Moon Knight S1 Ep 6: Gods and Monsters

What did you miss? For a review of the last episode, click HERE

Moon Knight S1 Ep 6: Gods and Monsters

from ready steady cut: https://readysteadycut.com/2022/05/04/moon-knight-season-1-episode-6-recap-the-ending-explained/

May 4, 2022

Jonathon Wilson

The first season finale of Moon Knight — which Disney+ have curiously refused to title — opens with Harrow’s men pulling the corpse of Marc/Steven out of the putrid tomb water. He’s still very much dead. Harrow takes Ammit’s ushabti from the body and leaves the golden scarab behind in a gesture conveniently useful to the plot. Ammit’s ushabti upgrades Harrow’s cane, giving it a +1 to “ominous purple glow” and a snapping crocodile head for style points. Layla watches from nearby until everyone leaves, swipes the scarab, and escapes, disguised among Harrow’s entourage.

Moon Knight season 1, episode 6 recap

That entourage is stopped by an Egyptian border patrol, mostly so we can get a sense of Harrow’s upgrades. Tapping the base of the cane on the ground now lifts the souls from the unworthy in a flash of purple light. Almost all the guards are killed on the spot, and the lone survivor is folded into Harrow’s cult. Layla attempts to sneak behind Harrow and kill him, but Taweret, talking to her through the corpses, warns her that Harrow is now too powerful. Their only option is to free Khonshu by breaking his ushabti in the Chamber of the Gods and reviving Marc/Steven. Taweret also floats the possibility of Layla becoming her Avatar, but having seen what that responsibility has done to her husband, she isn’t keen on the idea.

Luckily, Harrow and his followers are heading for the Chamber of the Gods anyway. With another tap of his cane, Harrow is able to wipe out all the pantheon’s human avatars. When he breaks Ammit’s ushabti, she emerges, a giant CGI crocodile lady who wants Harrow as her Avatar, despite his lack of balance. (Harrow explains to her that he hoped his penance would balance his scales — when he sees it hasn’t, he’s perfectly willing to die for the pain he has already caused and hand over his purer followers for Ammit’s use, suggesting he really is fanatical about Ammit and isn’t necessarily seeking personal power.)

At around the same time, Layla also releases Khonshu, and since she refuses to be his Avatar he confronts Ammit and Harrow in his God form.

Elsewhere, Marc, despite being presented with a personal paradise, isn’t willing to sacrifice Steven, so in a nice moment, he returns to the desert sands to save him. As Marc himself begins to freeze over, he reaches out to Steven’s hand, telling him that he was the only real superpower Marc ever had. With that, the Gates of Osiris open, and their light unfreezes both Marc and Steven. Taweret buys them time to escape from an incoming tidal wave of sand, and they make it back to the land of the living. Marc snaps awake, and Khonshu, who is fighting Ammit in the Chamber of the Gods, senses it and returns to his Avatar.

The difference now, though, is that the Marc and Steven personalities are on level footing. The finale does a lot with this. Steven as Mr. Knight tries to renegotiate the terms of the deal with Khonshu; during a fight with Harrow and his goons, Moon Knight and Mr. Knight switch places on the fly. The action choreography, which if we’re being frank hasn’t been one of this show’s stronger elements, shines here. There are some neat edits and transitions to enhance the effect, and the sudden synergy after weeks of bickering to and fro feels like a nice payoff to Marc’s internal strife having been resolved.

We also get to see Layla as the Scarlet Scarab after she agrees to become Taweret’s Avatar since sealing Ammit away in human form requires more than one Godly vessel. Think the Falcon but with swords and you’ve got a pretty good idea.

Moon Knight season 1 ending

The show’s big finale moment begins with Harrow, standing atop the Great Pyramid, imbuing all of his followers with Ammit’s power so that they can begin judging the people of Cairo. Those who fall dead release their souls into the sky, and Ammit swallows them, becoming larger and larger with each gulp. Eventually, she’s the size of the Great Pyramid and begins fighting with a similarly scaled-up Khonshu while Layla and Marc/Steven fight Harrow and his goons. There’s an especially nice moment when Layla saves a busload of civilians and one of them, a young girl, asks if she’s an Egyptian superhero. The look on the kid’s face when she replies in the affirmative is a reminder of how much representation matters, a little on-the-nose though it may be.

But things don’t go well for the heroes. Harrow and Ammit get the upper hand, but just as all hope seems to be lost, there’s a flash, and suddenly Harrow is defeated and everyone is dead. Marc and Steven are confused since neither of them seemed to be in control, and Layla is aghast at what just happened. But there’s no time to discuss it since they need to carry Harrow’s body into the Chamber of the Gods in order to perform the spell that will bind Ammit to it. They succeed, but Marc/Steven refuses to kill Harrow/Ammit, as Khonshu instructs. Instead, they insist on being released from their servitude, and Khonshu reluctantly accepts. A deal’s a deal, after all.

Briefly, Marc/Steven wake up in Putnam Medical Facility, but this time they recognize it as an illusion. Next, they wake up in Steven’s apartment, which Marc is shocked to see the state of, and fall flat on their face thanks to the ankle binding. We’re back to where we started in more ways than one.

Moon Knight post-credits scene

In the obligatory post-credits scene, we see Harrow as a patient in the Sienkiewicz Psychiatric Hospital. He’s taken away by a Spanish-speaking man and wheeled past the dead bodies of the facility’s orderlies, and bundled into the back of a white limo with the license plate SPKTR. Inside, Khonshu explains to Harrow that Marc was wrong to assume he wanted Layla as his next Avatar. After all, why would he ever need anyone else when Marc has no idea how troubled he really is.

“Meet my friend,” Khonshu says, “Jake Lockley”.

The Spanish-speaking driver is Moon Knight’s third personality. He smilingly shoots Harrow dead and drives away.

The Witcher S2 Ep 5: The Child of Destiny

What did you miss? For a review of the last episode, click HERE

The Witcher S2 Ep 5: The Child of Destiny

from PC Gamer: https://www.pcgamer.com/the-witcher-season-2-episode-5-recap/

By Lauren Aitken published December 17, 2021


Things are ramping up in The Witcher season 2 and I've got to say, episode five is my favourite so far. We finally get to hear Ithlinne's prophecy and understand who Ciri really is, as well as discover that a new breed of monsters have arrived on the Continent. New enemies appear to hunt Ciri, wielding that lovely forbidden fire magic from the first series, and it's up to Yen to rescue Jaskier from this angry mage. Oh, and did I mention Ciri wants to go through the Trial of Grasses? No? Well, let's get to it.

We meet Lydia and Rience in this episode, with Rience being the mysterious fire mage from episode four. He's captured Jaskier and his torturing him for information about Geralt of Rivia, specifically to locate Ciri. It's not clear who the two are working for yet—could be Dijkstra, could be the emperor, or maybe even Eredin and The Wild Hunt—but they are definitely bad news. Luckily, Yennefer catches up with them and pretends to be Jaskier's drunken wife before blowing a fireball in Rience's face. Jaskier and Yen then proceed to run around Oxenfurt dressed in bold purple—so inconspicuous!

Unfortunately, our duo are separated again as Yen is captured and held prisoner. The strange crone from the hut pays her another visit and this time Yen obliges, uttering the spell to summon herself to the hut. This time she asks for what she needs to do to regain her powers, and the answer? Why, it's capture Ciri, of course!! No doubt our favourite sorceress has an ulterior motive in mind here, but it's unclear whether she'll be as ruthless as before and sacrifice the girl to get her powers back. I'm hoping she tries to find out who this weird hut witch is first.

Triss and Vesemir convince Ciri with little effort to donate some of her blood to test their theory—that she has elder blood and, when mixed, will produce the chemicals needed for the Trial of the Grasses. And it works—a new breed of Witchers could soon be on the horizon. The caveat here is that Ciri demands she be the first to be tested, which could obviously have some dire consequences.

Meanwhile, she tires of feeling lost and not knowing who she is, so Triss suggests some kind of guided meditation to visit figures from her past and help figure herself out. Notable folks from your past—parents, grandparents, old friends etc—shouldn't be able to interact with you as they are memories, but this is Ciri we're talking about, so the shit hits the fan pretty quickly. Eventually, Triss and Ciri find Lara Dorren, an elven sage, cradling a newborn while wounded. She holds Triss by her throat, and despite her pleas, Ciri does nothing to save her, instead she's listening to Ithlinne's prophecy and watching the Wild Hunt on the horizon. It's here that we finally discover that she's a Daughter of Chaos, a descendant of Lara Dorren who passed on her elder blood. While Calanthe hated Elves and her own heritage, it didn't stop the potent lineage and Ciri is just as powerful as her ancestor.

