The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 36

jfm 6C JU Twwwm tWayNOVEMBER tW2 otson helps Rebels sack Matthews, Tigers Mississippi (6-3), which is being courted heavily by the Liberty Bowl, closes out its season with Louisiana Tech next week and rival Mississippi State on Nov. 28. Memphis State (5-4) hosts Tennessee on Saturday and winds up its season Nov. 21 at home against East Carolina. Ole Miss scored early, going up 3-.

0 on Brian Lee's 39-yard first-quar-' ter field goal. Memphis State, taking advantage of John Martin's 51-yard kickoff return, countered with Allison's 44-yard field goal at the 8:30 mark of the first quarter. The Tigers recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and Allison's 48-yard boot silenced the largest Vaught-Hemingway Stadium crowd ever as Memphis State slipped in front, 6-3. Mississippi pulled ahead 10-6 when quarterback Rusty Shows scored on an option keeper from 3 yards out with 13:18 remaining in the second quarter, capping a 69-yard, nine-play drive. The Rebels added another touchdown with 2:16 left in the second quarter, driving 80 yards in eight plays with Shows throwing a 6-yard pass to tight end Chris Turner.

Ole Miss made that 17-6 halftime lead stand. Memphis State drove with the second-half kickoff from its own 20 to the Mississippi 1, but had to settle for a 24-yard field goal from Allison when an illegal procedure penalty wiped out a fourth-down, 1-yard touchdown run with 7:15 to play in the third. Allison began the fourth quarter with a 51-yard field goal as the Tigers closed to 17-12, but from that point, Memphis State could not put together a sustained drive. With just over four minutes left. Ware sacked Matthews on a fourth- and-one at the Ole Miss 37.

Then with 1:56 to play, Dotson forced Matthews into a first-down interception when he hit the Tiger quarterback at the Memphis State 44. "We kept shooting ourselves in the foot," said Matthews, a Tullaho-ma, native. "I guess I shriuld have gotten rid of it quicker' or thrown It away more." 2 The loss ended a five-game Memphis State winning streak that began after a practice boycott by many of the Tiger players. Memphis State Coach Chuck Sto-bart said Ole Miss was the toughest team his Tigers had played durmg that stretch. A "Mississippi defensive coordina-tro Joe Lee Dunn ran pretty much the same defense were were; expecting," Stobart said.

"They have good speed and do a good job of blitzing. And they got the job dbne today." By LARRY AFT Sports Wriltr OXFORD, Miss. Mississippi Is getting plain defensive about its football program. Yesterday before a record-setting homecoming crowd of 42,847 fans, the Rebels grounded Memphis State's Mutiny to Miracles success story with a 17-12 win, marking the eighth consecutive quarter that Ole Miss has kept its opponent out of the end zone. Keyed by inside linebackers Dewayne Dotson and Cassius Ware, the swarming Rebel defense racked Memphis State quarterback Steve Matthews for eight sacks totaling 56 yards and limited the Tigers to four Joe Allison field goals.

"This game belonged to the defense," Ole Miss coach Billy Brewer said. "Dewayne Dotson and Cassius Ware were harassing the Memphis VIA I. II I 4 Rhett lets Gators escape from jaws of possible defeat L3Zitt3 Miss. 17, Mem. St.

12 Former Hendersonvllle star Dewayne Dotson of Rebels puts heat on Tigers QB Steve Matthews, ex-UT teammata Mississippi defense hasn't given up TD in two games. Rebels have strong Liberty Bowl hopes. State quarterback all game long." The Rebels, who shut out Louisiana State a week ago, yielded 87 yards rushing and 1 48 passing. "We came to play, and we played hard," said Dotson, the former Hendersonvllle star who is in his first year at Mississippi after playing two seasons at Tennessee. "We knew we could put pressure on them, and we had a great game from everyone on the defensive unit." warn Alabama 31, LSU 11 Crimson Tide can clinch SEC Western Division with win at Mississippi State next Saturday.

