The PAC Twelver - Week 12

First: Due to the poor air quality from the wildfires in Northern California, the 121st ‘Big Game’ between Stanford (6-4 / 4-3 PAC 12) and CAL (6-4 / 3-4 PAC 12) was canceled and rescheduled for December 1st in Berkeley. Far more important than the football game, my thoughts and prayers go out to all involved with fighting the fires, and all affected by them.

Second: On the gridiron, #8 Washington State (10-1 / 7-1 PAC 12) continued to lobby for their very own Disney movie, pounding Arizona (5-6 / 4-4 PAC 12) 69-28 in Pullman. WSU senior quarterback and Heisman candidate “The Constant” Gardner Minshew (43 for 55 passing / 473 yards / 7 TD’s / 89.8 QBR / 1 unbelievable 1980’s version late-night Cinemax mustache) was again the best football player on the field, throwing for a school record seven touchdowns in the contest. #GardnerOfEden

Third: The entire Washington State receiving corp has been phenomenal all year, with junior Calvin “ & Hops” Jackson (5 receptions / 85 yards / 2 TD’s / 17.0 YPR) and sophomore “Mean” Davontavean Martin (7 receptions / 124 yards / 1 TD / 17.7 YPR) leading the charge in this one.

Fourth: The sell-out crowd in Pullman, with many of the fans wearing fake mustaches for Mr. Minshew, was awesome to see.

Fifth: #19 Utah (8-3 / 6-3 PAC 12) both went to, and humbled Colorado (5-6 / 2-6 PAC 12) 30-7 in some Rocky Mountain weather this past Saturday. Utes freshman wide receiver Jaylen “Fixin’ To Be A” Dixon (4 receptions / 125 yards / 1 TD / 31.3 YPR) went off against the Buffs, who have now lost a frightening six games in a row, after starting the season 5-0. #NotBuff

Sixth: #18 Washington (8-3 / 6-2 PAC 12) ran out in front of Oregon State (2-9 / 1-7 PAC 12) early in Seattle last weekend, and never bothered to look back in the 42-23 win. Huskies senior stud running back “For” Myles Gaskin (18 carries / 135 rushing yards / 1 rushing TD / 7.5 YPC / 4 receptions / 24 receiving yards / 1 receiving TD) schooled the Beavers “Dam” defense, in his last home game for his school. With 94 more rushing yards, which he is almost sure to get, Gaskin will become the 1st player in PAC-12 history to have four 1,000 yard rushing seasons. #TheseHuskiesRunForMyles

Seventh: The Twelver’s nominee for PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Huskies senior linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven (12 tackles / 1 TFL / 1 QBH), had more tackles than any other player on the field as he seemingly does every week. #BBK #BewareOfDawg

Eighth: Oregon (7-4 / 5-3 PAC 12) held on by their fingertips 31-29 at home against Arizona State (6-5 / 4-4 PAC 12) on Saturday, in what was a very entertaining matchup to watch. Ducks senior QB and teen heartthrob Justin Herbert (19 for 34 passing / 262 yards / 2 TD’s / 2 INT / 68.7 QBR) has had an up-and-down year, but earned a hard fought and emotional victory in his last game playing in front of the Oregon faithful at Autzen Stadium.

Ninth: Ducks Top-Gun junior wideout Dillon “Pete” Mitchell (4 receptions / 103 yards / 1 TD / 25.8 YPR) flew right past the Sun Devils secondary all night long.

Tenth: In ‘The Battle for Los Angeles’, U₵LA (3-8 / 3-5 PAC 12) took down U$C (5-6 / 4-5 PAC 12) 34-27 in front of both home crowds at The Rose Bowl. Bruins junior tailback Joshua “Machine Gun” Kelley (40 carries / 289 yards / 2 TD’s / 7.2 YPC) blasted the Trojans defense for nearly 300-yards on the ground. #TheBangBangBruin

Eleventh: This was the last straw, and regardless of the quiet on campus, SC head coach “Just” Clay Helton will not be back next year. Write, it, down.

Twelfth: I crushed nearly a twelver of Baja Perrier (Pacifico) and skipped around all of the conference games this past weekend, as the Big Game was rescheduled for air quality purposes in the Bay Area. The way I see it this weekend though, there is only one PAC-12 battle that you absolutely have to be tipping adult beverages for, and that is the 111th Apple Cup with #18 Washington (8-3) traveling east to #8 Washington State (10-1). In the rivalry that began back in 1900, this will be one of the most significant meetings of the two proud universities. #TheAppleCupOverfloweth