The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 48

8C SwHby, StptmOwf XI 1998 THC TCNNESSEAN COLLEGE FOOTBALL 'Canes do despite seven suspensions tv Vi A JJ I syij 1 till I f0" I I Associated Press MEMPHIS Big plays overcame big prob- 1NO. lems for No. 11 Miami. With their starting tailback and wide receiv- How the Associated Press Top 25 teams fared yesterday: 1. NEBRASKA (0-0) Did not play Opener: Saturday vs.

Michigan State 2. TENNESSEE (0-0) Defeated UNLV 62-3 Next: Saturday vs. UCLA 3. FLORIDA STATE (0-0) Did not play Opener: Saturday vs. Duke 4.

FLORIDA (1-0) Defeated SW Louisiana 55-21 Next: Saturday vs. Georgia Southern 5. COLORADO (1-0) Defeated Washington State 37-19 Next: Saturday at Colorado State 6. NOTRE DAME (04) Did not play Opener: Thursday at Vanderbilt 7. PENN STATE (1-0) Did not play Next: Saturday vs.

Louisville 8. TEXAS (0-0) vs. Missouri Next: Saturday vs. New Mex. State 9.

OHIO STATE (0-0) Did not play Opener: Saturday vs. Rice. 10. SYRACUSE (0-0) Did not play Opener: Saturday vs. North Carolina 11.

MIAMI (1-0) Defeated Memphis 30-7 Next: Saturday vs. The Citadel 12. MICHIGAN (1-0) Defeated Illinois 20-8 Next: Sept. 14 at Colorado 13. ALABAMA (1-0) Defeated Bowling Green 21-7 Next: Saturday vs.

Southern Miss 14. VIRGINIA TECH (0-0) Did not play Opener: Saturday at Akron 15. NORTHWESTERN (0-0) Did not play Opener: Saturday at Wake Forest 16. AUBURN (0-0) Defeated Alabama-Birmingham 29-0 Next: Saturday vs. Fresno State.

17. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (0-1) Did not play Next: Saturday at Illinois 18. LSU (0-0) Did not play Opener: Saturday vs. Houston 19. BRIGHAM YOUNG (1-0) vs.

Arkansas State Next: Sept. 14 at Washington 20. ARIZONA STATE (0-0) Did not play Opener: Saturday vs. Washington 21. KANSAS STATE (1-0) Defeated Texas Tech 21-14 Next: Saturday vs.

Indiana State 22. IOWA (0-0) Did not play Opener: Saturday vs. Arizona 23. TEXAS (0-1) Did not play Next: Sept. 14 at SW Louisiana 24.

VIRGINIA (0-0) Did not play Opener: Saturday vs. Cent. Michigan 25. KANSAS (1-0) Did not play Next: Sept. 14 at Texas Christian Florida's Lawrence Wright picks up a fumble by SW Louisiana QB Joe Delhomme.

Wright ran with it for a touchdown. (SfiDir stow Iboggeir toBfie Defense helps Florida cruise past SW Louisiana Gannett News Service few GAINESVILLE, Fla. Florida Coach Steve Spurrier has been saying for years that his team's defense, at times, has been of NO. 4 uncharacteristic problems on the other side of the ball. "Lethargic that's the word, I think, to describe our offense," Spurrier said.

"It sure appeared that way," agreed quarterback Danny Wuerffel, who completed 15 of 27 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown. "We just never quite got anything going." Florida added its third defensive score on Brown's 26-yard interception return midway through the third quarter. Weary returned another interception 65 yards with 8:28 to play in the game. Stoops had predicted his unit would gamble and come up with some big plays this year. Four touchdowns by the defense in the opener were all any doubters needed to see.

"This is the way we're supposed to play," Brown said. "And we can get better." Game balls went to defensive backs Fred Weary and Teako Brown, both of whom scored defensive touchdowns, linebacker Jevon Kearse (who caused a fumble that led to another score) and new defensive coordinator Bobby Stoops. Overall, the defense forced six turnovers and held the Cajuns to 261 yards total offense. "It's exciting," Stoops said. "It's a good starting point" Fourth-ranked Florida struggled offensively in the first half but made it 14-0 on a 25-yard fumble return by Lawrence Wright, had another score set up by Brown's first interception of the evening, and made it 354 at the break on Weary's 64-yard run with a fumble.

