The road ahead -|Josh Halmmann|-

[K0ZZ]

Top Contenders for the national championship game


#1 LSU Tigers

The LSU Tigers are a given favorite. With ten wins under their belts and being the unanimous national champions, the Tigers will be on the edge of achieving the unlikely second consecutive birth into the national title game. Revenge against the Crimson Tide came with ease, a 45-12 lashing in Death Valley was a good enough surge to lead them towards the end of their schedule. With Ole Miss and #22 Arkansas on the horizon and a date in the SEC championship, likely against the Georgia Bulldogs (#8, 8-2) they will have a fairly difficult field to navigate. Even so, this LSU squad is simply dominant and should carefully navigate their way into the title picture.
Probability: 78%


#2 Florida State Seminoles
Talk about controversy. #2 Florida State currently is favored to ease their way into the national title picture with an easy finale and most likely missing the ACC Championship game. In what would be a stunning development, the ACC Champion could be surpassed by the Seminoles whom would edge their way into the championship game. The 'Noles are currently 9-1, their lone loss coming at the hands of North Carolina State (8-2) whom isn't ranked. That loss gave the tiebreaker to the Wolfpack whom are using it to their full advantage. Featuring one of the stingiest scoring defenses in the ACC, the Wolfpack if they hold off #9 Clemson, will almost be guaranteed to be playing in the ACC championship game. Which makes the road to the national title even more easier for the Seminoles. EJ Manuel and company likely will receive a lot of flak and the BCS system will take a few more bullet holes, but the Noles will likely be playing in the championship without a conference championship.
Probability: 92%


#3 Texas Longhorns & #4 Kansas Wildcats
The Big 12 tandem will be playing on the first evening of December to sort out the Big 12 pecking order and will likely be in the title game. LSU while still favored in the remainder of their games will be tested for three more weeks, the Wildcats only need to survive against the Longhorns, while the Horns draw a poor Temple squad and than two consecutive ranked teams in #15 TCU and than traveling to take on the Wildcats. With a game at home and a more stable unit, Kansas State will likely win the Big 12 and if LSU falls will be playing in the title.
Probability: 17%/62%


#5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Has Brian Kelly brought back the Irish? After an early season debacle to Michigan State and also excluding that match up, no game has been closer than ten points. Including wins over three ranked opponents and only three teams having sub .500 records (3-7). The Irish have their defense to thank. Their season high is only 21 points allowed and have six games in which they allowed ten or less points. [8 if going up 13]. With a defense that dominant the Irish should manage their way to a BCS Bowl, but the national title is a stretch. Their offense has been inconsistent. Recently only managing 17 points against a Boston College squad that surrendered 49 points to Duke. It is fairly likely they will win out, but they do face two more bowl eligible opponents and one being ranked (#12 USC), will make the road more difficult. Don't be surprised to see them hanging around at the #3 slot, unless the voters edge them in.
Probability: 15%

[K0ZZ]

Vandals need two overtimes to hold off Roadrunners

Dennis Franchione had to be the biggest Roadrunners fan in San Marcos after the comments Josh Halmmann had made about his program. The Roadrunners came into this game in a similar position of their instate rivals. The Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners have yet to manage a single win in FBS play, having notched both of their wins against FCS programs. Tonight they put on a shower for a small home crowd and very nearly picked up that inuagural win, albeit taking until November to do so.

The Vandals couldn't ever pull away and actually trailed a bulk of the game. After an opening drive stalled in the red zone leaving the field with only three points scored, the Road Runners rumbled out a touchdown to close out the first quarter, when halfback, Brandon Armstrong scooped up quarterback Eric Sozas fumble and took it the two yards for the score on second and goal. The touchdown would hold the lead until the final minute of the first half.

Dominique Blackman led his squad downfield again and this time, would connect with Maurice Trotter in the corner of the end zone. Managing to put points on the board and barely edge their way into the half with a 10-7 lead. The lead wouldn't hold, the opening drive of the third quarter brought UTSA downfield yet again. In large behind Brandon Armstrong and Evans Okotcha. Their drive would stall in the red zone and out came the field goal unit. Sean Ianno knocked in the chip shot field goal and the teams traded possessions.

It took until the end of the third for the Vandals to resurface with the lead, when another drive would stall nearly on the goal line, Trey Farquhar knocked in a short 23 yard field goal and put the Vandals back ontop as the game rounded out to the fourth quarter. The Road Runners rallied almost instantaneously, moving downfield with ease and fall just short of the red zone, Ianno would tie the game back up at 13 a piece.

