The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 48

The Cincinnati Enquirer COLLEGE FOOTBALL D8, Sunday, November 14, 1999 FN Standings Big Ten Ohio bowls over Miami 40-28 Conl. All Wisconsin 7 1 8 2 Penn State 5 2 9 2 Michigan 5 2 8 2 Michigan State 5 2 8 2 Minnesota 4 3 7 3 Illinois 3 4 6 4 Purdue 3 4 6 4 OHIO STATE 3 4 6 5 Indiana 3 4 4 6 Northwestern 16 3 7 Icwa 0 7 19 C-USA Conf. All Southern Mississippi 5 0 7 3 Louisville 4 1 7 3 East Carolina 4 2 8 2 Alabama Birmingham 3 2 4 6 Memphis 3 2 4 6 x-Houston 2 3 5 4 Army 14 3 6 Tulane 14 3 7 CINCINNATI 0 5 3 7 MAC East Division Conf. All Marshall 7 0 10 0 MIAMI 5 2 6 4 Ohio 5 2 5 5 Akron 5 3 7 4 Bowling Green 3 5 4 6 Kent 2 6 2 9 Buffalo 0 7 0 10 1 j-ji I 5 i 'J West Division Western Michigan Toledo astern Michigan Northern Illinois Central Michigan Ball State 7 3 5 5 0 7 0 10 SEC East Division Bobcats outscore RedHawks 21-0 in 3rd quarter The Cincinnati Enquirer ATHENS, Ohio Travis Prentice tied Ricky Williams' year-old I-A record for career rushing touchdowns (72) but was overshadowed by Ohio's Chad Brinker, who rushed for 167 yards and two touchdowns in the Bobcats' 40-28 victory Saturday. "We showed up today and laid a big egg," a disappointed Miami first-year head coach Terry Hoeppner said.

"We were outcoached and outplayed." The RedHawks had to look to individuals for any silver lining. Prentice scored his 72nd rushing touchdown in the first quarter to tie the record Williams set last season at Texas. The TD gave him 34 games with at least one rifshing score, breaking Williams' record of 33. Miami (6-4, 5-2 Mid-American Conference) took a 7-6 lead on Prentice's 1-yard run with one second remaining in the first quarter, but Ohio (5-5, 5-2) held the MAC's career rushing leader to 69 yards on 25 carries. Brinker scored on runs of 1 and 74 yards, the latter giving the Bobcats a 26-14 lead with 2:40 to go in the third quarter.

Dontrell Jackson's 30-yard TD pass to Raynald Ray put the Bobcats ahead 33-14, and Joe Sherrill (Anderson High) added the second of his 1-yard runs with 4:24 remaining in the fourth for a 40-21 lead. His first TD run gave Ohio the lead for good, 20-14 with 7:01 remaining in the third. Miami's Mike Bath completed 17-of-35 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns, including passes of 4 and 8 yards to Trevor Gaylor, who had nine catches for 148 yards. Gaylor set the Miami record for career receptions (122) breaking the mark of Jay Hall (Walnut Hills) and tied the school career mark of Jeremy Patterson (CAPE) for touchdown catches (18). Ohio's biggest play may have come just before the half.

Kevin Kerr (St. Xavier) kicked a 55-yard field goaf at the end of the first half to get Ohio Lloyd reaches to pull in a pass as Ohio 6tate cornerback The Associated Press Ahmed Plummer, right, falls. clobbers Buckeyes Illinois wide receiver Brandon inois Ohio State's home season ends badly BY SCOTT MacGKEGOR The Cincinnati Knqiiirer COLUMBUS Matt Keller peered out from the gray bars of his facemask with a look of deep chagrin. It was his final home game at Ohio Stadium, and his team was being thumped 43-14 with a quarter still to play. Scarlet-clad fans were filing out the exits early.

