The Anniston Star from Anniston, Alabama • Page 19

September 4, 1994 Page 1B HAPPY 75th: New rules, roster upheaval to make for an interesting NFL PAGE 10B RICH KIDD: The Dallas Mavericks sign Jason Kidd to a million deal. PAGE 12B INSIDE Scoreboard Outdoors Tennis i Obituaries 2B 11B 12B 13B Of Sports Editor: Ken Patterson, 236-1558, Ext. 331 7 It?) Tl proves mis Peter Aebera9s Davi 11 worth Star Sports Columnist Tigers down Ole Miss with running game Auburn vs. Ole Miss Scort: Auburn 22, Ole Miss 17. Key play: Tim Montz's 30-yard field goal attempt with 6:51 to go in fourth quarter was blocked by cornerback Chris Shelling.

Quote: "Our offensive line played well, and I was fortunate to be the player who could step up. Auburn tailback Stephen Davis. Records: Auburn is 1 -0. Ole Miss is Next up: Auburn hosts Northeast Louisiana next Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium at 6 p.m. Ole Miss hosts Southern Illinois.

more than half of which came from Davis. He had 60 yards on 16 carries in the first half and gave the Tigers the field position they needed to score two touchdowns. "I know we got 33 carries from him," Coach Terry Bowden said. "That's good enough. That was a workhorse effort.

But he Would like the ball whether it was 33 or 23 times." Davis' success forced the Ole Miss defense to try to blitz more in the second half something they failed to do in the first half. "The first half was an Auburn track meet, and Auburn did all the running," said Ole Miss head Coach Joe Lee Dunn. "I told them (the defense) if they could shut out Auburn in the second half, we would win the ball If we had shut them out, we would have won the ball game." See Auburn5B By Erin Harvego Star Sports Writer OXFORD, Miss. At Auburn's press conference earlier this week, tailback Stephen Davis said he dreamed of leading the Southeastern Conference in rushing this season. His performance against Ole Miss Saturday put him well on his way.

Davis destroyed Ole Miss' defense with 33 carries, 158 yards and one touchdown, leading the 12th-ranked Auburn Tigers to a 22-17 victory. "I had fun out there carrying the ball," said Davis. "I was able to get the first down when we needed it." It was the kind of game Davis needed to establish himself as the Auburn tailback. After backing up James Bostic last year, Davis showed great poise, gliding through the Ole Miss defense. Davis said he needed to make an impact early in the season because he didn't think many people believed in him.

"Because I was a prop (academically ineligible player), a lot of people said I couldn't do it," he said. "I proved that I can today. Coaches told me I needed to prove myself early, so basically that's what I did." It was a tough debut to make. Last season Ole Miss's defense held opponents to 234.5 yards per game. Auburn had 266 in Saturday's contest j.

Slav (irossTfit Annlston Star Auburn's Frank Sanders drosJhebal after a hit by Rebel Michael Lowery. Late TD pass dooms Jax St By Tim Hathcock Star Sports Writer JSU vs. SHS What might have been Pennant races, record chases, I it 'd have been a great Labor Day (Editor's note: The 28 major league baseball parks are devoid of pennant races and record chases because of the players' strike. Here's a fanciful look at what might have been, had they played on. By Ben Walker Associated Press liven before the Kansas City Royals made that last-second trade for Bret Saberhagen, this promised to be a big day at Kauffman Stadium.

A fall chill in the air, shadows creeping across the HAC17T1ATT inHeld and baseball's best race at stake. The Moral victory for Gamecocks? You bet this is JACKSONVILLE In the end, the coach was the only one clapping, (he only one yelling, the only one with his eyes not locked to the -turf. "It's Bill Burgess screamed as his Jacksonville State players walked off the field, losers again. "We'll get 'em next time," he said as the last seconds bled from the clock. His Gamecocks had lost 17-10 Saturday to Sam Houston State, lost again to another Division I-AA team, but when Burgess went to the locker room, when he went to the interview room, he was smiling.

How many times have we heard this: There aren't any moral victories, just real ones. That's hogwash. The Gamecocks took home some handfuls of progress Saturday, and they needed to know it. "We had our heads down," Jermelle Pruitt said. "But after Coach Burgess talked to us, we didn't.

