Time to hand out a few awards for Week 2 in the Big 12:
Best offensive performance: J.W. Walsh, QB, Oklahoma State. We call it "Geno-ing or RG3-ing" around Big 12 country, but Walsh pulled it off on Saturday, throwing for more touchdowns (4) than incompletions (3). He had one of the best passing days of his career with 326 yards on 24-of-27 passing, and rushed for a touchdown in OSU's blowout win over Texas-San Antonio.
Best defensive performance: Darwin Cook, S, West Virginia. The Mountaineers didn't get the win, but their defense earned a lot of respect, led by Cook. He had a team-high 11 tackles (9 solo) and accounted for two turnovers with an interception and a fumble recovery. He also had half a tackle for loss. Honorable mention: Sam Holl, S, Baylor
Worst team performance: Texas. Hang this one solely on the shoulders of the defense. BYU's offense ran the ball 72 times on Saturday night, and much of those were read option plays that take time to develop in the backfield. Despite that, Texas managed just two tackles for loss on the night. Texas' ugly loss to the Cougars is on the short list of the most surprising of the season in college football.
Best quote: Keon Stowers. The Kansas defensive lineman had this to say about his interception, which he returned for a touchdown. "It was like a rabbit foot. It came out of nowhere." I … I don't know. I just know I love it.
Worst play: Kansas. The bad news for the Jayhawks? Stowers' touchdown was called back for a penalty, and the Jayhawks earned a celebration penalty after the play. So, to summarize, KU drew a penalty celebrating a play that did not happen. Never, ever doubt that truth is stranger than fiction.
Best offensive play: Dreamius Smith, RB, WVU. The juco transfer provided the best run of the entire season in the Big 12 thus far, breaking five tackles and scooting into the open field for a 75-yard touchdown run that gave the Mountaineers an early lead against Oklahoma.
Best defensive play: Bryce Hager, LB, Baylor. Hager scooped up a fumble deep in Bears' territory and made a pair of nice cutbacks while keeping his footing to finish off a 90-yard return for a touchdown. That gave Baylor a healthy 49 points with five minutes still left to play in the first half.
Best gesture: Bill Snyder, Kansas State. The Wildcats coach sent North Dakota State quarterback Brock Jensen a hand-written note congratulating him on his performance last Friday. "You played so very well, virtually error free & with such poise," it read.
From bill Snyder to Brock Jensen. Classy move by the coach. pic.twitter.com/OIMwsH6AWo
— Jay Bartley (@Jaybartley34) September 7, 2013
Worst moment: Casey Pachall, QB, TCU. There's not another player in the Big 12 who had a tougher road in the last year to suit up than Pachall. Anyone who knew that had to feel awful for Pachall, who suffered a broken left forearm when a defender fell on it late in the second quarter on Saturday. You hate to see any injury, but this one felt even more unfair. Here's hoping he heals up and gets back on the field by the end of the year.