Keller could only watch with the abashment of fallen confidence. "I'm embarrassed," the Ohio State offensive captain said with bewilderment after underdog Illinois thrashed Ohio State 46-20 Saturday at Ohio Stadium. "It comes down to a pride factor. Maybe there's not enough pride right now." This was not the way Keller, a senior accustomed to dominating since his days at Moeller High, ever thought his Horseshoe career would end especially not after Ohio State finished second in the national polls with 11-1 records two of his first three seasons as a Buckeye. Instead, the Buckeyes' sea son of discontent hit a new low Saturday, and Keller and his 14 senior mates were left to ponder the destruction of what 4 Conf.

All Florida 7 1 9 1 Tennessee 4 2 7 2 Georgia 4 3 6 3 x-KENTUCKY 3 3 5 4 x-Vanderbilt 2 4 5 4 South Carolina 0 8 0 10 West Division Alabama 6 1 8 2 Mississippi State 5 1 8 1 Mississippi 4 2 7 2 Ai Kansas 3 3 ,63 Auburn 2 5 5 5 Louisiana State 0 7 2 7 ACC Conf. All I Florida State -8 0 10 0 Georgia Tech 5 2 7 2 Clemson 5 3 5 5 Virginia 4 3 6 4 'Duke 3 4 3 7 North Carolina Slate 3 5 6 5 Maryland 2 5 5 5 Wake Forest 2 5 5 5 North Carolina 16 2 8 Big 12 North Division Conf. All Kansas Slate 6 1 9 1 Nebraska 6 1 9 1 Colorado 5 2 6 4 Kansas 2 5 4 7 Iowa State 16 4 6 Missouri 1 6 4 6 South Division Texas 6 1 9 2 Oklahoma 4 2 6 3 4 3 7 3 Texas Tech 4 3 5 5 Oklahoma State 2 4 4 5 Baylor 0 7 19 Big East Conf. All Virginia Tech 4 0 8 0 Miami 3 0 5 3 Boston College 4 2 7 2 Syracuse 3 3 6 4 Tenpie 2 3 2 7 Pittsburgh 2 4 5 5 West Virginia 2 4 3 7 Rutgers 15 19 second time the Buckeyes have blown out at home this season Wisconsin scored 42 unanswered points to win 42-17 in September and was the first time since 1946 they've given up more than 43 points at home. "There have been a lot of firsts this year," said senior defensive captain Ahmed Plummer, a Wyoming High School graduate.

Someone pointed out not too many have been good. "Nope," the disconsolate Plummer replied, looking down. Plummer's thunderstruck look was spread across the entire Buckeye locker room. Players weren't hanging their heads as they walked off the field. They were too shocked, more stonefaced with confusion than shame.

Even after all the disappointments of this rebuilding year, this somehow was a deeper blow, perhaps because it was the seniors' final game, perhaps because it was administered by Illinois (6-4, 3-4 Big Ten), an improving team but by no means a powerhouse. Or perhaps because it was just one more in a season of many. "I'm just shocked again," said center Kurt Murphy, echoing his comments after the previous week's loss to Michigan State. "1 didn't expect to be blown out." Ohio State (3-4 Big Ten) looked sharp for the game's Miami. 7 M-a 21 7-48 Ohio.

First Quarter OU-Brlnker 1 run (kick fallpd), 7:12 MIA-Prntlc I run (Brumbwjs kick), i Hani Quarter OU-FG Kerr 33, 9:14 MIA Gaylor 4 past from Bath (Brumbergi kick), 1:52 OU-FG Kerr 55, 00 Third Quarter OU Sherrill 1 run (Jackson run), 7:01 OU-Brlnker 74 run (run failed), 2:40 OU-Roy 30 pass from Jackson (Kerr kick), :55 Fourth Quarter MIA-Gaylor I pail from Bath (Brumbergi kick), 10:53 OU-Sherrl 1 run (Korr kkk), 4:24 MIA-Buxton 11 pan from Bath (bVumberoi kick), 32 A-M2. Ohta 25 73-345 131 1-16-1 132 3-1 2-22 36:23 First downs Rushei-yardi II 34-52 341 116 6431 04 3-35 23:37 Passing Comp-AtMnt Return Yards Punts-Avg. Fumbles-Lost Penalties-Yards Time of INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS KUSHING-Vlaml, Prentice 25-, Smith 24, Bath 7-lrrinus 26). Ohio, Brinker 22-167, Sherrl 20-73, Jackson 1345, Ray 6-30, Brooks 3-13, Jordan 5- 9, Fondale 2-2, Patterson 1-6. PASSING-Miaml, Bath 17-35-2-241.

