The Anniston Star from Anniston, Alabama • Page 19

September! 8, 1 9y4 Page PREPS; Wellborn 's Allen Quinn has unusual meeting this Friday night. PAGE 10B SOFTBALL: After numerous injuries, Calhoun County's Chuck Belew is hanging up the spikes. PAGE 12B 3IIie mttsttm tar INSIDE College football 3-8B Prep page 10B Outdoors 1 1B Golf 14B il i i 1 II i -Li. AJ Sports Editor: Ken Patterson, 236-1558, Ext. 331 AU 9 secondary steals wie fr Peter St.

Onge ar Auburn vs. LSU -J Star Sports Columnist i 4th-quarter interceptions keep AU's win streak alive ft More on Auburn5 Score: Auburn 30, LSU 26. 7 By Erin Harvego Star Sports Writer Key play: In the fourth quarter, LSU QB Jamie Howard's pass is intercepted by freshman strong safety Kenny Alvis, setting the mometum for two more Auburn touchdown interceptions and the upset, Quote: "Today (the defense) is charmed. We were rotating our coverage, it was a matter of mixing it up." AU coach Terry Bowden. Records: Auburn (3-0, 2-0 in the SEC), LSU (1-2, 1-1).

Next up: Auburn hosts East Tennessee State next Saturday in Auburn. LSU has an open date next week. I.e., 5 AUBURN All that could be heard at the start of the fourth quarter in Jordan-Hare Stadium were chants of "Eddie, Eddie, Eddie" from the Louisiana State section for LSU flanker. Eddie Kennison. The Auburn crowd of more than 80,000 was stunned into silence as the Auburn Tigers, down by 14 points, seemed at the end of their 13-game winning streak.

Talk about your momentum swings. In the next, 15 minutes, Auburn's defense shocked the life right out of LSU and breathed an incredible sigh of relief back into the win streak the nation's longest, now at 14 with a 30-26 Southeastern Conference win on Saturday. What Auburn's defense did five fourth-quarter interceptions, returning three for touchdowns not only stunned LSU and its head coach Curley Hallman, it also left A coach Terry Bowdfcn bewildered. "We've seen, something almost historical," said 1 ft Bowden. "We couldn't get a first down and the defense kept going.

I've never seen a game like it. The offense couldn't offer, any help, any assistance. "Hats off to our defense. It was a tough loss for LSU. Their defense was better than our offense." See Auburn5B Auburn's Mike Pelton (50), MarccIIus Mostella (47) and Chris Shelling cause LSU's Jermaine Sharp to fumble.

Breaking through One-man show leads Alabama past Arkansas 4 mi, More on AIabama4B By Phillip Tutor Star Sports Writer Jit" J) i 1 i This win's good medicine BIRMINGHAM Finally, when they were close enough to smell success, the years seemed to melt off them, the disappointments, the pressure, all falling away like the rain off their helmets. The Jacksonville State Gamecocks were winning now. They motioned for more noise from the crowd. They mouthed off to opposing players. They did all the things you can't do when you're losing.

But they weren't losing, Not this time. "How long has it been since you've felt this good after a game?" a reporter asked defensive end Mondreco Blair on Saturday, moments after JSU beat Alabama-Birmingham 28-1 2 at Legion Field. "It's been a long time," Blair said, grinning. "It feels good." Here, in the heart of a football Saturday, was a case study of what it means to be on the good side of the final score. The Gamecocks won their first game against a Division 1 A A team since starting the move there in 1993.

They won their first road game since 1 992. But more important than anything, they won a game. Simple as that. "There's nothing like winning," coach Bill Burgess said. "Winning is what it's all about.

That's how everyone judges you." And that's how you judge yourself. In one 60-minute stretch, JSU went from tentative to confident, from disheartened to energized, from tired, frustrated football players to 20-yetr-old college kids, having fun. Kids do that, you know. 'Great' is the best way to put it," senior lineman John Ingram said. "We worked and worked and worked to get a win." For so long the work had brought little on the scoreboard.

Jax State trudged through a trail of road losses last year, and this year they had suffered twice more. What had losing done? It had sucked the life out of their game, left them doubting and tentative. Even last week, after coming close against powerful McNeese State, they didn't talk much about moral victories. Progress loses its flavor fast when its all you get week after week. "We played two good football teams and we played well, but it wasn't enough," Burgess said.