The dream finally ends and Triss is absolutely horrified by what she's seen, stating that Ciri is "a seed that bursts into flames; you'll destroy us all!". Ciri cries out for Geralt who happens to still be at the monolith and the ground shakes as her scream pierces the air. Geralt and Istredd's theory that the monolith's act as conduits for the monsters is confirmed, and when the Cintra monolith was shattered, new monsters emerged as the monoliths were activated.

Geralt also finds out from Istredd that Yen is alive, and we see another tender moment where we see a mix of joy, confusion and I'd guess worry at the news. It'll be a while before they meet again, however, as they need to get back to Kaer Morhen and Nilfgaard. Istredd discovers that Ciri's bloodline only goes as far back as Fiona, so he heads off to see some information brokers to find out more. Meanwhile, Geralt arrives back just as Ciri is about to undergo the Trial, which he puts a firm end to, reminding her that she is extraordinary and good, not the world-destroyer Triss sees her as.

Florida State, 24 vs LSU, 23

Florida State blocks PAT, holds off Kelly's LSU, 24-23

Sep 4, 2022

AP

NEW ORLEANS -- — A play as unlikely as a blocked extra point with no time remaining made Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis' highlight-filled performance stand up — and spared Seminoles coach Mike Norvell from having to endure an ignominious collapse.

Shyheim Brown's deflection of Damian Ramos' kick sent the ball into the crossbar and gave Florida State a 24-23 victory over LSU on Sunday night that spoiled Brian Kelly's debut as Tigers coach.

"Obviously, there at the end, you know, we had some things that happened that we just can't have," said Norvell, who has Florida State off to its first 2-0 start since 2016. "But the one thing that happened on the last play is what we absolutely need."

LSU's improbable comeback bid came despite a slew of mistakes, including a muffed punt with 2:15 left.

Florida State's Treshaun Ward fumbled at the LSU 1 with 1:20 to go, and Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels drove LSU for a touchdown on a 2-yard pass to Jaray Jenkins with no time left.

With LSU fans celebrating an apparent two-touchdown comeback in the final 4:07 — and Florida State fans bracing for what could have gone down as an infamous implosion — Brown's block sent the Seminoles streaming triumphantly onto the field.

"I just had a big smile on my face and a couple of tears thinking about how much we have been through as a football team," said Travis, who passed for 260 yards and two touchdowns. "To end the game like that is really special. The game really shouldn't have been that close from the jump. But a win is a win."

Travis' scoring passes came on a 39-yard throw to Ontaria Wilson on a flea flicker and a 27-yard pass that Wilson corralled with one hand. Travis also rushed for 31 yards on a combination of designed runs and scrambles, repeatedly leaving LSU pass rushers grasping air as he spun or darted away from pressure.

"We had him dead to rights on two or three occasions and we didn't get him on the ground," Kelly said. "When you don't get that kid on the ground, he makes some really good impromptu plays."

Tens of thousands of garnet and gold-clad spectators helped sell out the Superdome and left happy after Florida State — coming off four straight losing seasons — prolonged a promising start to Norvell's third season.

This game was arguably more meaningful to Norvell than Kelly, who was lured from Notre Dame with a decade-long, $100 million contract designed to give him time to remake LSU football in his image.

Daniels, a transfer from Arizona State, started after a tight competition in camp with Garrett Nussmeier. He completed 26 of 35 passes for 209 yards and two TDS, both to Jenkins. Daniels also rushed for 114 yards.

Another transfer, running back Noah Cain (from Penn State), scored LSU's first TD from a yard out on fourth down late in the third quarter to make it 17-10.

Travis marched the Seminoles right back to the end zone, highlighted by a 15-yard completion to Johnny Wilson as the elusive QB jumped away from closing defenders. DJ Lundy finished the drive with a 1-yard TD run to make it 24-10 with 9:04 to go.

LSU took its only lead, at 3-0, on its first possession. But that drive stalled shortly after Garrett Dellinger, in his first game at center, snapped the ball over Daniels' head on second and goal from the FSU 5.

FSU's lead was 7-3 at halftime after both teams blew red-zone opportunities.

LSU's line didn't look ready when the ball was snapped on a field goal attempt, and Jared Varse knifed in to block Ramos' kick.

The Seminoles couldn't cash in on Malik Nabers first of two muffed punts, which FSU recovered on the LSU 16. Norvell kept the offense on the field on fourth and 2 from the 8, and Travis' pass to the far corner of the end zone fell incomplete.

TAKEAWAY

Florida State: Travis' combination of scrambling and passing ability gave LSU's defense fits in ways that showed up more in the Seminoles' 392 net yards than in the final score.

LSU: The offensive line remains a work in progress and at times looked like a liability. Daniels had to scramble often and was the Tigers leading rusher by 91 yards.

INJURIES

LSU: Starting defensive end Maason Smith left the game in the first quarter after his knee appeared to buckle. He's expected to have an MRI on Monday.

EJECTED

LSU lost a second defensive end when team captain Ali Gaye was ejected for a targeting foul against Travis as the QB released a touchdown pass in the third quarter.

NEXT UP

Florida State: Visits Louisville to open its ACC slate on Sept. 16.

LSU: Hosts Southern on Saturday night.

Mercer, 16 at Auburn, 42

Bigsby leads Auburn ground attack in 42-16 win over Mercer

Sep 3, 2022

AP

AUBURN, Ala. -- — Tank Bigsby ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns and Auburn opened its season with a 42-16 home win over FCS opponent Mercer on Saturday night.

Bigsby was one of nine players who recorded a carry for the Tigers, who generated 285 of their 497 total yards on the ground. Jarquez Hunter scored three rushing touchdowns, while backup quarterback Robby Ashford generated 168 total yards as he split time with starter T.J. Finley.

"We ran the ball effectively," Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin said. "We want to run the football. Overall, it all starts with running the ball. ... We wanted to do that tonight, and I'd say we did that pretty well."

At the 1:33 mark of the third quarter, the game was delayed for an hour and 27 minutes due to lightning. Bigsby scored from 39 yards out on the first play after the delay.

Finley finished 9-for-14 passing for 112 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Ashford took over at quarterback midway through the third quarter after Finley's second interception.

"I just looked at it as I got an opportunity to play ball," Ashford said. "And that's all I wanted and all I asked for. Whether I'm going off the bench or starting, I just want to play football. Whichever way I can help the team is what I'm going to do every day."

Mercer (1-1) had only 101 yards of offense in the first half but found late success after the delay. Fred Payton finished 21 for 36 passing for 197 yards and two touchdowns, both of which went to Devron Harper.

"It's always a great opportunity to play a team like this," Mercer head coach Drew Cronic said. "I wouldn't say I'm proud of the way we played. I thought we hurt ourselves a lot. But I like the way we finished each half. We showed some resiliency, but way too many self-inflicted mistakes."

THE TAKEAWAY

Mercer: The Bears were unable to keep it as close as their last trip to Auburn, a 24-10 loss in 2017, but they still had some positive moments on both sides of the ball. Mercer plays only FCS opponents for the rest of the season, so it can build on a solid two-game start.

Auburn: The Tigers already have an interesting quarterback situation brewing after Finley's two interceptions and Ashford's effective debut. Harsin said Finley "is our starter," but added that Ashford is "going to play." Auburn has another non-conference game next week in which it will be a clear favorite before hosting Penn State, so the quarterback usage will be monitored closely.

GROWING EXPECTATIONS

In his first career start, Auburn inside linebacker Cam Riley finished with 15 tackles. It was a major step up for the junior, who only recorded 14 tackles during the entire 2021 season.

"I wasn't expecting to end with 15," Riley said afterwards. "I told (linebacker Owen Pappoe) 15, but in reality, I wasn't really expecting that I would end the night with 15 tackles. ... The goal for the season was to end with 50 tackles.

"So, of course, after tonight, 50 has expanded. It's going way higher than 50. I'm aiming for 100 now."

UP NEXT

Mercer: The Bears have an off week before hosting The Citadel on Sept. 17.

Auburn: The Tigers host San Jose State next Saturday night.

Sam Houston, 0 at (6) Texas A&M, 31

King throws 3 TDs as No. 6 Texas A&M downs Sam Houston 31-0

September 3, 2022

AP

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Despite having a career day Saturday, coach Jimbo Fisher knows quarterback Haynes King can do much more.

“That’s a solid performance and he can play better than that,” Fisher said. “I thought he threw accurately downfield.”

King threw for a career-high 364 yards and three long touchdowns to lead No. 6 Texas A&M to a 31-0 win over Sam Houston in a game that included an almost three-hour weather delay.

King, who was named the starter last week after beating out two others in camp, threw touchdown passes of 66, 63 and 43 yards in the opener for both teams. King also threw two interceptions in an inconsistent performance while making his return after breaking his leg in the second game last season.

