B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

[redsox907]

Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

Is Mike Leach the coach at Stanford now? 75% jeeeeez. DBs are going to be needing oxygen tanks on the sideline after chasing around the Stanford WRs

Tbh, that's pretty standard for most teams in EACFB now lol. Hopefully your defense can hold up, but it looks like an easier draw on the way to the Natty for you so long as Oregon doesn't show up looking to avenge their dud

[BDawg35]

Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

Is Mike Leach the coach at Stanford now? 75% jeeeeez. DBs are going to be needing oxygen tanks on the sideline after chasing around the Stanford WRs

Tbh, that's pretty standard for most teams in EACFB now lol. Hopefully your defense can hold up, but it looks like an easier draw on the way to the Natty for you so long as Oregon doesn't show up looking to avenge their dud

So, as you can see I always do a short recap on the playoff games. It seems like every game the stats go something like this:

Quarterback is 24-for-35 for 280 yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 or 0 picks.

Running back carries eight times for 40 yards, maybe 1 TD.

Not a lot of variance based on team styles.

I was surprised to see my own team passes the vast majority of the time, almost a 2-to-1 margin. I feel like I always try to establish the run, with varying degrees of success.

[BDawg35]

2029 CFP QUARTERFINALS




Stanford celebrates with the Fiesta Bowl trophy after beating Northwestern in four overtimes.


Stanford stops Northwestern running back Prince Hoke on a 2-point run in the fourth overtime to end the game.


Northwestern receiver J.C. Cantwell scores in the second overtime.


Stanford receiver Kevin Neighbors hurdles a defender to score in the second overtime.


Northwestern receiver Andres Nickey scores in the first overtime.


Stanford receiver Kevin Neighbors makes a diving catch to score in the first overtime.


Stanford forced overtime when Esteban Rubio caught an 89-yard TD pass with 1:39 left in the fourth quarter.


Stanford’s Reggie Maddox blocks a field goal attempt …


… and the ball was scooped up by Tyler Milano for a 61-yard touchdown.


Stanford linebacker Adrian McNair tackles Northwestern running back Nazir Kush for a safety to alter momentum of the game.


The ball was at the 1-yard line, leading to the safety, after Soni Motuapuaka intercepted a pass near the goal line.

Series of unfortunate events
Mishaps keep piling up as Wildcats blow
21-3 lead in 4-OT playoff loss to Stanford

GLENDALE, Ariz. — A Series of Unfortunate Events is a collection of 13 children’s novels which follow the turbulent lives of three orphaned siblings.

After their parents died in a fire, the children were placed in the custody of murderous villain Count Olaf, who attempts to steal their inheritance and causes numerous disasters.

As the plot progresses, the children confront further mysteries surrounding their family and deep conspiracies involving a secret society.

(Hat tip to Wikipedia.)

What in Sam Hill does this have to do with Northwestern football?

Well, a series of unfortunate events may be the best way to sum up the fifth-ranked Wildcats’ stunning 38-36 four-overtime loss to fourth-ranked Stanford in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal played in the Fiesta Bowl.

Where does one begin?

Let’s start at the end before going back to where things began to unravel for the Wildcats.

Stanford quarterback Daquan Pears scrambled on the first possession of the fourth overtime and scored to give the Cardinal a two-point lead.

Northwestern then went to its Monster formation, which produced a two-point conversion in the second overtime, but Stanford had it covered well up the middle and on the outside. B-Dawg probably should’ve called timeout, but ran the ball with Prince Hoke anyway. Hoke was stopped short of the goal line by defensive tackle David Robbins and middle linebacker Greg Tubbs.

So, that’s how Northwestern’s bid for a third straight trip to the national championship game ended. How did the Wildcats manage to blow a (checks notes) 21-3 lead midway through the third quarter?

The series of unfortunate events began when the nation’s leading rusher, Nazir Kush, was tackled for a safety by 89 OVR middle linebacker Adrian McNair to make it 21-5 with 4:32 left in the third. The Wildcats got the ball at their own 1-yard line following a positive play, an interception by cornerback Soni Motuapuaka.

“I ran a stretch play, which was a bad decision because it takes just a tick longer to develop than a straight dive play,” Northwestern coach B-Dawg said. “I lost focus up 21-3. Even with the safety, I figured we were still good.”

The next domino to fall came when B-Dawg lined up to kick a 48-yard field goal he had no business attempting on fourth-and-16 from the Stanford 31. He hit the rapidly moving kicking meter badly, the kick was blocked by cornerback Reggie Maddox and the ball was returned 61 yards to the house by cornerback Tyler Milano with 9:30 left in the fourth quarter.

“I figured, what’s the worst that can happen? We miss the field goal?” B-Dawg said. “Well, I found out the worst that can happen. I started to get nervous at this point, but we were still up 21-11 and I figured we’d go right down the field and get that touchdown back.”

That didn’t happen. Instead, more disaster befell the Wildcats.

Stanford (11-3) connected for a 33-yard pass to Vondree Hayes on fourth-and-eight, which eventually led to a field goal with 3:35 left in the game.

Still, Northwestern was leading 21-14 and had Kush, the nation’s leading rusher, to lean on in a bid to drain the clock.