Alabama-Miami matchup in Sugar Bowl? Chris Anderson 15 carries, 150 yards, one TD. beat LSU at LSU, regardless of their record, it's a great feat." Anderson's 56-yard run in the opening drive of the second half set up a touchdown that made it 24-5. Sherman Williams had 69 yards on 10 carries and added his second touchdown on a 24-yard run to ice the game with 4:04 left It was the seventh consecutive loss for LSU and eighth of the season, both school records. LSU Is 1-8 overall and 1-6 in the SEC. "The rut is deep," LSU coach Curley Hallmansaid.

Jay Barker was 11 of 20 for 114 yards passing for Alabama. Jamie Howard was 14 of 25 passing for 162 yards for LSU before he was injured and replaced by Chad Loup in the third quarter. Loup was 8 of 10 for 55 yards but was sacked four times. LSU put up a better fight than its I i g1- i TAKEDOWN Florida wide receiver Willie Jackson tries to break away from Labarion Rankins of Southern Miss yesterday in Gainesville, Fla. Tide shows championship form; division crown near 1 SEC Around the league Eattarn SEC All School Florida 5 2 0 6 2 0 Georgia 5 2 0 7 2 0 Tennessee 3 3 0 5 3 0 So.

Carolina 3 4 0 4 5 0 Vanderbllt 2 4 0 3 5 0 Kentucky 2 4 0 4 5 0 Western SEC All School WIT WIT Alabama 6 0 0 9 0 0 Miss. State 4 2 0 7 2 0 Mississippi 4 3 0 6 3 0 Auburn 2 3 1 5 3 1 Arkansas 2 4 1 2 6 1 LSI) 16 0 16 0 Yesterday's results Vanderbilt 20, Kentucky 7 Mississippi 17, Memphis State 12 Alabama 31, Louisiana State 11 Florida 24, Southern Mississippi 20 Mississippi State 10, Arkansas 3 South Carolina 14, Louisiana Tech 13 Tennessee at Memphis State, 12:30 p.m.: What looked like an almost-sure win for UT before the season becomes a crucial test against the surprising Tigers, whose quarter back, former Vol Steve Matthews, has a big score to settle. A loss here would hurt UT's chances at a decent bowl, not to mention Johnny Majors' bargaining position. Vanderbilt at Navy, 12:30 p.m.: Navy's ship finally came In yesterday against Tulane, not exactly a beacon of gridiron excellence. But the Commodores apparently have returned to smooth waters, and their superior talent should give the Midshipmen a sinking feeling.

South Carolina at Florida, 11:30 a.m. (TV: Channel 4): South Carolina, led by long-maned freshman QB Steve Taneyhill, Is on a roll with four wins In a row. But Florida also has momentum, plus the home-field advantage. Expect the Gators to win by more than a hair. Georgia at Auburn, 2:30 p.m.

(TV: Channel 2): Despite Its off-field turmoil, Auburn could give Georgia a tough time. This might be the last big chance for the Bulldogs' Garrison Hearst to fortify his Heisman bid. Alabama at Mississippi State, 6:30 p.m. (TV: ESPN): This will be the first of two big hurdles the Crimson Tide must clear to wrap up an undefeated regular season (they face Auburn on Nov. 26).

The Bulldogs' upset hopes would be much stronger if QB Sleepy Robinson wasn't out of action. Louisiana Tech at Mississippi, 2 p.m.: A victory by the Rebels could very well give them Liberty. Expect a tight, low-scoring matchup. Kentucky at Cincinnati, 3 p.m.: Despite the team nicknames, this matchup is not exactly the cat's meow. Kentucky's Wildcats should even their record when they face the mediocre Bearcats.

Marcus Wilson, Vanderbilt, 15 rushes for 75 yards, 5-of-6 passing for 56 yards vs. Kentucky. Shelton Queries, Vanderbilt, 10 tackles vs. Kentucky. Brad Brown, Vanderbilt, 13-yard Interception return for TD, four tackles vs.

Kentucky. Brad Armstead, Kentucky, 70-yard fumble return for TD, 12 tackles vs. Vanderbilt. Dewayne Dotson and Cassius Ware, Mississippi, keyed Rebels' eight-sack effort vs. Memphis State.