We've decided this isn't going to be another last year." Ah, last year. The Gamecocks lost every game they played against Division I-AA opponents, every one of them a road trip to nowhere. By the time Jax State closed at home, they were already finished, worn out and shut out by an NAIA team they should have beaten. So Saturday was about taking a first step, about showing yourself something you already! know that you're not a bad football team. You could see it in the first quarter, when both teams scored touchdowns.

JSU went first, and when Gabe Walton ran in from 12 yards away the Gamecocks bounded around the field like young deer. When the Bearkats scored less then five minutes later, they celebrated, too, but it wasn't nearly as extravagant. It was the celebration of a team that knew it should score. It was the type of celebration Jax State used to have. But you could see that change as the game moved into the middle quarters.

Even after Sam Houston pulled ahead with a second quarter field goal, the Gamecocks defense began to swell with confidence, making stops when they needed to, playing to the crowd after making them. The offense also was looser, and when Lee Sutherland kicked a short field goal in the third quarter, the Gamecocks took another baby step. Whenever JSU gave up a lead last year to a Division I-AA opponent, the Gamecocks never pulled even again. This year they did it in the first game. Small victories.

But that's what you take when you're growing up. After the game, Burgess began to list all the areas where he saw improvement. There were no turnovers. The Gamecocks were almost penalty free. And more.

"Defensively at times we tackled as well as I've ever seen us," Burgess said. "And I thought our run blocking was as good at times as I've ever seen it." But there were bad signs, too. After the field goal, the offense never crossed midfield again, and the defense finally folded under the weight of bad field position. Add it all up and the Gamecocks are 0-1 And Burgess knows as well as anyone that progress can only drive you so far. He has said that this rebuilding project isn't like 1985, when he took over the JSU program.

This is a different team. There are diffoentchallenges. But there is onething in common. The Gamecocks have to learn to win again. Without that they will spiral just as sure as they did last year.

"If we can keep the right attitude Burgess started, then quickly said, "But we've got to win to do that. We can improve every week." That will be difficult. Next stop, McNeese State. The Gamecocks go back on the road next week, back to hostile stadiums and home officials and a schedule that might be as tough as any in Division KAA. But for now, Burgess will keep clapping his hands, and his players will try their best to hear him.

they should. The Jacksonville Gamecocks will get better, but there are no big leaps to glory at this level. Just small gains. Saturday was one of them. Score: Sam Houston State 1 7, Jacksonville State 10.

Key play: Sam Houston QB Stacy Arrimbide's 15-yard touchdown to Wenschell Winslow with eight second left in the game. Quote: "That's the one sack I wish I could have made." Jax State de-: fensive end Mondreco Blair. Records: Jax State is 0-1 Sam Houston State is 1-0. Next up: Jax State travels to face McNeese State in Lake Charles, La. Sam Houston State is home to Southeast Missouri State.

JACKSONVILLE It was appropriate that Jacksonville State's season opener with Sam Houston State would come down to a pass. Sure, both teams are predominantly running teams, Jax State with its triple-option wishbone and Sam Houston State with an All-America candidate in tailback Charles Harris. But the Gamecocks had promised to open up its offense some and the Bearkats went to the air early after finding little success with the running game. So, it was no real surprise that the game-winning play came on a pass. Sam Houston State quarterback Stacy Arrimbide hit wideout Wenschell Winslow with a 15-yard touchdown pass with just 8 seconds remaining for a 17-10 win over the Gamecocks at Jacksonville's Paul Snow Stadium.

Winslow made an stretching grab over the top of Jax State cornerback Wesley Goggins. "1 thought Wesley had good coverage on him," said Jax State defensive end Mondreco Blair. "He just made a great catch." The passing game for the Bearkats was something of a surprise to the Gamecocks, who were bracing for the running of Harris, who entered the game needing 333 Cleveland Indians in town Monday for a doubleheader they used to' play two on Labor Day and a sellout crowd to see the start of the stretch run. Dave Winfield, fresh off those two home runs in his Cleveland debut, and new teammate Albert Belle, now with 47 home runs and leading all three Triple Crown categories. The Associated Prui yards to become his school's all-time leading rusher.