But Kush was blown up by Greg Tubbs on a third-and-two run from the Northwestern 47, forcing a punt with 1:49 remaining.

It took just 10 seconds for the Cardinal to tie the game, as Esteban Rubio found a spot between the linebacker and safety to catch a pass and take off for an 89-yard touchdown on the first play of Stanford’s ensuing possession.

“I just hit our most recent defensive call, which was a 4-3 Tampa 2,” B-Dawg said. “The pass was actually caught near where the middle linebacker usually drops into coverage, but he didn’t get deep enough.

“That could have been a backbreaker to most teams, but we just took a deep breath and realized we had 1:39 with which to go down the field and at least get a field goal. There was no panic on our sideline.”

The Wildcats (10-4) did indeed move down the field, reaching the Stanford 17, but a colossal blunder sent the game to overtime.

Northwestern had one timeout remaining when, on third down, it ran the ball with Kush, trying to get the ball into the middle of the field for an easier field goal. Not only did Kush get knocked over to the left, but the clock the final 16 seconds of the clock were rapidly drained before B-Dawg could hit the timeout button to attempt a winning 37-yard field goal.

“I had a game against Michigan a couple years ago where I called timeout and kicked early because I was afraid of that very thing happening,” B-Dawg said. “That’s something that needs to be fixed in next year’s game. They can’t have a 20-second run-off in the final minute of a half.”

The teams kept up with one another through three overtimes, sending the game to a fourth. When that happened, it matched the longest official game in B-Dawg’s coaching career. While coaching at Eastern Michigan in NCAA 2008, his Hurons won a 39-33 four-overtime game against Nevada on Sept. 5, 2009. B-Dawg did play a seven-overtime game using Michigan against Purdue in NCAA 2003, but it wasn’t part of an officially posted dynasty.

When Hoke was stopped to end the game, it left B-Dawg with an empty feeling.

“You start to take it for granted that your team is going to make long playoff runs when you’ve been to the natty the last two years and you’ve beaten more talented teams than Stanford,” B-Dawg said. “When it suddenly ends in this manner, in a game we had under control, it’s hard to take and you realize nothing is given in this game. We will remember this and come back stronger next year.”

Kevin Neighbors caught two touchdown passes in overtime for the Cardinal.

In a crazy stat, Northwestern was a plus-three in turnovers, yet somehow lost the game. Northwestern’s defense had three interceptions. The blocked field goal didn’t count as a turnover, though it might as well have been.





NORTHWESTERN BLOCKING
Deon Barry 9 pancakes, 0 sacks; Hunter Schilens 9-0; Calvin Claybrooks 4-0; Cornell Kafka 3-0; Josh Stephen 3-0; Dell Choice 2-0; Prince Hoke 1-0; Alex Estes 1-0; Nick Stoddard 1-0; Brady Ellington 1-0.





OTHER QUARTERFINALS

OHIO STATE 17, THE U 13: Ohio State trailed 13-10 at halftime before scoring a touchdown in the third quarter for the only score of the second half in the Orange Bowl. Jalen Clements of Ohio State was 13-for-24 for 147 yards and one touchdown. The Buckeyes won despite being outgained 408-264.

GEORGIA 28, NOTRE DAME 23: In the Peach Bowl, Georgia outscored Notre Dame 14-6 in the fourth quarter to advance to the semis. Craig Arnold completed 19 of 26 passes for 216 yards and four touchdowns for Georgia. Tremayne Shurmur caught two touchdown passes. Notre Dame receiver Brendan Tripp caught seven passes for 100 yards and two scores from Joey DiNapoli, who was 19-for-35 for 260 yards and two touchdowns. Georgia and Ohio State will meet in the semifinals in the Sugar Bowl.

OREGON 49, BRIGHAM YOUNG 10: In the Cotton Bowl, Oregon’s offense continued to tear through the playoffs, as quarterback James Feliz was 25-for-35 for 254 yards and four touchdowns. Rudy Soto caught nine passes for 81 yards and two scores. BYU quarterback Khair Bober was 17-for-30 for 220 yards, one touchdown and two picks. Oregon will face Stanford in the semifinals in the Rose Bowl.

[LopaKa]

Re: 2029 CFP QUARTERFINALS

Legendary stuff as always BDawg! Took me a couple weeks reading here and there to get caught up, first off congratulations on your first Natty of the Dynasty, definitely came faster than I imagined it would but what a run! Secondly, nice job on the recruiting trail this season that defense is going to be reminiscent of Miami back in the day. Lastly, what a tough way to end regulation there against Stanford, I hate that the accelerated clock doesn't turn off in the final moments like that. Tough tough loss to end the season, but you guys will be back even better next year! Hope all is well!

[BDawg35]

Re: 2029 CFP QUARTERFINALS

Legendary stuff as always BDawg! Took me a couple weeks reading here and there to get caught up, first off congratulations on your first Natty of the Dynasty, definitely came faster than I imagined it would but what a run! Secondly, nice job on the recruiting trail this season that defense is going to be reminiscent of Miami back in the day. Lastly, what a tough way to end regulation there against Stanford, I hate that the accelerated clock doesn't turn off in the final moments like that. Tough tough loss to end the season, but you guys will be back even better next year! Hope all is well!

Thanks for taking the time to indulge this little obsession of mine.

