Football's Week

THE WEST

1. USC (7-1)
2. UCLA (7-1)
3. WYOMING (7-1)

It was a typically gray and wet November Saturday in Seattle and, typically, UCLA's Bruins, who had not won there since 1958, came away again with only mud on their abashed faces after WASHINGTON upset them 16-3. The Huskies' determined defense, led by Tackle Steve Thompson and Linebacker George Jugum, climbed all over the soppy Bruins. Gary Beban had his worst day, seven completions in 24 tries; Mel Farr was held to 32 yards rushing. But what really did UCLA in was an 80-yard kickoff return by Jim Sartoris, setting up Washington's first touchdown on a one-yard smash by Jeff Jordan. Frank Smith's 29-yard run with an intercepted pass finished the Uclans. "They just plain beat us," said Beban sadly. "We played for the hitting championship of the Coast and they put it to us."

Down in dry Los Angeles, use Quarterbacks Troy Winslow and Toby Page methodically picked sluggish California apart with short passes while sub Jim Lawrence and Mike Hull ripped the Bears' porous line for big yardage. USC won the game 35-9 but not necessarily the right to play in the Rose Bowl. If the Trojans should lose to UCLA when they meet Nov. 19 they will still be ahead in the AAWU 4-1 to 3-1 (presuming the Uclans get by Stanford this week). The conference, however, must vote on who goes to Pasadena.

The other AAWU teams were playing strictly for the record. WASHINGTON STATE, with Halfback Rick Reed intercepting three passes and Tom Gerela kicking two extra points, edged Oregon 14-13. STANFORD hammered Air Force 21-6 while OREGON STATE beat Arizona 31-12 as Fullback Pete Pifer slashed the Wildcats for 228 yards and three touchdowns.

Salt Lake City had never seen anything quite like it when BRIGHAM YOUNG and Texas Western got together. BYU's Virgil Carter and TW's Billy Stevens threw with the persistence of Iron Mikes, but Carter, with Phil Odle catching 14 passes for 242 yards and Casey Boyett grabbing nine for three scores, had the best of it. BYU won 53-33.

After beating Arizona State 21-6 UTAH, along with BYU, still had hopes of tying Wyoming for the Western AC title. But COLORADO STATE, an independent with WAC pretensions, may be better than either of them. The precocious Rams murdered New Mexico 45-6. UTAH STATE, a surprising 0-6, finally won, over Pacific 47-9.

THE MIDWEST

1. NOTRE DAME (7-0)
2. MICHIGAN STATE (8-0)
3. NEBRASKA (8-0)

There was weak Pitt, completely out of character, stunting and blitzing so furiously that NOTRE DAME actually had a game on its hands. Pitt intercepted three of Quarterback Terry Hanratty's passes and the Irish led by only 7-0 at half time. Then Nick Eddy, shaking off would-be tacklers, ran the second-half kickoff back 85 yards and Tom Schoen returned a punt 63 yards. The proud Notre Dame defense stiffened and pretty soon it was all over for the plucky Panthers. The Irish won 40-0.