The Anniston Star from Anniston, Alabama • Page 16

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COLUMBIA, S. C. It is a new low for South Carolina and coach Lou Holtz. Never in 28 previous seasons with five other teams, Holtz said Monday, has he seen the kind of fearful, "woe is me" attitude he sees on his 0-3 Gamecocks. It only got worse Saturday night after a 21-3 home loss to East Carolina, their 13th straight defeat.

"This is one of the more disappointing losses I've Md ever had," Holtz said. "For one reason: Once we fumbled the ball on offense, we went downhill. Once we threw the third interception, we went downhill on defense. That was what was most disappointing." Holtz says he was searching for someone, anyone, to stand up against the mistakes. South Carolina led 3-0 and was outplaying East Carolina in the first half when Boo Williams fumbled trying to field a punt on his 1-yard line.

East Carolina cornerback Kevin Monroe recovered for a touchdown and South Carolina was done. The defense that has been the Gamecocks' brightest spot let down after East Carolina picked off its third pass, giving up the Pirates' last touchdown. Holtz said his team is quiet and reserved when things go wrong, not angry like winners when they lose. "It's not going to change around here until somebody steps up and says, "Hey, let's try it a different It's a lot about attitude," he said. Holtz met with his players Sunday.

They went over the film and spoke of improvements in a week when the Gamecocks travel to No. 23 Mississippi State on Saturday night. The Bulldogs routed South Carolina 38-0 a year ago, a week after the Gamecocks' improbable loss to Marshall on a late field goal. "You can't help thinking about last year," tight end Peace-Moten combo receives rare acclaim Associated Press South Carolina coach Lou Holtz encourages the Gamecocks during last Saturday's loss to East Carolina. South Carolina lost 21-3.

Trey Pennington said. "But we can't afford to. You've got to go on and fight or else the problems will continue." Holtz tried to be upbeat, in a Gamecock sort of way. "Things are not as bad as they as they seem," he said. "But they are bad." The Gamecocks have given up 12 sacks, the same number as points they've scored this year.

They don't have an interception and have committed 1 1 turnovers. Holtz started 0-3 once before, at Williarn Mary in 1970. He has never opened with four straight losses. That had Holtz rethinking his return to football during a sleepless Sunday morning. Even his gag lines were edgier than normal.

He closed his TV show Sunday by throwing an autographed football offstage. "I try this even though it's likely to be intercepted," he said. Ohatchee's Brewster records 14 tackles By Derrick Nunnally Star Sports Writer A freshman and former fullback at Cedar Bluff turned in one of the most improbable performances in Northeast Alabama last Friday night. Cole Peace has been the Tigers' starting quarterback for all of four games. Last Friday, he teamed with fellow freshman Josh Moten for a stunning performance that earned them rare co-honors as The Star's offensive players of the week.

Ole Miss' Cutcliffe welcomes challenge of facing Tuberville Peace threw for an astounding 313 yards on a 19-for-26 outing, making him the first 300-yard passer in The Star's coverage area this year. Ten completions went to Moten, who accounted for 210 SEC Associated Press OXFORD, Miss. Tommy Tuberville is again a hot topic at Mississippi, this time as a rival and not the coach that took the Rebels from NCAA probation to consecutive winning seasons and bowl berths. The game that most Ole Miss fans have waited for since last November, when Tuberville took the Auburn job just two days after the regular season finale, is next on the schedule. Despite all the focus on his predecessor, new Ole Miss coach David Cutcliffe says the situation isn't a distraction.

He believes it may actually make his job easier this week. "One of the challenges you have as a coach, you like the players thinking about what they're getting ready to do on Saturday," Cutcliffe said Monday during his weekly news conference on the Oxford campus. "They'll get reminded a lot of what they are getting ready to do on Saturday. My biggest challenge may be to keep their focus on class, and tion standpoint; and we don't have to worry about it being a major effect on our team long term," Cutcliffe said. "You have to treat every game the same way the best you can," he said.

"The thing we've got to do is to continue to focus on Ole Miss, on just how good we can be." Against Vanderbilt, Ole Miss went ahead 14-0 and then responded with two straight touchdowns after falling behind in the fourth quarter. But the Commodores tied the game in the final minute of regulation and won after the Rebels managed just a field goal on its overtime possession. Even though the Rebels lost in overtime, Cutcliffe likes having a resolution in games. He believes losses are easier to handle than ties. 'That overtime is a funny feeling, but I like overtime better than that funny feeling when you don't know what to do when the game's over 31-31," Cutcliffe said.

"Everybody kind of stands around and looks at each other and walks off the field. I didn't know what to say to players." doing what they have to do as student athletes." Cutcliffe replaced Tuberville last December in time to lead the Rebels to a victory over favored Texas Tech in the Independence Bowl. Cutcliffe was hired last Dec. 2 four years to the date after Tuberville's hiring at Ole Miss. The present Ole Miss coach and the former coach go head-to-head Saturday when the Rebels (2-1, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) travel to Auburn (3-0, 1-0), which has already equaled its win total of a year ago.

