Candidates for Game Balls

• Bradley McDougald stood up ballcarriers, forced a fumble and returned an interception 29 yards during one of the better games of his career, one in which 10 of his 11 tackles were solos. He’s emerging and could make a huge leap as a senior. Two of the tackles were for a loss.

• D.J. Beshears had double-digit gains in four different ways: running and receiving, returning a kick and a punt. He ran into the end zone from 22 yards out on a reverse play and had a 20-yard gain among his five receptions.

Candidates for Gassers

True freshman kicker Alex Mueller misfired on field-goal attempts of 49 — why let him attempt that — and 36 yards and for the season has made just three of his field goal attempts. His three field goals have been from distances of 27, 28 and 36 yards. Was replaced in the second half by Ron Doherty.

James Sims ran and blocked hard, as always, but had a rare fumble.