Week One College Football Recap: The SEC

Mississippi State vs. University of Memphis

Mississippi State easily rolled past Memphis at the Liberty Bowl 59-14. Vick Ballard picked up where he left off last year running for 166 yards on only 10 carries with three touchdowns. The Bulldogs totaled 645 yards from scrimmage; 336 passing, 309 rushing. Neither statistic will help Memphis’ total defensive numbers for the season.

                

Chris Relf threw for 202 yards and 2 touchdowns while amassing a 174.1 quarterback rating. Jameon Lewis caught four passes for 113 yards receiving including an 80 yard play for a touchdown and had a 19 yard run for a touchdown.

Notes to the game

The Bulldogs averaged more than 9 yards per play.

The Bulldogs suspended five players before the start of the game, including starting defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. No one seemed to notice.

MSU only committed one turnover while creating 3 on defense for a +2 turnover margin.

MSU had six penalties but only racked up 30 yards on those six penalties. Extra work in practice can help limit those penalties in upcoming games.

Was MSU’s victory that impressive or is University of Memphis that bad? Vegas picked Arkansas State as a 13.5 point favorite over the Tigers in week two action. The Red Wolves are a Sun-Belt Conference team that lost easily to the Illini in week one (33-15).

Kentucky vs. Western Kentucky

The Wildcats struggled in their season opener against the Hilltoppers holding on to win 14-3 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Western Kentucky defense played on a BCS Conference level all night forcing Kentucky starting quarterback, Morgan Newton to throw three interceptions, two in the fourth quarter. WKU sacked Newton three times and pressured him into bad throws all night.

Joker Phillips has to be nervous after the performance of his quarterback and offensive line. WKU was 2-10 last year and had only won two other games since starting play in the Football Championship Subdivision, formerly Division-1. UK’s offensive line was supposed to be strength of the team’s going into the 2011 season returning four starters. Extra attention will be given to the play of the line during practice this week.  

Kentucky had 190 yards of offense (97 passing, 93 rushing) to Western Kentucky’s 234 (93 passing, 141 rushing). UK’s defense came up with four interceptions to offset the three interceptions thrown by Newton.

Kentucky plays Central Michigan at home in week two action. Central Michigan beat South Carolina State at home 21-6 in week one.

Notes to the Game

The Wildcats only had to players with positive rushing yards Josh Clemons (11 rushes, 36 yards, 1 TD) and Raymond Sanders (13 rushes 35 yards). This includes a 58-yard run by Morgan Newton in the fourth quarter to set up the Wildcats second touchdown of the game. Newton ended up with 7 rushes for -5 yards.

WKU had more plays on offense 69 to UK’s 51.

WKU had 12 penalties for a loss of 120 yards.

La’Rod King led all UK receivers with two catches for 42 yards and a touchdown.

Auburn vs. Utah State

Auburn fought hard for a 42-38 victory over Utah State in their home opener. Utah State hung with the 2010 BCS Champions leading 38-28 with 4:00 minutes left to play in the fourth quarter. Junior quarterback Barrett Trotter threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Philip Lutzenkirchen with 2:12 to play to narrow the score to 38-35. An onside kick timed perfectly for Auburn set up an eventual Michael Dyer 1-yard touchdown run for the winning score with 45 seconds left to play.

Auburn fans who felt their team had been snubbed by the national media going into the 2011 season received their wakeup call in week one... you were not snubbed. With only 5 total starters returning, Auburn has a lot of talent but needs a lot of game experience before competing for another SEC title much less a national title.

Auburn has a tough matchup in week two at home against Mississippi State. Gus Malzahn may have kept a few plays out of the Utah State game but one still has to question Auburn’s ability on offense against a tough SEC schedule.

Notes to the Game

Auburn had 364 yards of total offense; 286 passing yards and only 78 rushing yards.

Utah State had a balanced attack on offense with 221 yards passing and 227 yards rushing.

Michael Dyer led Auburn in rushing yards with 56 yards on 14 attempts with 2 touchdowns.

Auburn had two receivers with good games. Emory Blake had three catches for 95 yards and a score. Travante Stallworth had four catches for 93 yards and a score.

True freshman running back Tre Mason (Lake Worth, FL) had a 97-yard kickoff return for Auburn. He had 176 yards on four returns.

Auburn only sacked Chuckie Keeton once.