Ainias Smith had six receptions for a career-high 164 yards with two touchdowns and Devon Achane ran for a score to help Texas A&M to the victory.

“On the defensive side, I felt like they played well,” Smith said. “Sticking to the offensive side, we need to go ahead and execute a whole lot better.”

The Aggies were up 17-0 at halftime when the game was suspended due to lightning in the area at 1 p.m. Neither team returned to the field after halftime and a message was posted on the video boards telling fans that the game was suspended and to seek shelter.

The sun was out when the suspension began, but heavy rain began to fall about an hour into the delay.

The rain had stopped by the time the teams returned to the field for a 20-minute warmup period before the game resumed at 3:54 p.m.

The Aggies kept it going after the long delay on the first drive of the third quarter when Achane bulled in from 1-yard out for the touchdown.

Smith said the delay helped the team refocus to close out the game on a high note.

“No disrespect to those other guys, but we were just trying to drill,” he said. “We weren’t trying to play no games and that’s what it was.”

The defense made a stop after that, but Kameryn Alexander hopped in front of a receiver to pick off King on A&M’s next drive. King returned to the sideline where Fisher talked to him for a minute before he returned to the bench.

The Bearkats couldn’t take advantage of the mistake and had to punt. King then capped a 10-play, 89-yard drive with a 43-yard touchdown pass to Smith to make it 31-0 with about 11 minutes remaining and end his day.

“We’ve got a long way to go,” Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said. “We’ve got to get a lot better... just got to keep developing in the things we do.”

Jordan Yates, a graduate transfer from Georgia Tech, threw for 91 yards and ran for 60 in his first game for Sam Houston.

The Bearkats, who won the FCS national title in 2020, are playing their last season in the FCS as they transition to FBS next year. Sam Houston is playing an abbreviated nine-game schedule this year as it transitions and is not eligible for the FCS playoffs as the team prepares to make the jump to college football’s top division.

“I think early on we realized that we belong on the same field,” Sam Houston coach K.C. Keeler said. “The problem is you’ve got to make plays, and we didn’t make enough plays.”

Yulkeith Brown put the Aggies up 7-0 in the first quarter when he got in front of the defense to grab his first career reception for a 66-yard score.

The Aggies had a chance to add to the lead with about 8 ½ minutes left in the second quarter, but BJ Foster’s interception on the 3-yard line ended the drive.

Texas A&M made it 10-0 on a 40-yard field goal by Caden Davis about five minutes before halftime.

King connected with Smith on a 63-yard catch and run for a touchdown to make it 17-0 with less than a minute left in the second.

THE TAKEAWAY

Sam Houston: Though the Bearkats struggled against A&M Saturday, they did make some big plays and put up a fight against what is expected to be one of the nation’s best teams. They should continue to be one of the top teams in the FCS in their last season in the division.

Texas A&M: The Aggies will need to limit mistakes and play more consistently if they hope to compete with the elite teams in the SEC.

SPECIAL GUESTS

Johnny Manziel, who won the Heisman in his record-setting freshman year at A&M in 2012, and fellow former Aggies standout Mike Evans, who now plays for Tampa Bay, were among the 97,946 fans at Saturday’s game.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

The Aggies should retain their spot in the AP Top 25 after the win.

UP NEXT

Sam Houston: Hosts Northern Arizona next Saturday night.

Texas A&M: Hosts Appalachian State next Saturday after the Mountaineers lost a 63-61 thriller to North Carolina this week.

(11) Oregon, 3 at (3) Georgia, 49

Bennett, Georgia D lead No. 3 Dawgs to 49-3 rout of Oregon

Sep 3, 2022

AP

ATLANTA -- — Stetson Bennett and the Georgia defense picked up where they left off in last year's national championship game, even with a bunch of their former teammates now playing in the NFL.

Bennett threw for 368 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, a revamped defense didn't miss a beat, and the No. 3 Bulldogs looked very much like a champion intent on repeating with a 49-3 rout of No. 11 Oregon on Saturday.

Bennett completed 25-of-31 passes with two touchdowns and ran for another score in the season opener before calling it a day in the third quarter. By that point, Georgia led 42-3 and had thoroughly ruined the debut of Oregon coach Dan Lanning.

Georgia really opened it up on offense, throwing 37 times for 439 yards.

"I think when you watch what they did today, if you're watching from home, you're saying, ‘Man, I'd love to come play in that offense,'" coach Kirby Smart said.

After spending the last three years as Georgia's co-defensive coordinator, Lanning got a look at his former team from the opposing sideline in a game played before a predominantly red-clad crowd at the home of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.

He saw just how far the Ducks have to go.

"That locker room is hurting a little bit," Lanning said. "But they're ready to grow."

Bennett, the former walk-on who led a storybook run to Georgia's first national title since 1980, returned for a sixth college season with a firm grip on the starting job after battling for playing time most of his career.

Bennett was the offensive MVP of both Georgia victories in last year's College Football Playoff.

He started his final season with a career high for passing yards.

"It's always good to go in being the guy," Bennett said. "It was pretty cool."

He guided the Bulldogs to the end zone on all six possessions he played. He ran for a 1-yard score and tossed TD passes of 4 yards to Ladd McConkey — spinning away from a pass rusher who appeared to have him corralled — and 18 yards to Adonai Mitchell.

There were some questions about the Georgia defense, which had five players off the 2021 unit selected in the first round of the NFL draft.

Any doubts were quickly put to rest by a swarming group that looked very much like last year's defense for the ages, making life miserable for new Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.

"One of our mottos is, ‘No one in our end zone,'" said Christopher Smith, who had one of Georgia's two interceptions.

Nix transferred to Eugene after starting at Auburn the last three seasons. He immediately found himself facing a team he lost to three times while playing in the SEC.

Make it 0-4.

Nix's frustration was evident when he buried his helmet in his hands after a false-start penalty.

Georgia's day was epitomized by a short pass to Darnell Washington that turned into a big gain when the 6-foot-7, 270-pound tight end shrugged off one defender hitting him high and hurdled another who tried to bring him down low.

QUITE A DEBUT

Freshman Malaki Starks looks like one of the new stars of the Georgia defense.

He made a brilliant interception while falling backward at the Georgia 8 and wound up leading the team with eight tackles.

NIX IN GREEN

Despite his poor showing, Nix has a solid grasp on the Oregon quarterback job.

Nix completed 21 of 37 for just 173 yards, and his second interception — the one picked off by Smith — was an especially poor decision.

"He forced a throw he didn't need to force," Lanning said. "Bo knows that."

Even though he didn't name a stating quarterback leading up to the game, Lanning never considered giving someone else a shot.

Nix is still No. 1 on the depth chart.

"He's our quarterback," Lanning said. "He did a a good job handling some adverse situations. Now he's got to figure out how he can improve."

THE TAKEAWAY

Oregon: Lanning clearly has a lot of work to do to bring the Ducks up to a truly elite level. While there's no shame in losing to a team such as Georgia, Oregon expected to be much more competitive in their new coach's first game.

Georgia: The Bulldogs are off and rolling in defense of their national championship. They weren't threatened at all by perhaps the toughest team on their schedule until a Nov. 19 game at Kentucky.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

The Bulldogs are more than worthy of their No. 3 ranking. Smart has built a program that reloads rather than rebuilds.

Oregon is sure to tumble in The Associated Press poll. But at least every game from here on out looks much easier than facing the Bulldogs.

UP NEXT

Oregon: Home opener next Saturday against FCS school Eastern Washington.

Georgia: While this seemed like a home game for Georgia, its actual home opener is next Saturday against FCS opponent Sanford.

Elon, 31 at Vanderbilt, 42

What Did You Miss? To see what happened with this team last week, click HERE

Wright scores school record 6 TDs as Vandy beats Elon 42-31

Sep 3, 2022

AP

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- — Mike Wright scored a program record six touchdowns throwing for 245 yards and running for 84 more as Vanderbilt beat Elon 42-31 Saturday night.

"We love that he's on our side," Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said. "As he goes, we go on offense. I thought there were times where he was magnificent."

With the victory, the Commodores matched Lea's win total for all of his debut season in the first two games to start this season. It's Vanderbilt's first 2-0 start since 2018 as the Commodores spoiled Elon's season opener.

Matthew McKay and Elon sure made it interesting late after pulling within 11. The Phoenix recovered an onside kick. Vanderbilt forced a turnover and stopped a pair of fourth-and-1 attempts in the final 3:19, the second just outside its own goal line with 49 seconds left.

"I was happy for the defense to step up, I was happy for the defense to keep more points off the board and I was proud of the way they responded," Lea said.

Elon coach Tony Trisciani noted this was the first game for his program compared to Vanderbilt having an opening win at Hawaii.

