Sunday, December 02, 2007

OSM{Florida International} 38, North Texas 19

"We're not 1-11. We're on a one-game winning streak." This comes from Paul McCall, Florida International sophomore quarterback, after making his first career start. McCall was 11 of 19 for 228 yards and three touchdowns. Since FIU's last win came in the finale of the 2005 season, McCall had not been on the field or sidelines for a win in college.

It was the final game at the Orange Bowl, where Florida International was playing their home games while their regular stadium was being renovated. The University of Miami could not defend their home turf two weeks ago in their final game at the Orange Bowl. The Hurricanes had a 58-game winning streak in games played at the Orange Bowl from 1985 to 1994, but they just totally forgot about how to play there in their final game at the 70-year-old stadium when they lost 48-0 to Virginia. Miami did beat FIU 23-9 at the Orange Bowl in September.

North Texas (2-10) jumped out to a quick lead thanks to FIU doing nothing on their first three plays before snapping the ball over the head of their punter. North Texas recovered on the 1 yard line, and then scored a touchdown on the next play. This is FIU football, right? But North Texas football had something to say about that. North Texas missed the extra point, and so they led only 6-0 at the end of the first quarter. FIU took a 7-6 lead early in the second quarter, but North Texas followed quickly with another touchdown and a failed 2-point conversion. However, Florida International ran the following kickoff back for a touchdown to regain the lead, and they never looked back.

The 23-game losing streak is now over. Florida International will not be able to break Northwestern's 34 game losing streak until November, 2010, at the earliest. Congratulations, Golden Panthers. Enjoy your offseason. SMU, Idaho, and Minnesota are now tied for the nation's longest losing streak at 10 games.

Saturday, December 01, 2007

Fresno State 30, GGSM{New Mexico State} 23

November 30--In their first game in the Golden Gopher Shame Mask since November 18, 2006, the Aggies of New Mexico State started out on the right foot with a 66-yard touchdown pass from Chase Holbrook on the third play from scrimage. While their defense was bent for two long drives in the first quarter, they didn't break, allowing 20- and 24-yard field goals to Fresno State, a team New Mexico State has never beaten in 13 previous tries. Then after a 12-play, 80-yard drive, New Mexico State scored a touchdown on the second play of the second quarter.

But this was where the wheels started to come off. Fresno State blocked the extra point on that touchdown and returned it for the rare defensive two-point conversion, only the sixth in the Division I-A this year. Thus New Mexico State led only 13-8. Fresno State quickly scored two touchdowns, one of which had a two-point conversion, and Fresno State took a 23-13 lead into the locker room. They hung on, winning 30-23.

CFSM Extra: Utah State 24, Idaho 19

November 24--I feel the Utah State-Idaho is worth reporting on here at the Shame Mask even though neither team's current losing streak can be traced back to the Northwestern streak from 1979-1982. Although Idaho seemed to win almost every statistical category, it's ultimately the score that matters, and this is where Utah State had the edge. Utah State should be congratulated for their second win of the season. Senior quarterback/punter Leon Jackson III had two 1-yard touchdown runs, and he threw for the Aggies' other touchdown in his final game. This win coupled with New Mexico State's loss to Fresno State meant that Utah State finished 7th in the WAC standings. (There are 9 teams in the WAC.)

Perhaps also notworthy is that Idaho ends the 2007 season without beating another Division I-A team.