Yeah, that accelerated clock is nonsense. I hedged against it one time against Michigan and gave them time to possibly score. This time, I totally forgot about it and the thing spun out of control as my field goal team took the field.

We will remember this and be stronger for it. I swear there are times I lose focus because I'm not playing one of the higher-ranked teams and then something like this happens.

[BDawg35]

Re: 2029 CFP QUARTERFINALS

Legendary stuff as always BDawg! Took me a couple weeks reading here and there to get caught up, first off congratulations on your first Natty of the Dynasty, definitely came faster than I imagined it would but what a run! Secondly, nice job on the recruiting trail this season that defense is going to be reminiscent of Miami back in the day. Lastly, what a tough way to end regulation there against Stanford, I hate that the accelerated clock doesn't turn off in the final moments like that. Tough tough loss to end the season, but you guys will be back even better next year! Hope all is well!

Thanks for taking the time to indulge this little obsession of mine.

Yeah, that accelerated clock is nonsense. I hedged against it one time against Michigan and gave them time to possibly score. This time, I totally forgot about it and the thing spun out of control as my field goal team took the field.

We will remember this and be stronger for it. I swear there are times I lose focus because I'm not playing one of the higher-ranked teams and then something like this happens.

[BDawg35]

TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a trip down memory lane to my other four-overtime game using Eastern Michigan in NCAA 2008 against Colin Kaepernick and Nevada.


EMU quarterback Wallace Stone scores one of his five touchdowns in his college debut.

NEVER-ENDING GAME
EMU battles for 4 overtimes with Nevada,
pulls out 39-33 win behind QB’s 5 TD runs

YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) — It was getting late, B-Dawg had just lost an online game and it was probably time to go to bed.

Looking at the clock around 1:30 a.m., B-Dawg figured he needed a dyNASTY game to rid himself of the bitter taste of an online defeat, and that he could finish the task by his self-imposed cut-off time of 3 a.m.

Nevada, however, wouldn’t let B-Dawg get to bed quite that soon.

In the longest dyNASTY game B-Dawg has ever posted for public consumption, red-shirt freshman quarterback Wallace Stone ran for five touchdowns and carried 76th-ranked Eastern Michigan to a 39-33 four-overtime victory over 60th-ranked Nevada in the 2009 season opener.

The game ended with Nevada receiver Chris Welllington catching a fourth-down pass in the right corner of the end zone, but failing to get a foot inbounds after Stone scored on the first series of the fourth overtime.

B-Dawg once played a seven-overtime game with Michigan against Purdue in NCAA 2003, but didn’t begin posting dynasties at the former MaddenMania until NCAA 2004. In that game, B-Dawg also started playing late on a night he needed to get to bed as soon as possible.

“Normally if I’m still ballin’ after 3 a.m., I’m dozing at the sticks,” B-Dawg said. “This game was so intense that I felt like playing another game when I was done. I doubt there’s an energy drink or form of caffeine that could have given me the late-night buzz this game did. It was as if the game felt sorry for me for losing my dynasty file and wanted to reward me for coming back with an epic battle I’ll never forget.”

So begins the 2009 season all over again after B-Dawg deleted his dynasty file by mistake. A backup file through the end of 2008 was used to resume his coaching career. When these teams played originally, EMU won 10-7.

This game was just as tight a defensive battle, with Nevada kicking two fourth-quarter field goals to send the game to overtime tied at 13-13.

That’s when this game became all about Stone, the 92 SPD freak of nature who is going to do things that make you go “hmmmmm.”

Of the 16 plays Eastern Michigan called in overtime, Stone had a part in 15 of them. Stone ran 12 times for 69 yards and four touchdowns in overtime, while going 2-for-3 for 18 yards passing. The only time Stone’s number wasn’t called in some form or fashion was when true freshman halfback Greg White broke off a 12-yard run in the third overtime to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Stone.

Nevada won the toss in overtime and inexplicably went on offense, a glaring glitch in the game. The Wolfpack put the pressure on the Hurons by scoring first. It took three runs by Stone for 25 yards to get the Hurons in the end zone.

A third-and-6 pass for a 10-yard gain to tight end Josh LeDuc kept EMU’s possession going in the second overtime, with Stone eventually scoring on a 1-yard sneak on third down. Nevada matched that score, taking just one play to score on a 25-yard pass from backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick to Dwayne Sanders.

A 7-yard run by Brandon Fragger gave Nevada the lead in the third overtime, when teams were required to go for two. Andre Hatchett stopped Fragger’s 2-point run. Stone scored on a 7-yard scramble in the third overtime. A 2-point pass that could have won the game failed because the momentum of the play carried White out of bounds at the 7-yard line, a glitch that still exists from NCAA ’07.

Yet another sneak by Stone put EMU up in the fourth overtime. This time, the Hurons’ defense came up tough. The Wolfpack had first-and-goal at the 8-yard lilne after a 17-yard pass to Sanders, but EMU stiffened. Henry Hawkins got one of his three sacks on second down and Lorenzo Seaberry tackled Arthur King at the 6-yard line on a catch, leaving fourth-and-goal from the 6. The Hurons dropped just about everyone into zone coverage, leaving themselves vulnerable to a scramble. Wellington lined up on the left side, then ran across the back of the end zone on a play that took all day to develop. He caught the pass, but couldn’t get a foot inbounds.

