This weekend in the Sports World was quite a crazy one. The World Series Game 3 in New York got us started and did not disappoint. The Mets, looking for a crucial home win to avoid going down 3-0 to Kansas City in the series, finally got the offense going led by captain 3B David Wright. Wright finished the night with a HR and 4 RBIs en route to a 9-3 victory. Also on Friday night, there was a full slate of NBA games that included a 2OT thriller between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Orlando Magic. Thunder PG Russell Westbrook, hit a 40 footer as time expired in regulation to send the game to its first OT. Then, with time running out in the 1st overtime, Magic SG Victor Oladipo made a game-tying three and they went to a second OT. However, the Thunder duo of Westbrook and Kevin Durant combined for 91 points, proving to be too much as OKC defeated the Magic 139-136.

Then, Saturday came and College Football continued to never let us down. College GameDay was in Philadelphia for the Temple-Notre Dame game, and Lee Corso donned the Irish gear for the second time this season. South Carolina had a noon kickoff against Texas A&M in College Station, and despite a solid offense performance from QB Perry Orth and RB Brandon Wilds, the Aggies true Freshman QB Kyler Murray ran all over the Gamecocks defense, giving A&M a 35-28 win. Then, at 3:30, the games really got interesting. In the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” between Georgia and Florida, the Gators defense stifled QB Faton Bauta, making his first career start, and Florida’s backup QB Treon Harris and RB Kelvin Taylor provided more than enough offense. The Gators won this year’s rivalry 27-3 in one of the less interesting matchups between the two teams over the past years. Third ranked Clemson got a little bit of a score from NC State, but Tigers QB Deshaun Watson threw for 5 TDs and ran for another as Clemson pulled away from the Wolfpack late, winning 56-41. However, the most exciting game to watch on Saturday occurred in Lubbock, TX between Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. These two Big 12 teams with explosive offenses combined for 1300 yards of total offense and 123 points. The Cowboys came back from two 17-point deficits and ended up winning 70-53. The night games on Saturday were all full of final second dramatics. Michigan survived against upset-minded Minnesota with a goal-line stand as time expired as the Golden Gophers chose to go for the win instead of kicking a game-tying field goal. Notre Dame scored late against an undefeated Temple team led by QB P.J. Walker and RB Jahad Thomas who had played together since high school and had dreamed of a marquee win like this, fell just short after Walker was intercepted on the Owls’ final drive. Then, down in Durham, NC, #22 Duke scored two late touchdowns to take the lead over Miami with just 6 seconds left. That set the stage for a dramatic ending. Duke squibbed the kickoff, and Miami picked it up and then threw 7 laterals before reversing the field with one final lateral. Corn Elder had the ball inside his own 10 yard line with a wall of blockers and ran it all the way the endzone for a miraculous game-winning touchdown. But, wait, there’s a flag on the play. Then, for some unknown reason the officials gathered together and reviewed the play (we’re still not sure just what it was they were reviewing). Anyway, the referees picked up the flag and ruled the play a touchdown. To truly understand the magnitude of this play, you have to watch it yourself.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/25359939/miami-pulls-off-miraculous-multi-lateral-return-td-to-win-vs-duke

Should there have been a holding penalty? Should there have been a block in the back? Was the runner’s (#1 for Miami) knee down before he lateraled? Was it right for the refs to pick up the flag? These are questions everyone will have different answers to for a long time. Personally, I feel there was a block in the back on the play and referees are not allowed to review a penalty; therefore Duke should’ve won the game. Keep in mind this is coming from a Tar Heel fan. However, I do know this. A game is never won or lost because of a referee’s call. There are always things a team could’ve done to win regardless of the officiating. Teams practice tackling on kickoffs in situations like this at least once a week and Duke lost their contain on the kickoff, allowing Miami to score.

If Friday and Saturday didn’t provide enough excitement for the weekend, Sunday capped it off about as well as possible. The New York Giants and New Orleans Saints game totaled 101 points and QBs Drew Brees and Eli Manning combined for 855 yards and 13 tds in a 52-49 thriller that was won by the Saints. The Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys had a defensive battle from start to finish, but the Seahawks came out on top with a 13-12 victory after kicker Steven Hauschka made a 24-yard field goal with just over a minute left to put Seattle on top. Then, prime time football came around in a matchup between two undefeated teams, the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos. The Broncos defense, which has between dominant all year, held Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers to a minuscule 77 yards and the Broncos remained among the ranks of the unbeaten with a 29-10 victory. Then, just after the final NFL game of the day went final, the Kansas City Royals capped off yet another comeback victory with a 7-2 win in extra innings to clinch the World Series title.

What a weekend it was in sports! At one point on Sunday, there were 6 different sports being played, so there was certainly something for everyone. Next weekend could be just as exciting as the previous one as well. On Saturday, there is a Big 12 unbeaten matchup between TCU and Oklahoma State. Also, #1 Clemson faces a big test when upset-minded Florida State comes to town. The day of college football will be capped off with a top 5 matchup between #2 LSU and #4 Alabama. Then, on Sunday, the 6-1 Green Bay Packers take on the undefeated Carolina Panthers to kickoff another full slate of NFL games to finish off the weekend.