The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - November 25, 2002 - 5B "PERSONALLY, I DON'T RESPECT (OHIO STATE'S) SECONDARY." - - MICHIGAN WIDE RECEIVER RON BELLAMY. WEEKEND'S BEST HOW THE AP TOP 25 FARED NEW AP TOP 25 APPLE SAUCE: In the battle for the Apple Cup between Washington and Washington State, the final play of the game will no doubt be argued by both sides for years to come. Washington entered the third over- time and kicked a field goal to go up 29-26. On the first play for the Cougars, quarterback Matt Kegel (Jason Gesser injured his ankle in the previous series) dropped back for a pass, and the Huskies' Kai Ellis knocked the ball lose, the ball hit the turf and Ellis picked it up, seemingly ending the game. The referees conferred, and decid- ed it was a backwards pass, so it was a live ball when Kegel let it go, and Ellis recovered the fum- bled to end the game, 29-26. "That was just a bad pass. It was a forward pass," Washington State coach Mike Price said, indi- cating it was incomplete and the Cougars should have retained pos- session. SPARTANS SPANKED: Larry Johnson stepped up his candidacy for Heis- man this weekend against Michi- gan State, rushing for 279 yards and four touchdowns in Penn State's 61-7 thrashing of the Spar- tans. Johnson's day was done at half- time, but it was enough to give him more than 2,000 yards rush- ing on the season and make him one of the frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy. Associated Press Poll for week of November 19. All games played November 23. Team: 1. Miami (Fla.) 2. Ohio State 3. Washington State 4. Oklahoma 5. Iowa 6. Georgia 7. Southern Cal. 8. Notre Dame 9. Alabama 10. Kansas State 11. Texas 12. Michigan 13. Virginia Tech 14. Florida State 15. Penn State 16. Colorado 17. Pittsburgh 18. Maryland 19. Florida 20. Colorado State 21. Louisiana State 22. Texas Christian 23. Boise State 24. Texas Tech 25. UCLA Last week: beat Pittsburgh 28-21 beat Michigan 14-9 lost to Washington 29-26 (30T) beat Texas Tech 60-15 idle idle beat UCLA 52-21 beat Rutgers 42-0 lost to Auburn 17-7 beat Missouri 38-0 idle lost to Ohio State 14-9 lost to West Virginia 21-18 lost to North Carolina State 17-7 beat Michigan State 61-7 idle lost to Miami 28-21 lost to Virginia 48-13 idle beat New Mexico 22-14 beat Mississippi 1413 lost to East Carolina 31-28 beat Nevada 44-7 lost to Oklahoma 60-15 lost to Southern Cal. 52-21 This week. at Syracuse idle idle at Oklahoma State idle at Georgia Tech vs. Notre Dame at Southern Cal. at Hawaii idle at Texas A&M kle vs. Virginia vs. Florida idle at Nebraska vs. West Virginia vs. Wake Forest at Florida State vs. UNLV at Arkansas vs. Memphis idle idle vs. Washington State TEAM 1. Mian 2. Ohio 3. Okla 4. lowa 5. Geor 6. Sout 7. Notr 8. Kan 9. Was 10. Tex 11. Per 12. Mic 13. Col 14. Ala 15. Flo 16. Col 17. Pitt 18. Lou 19. Boi 20. Aut 21. Nor 22. V/irg 23. Flor 24. We 25. Ma (first-place votes in parentheses) PTS I mi (Fla.) (71) 1,823 State (2) 1,748 homa 1,654 1,625 gia 1,513 hern Cal. 1,421 e Dame 1,366 sas State 1,305 hington State 1,239 as 1,196 nn State 1,019 HIGAN 958 orado 924 bama 849 rida 757 orado State 743 tsburgh 619 risiana State 559 se State 372 burn 370 rth Carolina State 300 ginia Tech 284 rida State 255 st Virginia 251 ryland 120 PVS 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 10 3 11 15 12 16 9 19 20 17 21 23 NR NR 13 14 NR 18 Dropped out: Texas Christian 22, Texas Tech 24, UCLA 25 Washington State's Jason Gesser HEISMAN HYPE After weeks and weeks of naming its players of the week, the Daily football writers will finally make their endorsement for the Heisman trophy. Unlike many Daily players of the week, these four players have not simply been flashes in the pan. They have led their teams to have absolutely incredible seasons - and in the case of Iowa and Penn State, surprising ones. The list includes two Big Ten players (Iowa's Brad Banks and Penn State's Larry Johnson) and the duo from Miami (Ken Dorsey and Willis McGahee). Although all four may not be invited to the ceremony, each should be given his due. BRAD BANKS, IOWA Why Banks?: Why Banks? Why Banks? Are you kidding? Because he's the only guy you hadn't heard of before the