"You take away those first game pitfalls that we fell into in the first half and you look at what we did in the second half, we can definitely build on that," Trisciani said.

Wright, who scored four touchdowns in Vanderbilt's season-opening win in Hawaii, topped the previous record matched by Earl Bennett against Kentucky in 2005 and set by Frank Mordica with five TDs against Air Force in 1978.

The quarterback put Vanderbilt ahead to stay with a 5-yard TD run, then dropped the ball into Jayden McGowan's hands for a 75-yard catch and run up the Vanderbilt sideline. Wright then made it a 21-0 lead with a 6-yard TD to Will Sheppard late in the first quarter. His 26-yarder to Sheppard made it 28-10 before halftime.

Wright became Vandy's first quarterback with multiple TD runs in consecutive games since Greg Zolman in 1999 with a 44-yard run early in the third for his fifth TD of the game and a 35-10 lead. He took the record to himself with a 9-yard TD pass to Ray Davis with 10:02 left in the fourth.

"It's a beautiful thing to see," defensive end Elijah McAllister said of Wright. "Honestly, it's just funny because it's not surprising to me. He does it every single day in practice."

The game started 30 minutes late because of weather. Play continued despite lightning delaying the start of an MLS game between Nashville and Austin just three miles away for nearly an hour.

This was a big difference from Vanderbilt's season opener last year against a FCS opponent. East Tennessee State ruined Lea's debut. Elon came in receiving votes in both of the top FCS polls but leaves still looking for its first win over a FBS team since moving to the FCS level.

Elon outgained Vanderbilt 495-424 and held the ball for more than 34 minutes. McKay finished with 270 yards and two TD passes while running for 52 yards and two more TDs.

THE TAKEAWAY

Elon: Quarterback Joey Baughman hurt his right leg and was helped to a cart and taken to the locker room just before halftime. He was 1 of 2 for 10 yards passing, and Baughman also ran four times for 20 yards.

Vanderbilt: These Commodores are proving to be very offensive, scoring 21 points in the first quarter for 84 points through the first five quarters this season. It's their best offensive start since opening the 1970 season with 91 points. ... They also can score quickly. Four drives took 1:57 or less.

MORE WRIGHT STUFF

The Vanderbilt quarterback was the Commodores' first to throw for four TDs in a game since Kyle Shurmur in 2017.

UP NEXT

Elon visits Wofford as part of a two-game road swing to start this season.

Vanderbilt hosts No. 22 Wake Forest, a 44-10 winner over VMI in its opener.

(7) Utah 26 at Florida 29

Richardson shines, Burney seals Florida's win vs No. 7 Utah
play

Sep 3, 2022

AP

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- — Standing in the tunnel and waiting to run into the raucous Swamp for the first time, Florida coach Billy Napier turned to an assistant and summed up the moment.

"Can you believe they pay us to do this?" he said.

It seemed like money well spent after the Gators delivered their biggest season-opening victory in more than 50 years.

Anthony Richardson ran for three scores in his second career start, including a 2-yard scamper with 1:25 remaining, and Florida upset seventh-ranked Utah 29-26 on Saturday night to get the Napier era off to a rousing start.

Richardson was the best player on the field most of the night. He really showed up down the stretch, although fifth-year linebacker Amari Burney was the one who sealed the victory for the rebuilding Gators. Burney intercepted Cam Rising's second-down pass into the end zone with 17 seconds remaining.

"Someone had to make a play, It happened to be me," Burney said.

That set off a wild celebration for many of the 90,799 in attendance — the 10th most at home in school history. Richardson took a knee from there, and the Gators rushed the field to revel in their 33rd consecutive victory in home season openers. That's the longest current streak in the nation.

"This group's got a lot of fight in them," said Napier, who replaced fired coach Dan Mullen in November. "They've got a little bit different edge to them."

Richardson ran 11 times for 106 yards and was never stopped for a loss. He completed 17 of 24 passes for 168 yards and played turnover-free football.

"He's going to get his (NFL payday)," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "He's 6-4, 230 and runs like a 4.3. He's a terrific player."

Richardson's best play? He had an electrifying 2-point conversion early in the fourth quarter that put the Gators up 22-19. He juked former Florida teammate Mohamoud Diabate with a pump fake and then sprinted right by fellow Utah linebacker Lander Barton before throwing a strike to Ja'Quavion Fraziers in the back of the end zone.

Utah answered and briefly took the lead, but Richardson responded. He moved the chains with a third-down throw and again with a fourth-down run, both of which set up his game winner.

"Just trying to make something happen. Glad it worked," Richardson said.

Rising moved the Utes in position to steal one on the road for a team that entered the season with its highest preseason ranking in school history. But Rising's last pass was his most important — or costly — of the night.

"It wasn't Cam's best throw," Whittingham said. "I'm sure he'd like that back, but he played great."

Rising completed 22 of 32 passes for 216 yards, with a touchdown and the turnover. He also ran for 91 more.

Tavion Thomas had 115 yards rushing and a score for Utah, which caught a break when it rained about two hours before kickoff and erased whatever advantage Florida had with sweltering summer heat and humidity.

GAME CHANGERS

The difference was Florida's success and Utah's failure in the red zone. The Gators scored touchdowns on all three trips into the 20-yard line. The Utes had the late turnover and were stuffed on consecutive downs at the goal line to open the third quarter.

Utah also settled for two first-half field goals, one from 43 yards and another from 31.

THE TAKEAWAY

Utah: The defending Pac-12 champions showed resiliency on the road, battling back to take the lead in the fourth quarter. Despite the loss, the Utes have enough talent and experience to be a factor in the chase for the College Football Playoff.

Florida: The Gators don't look like they'll in rebuilding mode for long. Napier's recruiting has jumped in the last two months and a game like this could do wonders to help him close the gap on Southeastern Conference heavyweights Alabama and Georgia.

"There's a lot of good energy in the locker room right now," Richardson said.

MILLION DOLLAR HANDSHAKE

Napier showed a bit of modern-day coaching nuance in the first half when he left his team during a timeout to offer millionaire booster Hugh Hathcock a handshake and a partial hug. Hathcock is one of the program's top donors.

Hathcock, who owns Velocity Automotive Solutions, gave the University Athletic Association a $12.6 million gift in April. Some of the money will be used to renovate Florida's aging basketball practice facility and some is sure to help the football program. The Gators plan to name a suite tower at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and its basketball complex after Hathcock.

UP NEXT

Utah: hosts Southern Utah next Saturday. The in-state teams played once previously, with the Utes winning 24-0 in 2016.

Florida: continues its tough opening stretch when it hosts No. 20 Kentucky to being SEC play next Saturday night.

Troy, 10 at (21)Ole Miss, 28

USC transfer Dart helps No. 21 Mississippi beat Troy 28-10

AP

September 3, 2022

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Jaxson Dart thought about it. But the Mississippi quarterback did not want to get greedy in his debut performance.

“I wanted to throw deep. I wanted to. It just wasn’t there,” said Dart after evaluating his performance as No. 21 Mississippi beat Troy 28-10 on Saturday in the opener for both teams. “They took that away but we had a lot of success underneath and we gashed them in the first half.”

Ole Miss built a 21-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes on drives of 82, 68 and 83 yards and was never seriously threatened. Dart was 18 of 27 for 154 yards, with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Malik Heath to cap the opening series of the second half.

The sophomore was efficient during the first half scoring drives, although the longest pass play covered 22 yards, a flare to running back Zach Evans. The Rebels relied primarily on a running game that produced 266 yards and mistake-free decision making by Dart.

“That’s a good thing to be 1-0. Jaxson did a good job, especially early,” Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin said. “The storyline was defense and the running game on offense. You want to play great in every areas for four quarters, so we will find a way to turn a poor second half into something positive.”

Evans, a junior transfer from TCU, rushed for 130 yards on 20 carries as Ole Miss finished with 433 yards of total offense. The Rebels scored on 2-yard runs in the first half by Ulysses Bentley IV, Jonathan Mingo and Quinshon Judkins.

“I just looked for green grass and the offensive line gave all the backs the green grass,” Evans said. “After you get green grass, then it’s all about the eyes and feet. We got a lot to build off with this win.”

Jon Sumrall lost in coaching debut for Troy.

Gunnar Watson threw for 275 yards for Troy, completing 34 of 47, with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Rajae’ Johnson in the final quarter.

“We’re disappointed with the loss because we didn’t come here to play close. We came to win,” Sumrall said. “But when it got to 28-3, it could have snowballed and our guys kept fighting all the way.”

THE TAKEAWAY

Troy: Sun Belt Conference teams, even those like Troy with regular-season title and postseason hopes, are not expected to win on the road against SEC opponents. The Trojans were impressive on special teams as Mike Rivers had a 49.6 average on five punts and Brooks Buce ended the first half with a 31-yard field goal.

