By J. Parker Adair
College football
Undefeated and ranked seventh, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish went on the road to demolish the previously unbeaten and 17th-ranked Air Force Falcons 21-14. Although the score did not reflect it, the Irish dominated the Falcons in every facet of the game.
The Arizona Sun Devils recovered from a 14-0 first quarter deficit to upset the sixth-ranked Oregon Ducks. ASU quarterback Andrew Walter passed for 536 yards in the Oregon air.
The eighth-ranked Texas Longhorns ventured into Wildcat territory and squeaked by with a victory over 19th-ranked Kansas State. With seven seconds left, K-State kicker Jared Bright had his game-tying field goal blocked to preserve the Longhorn victory.
The No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners hosted the 13th-ranked Iowa State Cylcones. The Clones were not treated as guests of honor as the Sooners dropped the boom to the tune of a 49-3 route.
This year’s first BCS Poll came out. The top 5 are Oklahoma, Miami, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech and Georgia.
National Football League
A quartet of overtime games delivered four thrilling endings.
In Detroit, the Lions led by running back James Stewart and his 172 yards on the ground ran right over the Chicago Bears.
The Dallas Cowboys rode into Arizona with guns drawn to do battle with the Cardinals. The redbirds were prepared as Jake Plummer passed for 232 yards and kicker Bill “Dramatica” Gramatica put one through the uprights to send the tuckered-out cowpokes on an unhappy trail.
The AFC West rivalries took center stage as the Denver Broncos busted up the Chiefs in Kansas City and the San Diego Chargers invaded the bay area to take on the Oakland Raiders. Bronco quarterback Brian Griese aired it out for 376 yards and the OT field goal by Jason Elam was enough to defeat the Chiefs, led by Priest Holmes with 113 rushing yards.
The Chargers won the battle down by the bay in spite of another 300+ yard passing day by Oaktown QB Rich Gannon. San Diego sent the boys in black down to third place in the division as SD “bolted” into first.
Major League Baseball
The Anaheim Angels finally proved me wrong as they defeated the Minnesota Twins 4-1 to earn their first World Series berth. Rally monkey in hand, they went up to face the San Francisco Giants led by Barry Bonds. As of Wednesday, Bonds had a home run in each of the first three games and the Halos had a 2-1 series lead.
This Week’s Sports Sign of the Ridiculous
San Francisco receiver Terrel Owens pulled a Sharpie marker out of his sock and signed the football after scoring a touchdown, becoming an instant celebrity. After I’m finished with this article I’m pulling a Sharpie out of my sock and signing an issue of The Gateway.
Lock of the Week
Michigan defeats Iowa in the Big House; Emmit Smith breaks Walter Payton’s career rushing record, but the Cowboys still lose to Seattle; The Tampa Bay Devil Rays will sign Lou Piniella.