season began; because he came out of nowhere to engineer arguably the most prolific offense in the country. Because he is the second-highest rated passer in the country, behind only Ryan Dinwiddle of Boise State. Because if you go to a sporting goods store in Iowa City you can't find a No. 7 jersey. Yet. It would be great if there were a slew of close games that Banks won with dramatic fourth quar- ter comebacks, but there are not, because the Hawkeyes' offense has trampled nearly every defense they have faced. The only game that Iowa lost, and the closest game the Hawkeyes have played, was a Sept. 14 loss to instate rival Iowa State. But even then Banks threw two touchdowns and no interceptions, and Iowa post- ed a 31 on the scoreboard. Banks has thrown just four interceptions all season. Iowa is averaging 38.8 points per game, and has gained momentum as the season has continued. One of the nuances of Heisman voting is the ten- dency of voters to look for guys to finish strong. Two of Banks' competitors, Miami's Ken Dorsey and Willis McGahee, have continued to post good (not great) statistics, but their offense has slowed down. Banks, meanwhile, saved his best for last, pro- ducing nine touchdowns in his last two games (five in the air, four on the ground) and going a perfect 10-for-10 on passing in his second-to-last LARRY JOHNSON, PENN STATE Why Johnson?: Anyone who has tried to tackle Larry Johnson this season would tell you how absolutely ridiculous that question is. Johnson is by far the most versatile player in America. He is impossible to bring down, and maybe the most important thing he has brought to the Penn State offense is his ability to catch the football out of the backfield. Johnson has been the key to the Nittany Lions' resurgence this season, because in the prior three seasons, Penn State could never establish a consistent ground attack. Johnson spent his first three years trying to break through the pack of Penn State runners who were trying take over the starting role, but Paterno never gave him his shot. Paterno said that he regretted that John- son was not his starter last season, and the sen- ior has shown why. Saturday against Michigan State, he became the ninth player in NCAA Division 1-A history to run for 2,000 yards in a season, as he carried 19 times for 279 yards and four touchdowns in the first half alone. In the first half, folks! This came after last week when he ran for 327 yards in Penn State's win over Indiana. Johnson leads the nation in rush- ing and all-purpose yardage, and get this - he's rushed for eight yards per carry on the season. To put it in perspective, that means that Johnson gets three first downs in four carries. Heisman Trophies are traditionally won by being a veteran player who leads his team to success in the month of November. Penn State, after two Iowa's Brad Banks game, against Northwestern. The only thing that could get in the way of Banks' Heisman candidacy is that the only thing he will have done in the waning days of November and early days of December is study for his finals. The Hawkeyes' regular season is done; but truly, Banks' Heisman hopes are not. - David Horn KEN DORSEY, MIAMI (FLA. ) Why Dorsey?: He may be a dorky-looking, lanky beanpole, but Dorsey sure knows how to win football games. He's the unquestioned leader on the best team in the nation and is an impressive 20-0 as a starter. How many other quarterbacks can say that? Dorsey's numbers are nearly identical to those from last season's national title season - when he was a finalist for the award. He completes 55- percent of his passes, boasts a 139.2 quarter- back rating and has more than twice as many touchdowns (22) as picks (9). Yes, the 6-foot-5, 200 pounder does have one of the best tailback's in the nation in Willis McGa- hee and numerous NFL prospects around him, but there's something to be said about a guy who can effectively lead a group of superstars and keep the defending national champs moti- vated and focused throughout a quest for a repeat. o Dorsey's the one they look to in the huddle, the one who helps set up the running game with his cannon of an arm, and unfortunately the one who takes the heat when Miami showed that