to Lubbock on October 9.
Freshmen Sensations: Each week veterans
like Sproles, Jason White, Brad Smith continue to see their press clippings
shrink little by little. The trio won't become names of the past any time soon,
but with freshmen like Adrian Peterson
making early impacts, the media mentions are going more and more to a talented
crop of fresh faces.
In games this week freshmen played a role in helping their team to victory.
Oklahoma's Peterson rushed for 183 yards and two touchdowns against Oregon,
making him the first Sooner to rush for 100 or more yards in his first three
games since sophomore wishbone quarterback Steve Davis in 1973.
Texas Tech wide receiver/return specialist Danny
Amendola was the catalyst in the Red Raiders come-from-behind 70-35
crushing of TCU. Trailing 21-7, Amendola received a punt and zigzagged his way
down to the TCU 3-yard line reminding, Tech fans of former great Wes Walker.
The return led to a Tech touchdown despite a celebration penalty. Amendola followed
with a 52-yarder early in the third quarter, and the offense took over from
there.
In a big win for the Aggies, freshman cornerback Erik
Mayes helped Texas A&M pull away recording 10 tackles, one interception,
one pass breakup and half a sack. The swift Mayes also helped on special teams
with a 49-yard punt return.
Iowa State freshman wide receiver Todd
Blythe caught four passes for 104 yards and three touchdowns in Iowa
State's 48-41 win over Northern Illinois. His 4-yard touchdown reception with
5:13 remaining put the Cyclones ahead for good. The 6-foot-5 Blythe has caught
a touchdown pass in each of his first three college games.
These are just a few highlights from a solid group of young players making
waves across the conference.
Quick Hitters: Oklahoma State improved to 3-0 for the first time since
1997 ... The Cowboys have not committed a turnover in three games this season
and four games overall including last season’s Cotton Bowl ... Texas A&M's 27-6
win over No. 25 Clemson was its first win over a ranked opponent since the Aggies'
30-26 upset of No. 1 Oklahoma in 2002 ... Texas Tech picked up its biggest come-from-behind
win in school history Saturday as the Red Raiders rebounded from a 21-point
deficit to defeat TCU 70-35 ... Oklahoma wide receiver Mark Clayton now has
173 catches for 2,652 yards and 25 touchdowns in his Sooner career -- all career
school records ... Iowa State and Northern Illinois' combined 89 points is the
most combined points ever in a Cyclones' non-conference game (previous was 87
twice, most recently Sept. 23, 1995, in a 57-30 Iowa State victory over UNLV)
... K-State has topped the 200-yard rushing mark in 17 of its last 23 games.
Quote of the Week: "I couldn't see them. They were on the Oklahoma sideline.
I thought they were called by the Oklahoma coaching staff." - Oregon head
coach Mike Bellotti on a few penalties called during Oregon's loss at Oklahoma.
Board Bytes - The best of the best from Rivals.com Big 12 message boards
from Week 3 action.
"I love Sonny 'Sky Captain' Cumbie and the Bowl of Tomorrow! Here's a guy who
walked on, paid his own way, red-shirted since Hector was as pup, rode pine
forever, finally gets to start as a 5th year senior, goes 1-1 in his first two
games, then drops 70 in three quarters in his first home start ever." - RaiderRolf
13 on RedRaiderSports.com.
"I love it, I love it, I LOVE IT! Arizona State is running up the score on
Iowa. A 60-yard pass completion deep into Iowa territory late in the game, already
up 37-0." - AlanAldaClone comments on the Arizona State win
over Iowa on CycloneReport.com.
"I asked it last week and I ask it again; So when does AD (Adrian Peterson)
start? At the game again with my girlfriend passing out next to me I saw more
clearly that AD juked, dragged, sidestepped and blocked his way into the starting
spot..." - RedemptionSooner on SoonerScoop.com.