Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 43

Sunday, October 26, 1 997 The Clarion-Ledger 1 1D 1 nn IT Rushing yards Miss. State 3 147 (38 carries) I 0S 101 Central Florida 127 (32 carries) in rp nnr vm? "WWII mm iuHogs' 1 V. )( assing yards 1 "1 liss. State cai7i entral Florida IFC 359 fffl Total yards 'l Miss. State I aia Central Florida 1 486 1 I I i i I I I I -V irst downs third downs Miss.

State 2 of 10 20 Si r8- 8 Central Florida 7 of 15 46.7 MSU UCF Two fourth-quarter touchdowns help MSU rally past Central Florida By Rusty Hampton Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer STARKVILLE Mississippi State's defensive players and coaches knew going into Saturday's homecoming game against Central Florida they couldn't stop the Knights and talented quarterback Daunte Culpepper without a little help. Turns out, they found salvation in their own dressing room. The Bulldog offense, a suspect group at times this season, never let Culpepper take control of the game. Then when it was needed most, the offense was able to punch in two fourth-quarter touchdowns to help State rally for a 35-28 victory before 28,621 at Scott Field. State improved to 5-2 and posted its first three-game sweep of non-conference opponents since 1994.

That was also the last year State was 5-2 after seven games. UCF, which fell just short for the third time against a Southeastern Conference opponent, dropped to 3-5. "We're going to win a game like this one of these times," said UCF coach Gene McDowell. It looked like it might happen Saturday. State, which had a total of three interceptions in the first six games, picked off three Culpepper passes, sacked him four times, knocked down four passes at the line and pressured him into several other poor throws.

Still, coordinator Joe Lee Dunn called State's defensive effort "mediocre," mainly because UCF racked up 486 total yards, 349 on passes by Culpepper and another 61 on runs by the 6-foot-4, 240-pound junior. As versatile as Culpepper was, though, he didn't play defense against the Bulldogs, who tied their season high with five touchdowns. "I knew they (UCF) would score some points," Dunn said. "I was just hoping our offense could answer what they did, and they did. So give a big A-plus to our offense.

They were wonderful today." Tailback J.J. Johnson ran for a career-high 1 2 3 4 25-97 7 7 6 8 28 ENT. FLA. ISS. STATE 7 7 7 14 35 FIRST QUARTER MSU: TB J.J.

Johnson ran 9 yards for a touchdown 14:00, completing a 2-play, 16-yard drive. Brian Ha-Iwood kicked the PAT. Key play: Robert Isaac re-ned the opening kickoff 86 yards to the UCF 16-yard MSU 7, UCFO. UCF: TB Mike Grant ran 2 yards for a TD at 6:21, mpleting an 8-play, 57-yard drive. Fred Waczewski the PAT.

Key play: On 2nd-and-18 from the MSU QB Daunte Culpepper completed a 1 9-yard pass to dd Cleveland for a first down at the MSU 1 8. MSU 7, SECOND QUARTER I UCF: WR Siaha Burley caught a 13-yard TD pass Culpepper at 1 1:26, completing a 12-play, 75-yard ve. Waczewski kicked the PAT. Key plays: Culpepper mpleted 7 of 8 passes for 68 yards on the drive. UCF MSU7.

I MSU: Johnson ran 3 yards for a TD at 4:04, com-iting a 7-play, 37-yard drive. Hazelwood kicked the William MaslinThe Associated Press quarter pass Saturday in Starkville. Cleveland had 112 yards receiving on 9 catches. Central Florida receiver Todd Cleveland high-steps his way past State safety Tim Nelson after catching a second T. Key plays: MSU CB Kendall Roberson intercepted Culpepper pass at the UCF 37; then during the drive, 4th-and-1 from the UCF 15, Johnson ran 6 yards for a down.

MSU 14, UCF 14. Johnson, Dogs run over Knights THIRD QUARTER 146 yards and scored four touchdowns. Matt Wyatt completed 8 of 16 passes for 171 yards and one TD, and Wyatt and his receivers hooked up for five plays that covered 22 or more yards, all but one on touchdown drives. Most importantly, State came back and scored twice after Culpepper had led the Knights on an 80-yard drive to take a 28-21 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Said State coach Jackie Sherrill: "I was glad to see our offense score a lot of points, because we were playing a team that can certainly score." Culpepper posted career bests in completions (29) and attempts (52).

