Clan-Members » Abletts goal and the final siren, Buckle

A victory by fourth-ranked Washington over No. 9 Colorado in the Pac-12 Championship Game might be enough to get the Huskies into the College Football Playoff.But maybe not.The prospect of the Big Ten getting two teams into the four-team playoff could shut out Washington (11-1), even if it defeats the surprising Buffaloes (10-2), who went from worst to first in the Pac-12 South in one season.The teams play in the sixth Pac-12 Championship Game on Friday night at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. The North champ is 5-0 in the league title game.Washingtons poor non-conference strength of schedule (Rutgers, Idaho, Portland State) could come into play when the selection committee makes its decisions, but first there is the matter of finding a way to beat a veteran, balanced Colorado squad.Ive always said that if we take care of business, everywhere Ive been, those people usually do the right thing, Huskies coach Chris Petersen said. Our whole focus is on Colorado. Weve got a big hurdle there, and if we can get over that hurdle, yeah.The Buffaloes cleared big hurdles in the past two weeks, twice defeating teams ranked No. 22. They followed a 38-24 win over Washington State with a 27-22 win against Utah to clinch the South at 8-1. That marks three more conference victories than Colorado managed over its first five seasons in the Pac-12.I cant say enough about these seniors. Im speechless to be honest with you, said coach Mike MacIntyre.Theyre my heroes, thats the best way to say it. A hero goes beyond and above what you think they can do. They dont listen to anything. They keep going out there and rescuing people. Thats what these young men have done, they keep lifting each other up and lifting us up.Washington is third nationally in scoring at 44.8 points per game.Sophomore quarterback Jake Browning is third in the country in passing touchdowns (40), fourth in passing efficiency (181.6 rating) and ninth in yards per completion (14.78). In last weeks showdown at Washington State for the Pac-12 North title, he completed 21 of 29 passes for 292 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.Sophomore running back Myles Gaskin ran for 1,180 yards in the regular season, his second season of at least 1,000 yards. Speedy senior John Ross is second nationally with 16 touchdown catches. Wide receiver Dante Pettis has 14 touchdown receptions.Their quarterback is extremely accurate, MacIntyre said. Gaskins and Ross are just so fast and explosive, Pettis catches everything and their offensive line is good. Id call it a precise, efficient offense with big-play capabilities.Colorado ranks 13th nationally in total defense (323.8 yards per game) and scoring defense (18.8 points). Senior cornerback Chidobe Awuzie was selected the teams most valuable defensive player; he has 54 tackles, 10 pass break-ups and a nine career sacks, four this season. Safety Tedric Thompson has tied the school record for most interceptions in a season with seven.The Buffaloes offense isnt as explosive as Washingtons, but the run-pass balance is formidable. Senior quarterback Sefo Liufau has thrown for 2,150 yards, completing 64.6 percent of his 277 passes, with just three interceptions. Running back Phillip Lindsay posted 1,136 rushing yards in the regular season, to go with 44 receptions. Liufau also has 483 rushing yards.They keep their offense in third-and-manageable situations and then they spread you out and then he keeps it, Petersen said of Liufau. Hes tough and big and strong. Hell put his pads down, and you look up and hes got three yards or hes got four yards by tough running.Washingtons hallmark on defense is being able to control the action with its front four, able to pressure the passer without blitzing and not needing to stack the box to stop the run. The Huskies 16 interceptions are tied for 10th in the country.The Huskies defense is packed with five of the top 102 draft-eligible prospects for 2017, according to NFLDraftScout.com. Three of those are defensive backs -- cornerbacks Sidney Jones (No. 20) and Kevin King (No. 102), and safety Budda Baker (No. 48).Washington did lose starting linebackers Joe Mathis and Azeem Victor to injuries during the season, but redshirt freshman D.J. Beavers is making the most of his new opportunity. Beavers tallied four tackles with a forced fumble, fumble recovery and interception in last weeks game against Washington State.Washington and Colorado each lost to USC, with the Buffaloes also dropping a game at Michigan. They were leading that game in the second half before Liufau left with an injury.The Huskies have won six consecutive meetings against Colorado, the last coming in 2014 in Boulder, 38-23. Red Schoendienst . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Randy Arozarena . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/custom-andrew-miller-jersey-large-971q.html . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. Steve Carlton . Fellow centre Pavel Datsyuk remains out because of a concussion. Zetterberg has 11 goals and 19 assists for a team-high 30 points, and Datsyuk has a team-high 12 goals and 11 assists. Andrew Knizner . Michell Burger, a woman who lives on an estate next to Pistorius gated community, said she and her husband were awoken by the screams in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14 last year, when Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp by shooting four times through a door in his bathroom. Nearly a decade after his AFL playing career ended in heartbreak, Nathan Buckley still curses Jimmy Bartels genius.It is an unprecedented week for individual milestones in the league, with Bartel to play his 300th game and teammate Corey Enright to break the Geelong games record with his 326th.Former Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich will reach the 350 mark and North Melbourne legend Brent Harvey sets the AFL all-time record with his 427th match.Bartel is renowned for his heroics in tight situations for the Cats.Buckley vividly remembered Bartels crucial role in the 2007 preliminary final win over Collingwood.The Magpies nearly pulled off a massive upset, but Gary Ablett snapped the goal that put the Cats back in front.In the frantic moments between Abletts goal and the final siren, Buckley sat on the interchange bench with a hamstring injury and watched Bartel ensure that Geelong would win.I have an issue with him, because in my last game in `07, Geelong beat Collingwood by five points and we were coming quite hard, Buckley said on AFL360.There were three stoppages in a row with about a minute to go on our 50m arc.The hitout came down to him and then he ran directly at the closest Collingwood bloke and then lockked the ball up - three times.ddddddddddddIt was clear it was intentional, but he knew the rules, he understood the nuance of the game, how it was being umpired, what neede to happen and he got it done.It was frustrating, but you had to admire what he was doing and I reckon hes done that in nearly every game hes played, in some shape or form.A week later, the Cats broke their 44-year premiership drought with a record grand final win over Port Adelaide.Buckley ended his outstanding playing career without a flag and now coaches the Magpies.He and Cats coach Chris Scott also paid homage to Harveys career.Hes one of those rare older players who seems to have maintained his speed, Scott said.If anything, he has gotten better as the game has evolved.He seems to fit the modern game as well as anyone.Buckley said Harvey had the rare ability to match personal ambition with team needs.Thats usually the thing that gets you - you either get too self-interested about your own opportunities, or you sacrifice absolutely for the team, he said.Hes been able to balance that really well - its remarkable. 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