Ball game.

Finally.

“You live for games like these,” B-Dawg said. “Just not at 3 in the moanin’.”

Stone ran 25 times for 127 yards and five touchdowns, the most ever by a B-Dawg quarterback and one shy of his all-time record for any position. Stone showed early on he’s not going to be much of a passer, at least not until B-Dawg gets his timing back. Stone was 6-for-13 for 71 yards and two picks, but backup Jason Williams was worse, going 2-for-8 for 14 yards and a pick during a stretch in which Stone was shaken up.

Nevada lost starting quarterback Nick Graziano for four weeks with a strained back that he suffered with 5:38 left in the fourth quarter.

White, EMU’s first five-star recruit, played second fiddle to Stone and ran only 12 times for 68 yards. He caught three passes for 21 yards.

The game got a paltry Greatest Game score of 724.

“I’ve played games with a lot less drama than this that have gotten 1,000 points,” B-Dawg said. “I feel cheated.”

PLAYAZ OF DA GAME
Brandon Marshall, Nevada; Wallace Stone, EMU

EMU 39, NEVADA 33 (4 OT)
First quarter
EMU: W.Stone 1 run (Dutcher kick), :50
Second quarter
NEV: Kanellis 13 run (Washington kick), 7:18
EMU: Dutcher 31 field goal, :17
Third quarter
EMU: Dutcher 43 field goal, 1:09
Fourth quarter
NEV: Washington 24 field goal, 4:50
NEV: Washington 21 field goal, :55
First overtime
NEV: Wellington 12 pass from Kaepernick (Washington kick)
EMU: W.Stone 1 run (Dutcher kick)
Second overtime
EMU: W.Stone 1 run (Dutcher kick)
NEV: Sanders 25 pass from Kaepernick (Washington kick)
Third overtime
NEV: Fragger 7 run (run failed)
EMU: W.Stone 7 run (run failed)
Fourth overtime
EMU: W.Stone 1 run (pass failed)

[size=4][b]
NEVADA            0  7  0  6  7  7  6  0 — 33
EASTERN MICHIGAN  7  3  3  0  7  7  6  6 — 39  [/B][/size]

[size=4][font=arial][color=darkgreen][b]EASTERN MICHIGAN HURONS STATISTICS[/b][/color][b][/b][/font][b][/b][/size][size=3][b]
PASSING           Cmp  Att   Yds  TD  Int   Sk   Lg [/B]
Wallace Stone       6   13    71   0    2    3   17
Jason Williams      2    8    14   0    1    0   14
[B]TOTALS              8   21    85   0    3    3   17[/B]

[B]RUSHING           Att  Yds   Avg  TD   Lg  BTK   Fm [/B]
Wallace Stone      25  127   5.1   5   29    1    1
Greg White         12   68   5.7   0   25    4    0
Jason Williams      9   46   5.1   0   13    1    0
Brandon Downs      15   27   1.8   0    5    5    1
Dwayne Priest       1    4   4.0   0    4    0    0
Aeric Clay          1   -3  -3.0   0    0    0    0
[B]TOTALS             63  269   4.3   5   29   11    2[/B]

[B]RECEIVING         Rec  Yds   Avg  TD   Lg  YAC  Drp [/B]
Greg White          3   21   7.0   0   14   11    0
Jacory Stone        2   31  15.5   0   17    3    0
L.J. Robertson      1   16  16.0   0   16   10    0
Josh DeLuc          1   10  10.0   0   10    0    0
David Fox           1    7   7.0   0    7    4    0
Charles Wilson      0    0   0.0   0    0    0    1
[B]TOTALS              8   85  10.6   0   17   28    1[/B]

[B]DEFENSE            Tk  TFL   Sk  Int   Df   FF   FR   TD [/B]
Lorenzo Seaberry    7    1    0    0    1    0    0    0
Henry Hawkins       7    6    3    0    1    0    0    0
Fabian McCoy        6    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Corey Everson       6    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Stephen Johnson     6    2    0    0    0    0    0    0
Chris May           5    0    0    0    1    0    0    0
Mark Flowers        5    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Kareem Carter       4    1    0    0    0    0    0    0
Andre Hatchett      4    2    0    0    0    0    0    0
Jonathan Smith      3    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Chris Campa         3    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Brandon Downs       3    1    1    0    0    0    0    0
Ryan Downard        3    0    0    0    0    0    1    0
Brandon Jones       3    1    0    0    0    0    0    0
Dennis Williamson   3    0    0    0    0    1    0    0
Marty Cardwell      2    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Javon Reese         1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Sean Dutcher        1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Greg White          1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Michael Willis      1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Jason Williams      1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
[B]TOTALS             75   14    4    0    3    1    1    0[/B][/size]

[size=4][font=arial][color=#2c2d77][b]NEVADA WOLFPACK STATISTICS[/b][/color][b][/b][/font][b][/b][/size][size=3]
[B]PASSING           Cmp  Att   Yds  TD  Int   Sk   Lg [/B]
Colin Kaepernick    8   10   108   2    0    1   25
Nick Graziano       4   10    46   0    0    3   16
[B]TOTALS             12   20   154   2    0    4   25[/B]

