You have to admit it: Pac-12 coaches aren’t sugar-coating their admiration of Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.
First, Washington’s Steve Sarkisian had glowing remarks for the sophomore who blistered his Huskies for 366 passing yards and three scores and another 88 yards and a TD on the ground.
This week, UCLA’s Jim Mora Jr. is making a pre-emptive strike.
“You watch his facial expressions, he never looks rattled,” Mora told reporters this week. “He’s 6 feet 3½, has a rocket arm, incredible intelligence, great poise, runs a 4.4, has a fearless attitude. It doesn’t matter what system he’s in, he’d be great.”
And Mora, a former coach of the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL, said he’s been asked if Mariota’s skill set translates to the next level.
“I had a couple NFL guys ask me if he can play at the next level and I told them, ‘Have you not watched him?’ ” Mora said. “He’s going to rip it up at the next level. He’s ripping it up at this level. He’s special.”
Mariota has been fantastic this season, leading the Ducks to a 7-0 record and No. 3 ranking in the first BCS standings released Sunday. He’s completed 123 of 197 passes for 2,051 yards with 19 touchdowns and no interceptions. He also has 493 yards on the ground and nine TDs.
“You just have to understand that he is going to make some plays on you,” Mora added.
PRICE’S STATUS UNDECIDED
Washington quarterback Keith Price might not play Saturday against Cal.
The senior re-injured the thumb on his throwing hand in last week’s loss against Arizona State. He first injured the thumb Oct. 5 against Stanford.
“We don’t know yet,” Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian told reporters on his weekly conference call. “We’re going to monitor him throughout the week. Obviously, we’re hopeful that he can play, but are fortunate (that) we’ve recruited that position very well with Cyler Miles and Jeff Lindquist and Troy Williams all behind him.
“We’re hopeful Keith can go and is healthy enough to go, but that decision has yet to be made.”
Miles is the only quarterback besides Price to have attempted a pass this season. He’s 5 of 8 for 97 yards and a touchdown. He also has 106 rushing yards on seven carries, including a 61-yard run.
GAMECOCKS GO WITH THOMPSON
Steve Spurrier said that there’s a chance Connor Shaw could play Saturday against fifth-ranked Missouri.
But Dylan Thompson will start at quarterback.
Shaw sprained his knee against Tennessee last week and isn’t expected to be 100 percent for Saturday’s game. Because of that, Spurrier went ahead and named Thompson the starter.
“(Shaw) may be able to dress and get back up, we don’t know,” Spurrier told reporters. “But Dylan is definitely going to start the game, and it’ll be his game to go with.”
Thompson is 29 of 51 passing this season for 421 yards, two TDs and two interceptions. Shaw has thrown for 1,307 yards, 11 scores and run for 397 yards and three more TDs.
This won’t be Thompson’s first start. He led the Gamecocks past rival Clemson on the road last year with Shaw sidelined.
In that game—a 27-17 victory—Thompson was 23 of 41 for 310 yards, three TDs and an interception. He also ran for 38 yards.
USC RB DAVIS OUT FOR SEASON
USC’s Justin Davis will miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury, according to the university.
Davis is second on the team with 361 rushing yards on 53 carries and has a team-best six rushing scores.
Davis previously was ruled out for this week’s game against Utah after injuring his ankle in last week’s loss to Notre Dame.
The Trojans have been hit with multiple injuries this season. The team’s top rusher, Tre Madden, sat out against the Irish with a hamstring injury and it’s uncertain if he will be able to play this week.
Also, All-American receiver Marqise Lee missed the second half against Notre Dame with a recurring left knee injury and USC interim coach Ed Orgeron said he’s questionable this week.
4 FEMALE REFS FOR SIAC GAME
Four female officials will be working a game between Division II Miles and Lane, in what appears to be a first for a college football game.
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, an Atlanta-based league comprised of historically black schools, said Thursday night's game at Miles will mark the first time a mostly female officiating crew has worked any NCAA football game. The league said the NFL's director of football officials David Coleman and director of recruiting Ron Baynes will attend the game to evaluate the officials' performance.
"This is a special opportunity for not only the group of ladies selected to officiate the game, but all officials in the SIAC," said Harold Mitchell, supervisor of officials for the SIAC and the Southwestern Athletic Conference. "Playing on a Thursday night is also a great opportunity for our (SIAC) officials to partner with officials from an FCS conference.
"To that point, it's also very important for everyone to understand that the selected crew are all outstanding officials, and not just females."
Yvonda Lewis will be the head linesman and work with line judge Tangela Mitchell, field judge Sabrina Brunson and back judge Krystle Apellaniz.
All four, who will work with former NFL player umpire Terry Killens, have risen through the NFL Officiating Development Program.
Brunson of Atlanta and Houston's Lewis have already made history. Brunson became the SIAC's first female official in 1995 and Lewis was the first woman to officiate in a SWAC game in 2009.
She has been working SIAC games since 2010.
Mitchell, who lives in Atlanta, and Apellaniz of Oviedo, Fla., both are in their first year in the SIAC.
Contributors: Ken Bradley, The Associated Press