Rust Shows, Mississippi, 14-of-22, 162 yards, one TD pass, one TD run vs. Mississippi. Errict Rhett, Florida, 120 yards on 21 carries, two TDs vs. Southern Mississippi. Shane Matthews, Florida, 22-of-39, 317 yards, one TD vs.

Southern Mississippi. Chris Anderson, Alabama, 15 carries, 150 yards, one TD vs. LSU. Sherman Williams, Alabama, 69 yards on 10 rushes, two TDs vs. LSU.

Frank Adams, South Carolina, 91-yard kickoff return for TD, interception vs. Louisiana Tech. BOWL HOPES: Mississippi State athletic director Larry Templeton believes the No. 19 Bulldogs (7-2) clinched a bowl berth yesterday with their 10-3 win against Arkansas. "It assures us of a bowl game," Templeton said.

"How we put the mix together will be an interesting scenario to be played out." Peach Bowl executive director Robert Dale Morgan and Liberty Bowl selection committee member Jan Gwin were the only bowl representatives at the Arkansas game, but that doesn't rule out other bowl possibilities. Mississippi State could become the Southeastern Conference entry In the Gator, Citrus or Sugar Bowl. But the Peach Bowl (Jan. 2 in Atlanta) seems the most interested. GATOR MILESTONES: Errict Rhett's 120-yard rushing performance against Southern Mississippi gives him 2,644 yards for his Florida career.

The junior is now third on the school's all-time rushing list, behind Neal Anderson (3,234) and Emmitt Smith Also, Shane Matthews' 22 completions gives him 630 for his career and moved him in front of former school recordholder Wayne Peace (610). QUOTABLE: "I've been in bar room brawls and all-out fights in an alley that haven't been as tough as this game," Arkansas nose guard Owen Kelly said after playing Mississippi State. ALABAMA VS. MIAMI: If the much-awaited Alabama-Miami matchup in the Sugar Bowl takes place, the Crimson Tide will have history going for and against it. Alabama holds a 13-3 series lead.

But in their only bowl matchup, Miami won the Sugar 25-23 after the 1989 season. 4 NEWSSERVICES No. 14 GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) South ern Mississippi has made a name for itself by giving Southeastern Conference teams fits on the road. Yesterday, it was Florida's turn.

The 14th-ranked Gators survived the challenge, but needed a fourth-quarter touchdown and a late defensive stand to hold on 24-20. It marked the first time Florida has won after trailing in the fourth quarter under Coach Steve Spurrier. Errict Rhett, who rushed for 120 yards, ran 3 yards for the winning TD a little more than five minutes after the Gators fell behind 20-17. "We expect to win coming into every game. It doesn't matter the opponent, whether its a SEC team or not," said Tommy Waters, whose 17-yard pass to Mark Montgomery put Southern Mississippi ahead with 14:55 to go.

"It was disappointing we let it get to that point," Florida linebacker Carlton Miles said. "The offense moved the ball well, and the defense should have been able to stop them." The victory was the fifth In a row for Florida (6-2), which will try to move a step closer to winning the SECs Eastern Division when the Gators resume conference play next week against South Carolina. Southern Mississippi fell to 6-4, with three of its losses coming on the road vs. SEC teams. Third-ranked Alabama beat them 17-10 and Auburn escaped with a 16-8 victory.

Florida extended the nation's second-longest winning streak at home to 17 games. Southern Mississippi gave up 292 yards in the first half yet only trailed 17-13. Shane Matthews and Willie Jackson teamed on a 70-yard touchdown play on Florida's first play of the game, and Rhett scored on a 2-yard run and Bart Edmlston kicked a 27-yard field goal on the Gators' next two possessions. The momentum swung, though, when Southern Mississippi safety Perry Carter intercepted a Matthews pass and scored on a 52-yard return. A 40-yard field goal by Lance Nations trimmed Florida's lead to 17-13 five minutes later.

