Here's a play-by-play breakdown of both QB's play, I tried to keep my own commentaries and speculations to a minimum.
Below is an analysis of the two QBs every time they dropped back.
Drive 1 (Harris)
1) 2nd and 7, Designed roll out to the left, Cyontai Lewis was open immediately across the middle, but Treon didn't make the throw and instead runs for a 1st down, in the process juking a safety one-on-one.
2) 1st and 10, Harris couldn't handle the snap. It actually wasn't that high of a snap, it was just a really fast one and it rocketed straight for Harris' helmet. He just couldn't handle it.
3) 2nd and forever, Screen pass to Callaway, the NMSU safety moved down in the box pre-snap and shut that play down.
4) 3rd and forever, McGee comes somewhat open down the sideline as Harris scrambles, but Harris didn't attempt the pass and just ran for a few yards. He wasn't as open as the announcers made it sound, it would've taken a very accurate pass with a strong arm, but it should've been attempted.
Drive 2 (Harris)
1) 1st and 10, NMSU sends the house, but they were fooled by the playaction and Powell became wide open for a TD. Harris did a nice job standing tall in the fact of the oncoming rush. The ball is a bit underthrown but still very catchable and far from the defender.
Drive 3 (Harris)
1) 2nd and 7, Harris made a great pass to Showers, who found an open spot in the zone. The pass was strong, accurate, and on time.
2) 1st and 10, Designed roll out, short pass to Goolsby and let him make the play one-on-one against the DB, which he does for a 1st down.
3) 2nd and 12, bubble screen to DRob for a short gain.
4) 3rd and 8, Powell was open down the middle, Treon doesn't make the pass and instead rolls to the right. Everyone is in scramble drill, DRob turns upfield first and burns his guy, would've been a wide-open TD pass, but Treon was running for his life by then and only saw the near guy coming open, which was Taylor. Harris lofts a nice pass to Taylor and he runs for a big gain.
5) 1st and 10, Harris did a great job going through the progressions, looking right first, but no one was open, so he turned to the backside and passed to a wide-open McGee for a nifty gain. Taylor runs in the next play for a TD.
Drive 4 (Grier)
1) 1st and 10, Grier mis-timed his pass to Showers on a come-back route. Jesse Palmer blamed the receiver like a true quarterback, but it really was Grier who threw the ball too soon.
2) 1st and 10, Grier first looked at Powell, who was covered by the deep safety, so he made a quick decision to pass to Goolsby running a wheel route down the right sideline. A beautiful throw by Grier. If he actually waited a second though, Powell would've beaten the safety for an easy TD pass. Goolsby actually could've been the first option, and Grier could've been looking at Powell just to look off the safety, since he seemed to have made the throw before Powell actually made his move.
3) 1st and 10, Grier lasers a pass to Lewis on a skinny post for a TD. Lewis wasn't really open, but good TEs are mismatches for a reason, they're too fast for LBs and too big for DBs. In this case, he was too big for the DB as he used his big body to shield the ball from the defender and secure the catch.
Drive 5 (Grier)
1) 1st and 10, NMSU overloads the right side of the line, gets to Grier for a fumble. Contrary to initial impressions, the OL actually picked it up pretty well, but NMSU sent more than can be blocked on that side of the line. I think would've been Kelvin Taylor's job to pick up the extra rusher, but he wasn't even looking at that side. I'm actually not too sure whose fault it was, but I think we can all agree that Grier should've protected the ball better especially as he actually recognized the blitz.
Drive 6 (Grier)
1) 2nd and 7, all 4 WRs were covered, so Grier pulls the ball and gains a big chunk of yards running down the middle. Made a nifty little move on the DB at the first-down mark to gain another 20 something yards.
2) 1st and 10, bubble screen to Hargreaves, picked up a few yards.
3) 3rd and 4, Grier to Callaway for a big gain. This was a 2 man route against the zone. McGee ran a quick out while Callaway turned up field, if the defense hangs back, the pass would go to McGee, but if they collapse on him, then it the pass will go to Callaway. The decision and pass need to be very quick, because once the safety sees that both guys are running routes along the sideline, he'll be rushing over. Grier made a very quick read and decision, and the pass was fast and accurate. Callaway made a good catch, right before the safety arrived.
4) 1st and goal, the DE crashes down on the RB so Grier pulls the ball out and runs for a TD.