Siaha Burley and Todd Cleveland combined for 18 catches and 250 yards. State saved its best for last Afraid to blitz much of the game because of the opportunities it presented Culpepper, Dunn gave in late when linebacker Barrin Simpson suggested a blitz they had practiced some but hadn't used in games. After Johnson's 2-yard run forged a 28-28 tie with 6:38 left, State nailed Cleveland at the 13 on the ensuing kickoff. On the first play, Simpson and Greg Favors combined for a sack and 5-yard loss. On the second, Simpson pressured Culpepper into a bad throw.

On the third, again under pressure, Culpepper's pass was swatted down by linebacker Dereck Rush. "Give Barrin the credit," Dunn said. "He came over and told me that blitz would work, and it did." Robert Isaac returned the ensuing punt to the UCF 44-yard line, then after Wyatt hit Kevin Prentiss for a 37-yard gain to the 7, Johnson powered in on the next play for the winning score. Favors ended UCF's next possession by intercepting a pass that was tipped by tackle Kevin Sluder, then safety Eric Brown iced the victory by intercepting Culpepper on fourth down near midfield with 43 seconds remaining. Northeast Louisiana.

"We had to build back the running game today," said Hicks. "I thought we dominated the whole game. The only thing that kept them (UCF) in it was their offense." Center Eric Allen said he'd like more consistency. "At times it was an A-plus, but at times it was more like a or Allen said. "We had some great drives, but then we had some three-and-outs, too." Allen said it's easy to block for Johnson, who seems to run harder in the second half than the first.

"He probably does that because he's so intense," Allen said. "He wants the ball every play. He wants a linebacker to step into the hole so he can run over him." Johnson's career game came against a team ranked 90th nationally in total defense. He'll get a much stronger test Saturday, when the Bulldogs play at Auburn. "I had a pretty good game," Johnson said.

"But there's still room for improvement. I'm satisfied, but I know we can all do better." ('78), John Bond ('83), Keffer McGee ('95) and now Johnson. Johnson's longest run was a 40-yarder on a sweep, but most of his yards came on off-tackle plays where he gained 4, 5 or 6 yards, sometimes with a couple Knights hanging on his back. And many times, he got yards even though UCF had its linebackers and safeties near the line of scrimmage. "They were putting eight and nine people in the box," said State coach Jackie Sherrill.

"It didn't make any difference. Give our guys credit, they were running against an eight-man front all game." "I give all the credit to the offensive line and the fullbacks," said Johnson. "All I have to do is run." State is 5-0 this year in games in which it has run for more than 100 yards. In their two losses, to LSU and Georgia, the Bulldogs were held below 100 yards. Right tackle Robert Hicks, who played every offensive snap for the fifth time this season, said he wasn't happy with the line in the Georgia game or State's last game, a 24-10 victory over I UCF: Waczewski kicked a 35-yard field goal at i5, ending a 14-play, 62-yard drive.

Key play: On 3rd-3-10 from the MSU 38, Culpepper threw incomplete MSU was called for holding, keeping the drive alive. SF 17, MSU 14. I MSU: WR Lamont Woodberry caught a 42-yard pass from QB Matt Wyatt at 8:33, completing a 3-jy, 64-yard drive. Hazelwood kicked the PAT. Key jy: On the opening play, Wyatt hit Kevin Prentiss for a yard gain to the UCF 44.

MSU 21, UCF 17. I UCF: Waczewski kicked a 25-yard FG at 3:23, end-I a 12-play, 72-yard drive. Key play: On 3rd-and-11 hi the MSU 27, Culpepper scrambled for 16 yards and rst down. MSU 21, UCF 20. FOURTH QUARTER UCF: WR Charles Lee caught a 17-yard TD pass Culpepper at 8:53, completing a 9-play, 80-yard ve.

Burley caught a 2-point conversion pass from Cul-pper. Key play: Burley made a controversial diving tch of a Culpepper pass for a 30-yard gain to the MSU UCF 28, MSU 21. MSU: Johnson ran 2 yards for a TD at 6:38. com-iting a 6-play, 57-yard drive. Hazelwood kicked the T.

Key play: TE Reggie Kelly caught a 41 -yard pass Wyatt to the UCF 2 1 MSU 28, UCF 28. I MSU: Johnson ran 7 yards for a TD at 5:13, com-iting a 2-play, 44-yard drive. Hazelwood kicked the T. Key play: Prentiss caught a 37-yard pass from Wy-to the UCF 7. MSU 35, UCF 28.

I i TEAM STATISTICS Ml U.Wa UVI II IWVl I Ull IW I rw yards and scores four touchdowns By Rusty Hampton Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer STARKVILLE Mississippi State has spent most of the season searching for an offensive identity. Saturday, J.J. Johnson and the line made another statement in favor of a power team that will pass to keep you honest but wants to beat you with the run. Johnson carried 26 times for a career-best 146 yards and four touchdowns to help the Bulldogs beat Central Florida 35-28 on a muggy homecoming afternoon at Scott Field. Johnson, the Southeastern Conference's fourth-leading rusher with a 78-yard average, scored on runs of 9, 3, 1 and 7 yards.