"They go out every Monday and act like they're undefeated, but you can only do that for so long." Then you have to take the hardest step. On Saturday, the Gamecocks were the better team right away, winning both lines of scrimmage, moving the ball fluidly downfield. But they gave up a 95-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, and the officiating crew, which included three members of JSU's old Gulf South Conference, made life more difficult with some questionable calls. It seemed like more of the same a good effort dissolving into disappointment and when the- JSU players reached the half, they reached it with their heads down. "We tried to tell them, 'Be patient.

Be patient. It will offensive coordinator Charlie Maniscalo said. "They could have laid down, but they didn't. That's a complement to these guys." And also to the coaches. Burgess and his staff have shown their team the proper way to lose, by focusing on yourself.

Burgess could have given into the temptation of excuses in the last 12 games. He could have whined about being undermanned, just as UAB did Saturday, but he hasn't. Now the Gamecocks know that winning is the same. You rely on you. Forget the officials.

Forget the bad breaks. Get the win, Finally, they have the last part. "We were just missing that little spark," fullback Jermelle Pruitt said. Now we got it. Now we can roll and roll and roll." Who knows what it will mean next week, or beyond.

On Saturday, the players basked in the present. Pruitt said "I love these guys" a few dozen times. Ingram talked about what a joy it was to block for his fullback. Blair beamed all the way back to the locker room. All the things you can't do when you're losing.

All the things Jax State could do Saturday. "I feel like I'm in heaven," Pruitt said. He feels like he's a winner. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. Without Sherman Williams, where would Alabama's football team be? Would it have lost its last three games? Would it have already fallen behind in the race for the Southeastern Conference's Western Division crown? We'll never know.

But after Saturday, we do know this: 1 Williams is the 12th-ranked Crimson Tide's offense. He's its heart, its soul, and many times its only hope for production. "Right now he's running better than I've ever seen him run," Jay Barker, Alabama's starting quarterback, said after Saturday's 13-6 victory over Arkansas at sold-out Razorback Stadium. mom told me a couple of weeks ago that now you are seeing the Sherman she saw in high school." Williams, a senior from Mobile, was so dominant against the Razorbacks that he accounted for 234 of the Crimson Tide's 276 total yards an astounding 84.8 percent. He ran 33 times for 1-42 yards, both career highs, and turned in one of the game's two most crucial plays: a 73-yard touchdown recep-' tion that breathed a little life in Alabama's lethargic attack and helped keep the Tide's record (3-0, 2-0 SEC) unblemished.

How big was Williams' touchdown? Homer Smith, Alabama's wordsmith offensive coordinator, gave a clue "How big is that universe out there?" Smith said, glancing up at Fayelteville's cloudless 'sky. For Tide coach Gene Stallings; there certainly was reason to fly home thankful for the win. Ala-. See Tide4B SEC title game already sold out From Staff, Wire Reports The Southeastern Conference announced Saturday that all 41,000 general-public seats for the Dec. 3 SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome have been sold.

Trie only tickets remaining available are ones being held specifically for the two participating schools. The champions of the Eastern and Western divisions will each get 15,000 tickets. This year's game will be the first SEC Championship game held at the Georgia Dome. Birmingham's Legion Field hosted the first two games. Around the SEC Former Anniston' High star Larry Bowie, now at Georgia, rushed for touchdowns from 5, 1 and 2 yards out.

Georgia's Greg Bright and Carlos Yancy returned interceptions for touchdowns within a span of 2:10 in the first quarter of the Bulldogs' 70-6 win over Northeast Louisiana. Redshirt freshman Alex Smith ran for 221 yards and two touchdowns as Indiana overwhelmed Kentucky 59-29. Florida defeated Ten-, nessee at Neyland Stadium 31 -0. It was the first time in 1 3 years the Volunteers have -been blanked. It was Tennessee's first game on Neyland Stadium's new grass field.

