STILLWATER, Okla.—Third-string quarterback Brandon Weeden threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns in the second half, leading No. 12 Oklahoma State back from an 11-point deficit for a 31-28 win against Colorado last night. With starter Zac Robinson injured and Alex Cate ineffective, Weeden took over and got the offense going for the Cowboys (6-1 Big 12, 9-2).

WILLIAMSBURG - Strong safety David Caldwell was a starter on the 2007 defense that surrendered a school-record 427 points at William and Mary. So you’d better believe the senior is eager to be part of the defense that has a chance to give up the fewest. The Tribe warmed up for its two-game closing that will determine its place in the Colonial Athletic Association and the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs with a 31-0 shutout of visiting Towson yesterday.

Branden Williams had a pressing question during the postgame gathering of the L.C. Bird football team. “Who dumped the water bucket so quick?“ Williams wanted to know. To which Bird coach David Bedwell had a quick response: “You should know I’m always one step ahead of you.“ When you’ve won as many championships as Bedwell and the Skyhawks have, you learn how to escape the traditional liquid-over-the-head celebratory gig, especially on a cold night.

Only 41,713 fans were on hand at Scott Stadium on Saturday to watch the Cavs lose to Duke, the lowest number since the stadium was expanded in 2000.

Virginia Union’s Panthers fared poorly when they tossed the football this weekend. They fared no better when they tossed a coin. Bowie State’s Bulldogs won the right to represent the CIAA’s Eastern Division in Saturday’s conference championship game against Fayetteville State by winning a three-way coin toss yesterday at league headquarters in Hampton. The Bulldogs, Virginia Union and Elizabeth City State tied for first place in the East with 5-2 conference records.

Virginia Union’s football season was ended today by the flip of a coin by the flip of three coins, actually. Bowie State will represent the CIAA East in the conference championship game because Bulldogs interim athletic director Arlene Creek threw “tails” while her Virginia Union and Elizabeth City State counterparts threw “heads” in today’s tiebreaking coin toss at CIAA headquarters in Hampton. Each of the three schools finished the regular season with 5-2 conference records and 2-1 records against common opponents. Virginia Union is 6-4 overall.

Virginia Union persisted in giving the football to Elizabeth City State. Now the Panthers’ fate, too, has been placed in someone else’s hands. A macabre offensive effort that seemed somehow appropriate on Halloween—five interceptions and two lost fumbles—doomed the Panthers to a 21-13 loss to the Vikings yesterday at Hovey Field.

Virginia Union wasn’t good enough against Elizabeth City State to earn a berth in Saturday’s CIAA championship game in Durham, N.C. But the Panthers might still be lucky enough. The CIAA will conduct a three-way coin-toss tiebreaker this afternoon at 1 at the league office in Hampton. Athletic directors from VUU (Michael Bailey, who also is VUU’s football coach), Elizabeth City State (Thurlis Little) and Bowie State (Arlene Creek) will represent their respective schools.

Woodberry Forest used the leg of Layton Brown to get past host Benedictine yesterday. Brown connected on all three field goal attempts as the Tigers improved to 5-1. Ed Reynolds rushed 37 times for 187 yards and a score for the Tigers. Michael Pilot (11 tackles) and Clayton Navarre (nine tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery) led the Benedictine (5-3) defense as Greg Petrohovich threw for 77 yards and a touchdown on 7 for 23 passing. Petrohovich also added 36 yards on the ground for the Cadets.

It took nearly three hours, but Woodberry Forest defended its claim to the top of the Prep League. The Tigers shook off the Collegiate Cougars with a second-half surge, securing a 41-13 victory powered by a pair of running backs that refused to be tackled. Ade Oyalowo had 203 yards, and Ed Reynolds wasn’t far behind with 180 as the senior captains moved their team to an undefeated 4-0. The Tigers duo gradually wore down the Cougars in a game described by Woodberry quarterback Robert Spilman as the longest in which he’d participated.

Just two weeks into the season, the injuries already are starting to pile up for the Cavaliers. Last night’s injury report confirmed that quarterback Vic Hall is doubtful for tomorrow’s game against Southern Miss because of a hip injury. Also hurting is running back Mikell Simpson, who is listed as questionable with a leg injury. On Wednesday, Simpson spoke with reporters and said that he had sprained his foot during training camp, but that he was feeling “100 percent.“

TODAY’S STATE GAME  Today: 7 p.m. Internet: http://www.vuusports.com  Records: Virginia Union 0-1, Central State 0-1
  Facts: Virginia Union rushed for only 105 yards in its 19-6 season-opening loss to East Stroudsburg. Central State converted only 4 of 14 third downs in last week’s 6-0 loss to West Virginia State.

Cavaliers starting running back Mikell Simpson is “probable” for tomorrow’s opener against William and Mary with a foot injury. He has been seen in a walking boot recently. His backup is heralded freshman Torrey Mack, who coach Al Groh said will play a role in the offense regardless of Simpson’s status. The only other significant medical issue is a knee injury to starting fullback Rashawn Jackson, whose role is unclear in the team’s new spread offense. Sophomore Curt Orshoski is the backup.

E-mails that went out last week told students they could beging lining up at 7 p.m. Sunday, but the line started forming at 12:30 p.m.

SYRACUSE, N.Y.—Former Duke point guard Greg Paulus says he’ll bring the work ethic and winning culture he learned from coach Mike Krzyzewski to the starting quarterback job at Syracuse. Paulus, who graduated early from Duke and received an NCAA waiver to play football for the Orange as a graduate student, was named the starter by coach Doug Marrone this week after just one week of practice.