Alabama vs. Kent State

Alabama had a nice tune-up game to start the 2011 season beating Kent State 48-7. Sophomore AJ McCarron looked good against the overmatched Golden Flashes. McCarron completed 14 of 23 passes for 226 yards with one score and two interceptions. Phillip Sims also threw two picks while under center. Sims finished the game 7 of 14 for 73 yards and no touchdowns. Nick Saban has not named a starting quarterback for the next game against Penn State in Happy Valley but all signs point to McCarron to win the spot.

Penn State took care of Indiana State 41-7 in their first game of the season.

The main concern for Bama fans has to be the slow start to the running game, mainly Trent Richardson’s performance. Richardson ended up with only 30 yards rushing on 13 attempts; he did find the end zone three times. Big running back Jalston Fowler (6’1”, 246 lbs) ended the game with 69 yards on four rushing attempts to lead all rushers in yardage.

Marquize Maze showed his speed against Kent State. He had eight catches for 118-yards receiving with one touchdown. Maze also had one kickoff return for 39-yards.

Notes to the Game

Alabama running back Eddie Lacy had a great all around game. He finished the game with 8 rushes for 54 yards with a touchdown and he had 3 catches for 48 yards.

Jeremy Shelly was perfect for the Tide kicking six extra points and two field goals.

Alabama’s defense was in mid-season form, even against a weaker opponent. Bama only allowed 90 yards of total offense; 99 passing, -9 rushing.

BYU vs. Mississippi

Houston Nutt got the game he wanted but not the final outcome as BYU found a way to win 14-13 in Oxford. Nutt likes the “grind’em” out close games predicated on field position and the running game. The only problem is his offense gave up a fumble for a BYU touchdown with 5:26 to play for the winning/losing score.

Through spring and fall practices Ole Miss has shuffled their starting quarterbacks between Randall Mackey, Barry Brunetti, and Zack Stoudt. Stoudt ended up with the majority of the snaps for the Rebels throwing for 140 yards on 13 of 25 attempts. Ole Miss only accumulated 208 yards of total offense against BYU’s defense.

Ole Miss has a chance to correct some problems against Southern Illinois next week. Ole Miss’ offensive line was supposed to be the strength of the team with four starters returning. Attention to the running game will be needed. Ole Miss did not give up a sack against the Cougars’ defense.

Notes of the Game

Brandon Bolden finished the game with 21 yards on 4 rushing attempts.

Ole Miss created one turnover on a Jake Heaps interception but gave away two fumbles.

Tennessee vs. Montana

University of Montana proves to be an easy opener for the Tennessee Vols winning 42-16. Tyler Bray played well for the Vols and picked up from where he left off last year throwing for 293 yards and three touchdowns.

Bray did a good job spreading the ball around on offense finding Justin Hunter six times for 146 yards with a touchdown and Da’Rick Rogers five times for 100 yards with a score.

The Vols had some impressive drives namely a 96-yard drive in the second quarter that ended with a touchdown pass to Marlin Lane.

Bray was sacked three times and the run blocking was hit and miss. Tauren Poole added another strong game to his collegiate resume rushing for 97 yards and a touchdown.

Notes of the Game

Tennessee’s defense was average against the Grizzles. They only surrendered 346 total yards of offense but gave up 18 first downs. Tennessee’s offense held the ball for much of the game, lucky for the defense.

Tennessee plays University of Cincinnati this week at home.

South Carolina vs. East Carolina

Now we know why Steve Spurrier keeps letting Stephen Garcia back on the team after each suspension… they can’t win without him. After three first quarter fumbles, South Carolina was down 17-0 before Garcia was put in the game. Garcia rallied the Gamecocks 56-37 victory over the Pirates.

Once Garcia was in the game, the Gamecocks looked like a top 25 team. Marcus Lattimore finished the game with 112 yards rushing on 23 carries with 3 touchdowns. Stephen Garcia added two more rushing touchdowns and one throwing.

Alshon Jeffery had a good game hauling in five passes for 92 yards.

Notes of the Game

Both teams played evenly on offense. East Carolina had 345 yards of offense while South Carolina had 351.

Pirates quarterback Dominque Davis played well against the Gamecocks defense. He avoided being sacked and threw for 260 yards completing 37 passes. He did throw one interception but had four passing touchdowns.

Both teams lost four fumbles each.