it is, in fact, human over the course of this season. He may not be racking up an absurd amount of fantasy points (sorry guys) but part of that is because the coaching staff has put more empha- sis on running the ball - and McGahee reaps some of the benefits near the goalline. Dorsey wins football games in a pressure-packed situation for a school that expects nothing less WILLIS MCGAHEE, MAmI (FLA. ) Why McGahee?: It is as simple as this: McGahee is the best player on the nation's best team. As ESPN analyst Trev Alberts would say, "There is no better player in the nation, obviously." But unlike Alberts, I will provide much information as to why McGahee deserves the award. First, aside from his team's current ranking as No. 1, McGahee is putting up the numbers. He has rushed for nearly 1,500 yards, 6.4 yards per carry and has broken former Hurricanes' stand- out Edgerrin James' record for most rushing touchdowns. Second, he is a complete player. Like James, McGahee is a dangerous receiver out of the back- field. On the season, he has 22 receptions for 329 yards - an average of 15 yards per catch. Third and most importantly, he has kept Miami winning. The team's struggles have been well doc- umented, but McGahee's play has kept the Hurri- canes unbeaten against some stiff competition. o He broke on to the national scene by rushing for more than 200 yards in the Hurricane's 41-16 romp over Florida and has been clutch ever since. Against Florida State, with five minutes left in the game, McGahee caught an 58-yard pass to set up the game-winning touchdown run by Jason Geathers. This past week, Miami edged Pittsburgh 28-21. In the game, McGahee rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score in the fourth quarter. GAME PROGRESSION First Quarter: Ohio State's opening drive is a short one. With Maurice Clarett on the sideline, the Buckeyes go three-and- out and punt. Two times on the Wolverines' opening drive they face a third and long and both times John Navarre completes first down pass- es. But the drive stalls and Adam Fin- ley boots a 36-yard field goal. Michigan 3, Ohio State 0 When Ohio State gets the ball back, Clarett is on the field and quickly makes an impact. He catches a screen pass from Craig Krenzel and runs nine yards for a first down. Later in the drive he runs 28 yards to the Michigan 11-yard line. It appears that the Buckeyes will have to settle for a field goal, when Krenzel throws the ball away on third down, but Jeremy LeSueur is called for pass interfer- ence. Clarett runs two yards for a touchdown on the next play. Mike Nugent converts the extra point Ohio State 7, Michigan 3 Second Quarter: Michigan gets the ball and quickly goes to work. Chris Perry runs for 30 yards during the drive and Navarre completes passes to Ronald Bellamy and Braylon Edwards to convert on 3rd-and-long. The Wolverines get to the Ohio State 15-yard line, but no further. Finley kicks a 35-yard field goal to cut into the lead. Ohio State 7, Michigan 6 Ohio State moves the ball to midfield, but the drive stalls. On third down deep in his own territory, B.J. Askew runs 11 yards for a first down. Later in the drive, both Askew and Navarre run to keep the drive alive. On 2nd- and-goal, Navarre completesa pass to Braylon Edwards in the end zone, but Edwards is called for pass inter- ference. The 19-play drive ends with a 22-yard field goal by Finley. Michigan 9, Ohio State 7 Third Quarter: Both offenses struggle to put togeth- er a long drive. Fourth Quarter: After two more punts, Ohio State gets the ball at their 37-yard line, where Krenzel takes over the offense. He completes a pass for 15 yards on the first play of the drive. Three plays later, on 3rd-and-seven, he scrambles for six yards. On 4th-and-inches, he sneaks past the marker for a first down. On the next play, Krenzel finds Clarett open on the left side. The 26- yard pass gives them first and goal at the 7-yard line. Two plays later, the Buckeyes' run the option and Krenzel pitches it to Maurice Hall, who scam- pers into the end zone. Mike Nugent converts the PAT Ohio State 14, Michigan 9 Michigan puts the ball in Navarre's hands and asks him to take the offense down the field. A pass inter- ference