The school record for TDs in a game is seven, accomplished twice in 1907 by Harry Furman, then tied in 1914 by Harry McArthur. In the "modern era," the record is four, by Jackie Parker (1952), Art Davis ('54), James Jones Special teams have special day MSU 16 8 0 0-0 8-86 UCF 52 29 3 1-0 3-44 6-40 sses mpletions i Intercepted nbles-lost )ts-Avg. jialties-Yards 3 25:56 34:04 of Possession 5ii inhnson 9 run (Hazelwood kick); UCF nt 2 run (Waczewski kick); UCF Burley 13 pass Sn Culpepper (Waczewski kick); MSU Johnson 3 I (Hazelwood kick); UCF FG Wazcewski 35; Woodberry 42 pass from Wyatt (Hazelwood k); UCF FG Wazcewski 25; UCF Lee 17 pass ti Culpepper (pass completed); MSU Johnson 1 (Hazelwood kick); MSU Johnson 7 run (Hazel-pd kick). attendance: 28,621. i INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS .1 SI MSU's Robert Isaac gains 1 76 yards on four kickoff returns By Rusty Hampton Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer STARKVILLE Brian Hazel-wood missed his only two field-goal attempts, but special teams play was a big plus for Mississippi State in Saturday's 35-28 victory over Central Florida.

Robert Isaac returned the opening kickoff 84 yards to the UCF 16, setting up State's first touchdown. Isaac also returned a punt 18 yards to the UCF 44 to set up State's winning TD. Isaac's 176 yards on four kickoff returns was the most by a Bulldog in 10 years. 'To win a game like this we have to throw the ball and win the special teams battle and we didn't win the special teams," said UCF coach Gene McDowell. "Their kickoff coverage teams were better than ours and that was a significant factor in the One for the team: Kendall Roberson's first interception of the credited with seven tackles.

"I felt good," said Favors. "I was maybe favoring it (his knee) a little bit in the first half, but I think I played better in the second half. I didn't get a lot of sacks, but this was a big game for me because I got my confidence back." Injuries: DS Tim Nelson missed most of the second half with a bruised thigh NG Eric Dotson, who missed the last game with an eye injury, did not play but was available. "That was just an oversight," said defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn. "We should have worked him in there." WR Kevin Prentiss, who missed the last game with an ankle injury, sprained his other ankle but did play later and make a key 37-yard reception.

Coach Jackie Sherrill sounded worried after the game about Prentiss' status. By the numbers: Unofficial pressbox statistics had LB Dereck Rush with 20 tackles, V2 sack and three others tackles behind the line. DS Eric Brown had 14 tackles, a deflection and an interception. -a year is one he won't forget for a long time. if he could just remember what happened.

Roberson intercepted a Daunte Culpepper pass in the second quarter, breaking Culpepper's school -record string of 117 consecutive passes without an interception and setting up State's second TD. Unfortunately for Roberson, just after making the pick he was cold-cocked by 275-pound offensive tackle Marcus Jenkins. Roberson suffered a concussion on the play and although he later returned for a couple plays, he didn't remember much afterwards about what had just transpired. "I remember trying to get up and everything just went black," said Roberson. "I couldn't see nothing." Favors returns: LB Greg Favors, State's season and career sacks leader, returned for State after missing one game with a knee injury.

Favors was in on one sack, had two other tackles for a loss and was I Rushing UCF: Grant 13-67, Culpepper 18-61, lins 1-(-1); MSU: Johnson 26-146, Isaac 6-12, Mc-iey 1-4, Wyatt 5-(-15). I Passing UCF: Culpepper 29-52-3-359; MSU: Btt 8-16-0-171. Receiving UCF: Burley 9-138, Cleveland 9-I Nonsant 4-64, Grant 4-15, Lee 3-30; MSU: Pren-4-69, Woodberry 1-42, Kelly 1-36, Butler 1-24, he 1-0. NEXT UP FOR MISSISSIPPI STATE I opponent: Auburn, 7-1 overall, 4-1 SEC lere they're playing: Auburn, Ala. me time: Saturday, 1 p.m.

Ildogs' record vs. Auburn: 18-50-2 it meeting: Auburn 49, State 15 (1996) Jim LytleThe Associated Press MSU's Robert Isaac found some room from scrimmage, but his big contributions were kick returns..