Arkansas vs. Missouri State

Arkansas’ defense was dominating against the overmatched Missouri State Bears winning 51-7. Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson looked sharp against the Bears throwing for 260 yards while only playing in limited action. The Razorback run offense did not look so great. The Bears defense was focused on stopping the run so Bobby Petrino kept calling passing plays. When the Razorbacks did run the ball there wasn’t much push up front. Arkansas ended up with 102 yards rushing for the game led by Ronnie Wingo’s 38 yards.

Razorback receiver Jarius Wright caught six passes for 108 yards with two scores. Joe Adams only had one catch but provided two scores on punt returns; 61-yards and 84-yards.

Notes of the Game

Zach Hocker missed his first extra point try as a Razorback. He was perfect on extra point attempts in 2010.

True freshman running back Kody Walker (Jefferson City, MO) appears to be Bobby Petrino’s short yardage back for the 2011 season. Walker scored twice on two 1-yard runs.

Arkansas plays University of New Mexico in Little Rock this week.

Florida vs. Florida Atlantic Owls

Will Muschamp got his first victory as a head coach rolling past Florida Atlantic 41-3. John Brantley played well in Charlie Weis’ pro-style offense finishing with 229 yards passing, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

Florida’s defense dominated the Owls line and only gave up 137 total yards.

Gator scat back Chris Rainey scored on a 14-yard pass in the first quarter, a 14-yard run in the second quarter, and returned a block punt for 21-yards for his third touchdown of the game.

Notes of the Game

Florida had 468 yards of total offense against the Owls.

Gator running back Jeff Demps had 99 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

Florida did not punt against Florida Atlantic.

Vanderbilt vs. Elon

James Franklin drew mixed reviews in his head coaching debut for the Commodores winning 45-14. Vanderbilt has 18 returning starters but struggled at times against Elon. Three times Vanderbilt went for a first down on fourth down plays and Vanderbilt took advantage of four Phoenix turnovers, scoring three times off those turnovers, for their first win of the season.

The Commodores play Big East power Connecticut this week before starting conference play the following week against Ole Miss.

Notes of the Game

Larry Smith only threw for 125 yards with two touchdowns against Elon.

Elon outgained Vanderbilt in total yards 323-309.

LSU vs. Oregon

Before a crowd of 87,711 Tiger and Ducks’ fans in Arlington, Texas, LSU capitalized on four Oregon turnovers and 12 penalties to win going away 40-27. LSU was in control most of the game leading 16-13 at halftime and 30-13 at the end of the third quarter. Oregon true freshman running back De’Anthony Thomas (Los Angeles, CA) fumbled on back-to-back possessions leading to two LSU scores in the third quarter.

Darron Thomas tried to get revenge in his home state against Les Miles, who recruited him to play at LSU but would not promise him the opportunity to stay at quarterback. Thomas played well completing 31 passes for 240 yards, one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown, but could not help overcome the mistakes made by the Ducks and the lack of a running game against LSU’s stout defense. Oregon was held to 95 rushing yards. More notably preseason Heisman candidate LaMichael James was held to 51-yards rushing on 18 carries.

LSU starting quarterback Jarrett Lee played the role of quarterback but did not impress pundits with his play; 10-22 for 98-yards with one touchdown. Spencer Ware and Michael Ford got tough rushing yards all game for the Tigers. Ware finished with 97-yards and Ford finished with 94.

If defense wins championships, LSU has a defensive unit capable of getting them to the BCS Championship Game.

Notes of the Game

This is Oregon’s first time with consecutive losses since 2007.

Oregon outgained LSU offensively 335 total yards to 273.

LSU has won 34 consecutive non-conference games.

Georgia vs. Boise State

If Mark Richt wasn’t feeling the pressure from fans, alumni, and boosters before the Boise State game, he has to after a lopsided 35-21 loss at home. Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore had his way with Georgia’s defense throwing for 261 yards on 28-34 attempts with three touchdowns.

Georgia started the scoring with an 80-yard touchdown run by cornerback Brandon Boykin but the rest was all Moore and the Broncos. The Broncos defense kept true freshman running back Ishaih Crowell bottled up all night. He finished with 57-yards rushing on 15 attempts. Sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray was battered and harassed all night being sacked six times for a total of 33-yards lost by the Broncos defense. Murray did throw two long touchdown passes; 36-yards in the third quarter and 51-yards in the fourth.

Life doesn’t get much easier for the Bulldogs this week. South Carolina comes to town to start SEC Conference play.

Notes of the Game

Boise State had never beaten a Southeast Conference team before beating Georgia.

Neither team lost a fumble but combined to fumble the ball three times.

Georgia’s defense was not able to sack Moore. 

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