Semi-Finals Saturday Super Shockers! Notre Dame controls Oregon 49-27; Bama loses QB and game to Stanford, 20-7

Heading to Cowboys Stadium, fans attending the Semi-Finals certainly expected two entertaining games, but also wins that would provide an Alabama-Oregon final.  In college football, the best laid schemes....

GAME 1: #1 Notre Dame 49, #4 Oregon 27

So typical for Notre Dame's season: after a listless effort that eventually lead to a 17-10 win over Louisville, a seemingly different Notre Dame team showed up that rolled up an early lead over Oregon.

Maybe conjuring up some Joe Montana Cotton Bowl Magic of 1979, Notre Dame was in control from the start.  The Irish jumped to a 21-0 lead by early in the second quarter on Theo Riddick's 4-yard run and Everett Golson's TD passes of 8 yards and 55 yards.

The Notre Dame defense dominated early, as Oregon punted four times and lost the ball on downs before getting a break when an Irish fumble after a reception gave the Ducks the ball on the ND 21. Two plays later, Oregon QB Marcus Mariota's 22-yard touchdown pass cut the lead to 21-7.

Notre Dame quickly added two more touchdowns to put it out of reach at 35-7. Riddick burst up the middle for his second touchdown of the game, a 26-yarder, and, after Baylor punted yet again, Cierre Wood broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run with 1:58 left before halftime.  An Oregon field goal made the halftime score 35-10, and Notre Dame fans' eyes were looking toward a Miami championship game match-up against the winner of the second game of the session.

 

GAME 2: #6 Stanford 20, #2 Alabama 7

 

Some games, first drives matter, some games, they don't.  In their third consecutive Final Four, the previous two losses to Auburn and LSU came after impressive first drives by the Cardinal.  In those two games, their foes went on to dominate the Cardinal. 

 

In this game, Alabama star QB AJ McCarron was injured after an awkward fall during the Tide's first drive, and could not return. 

 

Both teams seemed to struggle through the first half.  Stanford's six first half possession's included three punts, an interception, and a fumble, but their other possession started the scoring with ten minutes left in the second quarter.  Stepfan Taylor scored on a three yard pass from Kevin Hogan, and after a missed PAT, Stanford took a 6-0 lead.

 

With sophomore Blake Sims at quarterback, the first six possessions for the Tide included three punts, a missed field goal, a turnover on downs, and an interception.  But before the half, Sims hit Eddie Lacy with a 9-yard TD pass, and Alabama had the 7-6 lead at the break.

 

However, Stanford broke out quickly from the gate, scoring early in the third for a 13-7 lead on Hogan's 1-yard run.  While Alabama remained scoreless in the half, Hogan's 17 yard TD pass to frosh RB Kelsey Young made the score 20-7 early in the fourth.

 

The final two possessions by Alabama resulted in interceptions deep in Stanford territory, and after such a dominating Sugar Bowl victory over Florida State solidified the Tide being tourney favorite, Stanford hung on to a 20-7 shocker. 

 

Notre Dame and Stanford will see each other for a second time in Miami for the National Championship.

 

 

Updated tournament results:

FIRST ROUND:

In Atlanta:
7 Florida State 21
10 Wisconsin 14

In Chicago:
8 Northern Illinois 10
9 Louisville 25

BCS BOWLS (Quarterfinals):

Fiesta:
1 Notre Dame 17
9 Louisville 10

Orange:
4 Oregon 35
5 Kansas State 17

Sugar:
2 Alabama 42
7 Florida State 17

Rose:
3 Florida 23
6 Stanford 34

Semi-Finals in Arlington, Texas: (January 12th)

1 Notre Dame 49
4 Oregon 27

2 Alabama 7
6 Stanford 20

BCS Championship in Miami: (January 26th)

1 Notre Dame
6 Stanford