[B]RUSHING           Att  Yds   Avg  TD   Lg  BTK   Fm [/B]
Brandon Fragger    27  140   5.2   1   37   14    0
Nick Graziano       6   11   1.8   0   10    2    0
Mike Kanellis       2    6   3.0   1   13    2    0
Colin Kapernick     2    2   1.0   0    3    0    0
[B]TOTALS             37  159   4.3   2   37   18    0[/B]

[B]RECEIVING         Rec  Yds   Avg  TD   Lg  YAC  Drp [/B]
Dwayne Sanders      4   63  15.8   1   25    6    1
Chris Wellington    4   54  13.5   1   18   16    0
Arthur King         2   19   9.5   0   16    4    0
Geoff Church        1   10  10.0   0   10    4    0
Tommy Brown         1    8   8.0   0    8    3    0
[B]TOTALS             12  154  12.8   2   25   33    1[/B]

[B]DEFENSIVE LEADERS  Tk  TFL   Sk  Int   Df   FF   FR   TD [/B]
Joseph Easter      13    4    0    1    0    0    0    0
Brandon Marshall   11    1    0    1    1    1    1    0
Adam Liranzo        8    2    1    0    0    0    0    0
Jacob Pope          7    2    2    0    0    0    0    0
Jon Rodgers         7    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Jonathan Amaya      7    0    0    0    0    1    0    0
Nate Agaiava        6    1    0    0    1    0    0    0
Luke Rippee         1    0    0    1    0    0    0    0

[B]TEAM STATISTICS     NEV    EMU [/B]
First downs          13     23
Total offense       299    328
Rushing             145    243
Passing             154     85
3rd down           3-13  11-20
4th down            1-2    1-1
Red zone          6-3-2  7-5-1
PR yards             52      7
KR yards            111     90
Total yards         462    425
Turnovers             1      5
Penalties          1-10    0-0
Possession        14:27  17:33[/size]

[BDawg35]

TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a trip down memory lane to my other four-overtime game using Eastern Michigan in NCAA 2008 against Colin Kaepernick and Nevada.


EMU quarterback Wallace Stone scores one of his five touchdowns in his college debut.

NEVER-ENDING GAME
EMU battles for 4 overtimes with Nevada,
pulls out 39-33 win behind QB’s 5 TD runs

YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) — It was getting late, B-Dawg had just lost an online game and it was probably time to go to bed.

Looking at the clock around 1:30 a.m., B-Dawg figured he needed a dyNASTY game to rid himself of the bitter taste of an online defeat, and that he could finish the task by his self-imposed cut-off time of 3 a.m.

Nevada, however, wouldn’t let B-Dawg get to bed quite that soon.

In the longest dyNASTY game B-Dawg has ever posted for public consumption, red-shirt freshman quarterback Wallace Stone ran for five touchdowns and carried 76th-ranked Eastern Michigan to a 39-33 four-overtime victory over 60th-ranked Nevada in the 2009 season opener.

The game ended with Nevada receiver Chris Welllington catching a fourth-down pass in the right corner of the end zone, but failing to get a foot inbounds after Stone scored on the first series of the fourth overtime.

B-Dawg once played a seven-overtime game with Michigan against Purdue in NCAA 2003, but didn’t begin posting dynasties at the former MaddenMania until NCAA 2004. In that game, B-Dawg also started playing late on a night he needed to get to bed as soon as possible.

“Normally if I’m still ballin’ after 3 a.m., I’m dozing at the sticks,” B-Dawg said. “This game was so intense that I felt like playing another game when I was done. I doubt there’s an energy drink or form of caffeine that could have given me the late-night buzz this game did. It was as if the game felt sorry for me for losing my dynasty file and wanted to reward me for coming back with an epic battle I’ll never forget.”

So begins the 2009 season all over again after B-Dawg deleted his dynasty file by mistake. A backup file through the end of 2008 was used to resume his coaching career. When these teams played originally, EMU won 10-7.

This game was just as tight a defensive battle, with Nevada kicking two fourth-quarter field goals to send the game to overtime tied at 13-13.

That’s when this game became all about Stone, the 92 SPD freak of nature who is going to do things that make you go “hmmmmm.”

Of the 16 plays Eastern Michigan called in overtime, Stone had a part in 15 of them. Stone ran 12 times for 69 yards and four touchdowns in overtime, while going 2-for-3 for 18 yards passing. The only time Stone’s number wasn’t called in some form or fashion was when true freshman halfback Greg White broke off a 12-yard run in the third overtime to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Stone.

Nevada won the toss in overtime and inexplicably went on offense, a glaring glitch in the game. The Wolfpack put the pressure on the Hurons by scoring first. It took three runs by Stone for 25 yards to get the Hurons in the end zone.

A third-and-6 pass for a 10-yard gain to tight end Josh LeDuc kept EMU’s possession going in the second overtime, with Stone eventually scoring on a 1-yard sneak on third down. Nevada matched that score, taking just one play to score on a 25-yard pass from backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick to Dwayne Sanders.