Mississippi: The answer was yes. An encouraging yes. The question whether Ole Miss could pull it together quickly despite wholesale changes in assistant coaches and player personnel was settled by a defensive unit with 10 tackles for loss and three scoring drives that spanned the first and second quarters. Dart was efficient but not as effective throwing the deep ball, including a second half interception before yielding to reserve Luke Altmyer in the final quarter.

TRANSFER DEFENSIVE TANDEM

Ole Miss was heavily reliant on the transfer portal to replace major losses from last year’s Sugar Bowl team. One of the most heralded was linebacker Troy Brown of Central Michigan, finishing with 11 tackles.

One of the least heralded transfers was linebacker Khari Coleman of TCU, with a game-high five tackles for loss and two sacks.

“We showed a flash or two of what we can do on defense,” said Brown, showcasing speed in the open field to make tackles. “We still have to patch up some of the little things. But I thought our defense came out and played with energy and that’s what we require is energy.”

POLL IMPLICATIONS

The win put the No. 21 Rebels in position to move up, but a major jump would be a surprise. Ole Miss ranks sixth of the six SEC teams in the Top 25.

UP NEXT

Troy: Host FCS member Alabama A&M on Sept. 10.

Mississippi: Host FCS Central Arkansas on Sept. 10.

Memphis, 23 at Mississippi State, 49

Rogers throws for 5 TDs, Mississippi St. knocks off Memphis
play

Sep 4, 2022

AP

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- — An electric atmosphere and hyped-up Mississippi State team was diminished a bit in game one of the 2022 season — to no fault of the Bulldogs.

After lightning struck offensively and defensively from MSU's units in the first few minutes of the game, literal lightning would halt play for nearly three hours. The Bulldogs regrouped and made a late night memorable in a 49-23 victory over the Tigers.

"I was kind of impressed with the way we played for an opener. The biggest thing is we have to play a complete game. I was proud of the way that we came out and played after the delay," Mike Leach said. "I thought we handled (the lightning delay) better than expected."

Led by Bulldog quarterback Will Rogers, MSU outgained the Tigers 542-294 with the bulk of the Tigers' yards coming in the second half. Rogers was 38-of-49 in the game for 450 yards, five touchdowns and an interception. It was the 14th time in his three-year career that he's notched over 300 yards and his sixth 400-yard game.

The 450 yards was Rogers' most as a Bulldog and Leach was impressed with the composure that he had in the pocket.

"I thought (Rogers) played really well," Leach said. "I thought he really did a good job holding things together and seeing the field. Probably one of the best performances he's had as far as seeing the field."

MSU's defense dominated for two and a half quarters. MSU gave up two first downs in the first seven possessions and had allowed just 40 yards midway through the third quarter. It wasn't until running back Jevyon Ducker broke off a 50-yard run later in the third quarter that the Tigers broke 100 yards of total offense.

Memphis scored on each of its final three drives to cut into Mississippi State's 35-3 lead and cut it to 19. Sophomore quarterback Seth Henigan threw for 165 yards on 19-of-30 with a touchdown pass.

Rogers completed passes to 12 receivers and four receivers caught five or more passes each. His five TD passes all went to different receivers.

Rara Thomas was one of those who got a chance to show what he could do at receiver. The sophomore had five catches for 81 yards and a touchdown, including a touchdown on the first drive.k He had three catches in the series and MSU took a 7-0 lead.

Midway through the first quarter, lightning struck about eight miles from the stadium and sent the two teams into the locker rooms. The Bulldogs came out and would lead 28-3 in the first half and extended it to 35-3 before the Tigers were able to close the gap a bit.

What might have been one of the bigger surprises in the game was the Bulldogs' willingness to run the football. MSU threw for 450 yards on those 49 attempts but also ran it 34 times for 97 yards. The two starting backs, Jo'Quavious Marks and Dillon Johnson, ran 28 times for 103 yards with Marks running in two touchdowns.

Memphis gave up 32 first downs to the Bulldogs and had just 13 of its own. The Tigers were also 3-of-12 on 3rd downs while MSU went 11-of-13.

THE TAKEAWAY

Things got sloppy down the stretch for Mississippi State but the Bulldogs were impressive in the first three quarters. It was a chance for MSU to get a measure of revenge after dropping a game in Memphis a season ago, but it wasn't a full four quarters for the Bulldogs.

UP NEXT

Mississippi State travels to Arizona for a matchup with the Wildcats next Saturday

Memphis has an AAC game at Navy next Saturday

Georgia State, 14 at South Carolina, 35

Special teams give South Carolina big boost in opening win
play

Sep 3, 2022

AP

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- — South Carolina's special teams led the way toward a season-opening 35-14 victory over Georgia State on Saturday night.

Special teams have always been an emphasis for Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer, who watched his father, Frank, win game after game with "Beamer Ball," and its big special teams play.

The approach worked as the Gamecocks pulled away from Georgia State with 23 unanswered points in the second half.

The Gamecocks returned two blocked punts for touchdowns, new placekicker Mitch Jeter debuted by knocking two field goals of 50-plus yards and long snapper Hunter Rogers carried a fake field goal 5 yards for a first down that led to the Gamecocks' only first-half touchdown.

New quarterback Spencer Rattler took in a key two-point conversion in the third quarter to restore South Carolina's lead and it was just enough to squeak past a determined Panthers' squad that held a brief third-quarter advantage, 14-12.

The back-breaker also came in the third, when Rashad Amos blocked a Georgia State punt and DQ Smith retrieved the carom and ran it in for a touchdown.

Rattler, the former Heisman Trophy contender at Oklahoma, showed off his dynamic playmaking ability. He finished 23 of 37 passing for 226 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

Following a scoreless first quarter, South Carolina sent out Jeter to attempt a 25-yard field goal. But special teams coordinator Pete Lembo's gang took over.

Long snapper Rogers took the snap and ran for just enough room for the first down. The Gamecocks lined up versatile tight end Jaheim Bell as a fullback at the goal line, then pitched to MarShawn Lloyd on the end-around for a touchdown.

A Rattler interception on the second play of the third quarter set up the Panthers' second score, a Grainger 4-yard rush to take a 14-12 lead. The Gamecocks immediately responded as Rattler hit Marshawn Lloyd for a 16-yard scoring pass to take the lead for good, 20-14.

Just over two minutes later, Rashad Amos blocked the punt and DQ Smith ran it back 26 yards for a 28-14 lead.

Later, Gamecocks' Traevon Kenion blocked a fourth-quarter punt and Ahmarean Brown took it 10 yards for the final score.

THE TAKEAWAY

Georgia State: The Panthers will cause a lot of trouble in the Sun Belt with their rushing attack. The Gamecocks' defense mostly held them in check, but GSU won't be playing the SEC anymore.

South Carolina: The Gamecocks' offense had some creative play-calls and greatly benefited from having a talent like Rattler behind center. He escaped trouble with his legs to keep numerous plays alive. Yet its offensive line struggled to protect Rattler and the Gamecocks' runners finished with 79 yards.

THE RETURN

Lloyd was the Gamecocks' most hyped running back recruit in a decade but tore an ACL in the first week of preseason camp two years ago and missed the season. He played in 2021 but was still very much not back to full strength.

On Saturday, he rushed for 30 yards, caught two passes for 31 yards and scored two touchdowns.

CLOWNEY COMES HOME

South Carolina held a halftime ceremony to honor former All-American and No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney's jersey No. 7 was added alongside the Gamecocks' four retired numbers, although his number will continue to be worn as per a 2007 university policy.

UP NEXT

Georgia State gets another shot at a Power Five team when it opens its home season against North Carolina next Saturday.

South Carolina starts SEC play at No. 19 Arkansas.

(23) Cincinnati, 24 at (19) Arkansas, 31

Jefferson generates 4 TDs to power Arkansas past Cincinnati
play

Sep 3, 2022

AP

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- — Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson felt disrespected when he wasn't named to any preseason all-Southeastern Conference team.

Jefferson's opening week performance could earn more attention for the player who had the SEC's second-best touchdown-to-interception ratio last year and was the leading returning rusher at the position in the conference..

Jefferson threw for 223 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another 62 yards and a score to lead No. 19 Arkansas to a 31-24 win over No. 23 Cincinnati on Saturday.

"Seems to me like when the game gets a little tighter, a little closer, when he's really got to take over the game, he's got the knack to do it," Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said. "Seemed to me like most every time we need him to win the game, he makes some kind of play.

Jefferson established himself as escape-artist of sorts last year, his 240-pound frame proving difficult to take down. Little changed there as most of his yards on the ground came after contact against Cincinnati. Through the air, he built a rapport with tight end Trey Knox who caught two of the three touchdown tosses, including one that was quite literally a toss: a jump-pass from five yards to give Arkansas a 14-0 lead at halftime.