Drive 7 (Grier)
1) 1st and 10, NMSU sends a corner blitz, but Grier made an absolutely perfect throw to Fulwood, only to be dropped. The timing, accuracy, and speed of the throw was perfect. The ball was released before Fulwood turned his head, but he had plenty of time to track the ball and secure the catch, he just dropped it. It could've been a TD if he had caught it as he didn't have to break stride even a little bit and he was already behind the defense.
2) 2nd and 10, screen pass to Taylor, Dillard misses a block and Taylor was tackled for a loss.
3) 3rd and 13, another rocket snap by Dillard, same as the one Treon fumbled, but Grier corals it and throws it
short to Powell. Excellent run after the catch by Powell for the first down.
4) 1st and 10, quick sideline pass to DRob
5) 2nd and 1, quick sideline pass to DRob
6) 1st and 10, NMSU sends the house, leaving only 4 guys in coverage. No one lined up across Lewis and Grier probably saw it pre-snap and threw it to him quickly for a TD just before the half.
Drive 8 (Grier)
1) 1st and 10, buble screen to DRob, short gain
2) 2nd and 5, short pass to Goolsby
3) 3rd and 3, quick pass on time to McGee to pick up the 1st
4) 2nd and 8, bubble screen to DRob for a short gain
5) 3rd and 4, Goolsby was open across the middle, but Grier didn't make the throw. Instead he tried to run for the 1st. I think he'll learn very quickly not to try to outrun college DBs to the sideline.
Drive 9 (Grier)
1) 1st and 10, screen pass to Callaway, the NMSU DT recognized it immediately and shut the play down.
2) 3rd and 7, this play was similar to Treon's 4th play in the 3rd drive, with Bailey instead of Powell coming open down the middle. Grier did make the throw however, though the timing was a tad off and the pass was very behind. Bailey made the play of the day catching that ball.
Drive 10 (Harris)
1) 1st and 10, bubble screen to CJ Worton, runs for a 1st down.
2) 1st and 10, Designed roll out to the right, Showers with the comeback route. The pass was underthrown but catchable, though Showers didn't make the play.
3) 3rd and 8, a dangerous pass to a well-covered Showers, the throw was a bit late and almost picked off, though it was thrown with very good velocity and accuracy and just makes it past the defender for a 1st down.
4) 2nd and 6, play-action short pass attempt to McGee, underthrow in the face of pressure incomplete.
5) 3rd and 6, another dangerous pass intended for McGee, should've been picked off but the NMSU LB drops the pass. Jesse Palmer blamed timing, but I think McGee was just very well covered and the pass should've never been attempted.
Drive 11 (Harris)
1) 1st and 10, play-action roll out to the right, everyone was covered, though a trailing Showers had a chance. Treon was being chased hard though, and nobody was really doing the scramble drill right so Treon ran for a few yards.
2) 1st and 10, Harris got hit on the release, incomplete. Fred Johnson got beat, but Riles demonstrated excellent recognition and athleticism and pick the rusher up. Harris should've stepped up in the pocket but he drifted to the left and back and then threw off his back foot.
3) 3rd and 4, Lewis came wide open on a short out route, but Harris for some reason acted like he was throwing to him but didn't. Maybe the almost-pick the last time he attempted this pass to McGee made him a bit gun shy. Instead he completes a much more difficult pass across the middle to CJ Worton for a 1st down.
4) 1st and 10, Goolsby comes open on a wheel route again, Treon throws on time but the pass was overthrown.
5) 4th and 3, Lewis came somewhat open over the middle, but it would've been a tough throw as the NMSU DB forced Goolsby to run a deeper route than intended and both Lewis and Goolsby in the same area. Both guys were running crossing routes, Goolsby was supposed to be shallow while Lewis was deep, but the depth separation wasn't there when Goolsby ran a deeper than intended route. So Treon rolls left, and this time Grady did the right thing on scramble drill and Treon lofted a pass with great touch and accuracy for a first down.
Drive 12 (Harris)
1) 1st and 10, Bailey ran across the middle and came wide open, Harris delivers the pass accurately, strongly, and on time, allowing Bailey to not only make the catch but get some YAC as well.
2) 3rd and goal, Fulwood was open for a short gain, but Treon pulls it down and runs for a couple.
3) 4th and goal, Worton ran a beautiful route, a double move faking the crossing route then turning upfield, and Harris delivers it with great touch for a TD.