"They outplayed us and probably worked harder than we did," Spurrier said. "But I guess we made enough good plays to pull out a win." 5 AP record would have Indicated, but had trouble finishing. In one second-quarter drive, the Tigers brought the ball to the 8, then accepted an offsides penalty rather than a 7-yard run that would have made it fourth and goal from the 1. Instead, the Tigers had two chances to score from the 4. But they were called for a false start, Howard threw an incomplete pass, and Pedro Suarez's field goal was blocked by London, leaving it 17-5 athalftime.

Ironically, the LSU offense seemed to work best when Howard was throwing interceptions he had three. Twice he pinned the Tide inside its own 3 one led to a safety and another interception gave Alabama the ball at the 1 6. After their opening field-goal drive, the Tigers' offense managed to score only after a blocked punt gave them the ball on the Alabama 3. Three plays later, Robert Toomer ran it in from the 1. Alabama got a field goal on its first possession to make It 3-3.

On the next play from scrimmage, Odell Buckham dropped Howard's lateral and the Tide's Lemanski Hall recovered on the 17. Derrick Lassie ran it in from the 1 four plays later to make it 1 0-3. Mlss-FG Lee 39. Mem FG Allison 44. Mem FG Allison 48.

Mlss-Shows 3 run (Lee kick). Miss-Turner 6 pass from Shows (Lee kick). Mem FG Allison 24. Mem- rG Allison 51. Mem 16 44-87 148 29 Miss 13 33-109 162 50 14-22-0 First downs Rushes-yards Passing Return Yards Comp-Alt-lnl 19-35-2 Punts 6-40 8-39 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-2 Penalties-Yards 9-78 10-100 Time of Possession 34:49 25:11 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Memphis Porter 25-113, Bosby 8-27, Holllday 1-3, Matthews 10-(mlnus 56).

Mississippi, Phllpol 12-51, Courtney 13-48, Innocent 3-16, Shows 5-minus 6). PASSING-Memphis Matthews 9-35-2-148. Mississippi, Shows 14-22-0-162. RECEIVING Memphis Cope-land 9-98, Cody 3-23, Bruce 2-12, Bosbv 2-11. Mississippi, Kohn 5-51, Small 3-62, Philpot 3-19.

Upcoming SEC Saturday, Nov. 21 Arkansas vs. Southern Miss Tulane at LSU Florida at Vanderbilt Kentucky at Tennessee South Carolina at Clemson at Little Rock Thursday, Nov. 26 Alabama vs. Auburn at Birmingham Saturday, Nov.

28 LSU at Arkansas Miss. Stale at Mississippi Florida at Florida Slate Georgia Tech at Georgia Tennessee at Vanderbilt JV 6 0 3 3-12 3 14 0 0-17 IC'lflffl Fla. 24, S. IVSss. 20 Errict Rhett's second TO gives Florida win in fourth quarter.

Gators' home streak at 17. Florida hopes to keep SEC East lead when It faces South Carolina S.C. 14, La. Tech 13 Carolina wins fourth in row. Bench-clearing brawl mars win.

Gamecock points come on kickoff return, Interception return. Gamecocks fight way to victory COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Before it began, there was a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct Then there was the bench-clearing brawl, followed by enough penalties to last for two or three games. And the team that won couldn't score on offense. South Carolina (4-5), despite only 118 yards on offense, came away yesterday with a 14-13 win against Louisiana Tech (5-4).

"I don't know who won the fight but I'm glad we won the game," Gamecock coach Sparky Woods said after his fourth consecutive victory. The fight highlighted the second quarter and resulted in a player on each team being ejected. "I hate It happened," Woods said. "Tempers will flare in the emotion of trying to win the game." Similarly, Bulldog coach Raymond Peace said he was "very embarrassed" by the fight, but added there's no bad blood between the teams or coaches. Gamecock cornerback Frdnk Adams, who turned 22 yesterday, scored a 91-yard touchdown on a Louisiana Tech kickoff and intercepted the ball to stall the Bulldogs' final fourth-quarter drive.