Cincinnati's Ben Bryant, a transfer from Eastern Michigan, ultimately threw for more yards passing (325) and just one fewer touchdown, but an interception at the Arkansas 20 turned into a Razorbacks score on the next possession.

The pick was one of several mistakes the Bearcats made. Four of Cincinnati's first-half drives ended in Arkansas territory, but the interception halted one and Ryan Coe missed two field goals, including one from 25 yards, as well.

Cincinnati had pulled within a touchdown on Bryant's throw to Nick Mardner halfway through the third quarter and then recovered a Jefferson fumble inside his own 10 on the ensuing play. The Bearcats started three yards from the end zone, but four penalties later, including two for delay of game, they managed just a 25-yard field goal.

Arkansas followed with a 32-yard field three minutes later and Jefferson threw his third touchdown on the possession that followed, a 32-yarder to Knox, to rebuild the lead to 14 points.

Knox, a senior, was a starting wide receiver his freshman year and had 28 catches and three touchdowns, but had just seven catches his sophomore season in Pittman's debut 2020 season. He moved to tight end and caught 20 balls as a junior last season. Saturday he had six catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns.

"He's worked hard at tight end and he believes he's a tight end. He is. He's a good one," Pittman said. "Coming off the field on his second TD and went down their side and I said ‘You happy you moved to tight end?' Those are special moments because you never know if it's going to work out."

The game was Arkansas' first Top 25 matchup at home since 2016.

The Razorbacks were 9-4 last season, their best finish since 2011 .

"When Cincinnati was put on the schedule I was saying ‘why?' to be honest with you," Pittman said. "Am I tickled to death that we're 1-0 and we beat Cincinnati? Yes. I don't want to play them. We've already played them once. That's plenty."

THE PORTAL GIVETH

Most of Arkansas' big plays not involving Knox and Jefferson came from players picked up via the transfer portal. Domineck (Georgia Tech) and Drew Sanders (Alabama) had sacks. Dwight McGlothern (LSU) had Arkansas' interception. Matt Landers (Toledo) started and caught three passes for 43 yards while Haselwood (Oklahoma) had three grabs for 42 yards and the score.

BEAT UP

Cincinnati's rally came in large part because of the passing game. Bryant took advantage of Arkansas losing starting nickel Myles Slusher and starting safety Jalen Catalon late in the second quarter and early in the second half.

The Bearcats' first touchdown came immediately after Catalon, a preseason first-team All-SEC selection and former freshman All-American, left the game.

Pittman said Slusher should be OK going forward, but he was less sure about Catalon. He did not disclose either injury.

THE TAKEAWAY

Arkansas' offense, with Jefferson at quarterback, is SEC worthy. The defense struggled in the second half after losing two starters from the secondary.

Cincinnati had the talent to win the game, but its mistakes were too plentiful against a quality opponent.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Arkansas should find itself comfortably still ranked ahead of its SEC opener next week.

Cincinnati is likely to fall out of the Top 25 despite a fair showing.

UP NEXT

Arkansas opens SEC play against South Carolina at home in Week 2. The game will be South Carolina's first in Fayetteville since 2013.

Cincinnati will host FCS opponent Kennesaw State at Nippert Stadium.

Miami (OH) 13 vs (20) Kentucky 37.

No. 20 Kentucky routs Miami (Ohio), Stoops ties wins record
play

Sep 3, 2022

AP

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- — Ahead but inconsistent after 30 minutes of play, No. 20 Kentucky needed just 62 seconds to right things and earn a significant win for coach Mark Stoops.

Barion Brown returned the second-half kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, Keidron Smith's fumble return less than a minute later set up another score and the Wildcats pulled away to beat Miami (Ohio) 37-13 on Saturday night in the opener for both teams.

Stoops' 60th victory tied him with Paul "Bear" Bryant as the Wildcats' winningest coach after 10 seasons with the program. Kentucky's longest-tenured coach was happy to win but downplayed the milestone afterward, as he had all week.

"You can't put my name in the same (sentence) as Bear Bryant's," Stoops said. "Let's compete for six national championships, talk about that. But I am grateful to win that many games, to be here this long."

Kentucky certainly needed those game-changing plays to make this win possible for Stoops after leading only 13-10 at halftime behind several missed opportunities deep in Miami territory.

The Wildcats quickly snatched momentum after the break as Brown dashed left, found a seam and turned the corner down the sideline for the big score just 13 seconds in. That TD included replay drama as the freshman appeared to let go of the football as he crossed the goal line. It was confirmed, putting Kentucky up by 10.

"I wasn't nervous, but was down on myself for doing that," Brown said of his return. "It felt great knowing I made a big play to help the offense and defense."

Tyrell Ajian then came up big on Miami's ensuing possession to force Jaylon Bester's fumble that Smith returned 23 yards to the 8. Will Levis hit Chauncey Magwood with an 8-yard scoring pass two later for a 27-10 cushion. Matt Ruffalo added a 50-yard field goal and Levis tossed a 1-yard scoring pass to Dane Key and finished with 303 yards passing and three TDs and an interception.

"We did some good things at times," Stoops added. "Had some drives and didn't capitalize. A lot of things to improve on."

Virginia Tech transfer Tayvion Robinson supplied Kentucky's other chunk plays, catching six passes for a career-high 136 yards in his Wildcats debut. His first touch went for 45 yards to set up Levis' 6-yard TD pass to Brenden Bates on the Wildcats' first possession to tie it at 7.

Miami managed to tie the game at 10 and stifled Kentucky at times in the first half but only managed Graham Nicholson's 27-yard field goal midway through the third quarter. Tyre Shelton scored the Redhawks' lone TD with a 22-yard run on their opening drive. Brett Gabbert completed 20 of 28 passes for 166 yards before leaving the game late with what coach Chuck Martin said was a non-throwing arm injury.

Kentucky outgained the Mid-American Conference school 353-290.

"We came in ready to play, ready to win," Martin said. "But those first couple of minutes (of the second half), you can't afford to do that against an SEC team."

The Wildcats played without leading rusher Chris Rodriguez, who Stoops said was unavailable along with linebacker Jordan Wright without being specific. The coach added that Rodriguez and other players could face multi-game suspensions next week for undisclosed reasons.

IMPRESSIVE DEBUTS

Newcomers factored big for Kentucky, which used at least a dozen freshmen along with several transfers. Brown and Keidron Smith provided the turning points, but Tayvion Robinson set the scene with two 40-yard receptions and 103 yards after the catch.

"I came here to be a playmaker," Robinson said. "Felt good to let people see what I could do (on the first play). Barion said he was going to get one. I told him to hang on to the ball a bit longer."

THE TAKEAWAY

Miami: Brett Gabbert's short out passes initially caught Kentucky off guard to set up the first TD, and for a while the Redhawks kept pace physically and statistically. Everything changed on two plays within 62 seconds in the third quarter, digging a hole they couldn't climb out of. Outgaining Kentucky 111-50 on the ground and sacking Levis four times were bright spots.

Kentucky: The Wildcats left points on the field in the first half with Levis' high pass off Izayah Cummings' fingertips and the QB's goal-line interception before special teams and defense restored focus and swagger. Robinson lived up to billing as the big-play threat, but the Wildcats have work to do if they hope to win in the Swamp next week.

UP NEXT

Miami hosts Robert Morris on Saturday.

Kentucky visits Florida on Saturday in its SEC opener, seeking a second consecutive victory over the Gators.

Alabama (1) 55 vs Utah State, 0

Young gets 6 TDs, No. 1 Alabama routs Utah State 55-0

By JOHN ZENOR

September 3, 2022 

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Bryce Young’s five touchdown passes were nothing all that new for Alabama’s Heisman Trophy winner.

That 63-yard sprint down the left sideline and other big runs presented a seldom seen side of his game.

Young didn’t just throw for those touchdowns — all in the first half — he even ran for 100 yards and a score in No. 1 Alabama’s 55-0 opening victory over Utah State on Saturday night.

It was, he said, a “cool” and “interesting” experience.

“I just try to do whatever is best for this team, whatever the defense gives us,” Young said. “That’s definitely interesting. It definitely wasn’t something I was planning. For me, it’s just taking whatever the defense gives us.

“Today that was just what was available. It’s cool.”

The Crimson Tide began their quest for national title redemption with a not unexpected start-to-finish domination of the six-touchdown underdog Aggies (1-1). Less anticipated: Young’s runs.

Known primarily as a passer with a penchant for scrambling and buying time, Young flashed his running ability more than he ever did last season, including a 63-yarder down the left sideline.