Tuberville, who repeatedly denied the rumors last fall that he was leaving Ole Miss, told Alabama reporters that he will be relieved to get this game out of the way. But he'll have to return to Oxford next year. Not only do the Rebels face their old coach, they have to bounce back from a 37-34 overtime loss to Vanderbilt. "I think our players will hold themselves in check from an emo yards in the 25-13 win over Valley Head. "Friday night was just one of those nights," said Cedar Bluff coach Steve Smith.

"It just seemed that Cole was on the money with all his throws, and everything Josh could get to it, he caught:" Peace said his performance was something of a surprise, since he is still adjusting to playing quarterback. "I didn't really expect this, being so young and all," Peace said. "I was a fullback last year. I never thought of myself being any kind of a quarterback. But we were working hard all summer, I guess a lot of it is paying off now." Peace and Cole went to a quarterbacks-receivers camp at Furman over the summer, but they have worked together many times before.

"When we were in elementary school, we played PE ball together," Peace said. "I grew up knowing "how fast he was and everything, so there was no need to adjust or learn how he played." Moten added that his success receiving last week was helped by a desire to atone for a couple of hard-luck games. "I was coming off a rough game where I didn't make some big catches and missed a touchdown catch," Moten said. "I guess I redeemed myself. I made some rough catches, and it got my confidence going back." The Star's defensive player of the week is Maurice Brewster of Ohatchee, who stepped up from his free safety position to record 14 tackles and two clutch interceptions in the Indians' 35-6 win over Weaver.

Brewster's first interception came late in the second quarter, when his team was attempting to carry the momentum of a 21-6 first half into the locker room. He picked off the ball on his own 6, short-circuiting Weaver's attempt at a 70-yard-drive. Later, he added another pick on a third-and-2 play in Ohatchee territory. Like, his prolific tackling, both picks came as a pleasant surprise for the Indians. Brewster wasn't even a starter going into two-a-days this year, but his hard work caught Ohatchee Steve GrossThe Anniston Star Ohatchee's Maurice Brewster made 14 tackles during the Indians' 35-6 win over Weaver.

coach Jeff Smith's eye. With games like he had against Weaver, Brewster is likely to be an Ohatchee defensive mainstay for years. "He's a hard worker, and he graded out extremely well in all four of our games this year," Smith said. Brewster is nonchalant about the interceptions, which brought his year's total to four. "I just read the quarterback well.

One of them, I made a break on the ball," he said. "It's not hard to do when the other defensive backs are covering as well as they were." The honor roll Other prep football players posting remarkable weeks included: Allen Steele, Ohatchee: Scored four touchdowns while running 24 times for 171 yards in Ohatchee's win over Munford. He also set the tone early by running back the opening kickoff 46 yards. Chad Sanders, Wellborn: Racked up an impressive 18 tackles in the Panthers' 27-14 loss to Cleburne County. Sanders also broke up two passes and had two tackles for loss.

Mondrecco Bush, Saks: Ran 37 times for 196 yards 1 14 of which came in the first half and scored the Wildcats' only touchdown in a 13-6 loss to Oxford. Blake McDaniel, Trinity: Led his team to its first-ever win over Jacksonville Christian by rushing 24 times for 222 yards and three touchdowns. On defense, McDaniel recorded 1 1 tackles at linebacker. Kellen Bradford, Munford: Accumulated 165 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown in Munford's 17-14 win over B.B. Comer.

He also recovered a fumble on defense. JaQuarren Swain, TCC: Picked off three passes in the win over White Plains that saw his team total eight interceptions. College Football Crimson Tide Alabama safety Tony Dixon returned to practice on Monday, after leaving the game with a stinger in his right shoulder in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game. "He's not full speed, physically," said Alabama defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson. "Contact-wise, we'll have to watch him this week, but he'll be able to play by Saturday." Johnson said a lot of the trouble i last week against Louisiana Tech came from the play of his safeties, as Tech quarterback Tim Rattay threw for more than 350 yards.

The safeties could have made more plays. No one in the secondary had a lot of ball awareness, though, so you can't put all the blame on one particular area." Alabama's October 2 Florida game will be televised either on CBS or ESPN, but no official decision will be made probably before this week's games. If CBS carries the game, it will be shown at 3:30 p.m.. If ESPN has the game, it will be held at 6:30 p.m. Athens senior stands out on offense, defense in win Associated Press Notebook a year ago.

They've already got nine this year four by Herman Bell. The Gamecocks are tied for 80th (with Appalachian State) in passing yards per game (161 They're also fifth nationally in scoring offense (44.0). Record-setting receiver Joey Hamilton, linebacker Randy Coleman and linebacker Omar Blasingame are the captains for Saturday's game against Nicholls State. Hamilton was the Gamecocks' offensive and overall player of the week. Cockback Delvin Hughley was the defensive and special teams player of the week.