and a 12-yard pass to Bel- lamy on fourth down move the ball into Ohio State territory. But after another first down, Darrion Scott sacks Navarre and forces a fumble. The Buckeyes' Will Smith recovers. Michigan forces Ohio State to punt, and gives the offense one last chance with 56 seconds left and no timeouts. Then Navarre completes an 11-yard pass to Edwards on fourth down. Navarre completes passes to Bellamy for 15 and 17 yards, sand- whiched by a pass interference penalty. At the 24-yard line with seven seconds left, Navarre is hit and sails a throw over Edwards in the end zone. With one second left, Navarre throws a passto the goal line that is intercepted by Will Allen to end the game. WHO'S NEXT: Obviously the Wolverines don't know who they will face in their next game, but it's fun to try and guess. Michigan will return to Florida for the fifth straight season, but likely a new location for the first time since 1999: Tampa. The Outback Bowl seems the likely game for the Wolverines, which has a matchup against the SEC's No. 3 team. If bids were handed out today, that team would be Florida (Georgia and Louisiana State would go to the Sugar and Capital One Bowls, respectively). The Gators have two wins against top five teams this season, but their season looked in doubt after losing two in a row, including a 36-7 embarrassment to Louisiana State. There's an outside chance that Auburn, which upset Alabama this weekend, could sneak into the game. -Joe Smith AP PHOTO Miami's Ken Dorsey than a national championship. He's not as mobile as Brad Banks, and doesn't have the gaudy numbers of a Byron Leftwich. But he shouldn't lose votes just because his team is so damn good and actually has a running game to support him. He wins football games. And he should win the Heisman. Penn State's Larry Johnson down years, is back in the top 15 and will most likely be playing in a New Year's Day bowl game. That's because of Johnson, and anyone who says there's been a more impressive performer in the last month of the season is kidding themself. Johnson is the the best player in college football - and the most valuable. AP PHOTO Miami's Willis McGahee Although Penn State's Larry Johnson has the better statistics, McGahee is a winner and he is only getting better. In a year where class stand- ing is a hot topic (see: Maurice Clarett), McGa- hee's standing as a redshirt sophomore shouldn't lose him any votes. Ken Dorsey may be at quarterback for Hurri- canes, but McGahee is the reason they are unde- feated. - JeffPhillips .I Brady McCollough i J BIG TEN STANDINGS Gray's Sports Almanac, or Horn Things appear to be tightening up as David Horn emerged from this weekend with an 11-4 record, riding the strength of five straight best bets, tying him with Jeff Phillips for the overall lead in that category. Horn boasted that the only way to make guaranteed money is to place it on his best bets. "If you have a time machine, I strongly recommend going back five weeks and betting $1,000, your farmand your sister on my best bets," Horn said. J. Brady McCollough and Horn STAFF PICKS WEEK 12 SELECTIONS ALL PICKS MADE AGAINST THE SPREAD. HOME TEAMS IN SMALL CAPS. ohio State (-4) vs. Michigan Illinois (-14.5) at NORTHWESTERN Purdue (-22) vs. Indiana Wisconsin (-7) vs. MINNESOTA Penn State (-21) vs. Michigan State Southern Cal. (-5.5) at UCLA CAUFORNIA (-11) vs. Stanford An__r CTT AR v rc David Horn Ohio Stte . Illinois Purdue Wisconsin J. Brady Jeff Joe McCollough Phillips Smith Illinois Illinois Illinois Minnesota Wisconsin Wisconsin Team Ohio State Iowa Michigan Penn State Purdue Illinois Minnesota Wisconsin Michigan State Indiana Northwestern Big Ten 8 0 8 0 6 2 5 3 4 4 4 4 3 5 2 6 2 6 1 7 1 7 Overall 13 0 11 1 9 3 9 3 6 6 5 7 7 5 7 6 4 8 3 9 3 9 Penn State Penn Stat. j MtchiganIate nt Southern Cal. Southern Cal. Southern Cal. Southern Cal. California :.:Ca:ifom:. C..:..lif ia C li ri fl..., 4~4 flvdi. Q4t Arndn oflrn THIS WEEKEND'S RESULTS Ohio State 14, Michigan 9 Penn State 61, Michigan State 7 Wisconsin 49, Minnesota 31 Illinois 31, Northwestern 24 Purdue 34, Indiana 10 I. ....................................... ............... . .....................................................