Below is an analysis of the two QBs every time they dropped back.
Drive 1 (Harris)
1) 2nd and 7, Designed roll out to the left, Cyontai Lewis was open immediately across the middle, but Treon didn't make the throw and instead runs for a 1st down, in the process juking a safety one-on-one.
2) 1st and 10, Harris couldn't handle the snap. It actually wasn't that high of a snap, it was just a really fast one and it rocketed straight for Harris' helmet. He just couldn't handle it.
3) 2nd and forever, Screen pass to Callaway, the NMSU safety moved down in the box pre-snap and shut that play down.
4) 3rd and forever, McGee comes somewhat open down the sideline as Harris scrambles, but Harris didn't attempt the pass and just ran for a few yards. He wasn't as open as the announcers made it sound, it would've taken a very accurate pass with a strong arm, but it should've been attempted.
Drive 2 (Harris)
1) 1st and 10, NMSU sends the house, but they were fooled by the playaction and Powell became wide open for a TD. Harris did a nice job standing tall in the fact of the oncoming rush. The ball is a bit underthrown but still very catchable and far from the defender.
Drive 3 (Harris)
1) 2nd and 7, Harris made a great pass to Showers, who found an open spot in the zone. The pass was strong, accurate, and on time.
2) 1st and 10, Designed roll out, short pass to Goolsby and let him make the play one-on-one against the DB, which he does for a 1st down.
3) 2nd and 12, bubble screen to DRob for a short gain.
4) 3rd and 8, Powell was open down the middle, Treon doesn't make the pass and instead rolls to the right. Everyone is in scramble drill, DRob turns upfield first and burns his guy, would've been a wide-open TD pass, but Treon was running for his life by then and only saw the near guy coming open, which was Taylor. Harris lofts a nice pass to Taylor and he runs for a big gain.
5) 1st and 10, Harris did a great job going through the progressions, looking right first, but no one was open, so he turned to the backside and passed to a wide-open McGee for a nifty gain. Taylor runs in the next play for a TD.
Drive 4 (Grier)
1) 1st and 10, Grier mis-timed his pass to Showers on a come-back route. Jesse Palmer blamed the receiver like a true quarterback, but it really was Grier who threw the ball too soon.
2) 1st and 10, Grier first looked at Powell, who was covered by the deep safety, so he made a quick decision to pass to Goolsby running a wheel route down the right sideline. A beautiful throw by Grier. If he actually waited a second though, Powell would've beaten the safety for an easy TD pass. Goolsby actually could've been the first option, and Grier could've been looking at Powell just to look off the safety, since he seemed to have made the throw before Powell actually made his move.
3) 1st and 10, Grier lasers a pass to Lewis on a skinny post for a TD. Lewis wasn't really open, but good TEs are mismatches for a reason, they're too fast for LBs and too big for DBs. In this case, he was too big for the DB as he used his big body to shield the ball from the defender and secure the catch.
Drive 5 (Grier)
1) 1st and 10, NMSU overloads the right side of the line, gets to Grier for a fumble. Contrary to initial impressions, the OL actually picked it up pretty well, but NMSU sent more than can be blocked on that side of the line. I think would've been Kelvin Taylor's job to pick up the extra rusher, but he wasn't even looking at that side. I'm actually not too sure whose fault it was, but I think we can all agree that Grier should've protected the ball better especially as he actually recognized the blitz.
Drive 6 (Grier)
1) 2nd and 7, all 4 WRs were covered, so Grier pulls the ball and gains a big chunk of yards running down the middle. Made a nifty little move on the DB at the first-down mark to gain another 20 something yards.
2) 1st and 10, bubble screen to Hargreaves, picked up a few yards.
3) 3rd and 4, Grier to Callaway for a big gain. This was a 2 man route against the zone. McGee ran a quick out while Callaway turned up field, if the defense hangs back, the pass would go to McGee, but if they collapse on him, then it the pass will go to Callaway. The decision and pass need to be very quick, because once the safety sees that both guys are running routes along the sideline, he'll be rushing over. Grier made a very quick read and decision, and the pass was fast and accurate. Callaway made a good catch, right before the safety arrived.
4) 1st and goal, the DE crashes down on the RB so Grier pulls the ball out and runs for a TD.