Early on, the Gamecocks snuffed out the run, holding the Bearkats to 57 yards rushing in the first half. But Sam Houston turned often to the passing game, especially on little crossing routes "They caught us sometimes when- we were a little weak up front," said Jax State defensive coordinator Roland Houston. Burned by the pass for 103 yards in the first half, the Gamecocks Atlanta's Greg Maddux, rather than tossing for the Atlanta Braves, was throwing a golf ball earlier this week in Las Vegas. and Ken Griffey Jr. face Milwaukee in their" temporary home, the domed B.C.

Place in Vancouver, British Columbia. Of course, none of this would've happened if Larry King hadn't gotten so involved in the strike talks last month. But by getting both players and owners to agree to an on-air handshake that put off the matter for another year, the games have gone on. See Season1 0B Indians and Royals tied for the wild-card spot, with Baltimore only 1 Vi games back and the suddenly surging Toronto Blue Jays only 4Vi behind. One month to go in the most exciting season in years, and baseball not the NFL or Notre Dame or college football is the buzz across America.

In Canada, too, where more than 55,000 fans will be on hand Tuesday to watch the first-place Seattle Mariners See JSU6B defense Tide struggles in romp Qri Alabama vs. UTC By Phillip Tutor 8tar Sports Writer 0 Score: Alabama 42, Tennessee-Chats, tanooga 13. Key play: Curtis Brown's 9-yard touchdown catch that gave Alabama a 28-13 halftime lead. Quote: "The positive was it wasnt in triple figures. It was UTC coach Buddy Green.

Record: Alabama is 1 -0. Tennessee-Chattanooga is 0-1. Next up: Alabama hosts Vanderbilt next Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium at 1 1 :40 a.m. Tennessee-Chattanooga hosts Alcorn State. 7 iA made around the goal line.

We just didn't play as sharp was we've been practicing." Such criticism didn't mean Stallings didn't get dizzy with excitement over the stellar game of Sherman Williams, who had a career high 153 yards rushing, 127 coming in the first half. Williams, trimmer and slimmer as a senior, averaged 11.8 yards a carry the third-highest average in Alabama history. "Our offensive line was really getting after them," said the spft-spoken Williams. "It didn't matter which side (I ran to)." Stallings also found for quar- terbacks Jay Barker and Brian Burgdorf, who combined to complete 8 of 13 passes, and even the truckload of youngsters including Anniston's John David Phillips -T- who made their first-ever appearances in Tide uniforms. "(It was) a win," Stallings said matter-of-factly, his face failing to break into a smile.

"We never get a win in practice. We've lost some of these in the past." Nevertheless, the hot topic on Stallings' mind was his defense, and how it BIRMINGHAM Willie Gaston said it was bad. So did Shannon Brown. Ditto for Gene Stallings. Think there'll be some rumbling this week in Tuscaloosa? "We didn't play Alabama defense.

We didn't play up to our potential," Gaston said Saturday after 1 lth-ranked Alabama's less-than-scintillating 42-13 victory over overmatched Tennessee-Chattanooga at Legion Field. "We thought they were going to lay down on us We were expecting a shutout, but after (they scored) two touchdowns, you can't let that affect you." Angry isn't really how the Crimson Tide's defense felt Saturday evening, a night most everyone thought would prove just how good Alabama's 1994 defense would soon be. There was a home game, an undermanned opponent, and no reason why Bill Oliver's defense wouldn't sparkle as if spit-shined. Yet there were some problems. Like two first-half touchdowns.

'i Like two loooong scoring drives. Like several missed assignments against the Moccasins' option. And the normal assortment of missed tackles. 'That's why Gaston, Brown and Stallings were breathing fire just minutes after a 29-point victory. The win was nice, but they were expecting something better.

"It was not a real good game for us defensively," said Stallings. "We just didn't play the way we normally play. We missed some tackles' we should have Bill WllionTh Annliton SUf Sherman Williams dashes to daylight during the best rushing day of his career in Alabama's 42-13 win. See Tide4B.