Bringing the Punch
Weeks without football are like a barren wasteland.
A Weekly Review of Football by Alex Davis
College Football:
The national title picture became much clearer on Friday with No. 2 Auburn and No.1 Oregon winning big games against good opponents in Alabama and Arizona respectively. Saturday also marked the end of No.3 Boise State’s darkhorse national title hopes with their stunning overtime loss to Nevada in Reno. Oregon and Auburn have been in control of their own destinies for some time, and now only have to win one more game each to punch their tickets to the national title game. TCU is the only other undefeated (besides the top two teams) team now that Boise has fallen. The Horned Frogs are most likely looking at a spot in a Rose Bowl against the Big 10 champ. However, if either of the top two slips up TCU is in a good position to carry the standard of the non-BCS conference teams into the national title game.
Cam Newton
The last hurdle for No.2 Auburn is No. 18 South Carolina in Atlanta for the SEC Championship. These two teams played earlier in the year with Auburn coming back from a 20-7 halftime deficit to win 35-27. South Carolina is a dangerous team with a trio of explosive offensive playmakers, which will challenge Auburn’s suspect defense. QB Stephen Garcia, RB Marcus Lattimore, and WR Alshon Jeffery are all among the best in their positions in the SEC. However, Auburn has so far proven that the one (QB Cam Newton) is greater than any other combination of players in the SEC. Newton has proven his bona fides as the Heisman favorite and the single most dominant force in College Football since Vince Young. His combination running and passing talents have made him impossible to stop so far. I predict a close game but in the end Newton will lead Auburn to the promised land of the National title game.
When Ducks Attack
Oregon has an easier test next week in rival Oregon State. The annual Civil War game should be reasonably lopsided this year, as the Beavers have struggled to only 5 wins so far this season. The Ducks record breaking light-speed offensive attack has left everyone they have played with the exception of Cal in the dust. Oregon’s RB LaMichael James is certainly in the running for the best RB in the country, and QB Derron Thomas is an explosive athlete with a good arm. The thing that really stands out about Thomas however is his superb decision making. He makes the complex, split second option reads required in Oregon’s offense with ease, and with very little time to read a defense pre-snap as Oregon keeps a very fast offensive tempo. Oregon also has a good defense headlined by CB Cliff Harris who has five interceptions on the year and also is one of the countries leading kick and punt returners with four return touchdowns.
If Oregon and Auburn do end up in the title game it will be a clash of two great offensive teams who have both been able to come back from large deficits multiple times. If one of these teams gets down, do not count them out.
Illini West vs Stillman Valley in a great State Final
High School --- A Steve Note
Lena-Winslow in a 1A dominated Tuscola in State Finals 47-14
Newman Central Catholic of Sterling in 2A defeated Maroa-Forsyth 48-7.
Illini West in 3A defeated Stillman Valley in a classic championship game 22-20.
Rochester defeated Rock Island Alleman in the 4A game 24- 7.
Glenwood at Chatham lost to Montini of Lombard in 5A 34 to 21.
I lose interest in the 6A, 7A, and 8A games, but future NCAA and NFL stars are likely to play in them.