Top 3 Pull Off Big Wins
For Tennessee, it took a little help from the other team. For Kansas State, it took a lot of talent and a little luck. For UCLA, it took a huge effort on special teams. But regardless of how they did it, the top three teams in the country remain undefeated after big victories this weekend.
The top-ranked Volunteers somehow managed a 28-24 victory over No. 9 Arkansas. The Razorbacks led 24-20 with three minutes to play in the game when all hell broke loose. On a fourth down punt attempt, the snap sailed over Chris Akin's head. Akin kicked the ball through is own end for a safety that made it 24-22 with 2:56 left.
Arkansas stopped Tennessee and got the ball back with just under two minutes left. Razorback quarterback Clint Stoerner stumbled on second down, used the ball to regain balance, and left the pigskin on the turf. Tennessee's Billy Ratliff recoved. Travis Henry carried five straight times for the Vols, scoring the winning touchdown on a 1-yard plunge with 28 seconds left. Henry finished with 197 yards on 32 carries, including the last five carries on UT's game-winning drive.
After the game, Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer was asked if he believed in miracles.
"I believe in determination," Fulmer said. "We got some help from them late, but we gave them some help in the first half. Those kinds of things tend to even out over the course of a game."
Meanwhile, in Manhattan, No. 2 Kansas State finally silenced the critics with a 40-30 win over Nebraska.
Wildcats quarterback Michael Bishop ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more, including an 11-yarder to Darnell McDonald with 5:25 to go to win the game. Bishop was 19-of-33 for 306 yards and carried 24 times for 136 yards.
The game was not without controversy though. An obvious facemask by Travis Ochs' sack of Eric Crouch on a 4th down with less than three minutes left should have prolonged Nebraska's drive, but no flag was thrown. The 15-yard penalty would have given the 'Huskers a first down at the K-State 43 with plenty of time to push for a go-ahead score.
Regardless of the circumstances, however, the win ends a 29-game losing streak to the Cornhuskers and clinched the Big 12 North title for K-State - its first football crown of any kind since 1934. After the game, Wildcats coach Bill Snyder talked about the win in his usual stoic, unemotional manner.
Latest Articles