The Vandals would start to drive with just three minutes remaining, getting into the redzone with just over a minute left. Seeking to center the ball and burn out the clock, the Vandals would punch the ball up the middle with third string back, Justin Parkins. Parkins would break a tackle and get knocked into the end zone. 20-13, with :42 seconds remaining. The Vandals had won!

Not so fast.

After a good kick return had the ball on the UTSA 32, the Road Runners quarterback, Eric Soza dropped back before firing a rocket to Josiah Monroe, who had beat his defensive back. It would take sixty-one yards before Dion Bass wrangled him down and the Road Runners were already inside the ten and had twenty seconds and three time outs. They would only need one more play, a half back misdirection gave a clean lane for Brandon Armstrong to punch the ball into the end zone. Tying the game at 20-20 and sending it into overtime.

Overtime was the Dominique Blackman show. The Roadrunner offense had to come out first and did so after losing the toss. They would take four plays before Soza connected with Moeller in the corner of the end zone, 20-27. Out came the Vandals offense which utilized a ground heavy attack using Ryan Bass largely. On third and goal, the Vandals ran a read option. Blackman kept the ball and punched it into the end zone to tie the game.

The second overtime after a few minute breather and Blackman was back at it, running a triple option out of the pistol, he took the ball to the outside and juked out the UTSA corner, hitting the edge hard he made his way into the end zone. 34-27. The Vandal defense bent with the Road Runners getting within the ten, but the defense came alive stopping two runs and one pass leading to fourth and goal on the seven. Josh Halmmann made an aggressive playcall and sent eight of eleven defenders on the blitz against a four wide formation.

Soza dropped back and was swarmed by the defense, he would start to throw the ball but defensive end, Maxx Forde swatted the ball to the ground harmlessly and the team swarmed the field after a hard fought game. "This is a game that defines your team. They gave us everything they had and we fought back. We were resilient and stood with them, punch for punch. One step closer to a bowl!" Spoke Halmmann whose Vandals improve to 5-5 on the season. Dominique Blackman fittingly earned player of the game, despite completing only 12-27 for 106 yards, he had three total touchdowns, and added 46 more yards on the ground. Ryan Bass had a strong game himself, with 112 yards for a 5.3 yards per carry average.

The Road Runners despite holding the ball on offense for nearly three quarters simply didn't do enough offensively nor defensively especially in the overtime period to stay on top. A disappointing inaugural year has two games left and two final shots at that elusive win.

Idaho Vandals at Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners
Nov 22, 2012	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	OT	SCORE
Idaho Vandals (5-5)	3	7	3	7	14	34
Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners (2-8)	7	0	3	10	7	27

Team Stats Comparison
	IDHO	UTSA
Total Offense	295	292
Rushing Yards	189	149
Passing Yards	106	143
First Downs	15	16
Punt Return Yards	18	46
Kick Return Yards	88	37
Total Yards	401	375
Turnovers	1	1
3rd Down Converstion	7-16	7-17
4th Down Conversion	0-1	0-1
2-Point Conversion	0-0	0-0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	(4-1)/5	(2-2)/5
Penalties	2-53	3-35
Posession Time	7:58	17:02

Idaho Vandals PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Dominique Blackman 12/27 106 1 0 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Ryan Bass 21 112 5.3 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Maurice Trotter 2 30 15 1 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD James Randall 12 0 1 0

Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Eric Soza 10/25 143 1 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Brandon Armstrong 21 74 3.5 2 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Josiah Monroe 3 84 28 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Brandon Reeves 9 0 0 0

[mpejkrm]

WOW. Sounds like a super intense game. great win.

[TRP2]

Good luck my friend... I once tried with the Vandals, that was so hard !

[K0ZZ]

Quote: Originally Posted by mpejkrm

WOW. Sounds like a super intense game. great win.

I was expected a Texas State style rout especially since they had a lower defense but they made great runs later in the game. I thought I sealed it with the rushing touchdown late, definitely didn't expect the rally they ran, especially with Soza being as inaccurate as he was. One of the best game's I've ever played.

[K0ZZ]

Quote: Originally Posted by TRP

Good luck my friend... I once tried with the Vandals, that was so hard !

It's tough that's for sure, I'm losing a lot of recruits and next season will be a step back, my secondary has two great seniors and no one can fill the void they will be leaving in the upcoming year. On the plus side, I've got some talent coming in I'm really excited about, that and with youth on the line, it'll just be a matter of damage control in pass coverage.

[K0ZZ]

Notre Dame on upset list

The NCAA season has been anything but static. The preseason #1, isn't in the top ten, LSU remains the only undefeated but everything underneath seems to have changed. Florida State had their national championship candidacy weakened but the burden eased with a 23-20 win over Maryland in overtime while North Carolina State knocked off #9 Clemson in overtime to maintain their tie breaker.