Ohio, Jackson M-0-112, Jordan 3-7-1-19, Brinker 0-10. RECEIVING Miami, Gaylor 9-148, Buxton 6- 72, Sexton 1-26, Henry 1-2. Ohio, Dover 3-59, Ray 3-46, Brinker 1-17, Sherrll 1-9. within 14-12. The Bobcats and their triple option controlled the ball in the second half, scoring 21 unanswered points in the third quarter to all-but clinch the victory over their hated rival.

"They executed their offense and their defense, and they made the big play when they had to and stopped us! when they had to," Hoeppner; said. "We didn't look very good. "They played with more confidence and had us on the ropes by crowding the line of scrimmage." This is the first time since' 1993 that Miami has lost to both archrivals Cincinnati and Ohio in the same season.1 Hoeppner, in his 14th year at Miami, said early-season losses to Marshall and West Virginia hurt just as much. "I don't care who I lose to," Hoeppner said. "It's still a loss." Ohio is now tied with Miami for second place behind undefeated East Division champion Marshall in the MAC.

All slim bowl hopes were extinguished here Saturday and dampened a season of great individual exploits by Prentice, Gaylor and senior linebacker Dustin Cohen. "We had an opportunity to finish with two wins and maybe Hoeppner's voice trailed off. MU finishes at home Satur-f day against Buffalo. BCS standings Here are the latest Bowl Championship Series ratings. New ratings will be released -Monday.

1. Florida St 2.64 2. Tennessee 7.07 3. VaTech 7.40 4. Florida 9.89 5.

Kansas St 11.90 6. Nebraska 14.76 7. Penn St 15.62 8. Wisconsin 21.15 9. Alabama 22.47.

10. Miss. St 25.12 RECEIVING Kansas St, Morgan 3-116, Lock-ett 2-17, Murphy 1-13, Meier 1-0, Chapman l-(ml-nus 4). Nebraska, Wistrom 4-68, Newcombe 2-6, Diedrick 1-9, Crouch Mminus 14). NO.

2 VIRGINIA TECH 43, NO. 19 MIAMI 10: Led by a defense that forced six turnovers, including three interceptions by cornerback Anthony Midget, and two touchdown runs by Shyrone Stith, Virginia Tech sidestepped Miami and kept alive its drive to the Sugar Bowl and a national title. After coming back from an early 10-point deficit to take a 14-10 halftime lead, the Hok-ies (9-0, 5-0 Big East) blew open the fiercely fought game in the fourth quarter on a 64-yard punt return for a TD by Ricky Hall and a 51-yard fumble return for a score by Ike Charlton 24 seconds later. UCLA 23, NO. 23 WASHINGTON 20: Chris Griffith's third field goal of the game, a 22-yarder in overtime, lifted UCLA to the upset, bouncing the Huskies out of the driver's seat in the Pac-10 race.

Favored by 8V2 points, Washington entered the game needing wins over conference doormats UCLA and Washington State to earn its first berth in the Rose Bowl in seven years. But the Bruins (4-6, 2-5) rebounded from a three-game losing streak in which they had been outscored 105-14. Nebraska wins, calls for respect Big West East Carolina too much first few plays, moving the ball 29 yards on the ground in its first six snaps. But tailback Jonathan Wells fumbled the pitch on the seventh, Illinois recovered and the Bucks began to unravel with 57 minutes still to Steve Bellisari would badly overthrow receivers. Receiver Ken-Yon Rambo would drop a catchable ball, then later fumble a kickoff return that proved to be the worst of Ohio State's many bad moments.