A 7-yard run by Brandon Fragger gave Nevada the lead in the third overtime, when teams were required to go for two. Andre Hatchett stopped Fragger’s 2-point run. Stone scored on a 7-yard scramble in the third overtime. A 2-point pass that could have won the game failed because the momentum of the play carried White out of bounds at the 7-yard line, a glitch that still exists from NCAA ’07.

Yet another sneak by Stone put EMU up in the fourth overtime. This time, the Hurons’ defense came up tough. The Wolfpack had first-and-goal at the 8-yard lilne after a 17-yard pass to Sanders, but EMU stiffened. Henry Hawkins got one of his three sacks on second down and Lorenzo Seaberry tackled Arthur King at the 6-yard line on a catch, leaving fourth-and-goal from the 6. The Hurons dropped just about everyone into zone coverage, leaving themselves vulnerable to a scramble. Wellington lined up on the left side, then ran across the back of the end zone on a play that took all day to develop. He caught the pass, but couldn’t get a foot inbounds.

Ball game.

Finally.

“You live for games like these,” B-Dawg said. “Just not at 3 in the moanin’.”

Stone ran 25 times for 127 yards and five touchdowns, the most ever by a B-Dawg quarterback and one shy of his all-time record for any position. Stone showed early on he’s not going to be much of a passer, at least not until B-Dawg gets his timing back. Stone was 6-for-13 for 71 yards and two picks, but backup Jason Williams was worse, going 2-for-8 for 14 yards and a pick during a stretch in which Stone was shaken up.

Nevada lost starting quarterback Nick Graziano for four weeks with a strained back that he suffered with 5:38 left in the fourth quarter.

White, EMU’s first five-star recruit, played second fiddle to Stone and ran only 12 times for 68 yards. He caught three passes for 21 yards.

The game got a paltry Greatest Game score of 724.

“I’ve played games with a lot less drama than this that have gotten 1,000 points,” B-Dawg said. “I feel cheated.”

PLAYAZ OF DA GAME
Brandon Marshall, Nevada; Wallace Stone, EMU

EMU 39, NEVADA 33 (4 OT)
First quarter
EMU: W.Stone 1 run (Dutcher kick), :50
Second quarter
NEV: Kanellis 13 run (Washington kick), 7:18
EMU: Dutcher 31 field goal, :17
Third quarter
EMU: Dutcher 43 field goal, 1:09
Fourth quarter
NEV: Washington 24 field goal, 4:50
NEV: Washington 21 field goal, :55
First overtime
NEV: Wellington 12 pass from Kaepernick (Washington kick)
EMU: W.Stone 1 run (Dutcher kick)
Second overtime
EMU: W.Stone 1 run (Dutcher kick)
NEV: Sanders 25 pass from Kaepernick (Washington kick)
Third overtime
NEV: Fragger 7 run (run failed)
EMU: W.Stone 7 run (run failed)
Fourth overtime
EMU: W.Stone 1 run (pass failed)

[size=4][b]
NEVADA            0  7  0  6  7  7  6  0 — 33
EASTERN MICHIGAN  7  3  3  0  7  7  6  6 — 39  [/B][/size]

[size=4][font=arial][color=darkgreen][b]EASTERN MICHIGAN HURONS STATISTICS[/b][/color][b][/b][/font][b][/b][/size][size=3][b]
PASSING           Cmp  Att   Yds  TD  Int   Sk   Lg [/B]
Wallace Stone       6   13    71   0    2    3   17
Jason Williams      2    8    14   0    1    0   14
[B]TOTALS              8   21    85   0    3    3   17[/B]

[B]RUSHING           Att  Yds   Avg  TD   Lg  BTK   Fm [/B]
Wallace Stone      25  127   5.1   5   29    1    1
Greg White         12   68   5.7   0   25    4    0
Jason Williams      9   46   5.1   0   13    1    0
Brandon Downs      15   27   1.8   0    5    5    1
Dwayne Priest       1    4   4.0   0    4    0    0
Aeric Clay          1   -3  -3.0   0    0    0    0
[B]TOTALS             63  269   4.3   5   29   11    2[/B]

[B]RECEIVING         Rec  Yds   Avg  TD   Lg  YAC  Drp [/B]
Greg White          3   21   7.0   0   14   11    0
Jacory Stone        2   31  15.5   0   17    3    0
L.J. Robertson      1   16  16.0   0   16   10    0
Josh DeLuc          1   10  10.0   0   10    0    0
David Fox           1    7   7.0   0    7    4    0
Charles Wilson      0    0   0.0   0    0    0    1
[B]TOTALS              8   85  10.6   0   17   28    1[/B]

[B]DEFENSE            Tk  TFL   Sk  Int   Df   FF   FR   TD [/B]
Lorenzo Seaberry    7    1    0    0    1    0    0    0
Henry Hawkins       7    6    3    0    1    0    0    0
Fabian McCoy        6    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Corey Everson       6    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Stephen Johnson     6    2    0    0    0    0    0    0
Chris May           5    0    0    0    1    0    0    0
Mark Flowers        5    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Kareem Carter       4    1    0    0    0    0    0    0
Andre Hatchett      4    2    0    0    0    0    0    0
Jonathan Smith      3    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Chris Campa         3    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Brandon Downs       3    1    1    0    0    0    0    0
Ryan Downard        3    0    0    0    0    0    1    0
Brandon Jones       3    1    0    0    0    0    0    0
Dennis Williamson   3    0    0    0    0    1    0    0
Marty Cardwell      2    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Javon Reese         1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Sean Dutcher        1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Greg White          1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Michael Willis      1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Jason Williams      1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
[B]TOTALS             75   14    4    0    3    1    1    0[/B][/size]

