Season 3, Game 7:vs U of Southern Mississippi
University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (3-3, #72) vs Milwaukee College Penguins (4-2, #48)
After such a mistake-laden, harrowing game against the previously #17 Colorado State Rams, we practically welcomed the USM Golden Eagles with open arms. They are ranked #72 going into this game. But as we know, current rank standings can be deceptive.
We have been playing sloppy of late and our secondary hasn't been coming up with the interceptions. But we've been escaping with wins. How many times can we continually give our opponents chances to win the game before they actually make good on that chance?
A bit unprepared, the Golden Eagles pounce on us for 10 points early in the first quarter. Their touchdown came off an interception. But we come back, quick, scoring 24 unanswered points and limiting their offense to negative rushing yards. Still, our 24-17 lead going into the half felt tenuous.
I almost lost it when, after Chi (K #40) kicked a long field goal, the officials called a holding penalty on Bogner (LT #52), which effectively put us out of Chi's range. Of course, the Golden Eagles score a tying field goal on their next series. We fumble the ball back to them and our defense bends but doesn't break to the tune of allowing only a field goal. Then, in our next series, we threw the ball back to them! They had three interceptions to our one. This time, the Golden Eagles get a TD out of the deal. 34-24 in the fourth quarter. Another two-possession game.
Our defense then doesn't even bend, and our offense finally wakes up and, after being shut out in the third quarter, responds with the needed two touchdowns, a pass to B Foldy (FB #29) and another to Wetzel (HB #47) in the waning seconds. "Ho-hum," my team collectively seems to say. Meanwhile, I'm freaking out on the sidelines.
We made it exciting for the 5,089 in paid attendance.
STATS: USM - MKE
score: 34-38
first downs: 11-19
total offense: 216-385
rushes - yards: 20-(-5) --- 36-159
comp-att-TD: 17-35-2 --- 17-38-3
passing yards: 221-226
sacked: 4-4
turnovers: 1-4
fumbles - lost: 0-0 --- 1-1
intercepted: 1-3
top: 13:31 -- 18:29
KEY PLAYERS (Offense)
Root (QB #5) 115.0 rating, 15-33 for 203 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Wetzel (HB #47) 22-76 rush (3.4 avg), 1 TD; 2-16 rec, 1 TD
Foldy (FB #29) 4-49 rush (12.2 avg), 1 TD
Franklin (WR #81) 5-116 rec (23.1 avg), 1 TD
Buccheri (RG #59) 8 pancakes
KEY PLAYERS (Defense)
Straka (CB #1) 6 tackles (1 for loss), 1 sack, 3 pass deflects
Umali (CB #3) 6 tackles (1 for loss), 1 INT
Price (LE #90) 2 tackles (2 for loss), 2 sacks
Bushell (MLB #42) 4 tackles (2 for loss)
Hayden (LOLB #56) 4 tackles
NOTES: We went 3-4 in converting fourth downs.
After such a mistake-laden, harrowing game against the previously #17 Colorado State Rams, we practically welcomed the USM Golden Eagles with open arms. They are ranked #72 going into this game. But as we know, current rank standings can be deceptive.
We have been playing sloppy of late and our secondary hasn't been coming up with the interceptions. But we've been escaping with wins. How many times can we continually give our opponents chances to win the game before they actually make good on that chance?
A bit unprepared, the Golden Eagles pounce on us for 10 points early in the first quarter. Their touchdown came off an interception. But we come back, quick, scoring 24 unanswered points and limiting their offense to negative rushing yards. Still, our 24-17 lead going into the half felt tenuous.
I almost lost it when, after Chi (K #40) kicked a long field goal, the officials called a holding penalty on Bogner (LT #52), which effectively put us out of Chi's range. Of course, the Golden Eagles score a tying field goal on their next series. We fumble the ball back to them and our defense bends but doesn't break to the tune of allowing only a field goal. Then, in our next series, we threw the ball back to them! They had three interceptions to our one. This time, the Golden Eagles get a TD out of the deal. 34-24 in the fourth quarter. Another two-possession game.
Our defense then doesn't even bend, and our offense finally wakes up and, after being shut out in the third quarter, responds with the needed two touchdowns, a pass to B Foldy (FB #29) and another to Wetzel (HB #47) in the waning seconds. "Ho-hum," my team collectively seems to say. Meanwhile, I'm freaking out on the sidelines.
We made it exciting for the 5,089 in paid attendance.
STATS: USM - MKE
score: 34-38
first downs: 11-19
total offense: 216-385
rushes - yards: 20-(-5) --- 36-159
comp-att-TD: 17-35-2 --- 17-38-3
passing yards: 221-226
sacked: 4-4
turnovers: 1-4
fumbles - lost: 0-0 --- 1-1
intercepted: 1-3
top: 13:31 -- 18:29
KEY PLAYERS (Offense)
Root (QB #5) 115.0 rating, 15-33 for 203 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Wetzel (HB #47) 22-76 rush (3.4 avg), 1 TD; 2-16 rec, 1 TD
Foldy (FB #29) 4-49 rush (12.2 avg), 1 TD
Franklin (WR #81) 5-116 rec (23.1 avg), 1 TD
Buccheri (RG #59) 8 pancakes
KEY PLAYERS (Defense)
Straka (CB #1) 6 tackles (1 for loss), 1 sack, 3 pass deflects
Umali (CB #3) 6 tackles (1 for loss), 1 INT
Price (LE #90) 2 tackles (2 for loss), 2 sacks
Bushell (MLB #42) 4 tackles (2 for loss)
Hayden (LOLB #56) 4 tackles
NOTES: We went 3-4 in converting fourth downs.
posted by Cumulonimbus @ 11:55 PM
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