Ole Miss' Josh Nelson threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns as Mississippi rallied to beat Vanderbilt in Nashville Stanley Pritchett scored twice and South Carolina struggled against Louisiana Tech before putting the game away with 24 second-half points to win 31-6. Bill WllaonTh Annlston Star JSU's Ted Roberts explodes through fveral UAB defenders. Gamecocks blaze past UAB More on JSU6B Bama vs. Arkansas JSU vs. UAB Score: Jacksonville State 28, Ala- bama-Birmingham 12.

Key play: Jacksonville State halfback Jason Reynolds' 62-yard receptioh of a Chuck Robinson pass that set up the Gamecocks' go-ahead score in the third quarter. Quote: "We needed to win. Jax State head coach Bill Burgess. Records: Jax State is 1 -2. UAB is 1 -2.

Next up: Jax State makes Its third straight road trip, this time to Greensboro, N.C., to take on North Carolina UAB plays at Division I Kansas. defeated. But that only lasts for so long." Jax State got the win with an offensive game plan executed to near perfection. The Gamecocks racked up 431 rushing yards and 524 total yards. "If you're playing a team that throws the ball as much as they do, you have to keep the ball away from them," safd Burgess.

His team did just that, with three drives that ate up at least six minutes each. One of those drives was a 14-play beauty, and two other drives were good for 15 plays each. Quarterback Chuck Robinson, hobbled earlier this week with a knee injury suffered against McNeese State a week ago, led the attack with 133 yards rushing. By Tim Hathcock Star Sports Writer For Jacksonville State, it was plainly beautiful. Forget the mistakes, forget that the Gamecocks trailed Alabama-Birmingham 6-3 at halftime, forget all that.

When the Gamecocks walked off Legion Field here Saturday afternoon, they took with them a win, 28-12 over the Blazers. After two tough losses against I-AA opponents this season, the seventh and eighth in a row against I-AA teams since Jax State moved up in divisions a. year ago, the Gamecocks needed this win desperately. "Our players have done everything we've asked them to do," said Jax State head coach Bill Score: Alabama 1 3, Arkansas 6. Key play: Sherman Williams' 73-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.

Quote: "Being able to play Alabama and beating them are two different stories. Arkansas QB Barry Lunney. Records: Alabama is 3-0, 2-0 SEC. Arkansas is 1-2, 0-2 SEC. Next up: Alabama hosts Tulane at Birmingham's Legion Field next Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Arkansas is at Memphis. See JSU6B Burgess. "They go out (to practice) Monday and act like they're un Points leaders RnHine reaps reward as driver, owner I. Dale Earnhardt, 3,620 ft 11 a.m. on TNN By Dick Brinster Associated Press "That's the plan," the Bodine said.

"But tilans are always subject to change by management and parents. "If it works out, it will be great. After all, I can't drive the car forever." That he is driving his own car is a tribute to the late Alan Kulwicki, the 1992 Winston Cup champion who died in a plane crash 17 months ago. Bodine purchased the team a year ago. "Alan proved you can drive your own car and See Bodine12B 2.

Rusty Wallace, 3,388 3. Mark Martin, 3,317 4. Ricky Rudd, 3,210 5. Ken Schrader, 3,319 6. Morgan Shepherd, 3,077 7.

Ernie Irvan 3,026 8. Jeff Gordon, 2,921 9. Bill Elliott, 2,887 10. Michael Wattrip, 2,829 11. Terry Labonte, 2,086 12.

Darrel! Wattrip, 2,789 13. Sterling Marlin, 2,755 14. Lake Speed, 2,698 15. Kyle Petty, 2,633 ragged edge to car owner keeping a keen eye on his new business. To date, the unlikely marriage has been an unqualified success.

In his first full season as an owner-driver, Bodine has been to Victory Lane three times a remarkable achievement in a sport where independents rarely win. Later, he laughs easily at the suggestion that he has just announced his jetirement from the Winston Cup stock car circuit albeit five years in advance. Potential successors need not apply, however. The next driver in line probably is Bodine's 16-year-old son Barry, who hopes to make the transition from go-karts to the big DOVER, Del. All along garage row, the drivers emerged from their cars and beat a hasty retreat to the cool environs of their trailers on a steamy afternoon at Dover Downs International Speedway.

All but one. When the hood went up, Geoff Bodine, polesitter for today's Splitfire 500, made the transition from throttle jockey running the.