[size=4][font=arial][color=#2c2d77][b]NEVADA WOLFPACK STATISTICS[/b][/color][b][/b][/font][b][/b][/size][size=3]
[B]PASSING           Cmp  Att   Yds  TD  Int   Sk   Lg [/B]
Colin Kaepernick    8   10   108   2    0    1   25
Nick Graziano       4   10    46   0    0    3   16
[B]TOTALS             12   20   154   2    0    4   25[/B]

[B]RUSHING           Att  Yds   Avg  TD   Lg  BTK   Fm [/B]
Brandon Fragger    27  140   5.2   1   37   14    0
Nick Graziano       6   11   1.8   0   10    2    0
Mike Kanellis       2    6   3.0   1   13    2    0
Colin Kapernick     2    2   1.0   0    3    0    0
[B]TOTALS             37  159   4.3   2   37   18    0[/B]

[B]RECEIVING         Rec  Yds   Avg  TD   Lg  YAC  Drp [/B]
Dwayne Sanders      4   63  15.8   1   25    6    1
Chris Wellington    4   54  13.5   1   18   16    0
Arthur King         2   19   9.5   0   16    4    0
Geoff Church        1   10  10.0   0   10    4    0
Tommy Brown         1    8   8.0   0    8    3    0
[B]TOTALS             12  154  12.8   2   25   33    1[/B]

[B]DEFENSIVE LEADERS  Tk  TFL   Sk  Int   Df   FF   FR   TD [/B]
Joseph Easter      13    4    0    1    0    0    0    0
Brandon Marshall   11    1    0    1    1    1    1    0
Adam Liranzo        8    2    1    0    0    0    0    0
Jacob Pope          7    2    2    0    0    0    0    0
Jon Rodgers         7    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
Jonathan Amaya      7    0    0    0    0    1    0    0
Nate Agaiava        6    1    0    0    1    0    0    0
Luke Rippee         1    0    0    1    0    0    0    0

[B]TEAM STATISTICS     NEV    EMU [/B]
First downs          13     23
Total offense       299    328
Rushing             145    243
Passing             154     85
3rd down           3-13  11-20
4th down            1-2    1-1
Red zone          6-3-2  7-5-1
PR yards             52      7
KR yards            111     90
Total yards         462    425
Turnovers             1      5
Penalties          1-10    0-0
Possession        14:27  17:33[/size]

[redsox907]

Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

MAN tough loss to the Cardinal. I blew a 21 point lead to Notre Dame once in a USC dynasty, it seems like everything is under control then one mistake snow balls. Sucks, but its a small bump in the long road of Northwestern's dynasty!

[redsox907]

Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

MAN tough loss to the Cardinal. I blew a 21 point lead to Notre Dame once in a USC dynasty, it seems like everything is under control then one mistake snow balls. Sucks, but its a small bump in the long road of Northwestern's dynasty!

[BDawg35]

Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

MAN tough loss to the Cardinal. I blew a 21 point lead to Notre Dame once in a USC dynasty, it seems like everything is under control then one mistake snow balls. Sucks, but its a small bump in the long road of Northwestern's dynasty!

I my own perverse way, I like that games like those happen now and then to keep things interesting and to light a fire under me. When I saw I was playing Stanford, a team rated exactly like mine, I figured it would be easy. And it was easy - until it wasn't.

I'm just about ready to start the next season with all that five-star talent. I can't wait to see what they do. Hopefully they make an immediate impact.

[BDawg35]

Re: B-Dawg's Northwestern Wildcats: Navigating the new Big Ten in CFB25

MAN tough loss to the Cardinal. I blew a 21 point lead to Notre Dame once in a USC dynasty, it seems like everything is under control then one mistake snow balls. Sucks, but its a small bump in the long road of Northwestern's dynasty!

I my own perverse way, I like that games like those happen now and then to keep things interesting and to light a fire under me. When I saw I was playing Stanford, a team rated exactly like mine, I figured it would be easy. And it was easy - until it wasn't.

I'm just about ready to start the next season with all that five-star talent. I can't wait to see what they do. Hopefully they make an immediate impact.

[BDawg35]

2029 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SEMIFINALS





SEMIFINALS

STANFORD 35, OREGON 23: In the Rose Bowl, Stanford built on the momentum of a four-overtime comeback over Northwestern by holding Oregon’s powerful offense to 23 points. It helped that the Cardinal knocked starter James Feliz out of the game after he was 12-for-23 for 174 yards, one touchdown and one pick. Backup Jason Muma, a redshirt freshman, was 9-for-17 for 128 yards, two touchdowns and two picks. Junior Sam Wiegmann had seven catches for 120 yards and three touchdowns for the Ducks. Stanford’s Daquan Pears was 20-for-31 for 232 yards, three touchdowns and one pick. Shaquille Sermon had a rare simmed 100-yard rushing game, running 16 times for 105 yards and one touchdown.

