ARIZONA STATE 34, UCLA 9
TEMPE, Arizona Arizona State scored four defensive touchdowns and downed UCLA, 34-9, in a Pac-10 matchup.

Trailing, 3-0, in the second quarter, the Sun Devils scored on a bizarre play. UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft was hit and coughed up the ball. The Bruins Derrick Coleman picked up the fumble, but the ball knocked from his hand as the play appeared dead. Paul Unga picked it up and while everyone else stood still, ran into the end zone.

Six minutes later, Travis Goethel intercepted a pass by Craft and returned it 38 yards for a score.

In the fourth quarter, Troy Noland returned an interception of Craft 100 yards for a score and 46 seconds later, Mike Nixon took a pick 45 yards to the end zone.

Arizona State netted only 121 yards of total offense, but more than made up for it on defense.

The loss eliminated UCLA (4-7,3-5) from bowl consideration. Arizona State (5-6, 4-4) needs to win at Arizona on Decemebr 6 to complete a .500 season and become bowl-eligible.

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Top 25 Capsule for Friday.

PITTSBURGH 19, (25) WEST VIRGINIA 15
PITTSBURGH For the second straight year, Pittsburgh running back LeSean McCoy got the best of West Virginia.

The sophomore scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 52 seconds remaining as the Panthers rallied for a 19-15 victory over the 25th-ranked Mountaineers in the 101st edition of the Backyard Brawl.

The touchdown capped a stellar afternoon for McCoy, who rushed for a career-high 183 yards on 33 carries.

Pittsburghs win enabled Cincinnati to clinch its first Big East Conference title and the automatic BCS berth. The Bearcats can win the crown outright with a win over Syracuse on Saturday.

While there was considerably less at stake this time, West Virginia was trying to avenge a stunning 13-9 loss to Pittsburgh last season when the Mountaineers were ranked second and needed only a win to play for the national championship.

But when Fridays contest was on the line, they couldnt stop McCoy, who rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

His 5-yard TD run pulled the Panthers (8-3, 4-2) within 15-13 with 8:07 remaining.

Pittsburgh failed on the two-point conversion, but McCoy carried nine times for 57 yards on the winning drive. He got the ball all but once on the 10-play, 59-yard march.

In last years win over West Virginia, McCoy rushed for 148 yards on 38 carries.

Earlier this week, the Pennsylvania native announced he would be returning to Pittsburgh next year for his junior season, which likely was not greeted with cheers in Morgantown.

Still, the Mountaineers (7-4, 4-2) were in position for a win Friday despite being badly outplayed in the first half.

Pittsburgh outgained West Virginia 230-100 in the opening 30 minutes, but only led 7-3 because of two turnovers and Conor Lees missed field goal.

West Virginia quarterback Pat White sparked some life into his sluggish team with a spectacular 54-yard TD run in the third quarter.

White appeared to be trapped behind the line but reversed field and used his speed to outrace Pittsburgh defenders down the right sidelines. The touchdown gave the Mountaineers a 12-7 lead with 6:05 remaining in the third.

Pat McAfee kicked a 40-yard field goal – his third of the game – with just under 12 minutes left in the contest to make it 15-7.

However, White threw two critical interceptions in the second half, the second setting up McCoys first touchdown.

That was the Panthers first score since Bill Stull tossed a 30-yard TD pass to Derek Kinder on the game-opening possession.

Posted on November 29th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: College football news, NCAA college football