The Buckeye defense would be surgically carved up by Illinois sophomore quarterback Kurt Kittner, who threw four touchdown passes to tie the Illini school record of 22 held by Jeff George. Kittner finished 17-of-31 for 221 yards with no interceptions. Bellisari was 9-of-24 for 133 yards, an interception and a fumble. The Illini defense made several big stops. It was over before halftime.

Ohio State looked as if it might climb back just before the half, cutting a 19-0 deficit to 19-7 on Michael Wiley's 35-yard touchdown run. But when Illinois' Antioneo Harris punched the ball from Rambo's loose hands on a kickoff return and the Illini recovered at the Buckeye 1. Kittner tossed a 2-yard TD pass three plays later, and Illinois had scored 10 points in 25 seconds to take a 29-7 lead going into the half. for UC for 139 yards. "We were trying to get him as many plays as we could," Minter said.

"The comeback showed a little heart and character on our part." Vann also showed something. He caught seven passes for 107 yards and added 176 on a school-record eight kickoff returns. Senior running back Robert Cooper achieved a couple of milestones with his 87 yards rushing on 19 attempts. His first 5 yards gave him 2,500 for his career, just the fifth player' in UC history to reach that mark. And his end-game total put him at 1,041 for the year, he's the first Bearcat to eclipse .000 in a single season sitve Illinois Ohio St.

23 14 3-44 0 7 7 6-20 First Quarter IH-FG Hackers 24, 1 53 -FGRacksrs47, 5:12 Second Quarter m-Uoyd 30 pass from Kittner (pass tailed), 14 52 m-Hawd 7 run (Packers OSU-Wiley 35 run (Stultl kick), 6:59 W-FG Backers 50, :34 H-Whirman 2 pass from Kittner (Backers kick), .09 Third Quarter IH -Cook 25 pass from Kittner (Packers kick 10:57 OSU-K-eller 3S pass from Belisari (Stufli kick), 9 43 IB Whitman 5 pass from Kittner (Packers kick), 4 04. Fourth Ouarter OSU-Wiley 6 run (kick tailed), 11:17 W-FG Rackers38. 6:13 IH 23 47-157 239 115 0-0 5-51 33:13 osu 23 42-216 168 12-29-1 105 5-326 3-2 5-39 26:47 First downs Rushes-yai ds Passing Comp-Att-Int Return Yards Punts-Avg Fumbles-Lost Penalties-Yards Time of Possession INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING-llbnois, Havard 28-104, Harvey 15-37, Cook 1-9, Kittner 2-8. Ohio Wiley 19-128, Wells 5-6J, Bellisari 13-12, Keller 2-12, Westbrooks 1-3, Moherman 2-lminus 2). PASSING-lllmois, Kittner 17-31-0-221.

Harvey 0-1-0 0, Pitts 1-1-0-18. Ohio Bellisari 9-24-1-133, Moherman 3-5-0-35. RECEIVING -Illinois, Cook 7 100, Whitman 24, Lloyd 2-35, Lewis 2-14, Dean 1-32. Young 1-27, Hodges 1-7 Ohio St Keller 3 57, Wiley 3 25, Germa-ny 2-35, Provitt 2-33, Rambo 1-16, westbrooks 1-2. their final season has dwindled to: A 6-5 record with one game to play, needing an unlikely win at arch-rival Michigan just to qualifv for the third-tier Motor City Bowl.

"1 hope they haven't packed it in," Buckeyes coach John Cooper said of his team. "The way we played today at times, it makes you wonder." Saturday's dreadful Ohio State performance marked the Cincinnati East Carolina 3 6 10 15-34 14 17 10 7-48 First Quarter ECU Stokes 94 punt return (Bayes kick), 12:13. ECU-Burns 8 pass from Garrard IBayes kick), 7 36 Cin-FG Judge 44, 3 23 Second Quarter ECU-Floyd 4 pass from Garrard (Bayes kick), 13:50. ECU-Wilson 8 run (Bayes kick), :23. Cin Vann 77 pass from Kenner (kick failed), 2:58.