Drive 7 (Grier)
1) 1st and 10, NMSU sends a corner blitz, but Grier made an absolutely perfect throw to Fulwood, only to be dropped. The timing, accuracy, and speed of the throw was perfect. The ball was released before Fulwood turned his head, but he had plenty of time to track the ball and secure the catch, he just dropped it. It could've been a TD if he had caught it as he didn't have to break stride even a little bit and he was already behind the defense.
2) 2nd and 10, screen pass to Taylor, Dillard misses a block and Taylor was tackled for a loss.
3) 3rd and 13, another rocket snap by Dillard, same as the one Treon fumbled, but Grier corals it and throws it
short to Powell. Excellent run after the catch by Powell for the first down.
4) 1st and 10, quick sideline pass to DRob
5) 2nd and 1, quick sideline pass to DRob
6) 1st and 10, NMSU sends the house, leaving only 4 guys in coverage. No one lined up across Lewis and Grier probably saw it pre-snap and threw it to him quickly for a TD just before the half.
Drive 8 (Grier)
1) 1st and 10, buble screen to DRob, short gain
2) 2nd and 5, short pass to Goolsby
3) 3rd and 3, quick pass on time to McGee to pick up the 1st
4) 2nd and 8, bubble screen to DRob for a short gain
5) 3rd and 4, Goolsby was open across the middle, but Grier didn't make the throw. Instead he tried to run for the 1st. I think he'll learn very quickly not to try to outrun college DBs to the sideline.
Drive 9 (Grier)
1) 1st and 10, screen pass to Callaway, the NMSU DT recognized it immediately and shut the play down.
2) 3rd and 7, this play was similar to Treon's 4th play in the 3rd drive, with Bailey instead of Powell coming open down the middle. Grier did make the throw however, though the timing was a tad off and the pass was very behind. Bailey made the play of the day catching that ball.
Drive 10 (Harris)
1) 1st and 10, bubble screen to CJ Worton, runs for a 1st down.
2) 1st and 10, Designed roll out to the right, Showers with the comeback route. The pass was underthrown but catchable, though Showers didn't make the play.
3) 3rd and 8, a dangerous pass to a well-covered Showers, the throw was a bit late and almost picked off, though it was thrown with very good velocity and accuracy and just makes it past the defender for a 1st down.
4) 2nd and 6, play-action short pass attempt to McGee, underthrow in the face of pressure incomplete.
5) 3rd and 6, another dangerous pass intended for McGee, should've been picked off but the NMSU LB drops the pass. Jesse Palmer blamed timing, but I think McGee was just very well covered and the pass should've never been attempted.
Drive 11 (Harris)
1) 1st and 10, play-action roll out to the right, everyone was covered, though a trailing Showers had a chance. Treon was being chased hard though, and nobody was really doing the scramble drill right so Treon ran for a few yards.
2) 1st and 10, Harris got hit on the release, incomplete. Fred Johnson got beat, but Riles demonstrated excellent recognition and athleticism and pick the rusher up. Harris should've stepped up in the pocket but he drifted to the left and back and then threw off his back foot.
3) 3rd and 4, Lewis came wide open on a short out route, but Harris for some reason acted like he was throwing to him but didn't. Maybe the almost-pick the last time he attempted this pass to McGee made him a bit gun shy. Instead he completes a much more difficult pass across the middle to CJ Worton for a 1st down.
4) 1st and 10, Goolsby comes open on a wheel route again, Treon throws on time but the pass was overthrown.
5) 4th and 3, Lewis came somewhat open over the middle, but it would've been a tough throw as the NMSU DB forced Goolsby to run a deeper route than intended and both Lewis and Goolsby in the same area. Both guys were running crossing routes, Goolsby was supposed to be shallow while Lewis was deep, but the depth separation wasn't there when Goolsby ran a deeper than intended route. So Treon rolls left, and this time Grady did the right thing on scramble drill and Treon lofted a pass with great touch and accuracy for a first down.
Drive 12 (Harris)
1) 1st and 10, Bailey ran across the middle and came wide open, Harris delivers the pass accurately, strongly, and on time, allowing Bailey to not only make the catch but get some YAC as well.
2) 3rd and goal, Fulwood was open for a short gain, but Treon pulls it down and runs for a couple.
3) 4th and goal, Worton ran a beautiful route, a double move faking the crossing route then turning upfield, and Harris delivers it with great touch for a TD.