He also spread the ball around to Alabama’s new set of playmakers, with two touchdown passes to both Georgia transfer Jermaine Burton and Traeshon Holden and some handoffs to Jahmyr Gibbs.

Young ran five times after netting zero yards thanks to sacks last season with a previous long run of 16 yards. He also completed 18 of 28 passes for 195 yards before exiting one drive into the second half following his TD run.

“I see Bryce do that on the regular, so it wasn’t really new to me,” Alabama safety Brian Branch said. “Just watching him be himself out there is truly amazing. Playing with a Heisman winner, I can’t describe it.”

Gibbs, a much talked about transfer from Georgia Tech, flashed his speed with a 58-yard run on the first play after the half. He finished with 93 yards on nine rushes.

His backup, Jase McClellan, caught a pair of TD passes.

Alabama outgained the Aggies 559-136 in total yards.

“It is what it is, and I’ve seen people in the SEC come here and get treated exactly the same way,” Utah State coach Blake Anderson said. “We’re not built that way. We’re a long ways from being able to play that game physically and match up. Maybe we’ll never be able to.”

THE TAKEAWAY

Utah State, which finished last season ranked, had won two straight games against Power 5 teams and started off strong with a 23-yard gain. Then the offense stalled and the defense was overwhelmed by Young & Co. The Aggies couldn’t turn a late blocked punt into points.

Alabama: Spent the offseason stewing over a loss to Georgia in the national championship game and came in as the favorite to win the national title, according to FanDuel sportsbook. Then Alabama did pretty much what it wanted to against a mismatched opponent. The Tide put some new playmakers on display after losing receivers Jameson Williams and John Metchie III and tailback Brian Robinson Jr.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Alabama didn’t do anything to diminish its status as the team to beat, but No. 3 Georgia and No. 2 Ohio State got the chance to make much bigger statements. The Bulldogs beat 11th-ranked Oregon 49-3. The Buckeyes topped No. 5 Notre Dame, 21-10.

SIDELINED Louisville transfer wide receiver Tyler Harrell had a walking boot on his right foot and didn’t dress for the game. Tight end Cameron Latu also missed the game with a knee injury.

CHANNELING SABAN

Saban emphasized it wasn’t a perfect performance and there’s plenty of room for improvement. His players echoed that sentiment.

“It was good, but we still have stuff to work on,” Branch said. “It’s not like we played a perfect game.”

Added Saban: “No disrespect to Utah State — their players played hard, they’ve got a good little team. But we’re going to play teams that are much more physical and aggressive and talented than what they are, so we’re going to have to do things correctly.”

UP NEXT

Utah State hosts Weber State on Sept. 10.

Alabama visits a Texas team led by former Tide offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian.

Louisiana Tech, 24 at Missouri, 52

Burden shines as Mizzou rolls past Louisiana Tech, 52-24

Sep 1, 2022
AP

https://youtu.be/Qqgk2Ub-b7M

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- — When things went awry for Missouri last year, the defense was usually the culprit.

It was that side of the ball that gave the Tigers a lift in their opener against Louisiana Tech on Thursday night.

With their offense off to a slow start, the new-look bunch of coordinator Blake Baker came up with a trio of first-half interceptions, including one that Joseph Charleston returned for a score. And that was all the spark needed for the Missouri offense, who got on a roll behind heralded recruit Luther Burden III in a 52-24 victory over the Bulldogs.

"We struggled early to find a rhythm. We were not in sync," Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz acknowledged, "but we were able to capitalize on the momentum the defense created."

Brady Cook, who won the starting job in fall camp, threw for 196 yards with an interception and a touchdown run. And the trio of Cody Schrader, Nathaniel Peat and BJ Harris in the backfield each reached the end zone.

Yet it was Burden, the five-star prospect from St. Louis, who delivered on the hype. He caught a swing pass from Cook before making one defender miss and splitting two more for his first score, then he took a direct snap and ran for another.

Burden's only real gaffe came on a sharp throw that bounced off his hands for an interception.

"I see it every day, to be honest with you," Drinkwitz said of his freshman star. "I just didn't want to build it up too much."

Louisiana Tech's Matthew Downing threw for 184 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions in new coach Sonny Cumbie's version of the Air Raid offense. Downing didn't get much help from the Bulldogs' ground game, though, which ran 22 times for 11 yards against what was one of the worst rush defenses in the Football Bowl Subdivision last season.

"That's got to be better," Cumbie acknowledged. "I have to be more patient with the run."

Indeed, most of the focus around Missouri has been on the defense, which was rebuilt for new coordinator Baker around a slew of Division I transfers. And they got into the act right away: Florida arrival Ty'Ron Hopper and Charleston, a newcomer from Clemson, had two of the Tigers' three first-half interceptions.

It was the first time Missouri picked three passes in a first half since Sept. 4, 1982, against Colorado State.

"When you turn the football over three times on the road against a good team," Cumbie said, "and your margin for error is very small, and you give them seven points, the momentum builds against you."

Charleston's pick-six early in the second quarter came two plays after Schrader, who transferred in after leading Division II in rushing last season for Truman State, had catapulted into the end zone to give Missouri an early 7-3 lead.

It wasn't a perfect performance by any means for the Tigers, who nonetheless led 24-10 at the break.

They were on the move after Charleston's score when tight end Tyler Stephens fumbled the ball away inside the Louisiana Tech 10. The Tigers also blew coverage on a simple slant that Griffin Herbert turned into a 75-yard TD reception, and twice spanning halftime the Tigers were stuffed on fourth-and-short conversions.

Burden's short TD run and Cook's 20-yard scoring scamper late in the third quarter put the game away.

"The thing that is kind of good for me, the mistakes are all correctable, all really correctable — lack of execution, turnovers, the penalties," Drinkwitz said. "There's a bright future ahead of us but we have to get out of our own way."

WIN IT FOR LUPER

WR Chance Luper, who was expected to start for Missouri, went to the hospital Thursday with what Drinkwitz called "an illness" that is expected to keep him out at least six weeks. Luper is the son of Tigers running backs coach Curtis Luper.

THE TAKEAWAY

Louisiana Tech kept slinging the ball, even when the game was out of reach, and backup QB Parker McNeil was rewarded with a pair of late touchdown passes. It was a positive sign for the future of an offense designed around the pass.

Missouri will need much better offensive line play beginning with next week's trip to Kansas State. Along with failing to push the pile on fourth-and-short, the Tigers' front struggled to protect Cook and committed far too many penalties.

UP NEXT

Louisiana Tech plays its home opener against Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 10.

Missouri visits the former Big 12-rival Wildcats the same day.

What did you miss? For a review of the last episode, click HERE

The Boys S3 Ep 3: Barbary Coast

from Collider: https://collider.com/the-boys-season-3-episode-3-recap-barbary-coast/

BYNICHOLAS SISTIPUBLISHED JUN 06, 2022


Season 3, Episode 3 of The Boys, “Barbary Coast,” begins with a 17-year flashback, featuring a glimpse of young Starlight (Maya Misaljevic) on the “Little Miss Hero” pageant circuit as a child. Starlight’s controlling mother (Ann Cusack) counsels her before her performance when she complains of her side hurting: “Pain is just weakness leaving the body.” Starlight performs a choreographed rendition of Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time” while her mother stands off to the side, at times directing her daughter’s movements. At the end of the performance, Starlight puts her right hand behind her back and makes a fist, her hand shaking with the tension of having to disguise her pain. The narrative cuts to the present day, with Starlight (Erin Moriarty) watching the footage of Homelander (Antony Starr)’s shocking speech at his Annual Birthday Celebration, in which he made the decision to finally offer a sneak peek of his true colors to the world. Homelander’s gamble ultimately pays off, as Ashley (Colby Minifie) bursts into his room to tell him that he’s up by 21 points with his base.

The return of Mother’s Milk (Laz Alonso) signifies a return to form for the titular Boys. Along with a new HQ in the Flatiron building and a re-unified front to stop Homelander, Hughie (Jack Quaid) has undergone some significant character developments that might one day render him immune to Butcher’s quips. He attained a new level of confidence from his swanky job at the FBSA, yet the revelation of Victoria Neuman (Claudia Domit) being the head-exploding supe nearly washed it all away. In traversing this, a weathered yet more mature Hughie has emerged, one that gleefully accepts Butcher’s “Lifetime Achievement at the Cunt of the Year Awards” distinction.

Butcher announces the next mission: talk to Grace Mallory (Laila Robins) to get the full scoop on the potential Homelander weapon. Further proving that he’s the real deal, Hughie asks without hesitation for Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara) to break his arm so that Neuman won’t be suspicious of him leaving work for the day. Kimiko proceeds to snap his arm out of its socket, in what is only one of three surreal gross-out moments in this visually softer installment of The Boys.