ECU-FG Bayes 34, 26. Third Quarter ECU-Chappell 62 pass from Garrard (Bayes kick), 13:10 Cin-FG Judge 33, 04. On-Mays I run (Judge kick), 6:14. ECU-FG Bayes 31 2:43 Fourtti Quarter ECU-Wilson 24 run (Bayes kick), 8:56. Cin-Cooper I run (Judge kick), 2:07.

Cin Vann 31 pass from Bertucd (Mays rush), .58 CIN ECU First downs 30 26 Rushes-yards 45-244 Passing 304 237 Comp-Att-M! W-57-3 W-30-0 Return Yards 1W 243 Punts Avg 2-36 Fumbws-Lost 0-0 3-1 Penalties-Yards 3-36 5-52 Time of Possession 33:33 26:27 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING-Cincmnati, Cooper 19-17, Ways 9-45, Wne 2-14, Bertucci 7-(minus 9), Kenner 2-(mi-nus 111 ECarokna. Henry 16-95, Wilson 15-87, Garrard 8-29, Alston 2-23, Stokes 1-16, team 3-(mmus 6). PASSING-Cincinnati, Kenner U-32-I-I65, Bertucci 11-23-2-139. ECarolina, Garrard 15-23-0-197. Alston 4-7-0-40 RECEIVING-Cincinnati, Smikle 8-66, Vann 7-107, Coppola 5-63.

Coluns-Baker 4-24, Keith 3-42, Cooper 2-2. ECarolma, Chaopel 3-l. Harris 3-50, Burns 3-25, Powell 3-22, Stokes 3-20, Floyd 2-17, Henry 1-14, Wilson 1-8 of their other C-USA games. That wasn't the case this time. East Carolina, still stinging from being upset by Alabama-Birmingham, followed Stokes' return by scoring on four its next five possessions and missing a field goal on the fifth.

"I thought our execution offensively in the first half was very good," East Carolina coach Steve Logan said. "We built on the momentum of the punt return." P.y halftime, the Bearcats trailed 31-9, with one of the few bright spots being Kenner's 27-yard touchdown pass to LaDaris Vann with 2:58 to play in the ci'jnrtf r. Conl. All I Bcise State 4 1 8 3 Idaho 4 1 7 3 New Mexico State 2 2 5 5 Aikansas State 2 3 4 7 Nevada 2 3 3 7 North Texas 13 2 7 Utah State '13 2 7 MWC Conf. All Brigham Young 5 1 8 2 Utah 4 2 7 3 Colorado State 3 2 6 3 Wyoming 3 2- 6 3 Air Force 2 3 6 3 New Mexico 2 3 3 6 San Diego State 14 3 6 UNLV 14 3 6 Pac-10 Conf.

All Stanford 6 1 6 3 Oregon 5 2 7 3 Washington 5 2 6 i Arizona State 4 3 .55 x-Oregon State 3 3 6 3 3 3 6 4 Caiitornia 3 4 4 6 UCLA 2 5 4 6 Southern Cat 2 5 4 6 Washington State 16 2 8 WAC Conf. All Fresno State 4 1 7 3 Hawaii 4 2 6 3 Pice 4 3 5 6 Texas Christian 3 2 5 4 Texas-El Paso 3 3 5 6 Southern Methodist 2 2 3 5 San Jose State 14 3 6 Tulsa 15 2 8 "-sat" if iiitM 'n At il tint ii mti Hiti The Associated Press LINCOLN, Neb. No. 7 Nebraska avenged last year's loss to Kansas State by blowing out the No. 5 Wildcats 41-15 Saturday.

Nebraska (9-1 overall, 6-1 Big 12) can clinch the North title by beating Colorado on Nov. 26. "We knew they didn't respect Nebraska like they used to. We knew they didn't fear Nebraska like they used to. We wanted to put that fear back into them," linebacker Carlos Polk said.