Notre Dame started the week at #5 and ended it outside of the top ten at #11. One of the best defenses in the NCAA was embarrassed by Wake Forest whom piled on a whopping 52 points (season high for both sides) in their one touchdown victory over the Irish. The Irish with only one game on their schedule would need eight teams to all lose with only one game remaining to get in as a #2, it won't happen. The Irish are finished.

Joining them is Kansas State which oddly fell off the face of the earth after a loss against an over .500 Baylor squad in a 15-24 defeat. The Wildcats whom came in at #4 fell all the way to 18th and won't even sniff a BCS bowl if Texas wins when they travel to Manhattan to take on the Wildcats. Kansas State heisman candidate Collin Klein was harrassed throughout and simply was outmanned against a Baylor squad playing in the wake of RG3's graduation.

Texas Tech jumped into the top ten, lifting up to 38, having upset texas Christian and Kansas State, the Red Raiders are unlikely to make any noise come BCS time, but Tommy Tuberville has done something special this season, drawing a schedule as tough as he had was the unluckiest thing for this squad.

The likely national championship draw is LSU vs Florida State, but as this season has shown, anything is possible.

[K0ZZ]

Adam Kennedy leads Utah State over pesky Vandals

Senior night for the Vandals in what is likely the best season for any of the seniors on their way out. Unluckily enough, their conclusion in the Kibbie Dome will be marred by a 23-15 defeat at the hands of the Utah State Aggies. The Aggies without Chuckie Keeton under center were stuck utilizing Adam Kennedy under center. Kennedy whom is in his fifth year of eligibility had lost his job to the explosive quarterback and found himself warming the bench more than lighting up the score board.

Kennedy showed quickly why he had been benched, managing to complete a small 45% of his passes and just barely hitting double digits but completing exactly ten passes, the senior was held under 200 yards, with a 167 yard passing performance, his two touchdowns to no interceptions is an impressive mark however. Kennedy led a Utah State ground attack that struggled mightily in this contest, Adam Kennedy finished with 62 yards which was enough for the lead, while Kerwynn Williams put up 48 yards on a swarming defense, he scored a touchdown on the ground in the first quarter that put the Aggies up 7-0.

Matt Austin was the threat utilized when it came to looking for yardage, he only caught three passes but with 103 yards, and a long of 51, every one of his receptions went for over twenty yards and coupled with a drop in the corner of the endzone would've put up a once in a career performance. None the less, when it came down to it all, it was tight end DJ Tialavea scoring the game winning score. A play action fake left the entire left side of the field wide open and the almost 270 lb tight end pulled in the short pass and rumbled his way into the end zone very nearly being dragged down. Travis Van Leeuwen added a touchdown reception as his only catch of the evening.

It's hard to see how Idaho was even in this game, but a herculean defensive effort kept it close enough that the weak Vandal offense could still remain in striking distance to the very end. Dominique Blackman picked up his efficiency with a 59% completion rate going 13-22 but with only 99 yards to his total, the numbers are less favorable.

Ryan Bass would be the lone offensive stalwart, rushing the ball 23 times he piled up 148 yards while eclipsing the 1000 yard mark on the season, his pair of touchdowns were the offensive factor in this game but even than Bass had his struggles and when it mattered he was unable to convert.

The Vandals fall to 5-6 on the season with a matchup in Montana to close out the season. The Vandals have been streaky all season, losing three, than winning four, than losing two, than winning one and finally losing another one. Likely missing the cut for bowl selection given their sub-par schedule strength while also playing in a weak conference.

Utah State Aggies at Idaho Vandals
Nov 26, 2012	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Utah State Aggies (8-4)	7	0	3	13	23
Idaho Vandals (5-6)	0	6	3	6	15

Team Stats Comparison
	USU	IDHO
Total Offense	295	292
Rushing Yards	189	149
Passing Yards	106	143
First Downs	15	16
Punt Return Yards	18	46
Kick Return Yards	88	37
Total Yards	401	375
Turnovers	1	1
3rd Down Converstion	7-16	7-17
4th Down Conversion	0-1	0-1
2-Point Conversion	0-0	0-0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	(4-1)/5	(2-2)/5
Penalties	2-53	3-35
Posession Time	7:58	17:02

Utah State Aggies PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Adam Kennedy 10/22 167 2 0 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Adam Kennedy 17 62 3.6 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Matt Austin 3 103 34.3 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD Davis 6 1 1 0

Idaho Vandals PASSING C/A YDS TD INT Dominique Blackman 13/22 99 0 1 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD Ryan Bass 23 148 6.4 2 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD Mike Scott 4 53 13.2 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD James Randall 8 1 0 0