Utah clinches a spot in the Pac 12 title game and the Gardner Minshew legacy rolls on in Pullman. The race for the Pac 12 title got a lot clearer and upsets in Los Angeles were a lot of fun as Week 12 comes to a close.
#8 Washington State 69, Arizona 28
No this is not Washington State’s basketball team playing, this is Wazzou football. Gardner Minshew’s legacy lives on as he threw for 473 yards and yes 7 touchdowns as Washington State put up 34 points in just the 2nd quarter alone as they demolished a rather solid Arizona team. Khalil Tate did play well in this game passing for 294 yards and 4 touchdowns, including 2 to Poindexter. Although the Coogs did give up 28 points, they forced 4 turnovers and got to Khalil Tate 4 times and stopped the Wildcats in the backfield 8 times. Minshew spread the ball around as 11 different players caught a pass, lead by Davontavean Martin (7 catches, 121 yards and a touchdown). This game put Minshew on a platform as one of the most impressive performance of the year. Although the Heisman hasn’t been talked about much this year, Minshew will be in New York and with a Pac 12 Title, could propel him into a spot to potentially win the award with Kyler Murray and Tua not too far behind. Washington State has a date with the school up north this upcoming week with the Apple Cup and a spot to the Pac 12 title on the line. Arizona faces rival Arizona State in hoping of bowl eligibility against their big rival.
#18 Washington 42, Oregon State 23
For Washington, this is the kind of game they needed from an offensive standpoint against a Beavers defense that is among, if not the worst in the nation. Browning threw for 242 and 3 touchdowns and Gaskin put up 135 yards and added a TD himself. The only negative for UW on offense was protection at some points was lackluster and the running game was boom or bust. You look at the stats and it shows 275 rushing yards (which is very good). But also that Oregon State totaled 13 TFL in that same game. Jermar Jeferson was the main offense for the Beavers with 115 yards on just 19 carries. Ben Burr-Kirven led the defense for UW with 11 tackles and added a TFL. Of course, UW plays Washington State next week and Oregon State plays the rival Oregon in hopes of not having another double digit loss season as well as pulling off one of the biggest upsets in it’s rivalry’s history.
Utah 30, Colorado 7
Even the road environment and snow couldn’t stop Jason Shelly as he threw for 2 touchdowns and 221 yards and Utah clinched a spot in the Pac 12 title game. Colorado looked dysfunctional on offense with playing 3 QB’s and rushing for a season low 34 yards on 34 carries. Laviska Shenault was the main target, but the combination of snow and Utah’s defense was overwhelming Colorado. Freshman Jaylen Dixon led the receiving game with 125 yards on just 4 catches and a touchdown. Utah was extremely disruptive as almost half of their solo tackles were in the backfield as Utah accumulated 16 tackles for loss and 6 sacks including 3 players with over 2.5. Utah turned over Colorado 3 times and continues to ride this hot streak they are on. Colorado falls to 5-6 after starting the year 5-0 and ranked in the Top 25 at one point. Utah faces rival BYU in their home finale as Colorado is at Cal.
UCLA 34, USC 27
In one of the more rather surprising results of the week, UCLA stunned USC inside the Coliseum behind an amazing performance from HB Joshua Kelley. On 40 carries, he carried the offense on his back with 289 yards and 2 touchdowns. J.T. Daniels had an up and down game with 337 yards, but 2 costly interceptions. When they needed him the most, the offense stalled in the 2nd half by only putting up 3 points. Michael Pittman Jr. led the receivers with 106 yards as well as Amon Ra St. Brown with 98 yards and a touchdown. CB Iman Marshall led the way for USC on defense with 11 total tackles and a couple TFL. USC has to get bowl eligible with a win over #3 Notre Dame. UCLA plays Stanford to cap off the year.
Oregon 31, Arizona State 29
Arizona State’s late comeback wasn’t enough as 262 yards through the air from Justin Herbert and another 105 on the ground from Troy Dye did just enough for the Ducks to pick up their 7th win on the year. Arizona State decided to go for the tie with 4:35 left to go down 2 after a one yard TD run from Manny Wilkins. But failed on the conversion. Justin Herbert’s 57 yard pass to Dillon Mitchell near the end of the 2nd quarter showed Mitchell’s hands as well as speed down the sideline as he had just enough to get into the end zone. Oregon finishes their season off with the Civil War against Oregon State. ASU faces Arizona in their rivalry game as well.
Cal-Stanford was Postponed.
Offensive POTW: Joshua Kelley RB UCLA
Defensive POTW: Utah’s entire defense.
Season Predictions Record: 57-26
Image Credit: https://uclabruins.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6694
