First Shift: Cal's Jahvid Best Scores 5 TDs to Highlight Chalky Early Action

Here are some of the final scores from places near and far. No upsets to speak of; the Kentucky-Louisville game was the most contested of the bunch. Kentucky wins something that they’re calling the Governor’s Cup, but he probably has plenty more in his cupboard seeing as he’s the Governor and all.

Kentucky 31, Louisville 27

No. 22 Kansas 44, Duke 16

No. 4 Alabama 53, North Texas 7

No. 5 Penn State 31, Temple 6

No. 11 Ohio State 38, Toledo 0

No. 24 UNC 31, East Carolina 17

No. 25 Michigan 45, East Michigan 17

Golden Bears running back Jahvid Best accounted for all of Cal’s scoring today, breaking into the end zone five times. He finished with 133 yards. I finally came up with a relevant play on words: “Jahvid” was the “Best” play of the game! I spent all afternoon on that one, but you can have it for free.

The Gophers’ Eric Decker turned in an inspired performance. Despite absorbing a brutal hit in the first half, Decker caught two touchdown passes and broke Minnesota’s all-time career receptions mark. Unfortunately, Decker sustained another hit in the game’s final minutes and left the game with some sort of injury to his left ankle.

Cal’s defense somehow has lost track of Eric Decker 6 times for 84 yards receiving, a minor miracle considering Decker’s role as the sole threat in Minnesota’s offense. When they did finally track Decker on Minnesota’s last redzone trip, he pulled up and threw it to an open wideout on a trick play for a tying TD in what has become, ladies and gentleman, a legitimate square dance we’ve got here. 21-21 Minny in a game that appeared to be a blowout in the making after the first half.

First, the routs. No. 5 Penn State leads Temple 21-3, No. 11 Ohio State is shutting out Toledo 24-0, and No. 4 Alabama is making short work of North Texas as they near halftime, 27-0.

No. 22 Kansas leads Duke, 22-0. The Jayhawks’ Todd Reesing has already racked up 210 yards and three touchdowns. The second half may be more of a contest if the teams abruptly switch to playing basketball.

A few unranked teams, though, enter halftime within 7 points of their ranked counterparts. No. 25 Michigan leads E. Michigan 24-17, No. 24 UNC is holding off East Carolina by the score of 21 to 14, and the heroics of Gophers receiver Eric Decker (two touchdowns, one after a shoulder pad-shattering hit) are keeping them on the scoreboard versus California. Minnesota trails, 21-14.

Duke, who lost to the Richmond Spiders to open the season, is bravely hanging with Big 12 points merchants Kansas 7-7 early. This report comes courtesy of our Versus correspondent, Third Guy.

HT: Aybarbay

Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber found Eric Decker in the near right corner of the end zone. After review it was confirmed as a touchdown, and on the same play, Decker tied the record for most receptions by a Gopher.

Minutes later, though, team personnel is still tending to him. He was absolutely destroyed by a head-and-shoulder hit immediately after the catch, and it’s a minor miracle that he was able to hold on to the ball. The commentators are reporting that the hit actually broke Decker's shoulder pads.

The Decker has become the decked.

Louisville answered the Kentucky Wildcats with a nine play, 79-yard drive that resulted in a six yard TD run by Victor Anderson. Anderson was the workhorse for Louisville on the drive running five times for 54 yards, including a 35 yard run on the Cardinals first offensive play. There are still six minutes left in the first quarter.

Less than two minutes into the game, quarterback Terrelle Pryor connected with Dane Sanzenbacher for a 76-yard score. Ken Gordon tweets that It’s the longest college pass that Pryor has ever thrown.

We’ll see if this game can feature as many big plays (eight plays for 60+ yards) as last night’s Boise St.-Fresno St. game. They’re keeping pace early.

Burnt Orange Nation has your television schedule up to maximize your college football viewing potential.

California running back Jahvid Best found a seam through Minnesota’s right side, ran out of room near the end zone, and vaulted for the pylon, sneaking in for the first score of the day.

Through the first two contests of the season, Best has averaged over 140 yards per game. It seems like there’s a possible play on words with that guy’s name. Hmm. I’ll be thinking.

Kentucky took the opening kickoff and drove 57 yards down field before the Louisville defense held them to three. Derek Locke ran three times for 25 yards, leading the way for the Wildcats.

All games below start at 12:00, unless otherwise noted. There are plenty of interstate matchups kicking off early, including unranked Louisville at unranked Kentucky. The victor will receive the coveted Governor’s Cup. That’s right. Coveted.

 

Temple at No. 5 Penn State
(Game thread at Black Shoe Diaries)

No. 8 California at Minnesota
(Game thread at California Golden Blogs)

No. 11 Ohio State at Toledo
(Game thread at We Will Always Have Tempe)

Duke at No. 22 Kansas
(Game thread at Rock Chalk Talk)

East Carolina at No. 24 North Carolina

Eastern Michigan at No. 25 Michigan
(Game thread at Maize n Brew)

(12:20) North Texas at No. 4 Alabama
(Game thread at Roll Bama Roll)

Louisville at Kentucky
(Game thread at Card Chronicle)

Boston College at Clemson

Wofford at Wisconsin
(Game thread at Bucky's 5th Quarter)

Ball State at Army

Northern Illinois at Purdue
(Preview at Hammer and Rails)

200 Years Too Late reminds East Carolina fans and others tailgating that North Carolina has the most reported cases of swine flu in the state’s school system, over 700. The tailgating condiment of choice in Chapel Hill this weekend? Purell Hand Sanitizer.

Both offenses might look under the weather. UNC only managed 12 points against UConn last week, and ECU’s Skip Holtz is considering switching qbs after two games of anemic production from his offense.