Unable to generate an offensive scoring drive for its homecoming crowd, South Carolina got its game-winning points on a 37-yard interception return by Ernest Dixon late in the third quarter. Louisiana Tech quarterback Aaron Ferguson threw four interceptions. mmmmmmim IVSss. St. 10, Ark.

3 Mississippi State's defense stops Arkansas' bid fa scores. Bulldogs control game on ground. Next for State: key matchup vs. Alabama. Bulldogs territory six times, but were shut down inside the 20 three times, including on fourth down from the 11 when Coach Joe Kines declined to kick a field goal that would have made it 10-6 early in the fourth quarter.

"We had our chances to win," Kines said. "We came up a little short one more time." The defense even scored State's only touchdown. On Arkansas' second possession, Jeff Savage fumbled at his 10. Charlie Davidson picked it up and waltzed in untouched for a 7-3 Bulldogs lead. "The ball popped out and I was lucky enough to be there to make the play," Davidson said.

Tennessean News Services No. 3 BATON ROUGE, La. In the wake of No. 3 Alabama's 31-11 win against Louisiana State, visions of a Sugar Bowl for the national title against Miami were dancing in many heads. But Christmas and New Year's Day haven't come quite yet, Crimson Tide coach Gene Stallings said.

"We are a long ways away from thinking about anything else but getting in the Southeastern Conference championship game," Alabama coach Gene Stallings said. "I tell you we had our hands full today." The Crimson Tide (9-0, 6-0 SEC) might have its hands full next Saturday when it travels to Starkville to face Mississippi State (7-2, 4-2) with a chance to clinch the SEC Western Division crown and a spot in the SEC title game Dec. 5 In Birmingham, Ala. Chris Anderson ran for 149 yards and a touchdown on only 15 carries as Alabama won its 19th consecutive game the second-longest winning streak in the nation. "It was a great win for us," linebacker Antonio London of Tullaho-ma, said.

"Anytime you can No. 3 Alabama 31 Louisiana State 11 Alabama 10 7 7 7-31 LSU S0 0-11 LSU-FG 35 Suarei. Ala FG 29 Proclor. Ala-Lassie 1 run (Proctor kick). LSU-Safely, Gillvard sacked in end zone.

Ala-Anderson 2 run (Proctor kick). Ala-Williams 1 run (Proctor kick). LSU Toomer 1 run (run failed). Ala-Williams 24 run (Proctor First downs Passing Return Nations 35. kick).

SM P.Carler (Nations (Nations (Edmlston Bulldogs' defense takes bite out of Razorbacks Fla-Rhett 2 run (Edmis-ton Fla FG Edmlston 27. 52 Interception return kick). SM-FG Nations 40. SM-Montoomery 17 pass from Waters kick). Fla-Rhett 1 run kick).

Rushes-yards Yards Comp-Atl-Int Punts Fumbles-Lost Penalties-Yards Time of Possession SM Fla 24 24 33-87 30-124 248 317 52 4 23-43-2 22-39-1 2-31 3-33 1-0 0-0 9-65 6-82 33:19 26:41 28, Jackson 10-27, Savage 11-19. Mississippi Roberts 19-97, Davis 15-83, Plump 10-27, Galloway 4-26, Prince 2-15. PASSING Arkansas, Lunnev 14-25-0-150, Allen 0-1-0-0. Mississippi Plump 2-11-3-43. RECEIVING Arkansas, Botkln 5-42, Caldwell 3-40, Dlckerson 2-40, Savage 2-20, Jackson 2-8.

Mississippi Davis 1-33, Truitl 1-10. South Carolina 14 Louisiana Tech 13 Louisiana Tech 7 6 0 0-13 South Carolina 0 7 7 0-14 Tech Cooper 13 run (Bonlol kick). Teoh-FG Boniol 25. SC-Adams 91 kickofl return (Simpson kick). Tech FG Bonlol 43.

