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Louisville's Hunter Cantwell throws a pass
in their win over Miami |
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Master Football Coaches Award MCS Game Balls
Oregon’s Dennis Dixon named offensive player of the week
By MCS Staff
Atlanta, Georgia (September 18, 2006) – With No. 12 Oregon trailing No. 17 Oklahoma by a score of 33-20 with just 72 seconds to play, quarterback Dennis Dixon put his team on his shoulders and led the Ducks to a stunning victory. Dixon fled the pocket and scampered in for a 16-yard score to put Oregon in position to recover the ensuing onside kick. After a pass-interference call, Dixon threw a 23-yard strike to Bryan Paysinger for a touchdown with just 46 seconds to play. Dixon’s clutch play late in the game assured him the MCS Game Ball for offensive player of the week.
Each week during the 2006 college football season, the 17 Master Football Coaches will award an MCS Game Ball to the respective schools of an Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week. The Master Coaches will also present a game ball to the offensive and defensive coordinator whose game plans made the biggest impact in their respective teams’ victory.
In addition to Dixon, the Master Football Coaches will also award MCS Game Balls to Michigan linebacker Prescott Burgess, Florida State special teams player Tony Carter, Louisville offensive coordinator Paul Petrino and Texas Christian defensive coordinator Dick Bumpas for their performances in last Saturday’.s games
Offense
Dennis Dixon, QB Oregon
Dennis Dixon and Oregon were able to rally late to knock off a highly touted Oklahoma team. Dixon did it with his arm and his legs in an impressive performance. He threw for a career high of 341 yards, with career highs of 26 completions and 41 pass attempts. He added a late 16-yard scamper for a score to cut the Ducks’ deficit to 6 points en route to a comeback win.
Defense
Prescott Burgess, LB Michigan
Facing the powerful Notre Dame offense, Michigan and linebacker Prescott Burgess stole the spotlight en route to a 47-21 victory. Burgess intercepted a career-best two passes, returning his first pick 31-yards for a score on the second play from scrimmage. Burgess’ first interception was the first turnover by the Irish in 273 plays and set the tone for a blowout victory by his Wolverines. Burgess also added five tackles and broke up one pass in the game.
Special Teams
Tony Carter, DB Florida State
After Clemson jumped out to a 6-0 lead on the game’s first touchdown, Jad Dean’s PAT was blocked. Florida State’s Tony Carter picked up the ball and sprinted 80 yards for the end zone and two points, the first returned PAT in the school’s history. Trailing 6-2, the Seminoles blocked another Jad Dean attempt, this time a field goal, and Tony Carter scooped up the ball again and dashed for a 69-yard touchdown, making him the special teams player of the week.
Offensive Coordinator
Paul Petrino, Louisville
Miami head coach Larry Coker said it best about Louisville’s victory over his Hurricanes, “We thoroughly got whipped.” The Hurricanes scored the first touchdown of the ballgame and would never see the end zone again. Paul Petrino’s Cardinal offense followed the Miami score with 31 unanswered points. Starting quarterback Brian Brohm of Louisville went down in the third quarter with an injury, but the Cardinals’ offense did not miss a beat with backup Hunter Cantwell. They put up 389 yards of total offense on the tough Miami defense, including 95 yards on the ground.
Defensive Coordinator
Dick Bumpas, TCU
TCU extended the nation’s longest Division I-A winning streak to 13 games with a 12-3 win over the high-powered offense of Texas Tech. With only 242 total yards of offense, Texas Tech was unable to muster a touchdown against Bumpas’ TCU defense. In the Mike Leach era at Texas Tech, only one other Red Raider team has failed to score a touchdown, which was a 56-3 loss to Nebraska in 2000. Bumpas’ Horned Frog defense also forced a fumble on a sack and forced Texas Tech to turn the ball over on downs on the opening drives of both halves.
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