That's better

I feel better this morning after correctly predicting the winners of yesterday’s games. I said Toledo would beat Air Force 35-27, the final was 42-41. I said Texas would beat Cal 31-17, the final was 21-10.

The Military Bowl was one of the most exciting games of the year not decided in OT or on the final play as time ran out. While Toledo jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter it looked destined to be a blowout.

But Air Force proved that smart as their players are reported to be, they had no idea what the word “quit” means. Air Force was more successful in the air than I expected and Toledo’s defense had a tougher time stopping the Falcons because of it. Tim Jefferson managed to complete 13 of 22 attempts for 159 yards and two TDs. He also scored on the ground from 22 yards out. Air Force was 5 for 6 on fourth down conversions and three of them went for TDs.

And Toledo kept right on scoring behind Terrance Owens (19 of 24 for 210 yards and three TDs) and Adonis Thomas (22 carries for 108 yards and a TD). Special teams play also helped--Eric Page ran a kickoff back 87 yards for a TD. The defense also scored when Jermaine Robinson returned the only interception of the game 37 yards for a TD.

But it came down to a failed two-point conversion that could have been made by Air Force with 52 seconds to go. Holder David Baska tried to run the option off left tackle on a fake kick. Kicker Parker Herrington was in perfect position on his left to receive the pitch but it didn’t come. Instead, the ball was knocked out of Baska’s hands and squirted toward Herrington and eventually out of bounds in the end zone. Even if Herrington fell on the ball it would not have counted. Only the player who fumbles can recover the ball in the end zone for a score.

Congratulations to the Toledo’s new head coach, 32-year old Matt Campbell, on his first win.

******

The Holiday Bowl came down to a little razzle-dazzle and a lot of strong Longhorn defense. Both helped the Longhorns defeat the California Golden Bears 21-10.

The razzle-dazzle was a couple of end around reverses resulting in passes down field. The first worked as WR Jaxon Shipley hit QB David Ash for a 4-yard touchdown. It was Shipley’s fourth completion and third TD pass. (The second attempt fell harmlessly to the turf.) Later, Ash would throw his own TD pass, a 47-yarder to Marquise Goodwin to put Texas ahead for good.

Meanwhile the Longhorn defense was having a grand time knocking the stuffing out of the Cal running backs and QB Zach Maynard. It seemed tackles for losses were the norm. Maynard was sacked six times and Cal turned the ball over on four lost fumbles and an interception. Still, Cody Johnson's 4-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter is the only score directly attributable to a turnover. It was set up when Maynard was sacked and fumbled, which was recovered by Chris Whaley at the Cal 44. Johnson scored three plays later to put the icing on the cake.