Weekend Top 25 results

What a weekend of college football we just completed. Not only did the marquee matchups live up to the pregame billing, but there were several fantastic finishes that made it a Saturday to remember.

	Kansas State's Aaron Lockett, covered by Sooners Antonio Perkins (28) and Mat McCoy, is unable to pull in a last-gasp pass.

Let's start off in Norman, where defending national champion Oklahoma nearly let a 35-14 third-quarter lead slip away. OU held on for a 38-37 victory over Kansas State, but there were definitely a few anxious moments for coach Bob Stoops and his staff. While QB Nate Hybl showed the mettle necessary to effectively direct an attack, sloppy play on the defensive side has to be eliminated if the Sooners hope to make a run at a second straight national championship.

While a great deal of credit goes to talented K-State QB Ell Roberson, the Sooners missed a number of tackles and appeared to wear down during the second half. Maybe their minds drifted to thoughts about the upcoming battle with Texas. Whatever the reason, things have to change in a hurry with the talented Longhorns on deck. On Roberson's 37-yard TD scamper to cut OU's lead to 35-21 about midway through the third quarter, I noticed four missed tackles, one by All-America-caliber safety Roy Williams.

As for Kansas State, Bill Snyder had to be thrilled with the play of Roberson and the resiliency his team showed on the road. Despite 17 penalties, the Wildcats never backed off, with the creative Roberson igniting the rally. Last week I wrote of Kansas State's potential struggles as the season moved along. I noted all the key graduation losses Snyder and his staff had to deal with. While the comeback on Saturday was impressive, those concerns remain.

This week, as they return home to Manhattan to face Colorado, it will be interesting to see if Snyder's tenacious and gutty Wildcats build on what transpired in the second half at Norman or slip back as the schedule becomes significantly more difficult. After facing a talented Colorado squad, the Wildcats play at Texas Tech, then return home to face Texas A&M. Later, they play Nebraska at Lincoln.

QB DANTZLER KEYS CLEMSON COMEBACK
In the ACC, Clemson's upset of Georgia Tech may not be viewed as a shocker, but it definitely came as a surprise when you consider the injuries Tommy Bowden's squad has been dealing with.

With all the pressure on senior QB Woodrow Dantzler, he responded with a superior individual effort, keying the Tigers' thrilling 47-44 overtime victory. Dantzler accounted for an incredible 418 yards of total offense and four TDs, beating Georgia Tech with his arm and his legs.

One of many key plays for the Tigers occurred as time expired in the first half. Instead of a Hail Mary pass, Dantzler delivered a scramble to remember, eluding Tech defenders on his way to a 38-yard, highlight-film TD run. This cut the Tech lead to 19-14 and gave the Tigers tremendous momentum going into the locker room.

The Tigers were missing four starters, and seven other key performers were at less than 100 percent. Two notables in that group were blue-chip freshman wideout Roscoe Crosby and top defensive lineman Nick Eason.

Besides Dantzler, noteworthy performances were turned in by RB Travis Zachery (three rushing TDs, seven receptions), redshirt freshman WR Derrick Hamilton (seven catches for 75 yards), junior WR J.J. McKelvey (two key receptions) and left offensive tackle Akil Smith (17 knockdown blocks were the most by a Clemson OT in school history).

This game had so many momentum swings it was incredible. Looking back, the decision by Yellow Jacket head coach George O'Leary to go for two with the score 19-7 late in the second quarter made for a great deal of second guessing. On two other occasions Georgia Tech also went for two and failed, which took three points off the board. In the end, that was huge.

When you miss a two-point conversion, I've always believed that there's a deflated feeling for the team that scored, while the opposition gains a boost even though they just gave up a TD. Early in the game, numerical charts should not come into play. What's wrong with a 13-point lead nearing the end of the first half? A field goal and you're up 16. In my opinion, the only time it's necessary to go for two is in the fourth quarter (if the situation dictates) or if you're looking to cut into a big lead earlier in the contest.

HOLTZ, GAMECOCKS WON'T BOW TO 'BAMA
We saw again Saturday why South Carolina's Lou Holtz is regarded as a superior, Hall of Fame college football coach and one of the greatest of all time. In key road wins against Georgia and Mississippi State, the Gamecocks won with defense, highlighted by the awesome skill level of super blue-chip senior DE Kalimba Edwards.

This week, it took an offensive display by South Carolina to pull out a 37-36 home victory over Alabama. Much of the credit also goes to offensive coordinator Skip Holtz for a job well done. Not only does Skip call the plays, but he also serves as assistant head coach to his father and quarterbacks coach.

At various stages, the Gamecocks found themselves forced into come-from-behind mode. They trailed Alabama 23-10 at the half, 29-17 with 8:39 left in the third quarter and 36-24 with 9:01 left in the game. With the Crimson Tide up 36-30 with 6:28 to go, QB Phil Petty led the Gamecocks on a game-winning, six-play, 65-yard drive, culminating with a 7-yard TD pass to TE Rod Trafford, a former walk-on.

Petty threw for 291 yards and three TDs while staying away from any costly interceptions. The pressure was clearly on the shoulders of Petty, since the Gamecocks were limited to just 68 yards on the ground. Derek Watson carried the ball nine times for 24 yards, while Andrew Pinnock was held to just 13 yards on six carries.

But these South Carolina wideouts made key plays all game long: Brian Scott (three catches for 65 yards, one TD), freshman Matthew Thomas (four receptions for 83 yards), redshirt freshman Andrea Gause (two catches for 24 yards), and versatile slot receiver Ryan Brewer (four catches for 33 yards and a TD).