The offensive defense couldnt have come at a better time, with the Gators two long touchdowns from Magic Benton and beat Memphis 30-7 yesterday. Benton, starting in place of the suspended Yatil Green, returned a punt 67 yards for a third-quarter score and caught a 73-yard TD pass from Ryan Clement in the fourth period. "I look at myself as a starter," Benton said. "Every receiver we have is good enough to be a starter, so second-team is no problem." At many positions, Miami (1-0) has been forced to use second stringers. The Friday suspensions of Danyell Ferguson and Green brought to seven the number of Miami starters suspended in the offseason.

Ferguson and Green were suspended for accepting rides in a limousine ordered by a sports agent's office. Miami led 3-0 at halftime before taking control in the third quarter. A blocked punt set up a 1-yard TD run by Clement. The Tigers (0-1) punted on their next series and Benton went on his 67-yard scoring run, giving the Hurricanes a 17-0 lead. The Hurricanes had problems hanging onto the ball, with dropped passes, six fumbles and four turnovers.

But the defense held the Tigers to 210 yards. Memphis Coach Rip Scherer said the quality of Miami's bench magnified the difference between the two programs. "They can roll more players into each position and not fall off as far," Scherer said. Colorado 37, Washington Slate 19 i BOULDER, Colo. Koy Detmer said he felt NO- more nervous than he did in his freshman debut.

He didnt show it Detmer passed for three touchdowns and ran for another, and No. 5 Colorado (1-0) opened its season with a romp over Washington State (0-1) yesterday. Detmer, showing no ill effects from right knee surgery that sidelined him for the last six games of the 1995 season, completed 20 of 33 passes for 254 yards. "I think I felt more nervous for this one because a lot of expectations were there for me and for the team," Detmer said. "I wasnt really concerned about the knee.

I was just anxious about getting back in the flow of things. I felt kind of like a freshman again, starting over." One of Washington State's touchdowns came on a 94-yard fumble return by 6-foot-7, 280-pound defensive end Dorian Boose. The Cougars managed only nine first downs and 168 total yards, including 5 yards rushing on 21 attempts. Michigan 20, Illinois 8 ANN ARBOR, Mich. Scott Dreisbach, obvi-Ny- ously a little rusty, still has a flair for the 12 dramatic.

Dreisbach, who led Michigan to a 4-0 record before a thumb injury ended his season in 1995, had a 72-yard touchdown run yesterday as the No. 12 Wolverines defeated Illinois. "I'm always nervous before a game," Dreisbach said. "I dont know if it's anxiousness or not knowing if I'm ready or if I have prepared well. You just dont know until there is a true test, and today was a true test." Dreisbach completed 11 of 23 pass attempts for 117 yards against the Mini, including a 10-yard scoring strike to Russell Shaw, a junior college transfer playing his first game, that put Michigan ahead 17-8 early in the fourth quarter.

The opener for both teams drew 105,992 fans, Michigan's 130th consecutive home crowd in six figures. Michigan's veteran defense also lived up to its reputation, coming up with a big goal line stand in the third quarter. A touchdown would have given the Illini their first lead, but they had to settle for Bret Scheuplein's second field goal. Driesbach's touchdown run came 1:59 into the second quarter. He was just trying to complete a 10-yard pass on an out pattern.

When he was unable to spot an open receiver, Dreisbach headed upfield, broke two tackles and veered toward the Illinois sideline. He got a block from Tai Streets near midfield and chugged the rest of the way untouched. "That was pathetic defense is what that was," Illinois nose tackle Paul Marshall said. "Defense comes down to tackling, and we didnt tackle on that play. We made the guy look like a superstar.

But, to give him credit, he made a good play." Kansas State 21, Texas Tech 14 mmm MANHATTAN, Kan. If this was a sample of jNO. things to come, look for the Big 12 to stage very 2 verv ragged games that put fans to sleep in the first half and awaken them with a pulsating, head-knocking fury at the end. No. 21 Kansas State managed only 10 first downs while beating Texas Tech yesterday in the inaugural football outing of the new super conference.