GEORGIA 34, OHIO STATE 17: In the Sugar Bowl, Georgia running back Garrison Diamond ran 28 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Craig Arnold was 11-for-21 for 173 yards and one touchdown. Ohio State’s Jalen Clements was 17-for-32 for 298 yards and two touchdowns.

[BDawg35]

2029 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SEMIFINALS





SEMIFINALS

STANFORD 35, OREGON 23: In the Rose Bowl, Stanford built on the momentum of a four-overtime comeback over Northwestern by holding Oregon’s powerful offense to 23 points. It helped that the Cardinal knocked starter James Feliz out of the game after he was 12-for-23 for 174 yards, one touchdown and one pick. Backup Jason Muma, a redshirt freshman, was 9-for-17 for 128 yards, two touchdowns and two picks. Junior Sam Wiegmann had seven catches for 120 yards and three touchdowns for the Ducks. Stanford’s Daquan Pears was 20-for-31 for 232 yards, three touchdowns and one pick. Shaquille Sermon had a rare simmed 100-yard rushing game, running 16 times for 105 yards and one touchdown.

GEORGIA 34, OHIO STATE 17: In the Sugar Bowl, Georgia running back Garrison Diamond ran 28 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Craig Arnold was 11-for-21 for 173 yards and one touchdown. Ohio State’s Jalen Clements was 17-for-32 for 298 yards and two touchdowns.

[BDawg35]

2029 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME



Georgia holds off Stanford rally,
wins 2029 national championship

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The glass slipper ultimately didn’t fit Stanford.

The Cardinal made a Cinderella run to the national championship game, winning three College Football Playoff games, including a four-overtime classic against Northwestern in the quarterfinals.

But Georgia was just a bit too much for Stanford, building a 21-7 lead after three quarters and holding on for a 21-18 victory in the same stadium the Cardinal rallied to beat Northwestern.

Georgia run with a running game not often seen in simmed College Football 25 statistics, running 35 times for 128 yards. Garrison Diamond ran 21 times for 101 yards and a touchdown for his second straight 100-yard game.

Stanford quarterback Daquan Pears, who scrambled for the winning score against Northwestern, was 17-for-29 for 235 yards and one touchdown. Vondree Dayes caught four passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.

It’s the second national championship in the six-year history of this dynasty for Georgia, which beat Penn State 42-36 for the 2025 title.

Stanford was trying to break the grip the Big Ten and SEC have had on natties. The Big Ten and SEC have won all the national championships in this dynasty, winning three apiece.



2029 BOWL GAMES
WEEK 1
LA Bowl: Hawaii 49, Washington 28
Frisco Bowl: Charlotte 34, Appalachian State 7
Fenway Bowl: Duke 34, North Texas 13
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Toledo 35, Arkansas State 27
Bahamas Bowl: Marshall 17, Western Kentucky 14
CFP first round: Stanford 16, Kansas 14
Cure Bowl: Georgia State 27, Ball State 9
CFP first round: Notre Dame 31, Alabama-Birmingham 28
New Mexico Bowl: UNLV 31, Sam Houston 27
Las Vegas Bowl: Nebraska 55, Utah 0
CFP first round: Ohio State 31, Tulsa 10
68 Ventures Bowl: South Alabama 41, Akron 20
CFP first round: Oregon 56, Southern Methodist 20
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Louisiana 31, Connecticut 28
Boca Raton Bowl: California 24, East Carolina 14
Detroit Bowl: Michigan State 20, Oregon State 0
New Orleans Bowl: Liberty 33, Southern Miss 21
Hawaii Bowl: Boise State 39, Troy 37
Gasparilla Bowl: North Carolina State 31, Kansas State 28
Independence Bowl: Baylor 31, Iowa 17
Armed Forces Bowl: Fresno State 42, Old Dominion 24
First Responder Bowl: Colorado State 34, Memphis 24
Birmingham Bowl: Boston College 34, Massachusetts 10
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Jacksonville State 24, Cincinnati 21
Camellia Bowl: Louisiana Tech 29, Florida International 17
WEEK 2
Orange Bowl: Ohio State 17, The U 13
Cotton Bowl: Oregon 49, Brigham Young 10
Peach Bowl: Georgia 28, Notre Dame 23
Fiesta Bowl: Stanford 38, Northwestern 36 (4 OT)
Texas Bowl: Texas 32, Iowa State 21
Liberty Bowl: Middle Tennessee 17, Tulane 14
Holiday Bowl: Oklahoma 24, UCLA 19
Military Bowl: Virginia Tech 26, Army 21
Pop-Tarts Bowl: Louisville 21, Houston 9
Alamo Bowl: Penn State 45, TCU 20
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Syracuse 38, West Virginia 22
Sun Bowl: Central Florida 17, Central Michigan 9
Music City Bowl: Kentucky 27, USC 24
Arizona Bowl: San Jose State 34, Ohio 21
Reliaquest Bowl: Michigan 31, Auburn 28
Citrus Bowl: Arkansas 28, Wisconsin 27
Gator Bowl: Clemson 27, Tennessee 24
WEEK 3
Rose Bowl: Stanford 35, Oregon 23
Sugar Bowl: Georgia 34, Ohio State 17
WEEK 4
The Natty: Georgia 21, Stanford 18