The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page 37

r'y't" Cowboys, Saints game previews. Page 7C (She (Simcs CONTACT DEAN ROCK 459-3295 or sportsthetlmes.com SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1999 Texas Southern lips by Grambhng 8 "Being a kicker, all you gotta do is kick the ball," LaCombe said. "ITie other guys have to work much harder. If they put me into position, I have to go out and nail it." Grumbling quarterback Lionel Hayes and receiver Scotty Anderson hooked up for three touchdown passes in the game, the last of which gave Grumbling a 20-16 lead with 0:17 left in the game. Anderson's three touchdown receptions gave him the school's all-time single-season record (14), surpassing Trumaine Johnson (13).

By Jay Gallagher Special to The Times GRAMBIJNG Texas Southern place kicker J.B. La-Combe nailed a 30-yard game-winning field goal with one second left to propel 'RU to a 21-20 victory over Southwestern Athletic Conference western division rival Grumbling State here Saturday afternoon. LaCombc's late heroics capped a stellar four-field goal performance for the junior college transfer from California and spoiled Grambling's homecoming in the process. would only put us down by two and I thought we still had time to gel close enough for a field goal." TSU took over with 2:40 left and moved the ball (52 yards in 1 1 plays to set up LaCombe's game-winning kick. After teaming up on a 16-yard scoring pass in the first quarter, I layes and Anderson were largely ineffective until late in the contest.

Texas Southern's defense played a hand in Grambling's offensive lull, as the TSU front line manhandled Grumbling blockers for most of the night. "We had our opportunities," said Grambling head coach Doug Williams. "But. we stunk up the joint in the first half and only played 30 minutes of fool-ball on offense. "Our defense played a pretty good game, but we weren't able to consistently move the football.

Texas Southern dominated our offensive Cue. "Sure the field goals hurt us, especially the last one, but there are (50 minutes to a game and if we'd done the things we're capable of doing and if we'd taken advantage of the opportunities we had, we would have never been in that position at the end of the game." Tulane gets trounced by Memphis, 8C But after Anderson's last touchdown reception, the Tigers elected to attempt a two-xint conversion, which was intercepted by Yves Lveillard and returned 98-yards for a rare two-point score. "1 was just going for the deflection," said Kvcillard, "but I saw I could catch it, so I grabbed it and then I just ran as fast as I could. "1 knew if I could score, that Matthew MinardThe Times Grambling's Lionel Hayes outruns TSU's Lemard Mack Sunday. A last-minute field goal gave the Tigers a heartbreaking loss.

lattay, MISSISSIPPI 4 2, LSU 23 Tech rip Toledo Quarterback has 508 yards and thre touchdowns against Rockets. By John Harris Special to The Times TOLEDO Anyone ejse would have been impressed, but not Tim Rattay. Lmisiana Tech's senior quarterback completed 44 of; (56 passes for 508 yards and lliree touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs past Toledo, 3-1-17, Saturday before an announced crowd of LSU doomed to second straight losing season. By Scott Ferrell The Times BATON ROUGE So much for LSU's improved defense. So much for the Tigers turning things around from last season.

Instead, li5U's 42-23 loss Saturday night had a 1998 feel to it in Tiger Stadium. 'Hie Tigers dropped to 2-6 with the defeat, assuring them of a second straight losing season. The Tigers have dropped six straight games, nine straight SIX games, and are 1-12 in their last 13 SIX games. "I'm not into, The sky is falling, the sky is I)i-Nardo said. "You may be.

But I'm not." The way the Tigers lost had 1998 written all over it. I-SU's offense produced three touchdowns all passes from Josh Booty for the first time in an SEC game this season. But the defense was gouged like it was 1998. Ole Miss rolled up 323 yards rushing and 42(5 yards total offense. The Rebels' 42 points were their most scored against IiSU in 43 years.

See LSU 9C 17,904 in the Glass Bowl. Rattay, who entered the content ranked No. 1 in the nation in total offense, broke Glass Bowl 1 i i Rattay Jim Hudelson Tile Times LSU's Domanick Davis (left) is tackled by Ole Miss' Sheldon Morris dur- LSU defense, and Ole Miss' 42 points were the most they had scored ing the first quarter of their game Saturday. The Rebels ran all over the against LSU in 43 years. The loss dooms LSU to another losing season.