But the Red Raiders, trailing 21-3, turned a snoozer into a nail-biter by scoring a touchdown, a 2-point conversion and a field goal in the final 6:39 of a game that lasted 3 hours, 44 minutes. fensive to watch. But this kind of offense, hell take. A record opening-game crowd of 85,075 roared its approval as the Gators scored a school-record four defensive touchdowns in a 55-21 victory against Southwestern Louisiana last night at Florida Field. Florida is 44-0 against unranked teams under Spurrier, 36-2 overall at Florida Field since 1990.

The Florida defense had scored three times in a game just once in its 89-year history, in a 52-14 victory against Georgia in 1994. "I didnt think I'd see the day we'd give out four defensive game balls and zero to the offense," Spurrier said. Louisville slaps cuffs on Kentucky Associated Press LEXINGTON, Ky. Louisville's defense made a statement against Kentucky. "We came out ready to play because we didnt want the game to be close," Louisville tackle Leland Taylor said after the Cardinals dominated their in Alabama's defense tough again Associated Press Lin AP "noT 13 BIRMINGHAM, Ala.

Alabama's defense is being counted on to dominate again this year. Yesterday, it proved it mav be EASTERN DIVISION SEC All Team Florida 0 0 10 South Carolina 0 0 0 0 Tennessee 0 0 10 Vanderbilt 0 0 0 0 Georgia 0 0 0 1 Kentucky 0 0 0 1 WESTERN DIVISION SEC All Team Alabama 0 0 10 Arkansas 0 0 0 0 Auburn 0 0 10 Ole Miss 0 0 10 LSU 0 0 0 0 Miss. State 0 0 0 0 Yesterday's results Alabama 21, Bowling Green 7 Auburn 29, UAB 0 Florida 55, SW Louisiana 21 Southern Miss 11, Georgia 7 Louisville 38, Kentucky 14 Ole Miss 38, Idaho State 14 Tennessee 62, UNLV 3 Thursday's game Notre Dame at Vanderbilt, 7 p.m. Saturday's games So. Miss vs.

Alabama, 11:30 a.m. SMU at Arkansas, 2 p.m. Kentucky at Cincinnati, 2:30 p.m. Georgia Southern at Florida, 5 p.m. Fresno State at Auburn, 6 p.m.

VMI vs. Ole Miss, 6 p.m. Cent. Fla at South Carolina, 6 p.m. Houston at LSU, 6:30 p.m.

Miss. State at Memphis, 7 p.m. UCLA at Tennessee, 7 p.m. at Birmingham, "at Jackson, Miss. -k 1 up to the task.

The Crimson Tide defenders held Bowling Green to 177 yards and seven first downs in a 21-7 victory. "I have never seen a defense that fast," said Bowling Green quarterback Bob Niemet, who was sacked three times and had two passes intercepted. "Their defensive linemen were able to run me down. No defensive lineman has ever run me down." Indeed, No. 13 Alabama's defense did a lot of running.

Falcons ball carriers kept slipping past the line, only to be swarmed by crimson jerseys a few yards downfield. The defense also provided the most dramatic play of the game, strong safety Kevin Jackson's end-zone interception of Niemet's pass in the fourth quarter. The diving play followed a 48-yard interception return by linebacker Brian Manns and stopped one of the few Bowling Green threats. Alabama's offense played a solid, if unremarkable game. Curtis Alexander, who beat out 1995 rushing leader Dennis Riddle for the starting tailback job, ran for 63 yards and got another 11 through the air.

Freddie Kitchens started and handled the bulk of Alabama's quarter-backing duties. Backup Warren Foust did see some playing time, leading the Tide on a 67-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter. "Freddie did a good job of throwing the ball," Foust said. "When I came in it gave me some room to run, and I did." Mississippi 38, Idaho State 14 OXFORD, Miss. Artie Moore, who waited four seasons for a chance to start for Ole Miss, rushed for 88 yards and three touchdowns.

Moore had two 1-yard scores in the first half, and added a 5-yard TD in the fourth quarter. The former Mississippi prep star signed with LSU but then transferred back to his homestate university, seeing limited action last year after not playing for two seasons. Ole Miss QB Paul Head was 20of-28 for 252 yards and two touchdowns. trastate rival 38-14 last night. "We knew were going to win and the scoreboard tells the story.

It wasnt a close game." Louisville's defense was the difference before a record 59,384 fans in Commonwealth Stadium after Kentucky took a quick 7-0 lead. Kentucky gained 185 yards, including 39 on the ground. Louisville's defense also registered six sacks. Kentucky freshman quarterback Tim Couch, last year's national high school player of the year, entered the game in the third quarter and tossed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Curtis III. He was 8-of-20 for 101 yards.

