College Grid Roundup--Sargeant Stepping Up

In front of 109,754 in University Park, Pennsylvania, Saturday Penn State thumped Wisconsin 38-7 to improve its record to 5-2, 2-2 in the Big 10. The gritty Nittany Lion defense permitted the Badgers only 87 rushing yards. A key element in the defensive backfield was junior cornerback LYDELL SARGEANT who led the DB's with five solo tackles and three assists plus two breakups. Best of all Sargeant notched an interception early in the second quarter which was one of three first half Badger turnovers. Sargeant picked off the Tyler Donovan toss at midfield after it bounced out of receiver David Gilreath’s hands. He returned it three yards to the Wisconsin 47 and three plays later the Lions scored to take a 17-7 lead. The pick was Sargeant’s second of the season and third of his career.

After the game junior Penn State safety Anthony Scirrotto was asked by the PSU website about Sargeant.

“He was great. He is stepping up big time. I don't think a lot of people expected this out of him. He is a diamond in the rough, and he is just doing a great job at the nickel position and the corner position. He is making plays, creating turnovers. He is doing a great job out there.”

BOO

In Long Beach Saturday BOO JACKSON went 14-for-19 for 172 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions, as El Camino College, ranked No. 5 in the nation, dumped Long Beach City College 37-14. After six games Jackson leads Mission Conference quarterbacks in efficiency. He has completed 65% of his passes (80 of 123) for 1360 yards (17 yards per completion) and 12 touchdowns. He has given up only three interceptions. His QB efficiency rating is 185.2. The next-best MC quarterbacks are rated 163, 160 and 151.

SIMS

In Salt Lake City the Utah Utes clobbered San Diego State 23-7 but opened in its four-wide offense. That meant no tight end, so MATT SIMS was not in the starting lineup as he has been for the past several games. He played but made no receptions.

WHITE

In Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Ouachita Baptist snapped his three-game losing streak by blitzing Southern Arkansas 38-17. Starting cornerback DONALD WHITE registered a solo tackle and two assists in the contest. OBU is now 4-3.

VAI

In Boise the Broncos nipped Nevada 69-67 in an amazing nationally televised 4-overtime game but VAI TAUA saw no action.

UPPER IOWA

In Fayette, Iowa, Upper Iowa stopped Southwest Minnesota State 39-27 to improve the Peacock record to 3-4. For the first time this season neither defensive end MIKE SLAUGHTER nor offensive tackle JUSTICE CLEGG played.