Ho end in sight for LSU's 1999 season free fall BATON ROUGE Apologies are in order to Curley 1 Iall-nian. Just five records for passing attempts, completions and yards. But it wasn't anything Rattay hasn't clone Jje-fore. In fact, it was his second straight 5(K)-yard passing gaine and the seventh of his career. "We knew it was going to be a battle.

You just don't come into a place like this and dominate," Rattay said after leading the Bulldogs ((5-2) to their sixth straight victory. Toledo is a good team. They didn't qiiit. They played hard every play." 'Hie loss is the third straight for Toledo (3-5), marking he team's longest losing streak since 1993 when the Rockets lost four in a row en route to a 4-5 season. 1 Tech coach Jack Bickiiell said the Bulldogs missed running back Bobby Ray Tell, who was sidelined because of a strained ACL.

Tell is the Bulldog's leading rusher, with 521 yards and four touchdowns this season. Without him, Tech ran the ball 20 times for just 38 yards against Toledo. "It made a big difference in our offense," said Bicknell. "You get used to Bobby Ray and don't realize how good he is, especially in our offense. We missed his quickness today." Toledo stacked its defense against Tech, playing as many as six defensive backs after Rattay connected with Delwyn Daigre for a 37-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead on the game's opening drive.

See TECH 8C Scott Ferrell years ago, II all man was the Village Idiot in a Rouge. Four straight losing seasons made him look like a bumbling Earnest T. Bass at the DiNardo says he is "not into all of this, The sky is falling. The sky is And maybe he shouldn't be. But the sky isn't the only tiling that is falling.

I.SU's program is falling into disarray. The Tigers can't punt the football without some disaster whether it is blocked, returned for a score or snapix'd on the ground. One night the defense plays well and no offense. One night the offense plays well and the defense is gouged. Tliis isn't getting any better.

And for the people who pay $30 to watch this mess, hope is beginning to dwindle. Scott Ferrell is a Times sports writer. He can be reached at 459-3299 or by fax at 459-3301. E-mail address: sportsthetimes.com Scratch that. Make it three wins in their final three games now.

Vegas probably wouldn't give you odds on that miracle finish, because the Tigers still have to face Alabama, Houston and Arkansas. Unfortunately, that means the Tigers will probably drop even lower before there is an end to this frccfall. But something has to happen at the end of this waste of a football season. How long can LSLI officials sit in Tiger Stadium and listen to the Ole Miss band play "Dixie" alter every game? How long can LSU officials watch their program become the laughingstock of the SEC? How long can they try to sell this football program to fans? How long can this continue? tainly assisted by other aspects of the crumbling Tigers. But the bottom line is teams that give up 426 yards offense particularly 323 on the ground don't win football games.

So here LSU sits. With six straight losses. With a 2-6 record. With a purple-and-gold bow wrapping up a second straight losing season. And eight straight SEC losses dating back to last season.

Heck, even DiNardo's former employer Vanderbilt is in better shape at the moment than LSU. And somehow, the talk in the press box before the game Saturday night was how DiNardo could save his job with three wins in the Tigers' final four games. week at Alabama. Shaun Alexander may run for more yards than Forrest Gump. The sad thing is that IiiU's defense had been representative most of the season while the offense struggled.

On Saturday, LSU quarterback Josh Booty threw three touchdown passes. The Tigers hadn't scored three offensive touchdowns in a conference game all season. Maybe that was the cue for the defense to take the night off. But don't just blame the defense for this one. They had some help.

There was a bad snap on the punt team that led to an Ole Miss touchdown before the half. And there was an interception returned for a touchdown. So 14 of the 42 points were cer wuy buck to 1956 to find a time when Ole Miss scored as many points against LSU. Of course, this comes against IiU's "improved" defense. And what made it worse was there was no trickery or deception involved.

Ole Miss rolled up 323 yards rushing. The Rebels had two backs rush for more than Deuce McAllister rushed for 140 yards on 25 carries, Joe Gunn rushed for 135 yards on 19 carries. Neither player lost a yard all night. And each player scored two touchdowns. Tliis was 1998 all over for LSU.