The Boys meet up with Mallory and Ryan (Cameron Crovetti) at a safe house. Butcher presses Mallory on her secret dealings in Nicaragua that he mined from Gunpowder (Sean Patrick Flanery). Through a 1984 flashback, Mallory recounts her time stationed in Nicaragua during “Operation Charly,” an off-the-books initiative by President Reagan to drum up cash to support the Contras in their fight against the Sandinistas. Young Mallory (Sarah Swire) oversaw a cocaine trafficking operation which used the profits to buy more weapons for the Contras. She explains another element of the operation: “The unwritten policy was to sell the cocaine strictly to minority neighborhoods. Destabilize, demoralize, while staying out of white ones.”

In '84, the government added supes into the fray in the form of Payback, Vought’s superhero team at the time. Led by Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles), the decision to bring them in is explained by a young Stan Edgar (Justin Davis), who carries the same cold tone and grace as his present-day counterpart. He explains that the addition of Payback is a trial run for the return of superheroes in the military. In a first-time reveal, a young Black Noir (Fritzy-Klevans Destine), a member of Payback, is seen without his mask, arguing with Stan Edgar about the prospect of being a maskless hero. When enemy forces attack their camp, the superheroes attempt to aid the fight of the Contra soldiers, yet end up taking down some of their own people. After the battle, Black Noir is revealed to have half of his face ripped off. Crimson Countess (Laurie Holden) comes running up to Mallory, telling her that Soldier Boy has been killed by the Russians with the alleged “supe gun.” Flashing back to the present, Mallory explains that she “lost 116 men and Vought got full immunity. That was the day I decided to make them pay.”

Butcher is livid that Mallory has concealed this information for so long. He believes that if she had told him about it sooner, then Homelander might already be dead, Ryan wouldn’t have to live his life in fear, and Becca might still be alive. At this moment, Butcher reverts to his persona from Season 1: lamenting Becca’s death and focusing on destroying Homelander at all costs. Mallory offers up an indictment of Butcher, claiming that his hellbent endeavor is a selfish one and that he is just like his father. On Butcher’s way out, he tells Ryan “…maybe I don’t want to look at you after what you done to my Becca. Did you ever think about that?” Ryan storms off and tells Butcher that he hates him.

After meeting with Starlight and Homelander to supposedly reaffirm his place in the Seven, The Deep (Chace Crawford) and his wife Cassandra (Katy Breier) return to his room to have sex. In what would otherwise be considered an uncharacteristically normal sex scene in the grander context of The Boys, The Deep starts dirty talking the octopus stuck to the wall of his fish tank rather than Cassandra. However, Homelander later holds a celebratory dinner for The Deep, later revealed to be seafood-based. The Deep reluctantly eats lobster yet is unprepared for the final course: The Deep’s octopus friend Timothy. Homelander eggs on The Deep to “eat fucking Timothy,” while Cassandra texts him from across the table to eat the octopus. The Deep gives in, tragically inhaling his octopus pal who begs for his life as he is consumed by one of his own. The Deep passes his final test to return to the Seven with flying colors.

After going full supe with a Temp V injection in the previous episode, Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) begins to suffer some deleterious after-effects. He takes regular bathroom pit stops throughout the day, doubling over the sink with residual eye laser activation. The hangover reaches its apex when, in the middle of an honest heart-to-heart with Hughie after Butcher’s comments to Ryan, Butcher barfs up the Temp V all over Hughie’s face.

Before the Boys embark on the first step of their mission to attain the “supe gun,” Frenchie (Tomer Kapon) claims that he cannot go because he has a “matter of great importance.” He meets up with Cherie (Jordana Lajoie) who reveals that she has gone back to work for Little Nina (Katia Winter). She explains that she was moving product for her and had it stolen. Frenchie is then kidnapped by Nina’s henchmen and taken to her. Nina claims that Cherie stole the heroin from her, and unsuccessfully tries to convince Frenchie to kill Cherie. Their sexual history is alluded to, as Frenchie previously worked for Nina.

Before the season finale of American Hero, Starlight pulls aside Supersonic (Miles Gaston Villanueva) and explains to him the truth: that Homelander is a murderous psychopath. She attempts to convince him to let her choose someone else as the winner of the show, but he says that he needs some time to process. Homelander later approaches Starlight with a new angle for the show, touting it as the “the craziest twist”: The Deep’s return to The Seven. The Deep presents a “peace offering” diamond dolphin necklace to Starlight, which she rebukes as she kicks him out. Starlight holds the Flight 37 video over Homelander’s head. In a significant moment, Homelander highlights a stunningly valid paradox: if he loses everything, then he will have nothing to lose. He describes a nightmare scenario of pure destruction, wiping out entire cities and critical infrastructure. He declares that “I am the Homelander. And I really can do whatever the fuck I want.”

Moments before the broadcast of American Hero, Supersonic reveals to Starlight that despite her warning, he’s going through with joining the Seven. He feels a responsibility to be there for her after she refused to bail on him. Later on, at the taping, Starlight announces Supersonic as one of two winners of the series. Homelander announces The Deep as the second winner, as the two remaining contestants look on in disgust. Starlight plays her part, accepting The Deep’s apology. Homelander’s final twist manages to test Starlight’s tragically strong resolve that was established in the opening sequence. Homelander announces that he and Starlight are in love. Starlight endures a stoic state of shock as the producers rave about this plot development. They ask for a reshoot of the scene, with Starlight acting “less shocked.” This time around, Starlight leans into her role, smiling and kissing Homelander. Young Starlight’s rendition of “…Baby One More Time” plays as she reaches her right-hand back, closes her fist, and digs her fingernails into her palm.

Ball State, 10 at Tennessee, 59

Hooker leads Tennessee over Ball State, 59-10AP

AP
Sep 1, 2022
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- — Hendon Hooker threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two more scores to lead Tennessee to a 59-10 season-opening victory over Ball State Thursday night.

Hooker, in his second year as the Volunteers' starter after transferring from Virginia Tech, had 211 yards passing by halftime along with a 38-0 lead. Eight different receiver caught passes in the first 30 minutes. He was replaced by Joe Milton midway through the third quarter.

"(Hooker) was really efficient," said Tennessee coach Josh Heupel. "He was in command; in control. He was in complete command of the football game."

Jaylen Wright led the Tennessee ground game with 86 yards and a touchdown.

"Tennessee is good at what they do from an offensive standpoint," said Ball State coach Mike Neu. "It's tough to slow down an offense like that with a quarterback playing at a high level."

"We have more guys who understand the ‘why' behind (what's being done)," said Heupel, comparing his second season to last year. "We're a deeper team than a year ago.

"We know more about this football team than a year ago. Roles are going to change throughout the season."

The Cardinals' bruising running back Carson Steele was limited to 27 yards on 11 carries.

"(We were) disruptive up front," Heupel said of his defense's success against Steele. "We controlled the edges. We didn't let him get vertical in their run game."

Making his first career start at quarterback for Ball State, redshirt junior John Paddock threw for 269 yards and a TD. His first pass, on the game's first play, was intercepted by Tamarion McDonald. Tennessee scored its first TD on the next snap.

"Credit John Paddock for battling back, especially after that punch to the gut to start the game," said Neu. "Really proud of him for battling back."

The Vol defense came up with three turnovers — two interceptions and a fumble.

NUMBERS GAME

Hooker extended his streak of games with having thrown a touchdown pass to 13, tied with Tony Robinson (1984-85) for second all-time in Vols' history behind Heath Shuler's 18 (1992-94)... Hooker's two TD passes gave him 33 in his two-year career at Tennessee, 10th on the all-time list... Vols receiver Cedric Tillman had his streak of seven consecutive games with a touchdown reception come to an end. Tillman is Tennessee's all-time leader... Tennessee has scored 45 or more points in its last four games, tying a school record set in the last four games of the 1993 season.

THE TAKEAWAY

Ball State: The best thing to come out of Thursday night's game in renovated Neyland Stadium was the $1.5 million game check that will help the athletic department. The Cardinals, picked to finish last in the Mid-American Conference West Division can set their sights on improvement after the lopsided loss.

Tennessee: With the embarrassing 2019 season-opening loss to heavy underdog Georgia State still fresh in the minds of Volunteer fans, they were able to exhale when Tennessee, under second-year head coach Josh Heupel, showed it was focused and prepared. The Vols made positive strides that they will be able to take into next week's trip to play No. 17 Pittsburgh.

UP NEXT

Ball State: The Cardinals will jump into the MAC season next Saturday when they entertain rival Western Michigan.

Tennessee: The Vols will head to Pitt Sept. 10 with revenge on their minds. Last year, Tennessee gave up 27 points in the second quarter and lost a 41-34 decision to the Panthers.