Offensive tackle Michael Childress got honorable mention for Offensive Player of the Week. Other special teams awards went to linebacker Jimmy Johnson, defensive end Pat Williams and Blasingame. Other game awards went to tight end Brad Wallace (big hit), running back Daniel Kirkland (big block) and running back Herman Bell (big play). Tomorrow's Team scout team awards went to fullback Joey Mullins (offense), defensive lineman Deandre Marbury (defense) and defensive back Bentwan Taylor (sepcial teams). AIMuskewltz SEC Vanderbilt quarterback Greg Zolman, who passed for 344 yards in a victory over Mississippi, and Florida defensive end Alex Brown, who notched five sacks against Tennessee, were named the Southeastern Conference players of the week Monday.

Zolman, a sophomore, completed 22 of 39 passes Saturday for 344 yards the most by a Vanderbilt passer since 1984. Zolman threw for two touchdowns, Including one In overtime for the Commodores' 37-34 victory, and ran for two others. Brown, a sophomore from White Springs, had five sacks, two pass deflections, one forced fumble and an interception in the Gators' 23-21 win over Tennessee. Associated Press East Carolina Pirates East Carolina University moved its home game against the ninth-ranked University of Miami to Raleigh, North Carolina, because of severe flooding caused by Hurricane Floyd. East Carolina, In Greenville, North Carolina, about 80 miles east of Raleigh, is near the Tar River, which overflowed its banks after last week's powerful storm.

The game is scheduled for Carter Flnley Stadium, North Carolina State's home field. The Wolfpack Is at Wake Forest on Saturday. Associated Press Florida Gators A high ankle sprain will sideline No. 3 Florida's top receiver, Travis Taylor, for three to four weeks, coach Steve Spurrier said Monday. Taylor, who was injured midway through Saturday's gamp against Tennessee, has 16 catches for 244 yards and five touchdowns on the season.

At first, he was expected to be out for a week but the Injury turned out to be worse than originally anticipated. With Taylor's absence, Darrell Jackson will become Florida's primary receiver and Alex Willis should step in as the second starter. "Our best receiver is out for a bit and Darrell Jackson, Alex Willis and whoever else, could come in here and play," Spurrier said. "I don't know who it's going to be." Also injured in last week's game was defensive lineman Buck who sprained his ankle. Other spotlight performances were: Lucus Davis of Samson rushed 17 times for 331 yards and five touchdowns (52, 50, 32, 3 and 2 yards) in a 38-15 victory over Kinston.

Jon Mills completed 14 of 3 1 passes for 348 yards and three touchdowns in Winfield's 56-20 loss to Fayette County, led by Dwight Savage's 166 yards and two on 10 carries. Jelani Hardwick rushed for 227 yards and three touchdowns and John Foshee threw three touchdown passes in Montgomery Academy's 43-7 win over Marbury. Ricky Jones of Dallas County rushed 23 times for 326 yards and a touchdown in a 36-21 loss to Autaugaville. Brandon Turner of Elkmont hit 20 of 28 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-28 loss to West Limestone. Hokes Bluff used two interception returns for touchdowns 35 yards by Dustin OtwelJ and 45 yards by Blake Fordin in a 13-0 triumph over Glencoe.

Derrick Graves of Holt rushed 33 times for 233 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 30-28 loss to Pleasant Grove. Zach Kaye kicked three field goals (34, 37 and 44 yards) and boosted his state-record extra point kicks to 66 in a row in Central-Tuscaloosa's 32-15 win over Carver. Al Black and Bobby Brown of Excel combined for 400 all-purpose yards and accounted for four touchdowns in a 46-22 victory over Monroe County. MONTGOMERY Philip Rivers of Athens High School scored on offense and defense to enter the prep football spotlight selected Monday by the Alabama High School Athletic Association. The association reviews high school football games each week to select a winner and to highlight other outstanding performances.

Rivers, a senior quarterback and safety, completed 7 of 8 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown and ran 24 yards for a touchdown in a 34-14 win over previously unbeaten Russellville. On defense he returned an interception 54 yards for a touchdown, recovered a fumble and was credited with nine solo tackles and four assists. Jacksonville State Gamecocks Here's a switch. After two seasons of relying on the pass and hoping to develop some semblance of running game, the Gamecocks have the second-ranked rushing game in the Southland Football League and one of the top 25 in Division l-AA. After romping through Union for 314 yards on the ground, the Gamecocks are averaging 211.5 yards rushing.

They're second in the SFL to Troy State's 242.0-yard average and 23rd nationally. Roger Bell is their leading rusher (76.0), but receiver Joey Hamilton-has the most yards (106). They had 12 rushing touchdowns.