Eric Crouch led Nebraska with 158 yards rushing and two touchdowns as the Huskers quirkly forgot about last year's 40-30 loss. Kansas State's win last year snapped a 29-game losing streak against the Huskers. The Wildcats' chances at two straight didn't look good at half-time Saturday, when they trailed 24-9, and vanished in the fourth quarter when Nebraska scored 17 points. The loss likely drops the Wildcats (9-1, 6-1) out of contention for the national championship. "This was definitely a landmark day," Crouch said.

"Last year's game did stick with us." The Huskers, who kept alive a slim shot at the national title thanks to Tennessee's loss to Arkansas, dominated the battle between two of the top four defenses in the country. Nebraska gained 253 yards by halftime on a defense that ranked No. 2 nationally at 232.3 per game. Nebraska, No. 4 nationally at 234.6 yards, limited K-State to 234, 170 below its average.

Kansas St. Nebraska 0 9 0 6-15 I 0 17-41 First Ouarter Neb Crouch 30 run (Brown kick), 6:05 Neb -Safety, 4:43 Neb Crouch 18 run (Brown kick), :41. Second Ouarter KSU-Beasley I run (pass tailed), 13:36 Neb-Miller 4 run (London run), 7:57 KSU-FG Rheem 35, :25 Fourth Quarter Nrtl-FG Brown 30, 12 34 Neb-Diedrick 46 run (Brown kick), 11:21 KSU-Hekn I run (rush tailed) 5 33 Neb-Johnson 15 tumble recovery (Brown kick), 3 10 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING-kansas St, Murphy 10-51, Allen 9 18. Man 3-10 Beasley 4. 12, Helm 11-1 Netxasna, Croufti 2 158 Oteorirk 14 93.

ADWesate 2-14. liter Alusanoer 1-8 Bockhalter 7-10. Pernno 2 7, HarjeMnl t-lminus 1 1 St, Beasiey 3 19 0 too. Helm Rrjns'Ck C'ouch 8-7 -0-69 The Associated Press UC quarterback Deontey Kenner is carried off the field on a stretcher after complaining of head pain from a tackle. He was kept at a hospital overnight for observation.

Kenner injured; will miss finale BY KEVIN BRAFFORD Enquirer contributor GREENVILLE, N.C. It didn't take long to know this wasn't going to be Cincinnati's day. "It took just 2:47. That's when East Keith Stokes scored on a 94-yard punt return. The stunned Bearcats never recovered and fell 48-34 to the No.

24 Pirates, a result that took an even somber turn when junior quarterback Deontey Kenner was taken off the field in a stretcher midway through the third quarter. Kenner was driven into the grass by East Carolina's Chris Howell after releasing a pass. He complained of pain in the back of his skull and was taken to Pitt County Memorial Hospital, where neck and cervical X-rays were negative. He was held overnight for observation and additional testing. He's expected to return to Cincinnati today.

When he does, he'll do so with his right thumb in a cast, that courtesy of the same play. It'll keep him out of next Saturday's season finale at Nippert Stadium against Memphis (4-6, 3-2). he game against the Tigers will represent the Bearcats' (3-7, 0-5) last chance for a Conference USA win. The loss to the Pirates (8-2. 4-2) was UC's sixth in its last seven games.

"They just did a better job than we did." sud coach Kit Minter. "'I hry're more talcr.trd than we are. Th.it was btm with- without having to punt, and amassed 462 yards through a combination of rushing, passing and returns. Most damaging were the 203 return yards and most surprising was that 131 of those ime after UC punts. The Bearcats came into the ga ne ranked No.

1 in the country in net punting at 41.0 yards per attempt. "That set the tone," Minter said of the punt return TD. Minter had watched his special teams shut down Wiscoi sin's Nick Davis and Alabama-Birmingham's Rodregis Brooks, both among the nation's punt return leaders. The Bearcats scored twice in the final 2:07 to make the margin respectable. Senior David Bertucci, who replaced Kt-n- ncr, was on trie ticict enough to throw 23 times in a quark and Independents All Louisiana Tech Noire Dame Louisiana-Mcnroe Central Florida Navy M'ddie Tennessee State x-night ga not cmc-ls if I 1 lnif-21 played the half 1 '1.