They just knocked us off the ball most of the game," DiNar-do said. If those brutes from Ole Miss can manhandle the Tigers, Lrd have mercy on LSU next Opinion helm of the LSU Tigers. But give Hallman this, none of his teams ever gave up 42 points to the Ole Miss Rebels the way Gerry DiNardo's did Saturday night in a 42-23 loss at Tiger Stadium. In fact, you have to go all the Woods on top at Tour Championship Bugs fall to Lubbock in 3-2 shootout loss Leaderboard Tiger Woods 200 Chris Perry 203 Brent Geiberger 205 Steve Pate 205 HAL SUTTON 206 Davis Love 111206 Duffy Waldorf 206 Fred Funk 207 Tom Lehman 207 DAVID TOMS 208 Nick Price 208 Jeff Sluman 208 Carlos Franco 208 David Duval 208 John Huston 208 Bossier team running wild When you watch the Bossier Bearkats play football you can expect to see three tilings: Run the ftxrt-ball, play defense, and nin the football some more. The Wing offense has led to a perfect 94) record and some sniggering stats.

Tliis year we knew coming into the season we were going to have an extremely talented offensive line that would be our strong suit," Bossier coach Billy Don Mcllalffey said. "We felt like we could line up against any defensive front with success." Details 13C The Associated Press HOUSTON The flags were raised to their regular height. The gallery was more enthusiastic with cheers. Players whose spirits were lifted by the memorial service for I'ayne Stewart managed to share a few laughs. On a day when normalcy tried to return in the Tour Championship, the best indication was Tiger Woods on his way to yet another victory.

Returning from a moving tribute to Stewart, Woods wasted little lime moving into the lead at Champions Golf Club on Saturday by making eight birdies in just about every weather condition imaginable and taking a three-shot lead going into Uie final round. tion to win his third straight tournament and seventh in his last 10 starts Woods has won the last 10 times after having at least a share of the third-round lead, including last week at I )is-ney World. "I low much better can I get? Only time will tell, and only more hard work will show," Woods said. I will continue to get better." Chris Ferry made four birdies to complete a 64, and had a (59 in the afternoon to finish at 203. Brent Geiberger was another stroke back alter a (58.

Davis Iove III, tied with Woods at 9 under when the second round was completed, had a 73 in the afternoon and was in the group at 203 that included defending champion Hal Sutton. with a goal, but Lubbock goalie Cory Cadden stopped the Bugs' final four shots. Shreveport (1-4-1) led L'-t heading into the third period, but Green scored early in the period to tie the game. The Bugs then survived a double-minor high sticking penalty when Trevor Buchanan drew blood with 5:13 left in the game and the score tied 2-2. Chad Ling had a solid game turning aside 39 shots.

Lubbock ((5-2) outshot ShreveMrt 43-34. The Mudbugs play tlivir seventh game of an 11-game road trip Tuesday in San Mourning changes mood at Southern Farm Classic, 5C "I came to an understanding, a resolve," Woods said of Mi-day's service in Orlando, Ha. "And by doing that, today's round was a little easier emotionally than it was on Thursday. Tracey (Stewart) sX'ak from the heart that's incredible. "If she can have that kind of strength, then we should be able to do that easily." Woods showed no effects from a stinger he suffered hit-' ting a rock, finishing off a round of (5(5 in a series of rainstorms and adding a 4-under 67 in the cool, blustery afternoon to finish 54 holes at 13-under200.

That puts him in great posi- I Shreveport beat by expansion team. From Staff Reports The Shreveport Mudbugs played in their first shootout of the season Saturday night at Lubbock, but the results were the same as they have been most of the year a loss. Mark Green the 10th and final skater in the extra session added to his WPHL leading goal total, giving the Cotton Kings a 3-2 victory. Lubbock outscored Shrcve-M)i1 2-1 in the shootout. Toby Burkitt opened the shootout Because the IX5A Tour canceled play I'riday so players could attend the memorial service for Stewart, 27 holes were played Tliursday and Saturday, setting up a regular lS-hole final on Sunday..