SC-Dixon 37 Interception return (Simpson kick). LaT SC First downs 23 5 Rushes-yards 46-123 26-63 Passing 257 55 Return Yards 18 97 Comp-AII-lnl 22-39-4 7-21-1 Punts 5-36 8-38 Fumbles-Lost 2-0 1-0 Penalties-Yards 14-136 6-49 Time of Possession 38:01 21:59 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Louisiana Tech, Davis 16-67, Cooper 17-59. South Carolina, Bennett 8-30, DeBoer 6-23, Wilburn 7-16. PASSING-Loulslana Tech, Ferguson 22-39-4-257. South Carolina, Taneyhill 7-20-1-55, Bennett 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING Louisiana Tech, Parham 6-50, Bland 4-59, Henry 3-44. South Carolina, Cates 2-21, DeBoer 2-10. Mississippi 17 Memphis State 12 No. 19 STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) Mis sissippi State can only hope the right defense shows up for its Southeastern Conference showdown with No.

3 Alabama next week. That's the one that shut down Arkansas yesterday as the 19th-ranked Bulldogs beat the Razor-backs 10-3 after giving up 36 points to Kentucky the week before. Mississippi State (7-2, 4-2 SEC) is the only team standing in Alabama's path to the SEC Western Division title. "This win puts us in a very good position," Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill said. "Now we're 7-2 and there are not a lot of teams in the country that are 7-2." Kenny Roberts and Michael Davis combined for 180 rushing yards, but State's defense was the key.

After kicking a field goal on its opening drive, Arkansas (2-6-1, 2-4-1) ended its remaining possessions with two turnovers, six punts and two losses on downs. The Razorbacks (who were held to 199 yards total offense) rgaced INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING-Soulhern Welch 20-56, Buckhaller 4-15, R. Jones 2-14. Florida, Rhett 21-120, T.Davis 2-10. PASSING-Southern Waters 23-43-2-248.

Florida, Matthews 22-39-1-317. RECEIVING-Southern Reed 8-123, Welch 4-34. Florida, W.Jackson 4-102, T.Davis 3-39, J.Jackson 3-31. No. 19 Mississippi State 10 Arkansas 3 Arkansas 3 0 0 0-3 Mississippi St.

7 3 0 0-10 Ark-FG Wright 23. MSU-David-son 10 fumble return (Gardner kick). MSU-FG Gardner 19. kick). A 76,813.

Ala 21 54-301 114 (-1) LSU 16 34-22 217 50 22-35-3 First downs Rushes-yards Passing Return yards Comp-Alt-Int 11-21-0 Punts 6-37 5-32 Fumbles-lost 1-0 3-1 Penallles-vards 6-54 3-25 Time of Possession 31:29 26:31 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Alabama, Anderson 15-150, S. Williams 10-69, Lassie 9-54, Houston 0-33, Palmer 4-25, Barker 7-2, Lynch 1-1. LSU, Davis 13-42, Howard 4-24, Loup 5-8, Huffman 1-5, G.WIIIIams 1-2, Butler 2-2, Toomer 4-2, Beckham 2-1, Moore 2-0. PASSING-Alabama, Barker II-20-0-114, S.Williams 0-1-0-0. LSU, Howard 14-25-3-162, Loup 1-10-0-55.

RECEIVING Alabama, Wlmbley 4-26, Palmer 2-18, Anderson 2-6, Busky 1-26, Williams 1-24, C.Brown 1-14. LSU, Ray 6-63, Bishop 6-49, Jacob 4-30, Been 2-30, Butler 1-16, James 1-16, Wilson 1-7, Beckham I-6. No. 14 Florida 24 Southern Miss 20 Southern Miss. 3 10 0 7-20 Florida 17 0 0 7-24 Fla W.JacKym 70 pass from Matthews (Edition kick).

SM-FG Ark MSU First downs 11 15 Rushes-yards 3 9-49 50-248 Passing 150 43 Return Yards 92 16 Comp-Atl-Int 14-26-0 2-11-3 Punts 6-40 6-43 Fumbles-Lost 4-2 3-1 Penalties-Yards 4-27 8-60 Time of Possession 28:48 31:12 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING-Arkansas, Ma lone 8- Memphis St. MBliSSlOPl.