Monday, December 22, 2003

The Bounce of Fate

What a way to start the second annual PCS.  With 2 seconds on the clock, Coach Runge put all his faith in his special teams.  The Runge lead North Texans lined up for the 47 yard field goal and the young kicker put everything he had into the ball... only to hit the front cross bar and bounce short.  The game would go to overtime with Duance winning the flip and Coach Neumann up in the booth calling down for the young coach to take Defense first.  Runge threw an interception on the first play of overtime, but the defense held sending the game into a second overtime.  Boeh's Memphis offense scored on 4 plays.  It was now time for Coach Runge to answer.  North Texas scored and lined up for the two point conversion.  The tight end shed his block into the backfield, right into Buckles, the free safety who, playing quarterback, took a draw into the endzone to tie the game with 27 seconds to play in regulation.  Buckles fell a yard short this time and Coach Boeh had pulled off the upset 35-34 in double OT.  Memphis' Strong Safety Collins earned player of the game honors with 3 interceptions, one for a touchdown.

Boeh Displays Offensive Prowess

Coach Runge and Coach Boeh squared off once again in the GMAC Bowl.  Coach Boeh led his Louisville Cardinals to a 73 to 21 romping of Miami Ohio.  At one point Duance held a 35 to 7 lead.  Coach Runge yelled from across the field ,"That's the most insecure 35 to 7 lead you have ever had."  Runge led Miami of Ohio for two quick scores to make it 35-21 going into half.  Duance responded with 38 unanswered points to humiliate the defending PCS champion.  "I'm taking my ball and going home."  Coach Boeh gave the game ball to his quarterback Lefors, who threw for 699 yards and 9 touchdowns.

"Money in the Bank My Ass"

The third game of the night featured two veteran coaches.  Coach Miller took the severly overmatched Kansas Jayhawks to the Tangerine Bowl to face Coach Neumann and the NC State Wolfpack.  The game was close at first, but Coach Neumann and the Wolfpack pulled away in the second half led by the MVP performance of T.A. McLendon.  McLendon ended the game with 214 yards on the ground with 4 scores and 7 catches for 164 yards and another score.  The final was a 70 to 43 blowout.  Coach Miller was a little upset with the Wolfpack running up the score at the end of the game.  When questioned about his decisions to leave the starters in the whole game Coach Neumann said, "Hey, this is the PCS.  You don't get here by laying up when you are winning.  We're playing not only to win, but to embarrass.  We've been on the recieving end before.  It's always nice to make the other coach cry on the sidelines.  If you can't handle that, learn how to play the game.  In this series there are no guarentees.  Money in the Bank my Ass!"

White Guy finds his Rhythm

Coach Runge started to find his way back to the winning column, but was still a little upset with his players inability to catch the ball.  Coach Runge needed two kickoffs returned for touchdowns (87 and 97 yards each) to beat Coach Schumaker and the Boise State Broncos.  The TCU Horned Frogs edged out the Broncos 35 to 27.  The game was not too spectacular aside from the two kickoff returns.  The freshman halfback Merrill for TCU had the 97 yard return.  Merrill ended the game with two returns for 167 yards, and 1 catch for 87 yards and a score, earning him MVP honors.  Coach Schumaker was just happy to cover the spread.  "Hey, he's the defending champ.  It's not too often that you see him lose 3 in a row, especially in the PCS.  Hell, he only lost three games all of last season.  We just could not get started not playing on our blue turf."

Return of the King

No, it's not the third part of a Tolkein trilogy.  We are talking about Coach Runge's return to dominance in the PCS.  Coach Runge led the Oregon State Beavers to a 64-28 victory over Coach Schumaker's New Mexico Lobos in the neon lights of the Lav Vegas Bowl.  "Hey, I'm just going out and running the ball and trying to put up 28 points a game.  Once I play an opponent who only scores 24, then I'll win," Coach Daren Schumaker.  The Beavers put on an impressive display of catching the ball and Coach Runge showed off his ability to play well with a good team.  Oregon State's Wide Out Newsome ended up with 464 yards on 11 catches for 6 touchdowns.  "All I need is a decent reciever.  It doesn't hurt to have possibly the fastest kid in the game on your team either.  This kid is the new truth.  Roy Who?"