"He's going to be real good some day," Taylor, a former Tennessee player, said of Couch. "They look a lot smoother with him in Couch promised to improve. "I made some mistakes I shouldn't have made but 111 correct them and get better," he said. "It felt good to get out there and finally play. I felt comfortable with it I expected it to be hard, and the hitting was hard." Auburn 29, UAB AUBURN, Ala.

Junior col-NO. lege transfer Jaret Holmes 1 made all five of his field-goal attempts including kicks of 46, 47 and 50 yards to lead No. 16 Auburn past Division I-A newcomer Alabama-Birmingham UAB was playing football at the club level just six seasons ago and' before this game was thought by many to be among the worst of the 109 teams in Division I-A. But for three quarters, the Blazers hardly looked it, as the defense came up with several drive-stopping plays and quarterback Rodney Hudson led two drives into scoring range. The first touchdown for Auburn didnt come until early in the fourth quarter, when Eric Hines-Tucker went in from five yards out to cap a seven-play, 56-yard drive.

New Georgia coach Jim Donnan discusses a call with an official yesterday. Donnan era dawns dreary Associated Press ATHENS, Ga. The honeymoon is over for Jim Donnan. Georgia's new coach was hearing boos at halftime yesterday, and by the end of the game the jeers were deafening as Southern Mississippi pulled off an 11-7 upset of the Bulldogs. Without scoring a touchdown and managing only 227 yards, the Golden Eagles had another season-opening shocker against a new SEC coach, similar to their 27-24 victory over Alabama and Gene Stallings in 1990.

"I think some of them might have been booing me," Donnan said of the fans. "That's fine. They can boo. I'm not going to sit here and criticize the fans. They got every reason to criticize me.

That was a poorly played game." Johnny Lomoro kicked three field goals and Southern Miss, an 11-point underdog, clinched the victory with a safety in the fourth quarter. "We came over here expecting to win," Eagles Coach Jeff Bower said. Lomoro's third field goal he missed two with 13:36 remaining erased a 7-6 Georgia lead. Georgia, after giving up a safety, drove to the Southern Miss 13 in the final minute. But Mike Bobo's fourth-and-21 pass was batted down at the goal line with 28 seconds remaining.

The Bulldogs were especially inept on offense, running into each other in the backfield, giving up four sacks and committing four turnovers. Said Bobo: "We didn't look lilfe an offensive team at alL" OVC All Team Austin Peay 0 0 0 0 Eastern Illinois 0 0 10 Eastern Kentucky 0 0 0 0 MTSU 0 0 0 1 Oklahoma State wins first OT game Associated Press STILLWATER, Okla. David Thompson, frustrated all night behind an inconsistent offensive line, broke free for a 13-yard touchdown run last night to give Oklahoma State a 23-20 victory over Southwest Missouri in the first-ever Division I-A regular-season overtime game. The overtime rule was put into effect this season in the major-college ranks after being used more than a decade in the lower divisions, and it saved the Cowboys who needed a touchdown in the final minute to force the extra time. Southwest Missouri had the ball first in overtime and, after three straight passes fell incomplete, Wayne Boyer kicked a 47-yard field goal to give the Division I-AA Bears a 20-17 lead.

Redshirt freshman Chris Chaloupka, who took over early in the fourth quarter after Tone' Jones was hurt, completed a 12-yard pass to Sean Love on Oklahoma State's first overtime play. Then Thompson got to the outside after bursting up the middle and outran everyone to the end zone for the victory. Murray State 0 0 0 0 SE Missouri 0 0 0 0 UT-Martin 0 0 0 0 Tennessee State 0 0 0 1 Tennessee Tech 0 0 0 0 Yesterday's results Florida 35, Tennessee State 20 La. Tech 20, MTSU 0 Saturday's games Austin Peay at Arkansas 6 p.m. Pittsburg State at E.

IHinois, 7 p.m. Troy State at Kentucky, 6 p.m. MTSU at Tennessee State, 6 p.m. W. Kentucky at Murray State, 7 p.m.

UT-Martin at S. Illinois, 1:30 p.m. Tn. Tech at Appalachian 6 p.m.-.