Notre Dame Gets it Done; Knights End Remarkable Run

       Saturday night, the Fighting Irish got their toughest test of the season: the Oklahoma Sooners, ranked #8 in all of the land. OU got it started in the 1st quarter after Michael Hunnicutt knocked through a 28-yarder, and it was 3-0 Sooners. Then, Notre Dame started their parade with a 62-yard run by Cierre Wood for the touchdown that gave the Irish a 7-3 lead going into the 2nd quarter. With 6 minutes left in the half, Notre Dame kicker Kyle Brindza extended the lead with a 34-yard field goal, so it was a 7-point affair. Then, within the final seconds of the 2nd half, Oaklahoma was threatening to tie the game as it was 1st and Goal on the 1. It had seemed like the Sooners had just tied the game with a 1-yard run, but a late flag was thrown onto the field for a Holding penalty on an offensive lineman that brought them back 10 yards. After this, the Sooners would have to settle for a FG, and it was a 4-point affair after the 1st half. After a scoreless 3rd, a Kyle Brindza field goal put the Irish up by a touchdown. Then a 1-yard run by Blake Bell tied the game with a little over 9 minutes left. After that it was all Irish.  Touchdowns by Everett Golson and Theo Riddick, another Brindza kick, and a huge interception by Manti T'eo wrapped it up with a final of 30-13 Notre Dame. After the new BCS Standings, they are now #3 in the country, right behind Alabama and Kansas State.
       Meanwhile, Rutgers was at home facing Kent State, who to that point had never won a game against a Big East team. The Scarlet Knights got it started as Nick Borgese kicked a 42-yard field goal and gave themselves a 3-0 lead. Not much later, Zack Hitchens scored on a 1-yard pass and gave Kent State a lead they would build on in an upset win. Touchdowns by Mark Farkler, Dri Harcher, Traylon Durham, and Josh Boyle built up 35 points for the Golden Flashes. Rutgers was able to counter with Tim Wright, Brandon Coleman, and Jawan Jamison TD's to make up for many of those points given up, but it would not be enough as Kentucky State pulled off a major upset against the #15 team in the country in New Jersey in a 35-23 rout of the Knights. With this crushing loss, Rutgers has completely fallen off the rankings heading into a Week 10 bye.
       I apologize for such a late weekly College Football update as I was one of many affected by Hurricane Sandy.