The Montgomery Advertiser from Montgomery, Alabama • 25

Montgomery Advertiser Sunday, Nov. 7, is9 STATE COLLEGE FOOTBALL sb Blazers surprise No. 18 East Carolina at Legion Field punt return. "I give our offense a lot of credit," said UAB coach Watson Brown. "In the last two weeks we have just had injury after injury." East Carolina, averaging 172 yards a game on the ground, managed only 9 rushing yards on 32 attempts against a UAB defense that got tougher as the day went on.

UAB (4-5, 3-2 in Conference USA), which had lost six previous games against ranked opponents, looked outmanned early as East Carolina (7-2, 3-2) jumped to a 17-6 lead at halftime. But the Blazer defense toughened after the break, pushing the Pirates backward and forcing mis take after mistake. "We thought that we had everything under control at halftime," said East Carolina coach Steve Logan. "In the second half, it was one thing after another, which was a lot to their credit." Playing because starter Daniel Dixon sprained an ankle during practice last week. Cox took advantage of the Pirates' miscues and good field position.

He threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Ernest Cox and ran for scores of 5 and 3 yards. Jake Arians added field goals of 41, 33 and 22 yards for the Blazers. East Carolina lost a gamble on its first drive of the second half. Facing fourth-and-10 from its mother had worn to the game. "I was proud to have a shirt to give to my son," said Cathey Brooks.

Brooks' long punt return in the third quarter set up Cox's 3-yard; scoring run on a bootleg. Proving he was OK, Brooks ran through the entire East Carolina defense and jumped into the end zone after intercepting Garrard's pass at the UAB 9. East Carolina scored touch-; downs on a 29-yard pass from Garrard to Arnie Powell and a 25-yard fumble recovery by Kevin Monroe.1 Brantley Rivers added a 26-yard field goal. own 39, the Pirates faked a punt but Andrew Bayes' pass to Erik Hines fell incomplete near the sideline. UAB capitalized when Cox threw the scoring pass to Ross, but the 2-point try failed.

A fumble by East Carolina quarterback David Garrard at the UAB 31 led to the 41-yard field goal by Arians, who made it 17-15. The Pirates took the ball at their own 20 and wilted under a relentless rush by UAB. Scrambling out of the pocket, backup quarterback Richard Alston fumbled and UAB's Eric Lampley recovered at the Pirates 5. Cox scored on the next play to put UAB ahead for good. Trojans: Jones leads punishing attack Brooks, who leads the nation in interceptions with eight, took control after that.

Carried off the field as a precaution after suffering an apparent neck injury in the second quarter, doctors cleared him to play aftei X-rays showed he wasn't badly hurt. "It waj kind of scary," said Brooks, injured making a tackle. "At fiibi it tiid not bother me. Then the pain jmrted shooting down my left arm and body." There was another problem: Trainers had to cut away Brooks' jersey to examine him, and the team didn't have a spare. So Brooks returned to play wearing last season's jersey, which his Vroy State 27, Stephen F.

Austin 7 Stephen F. Austin 0 0 7 Troy St. 7 10 7 First Quarter TSU-Block -i -n (Tynes kick), 1 1:39 Second Quarter TSU FG 24, 11:19 TSU Jones 1 run (Tvnes kick), 04:18 Third Quarter SFA-Stokei li run (Woodward kick), 13:44 TSU-Black 3 run (Tynes kick), 02:36 Fourth Quarter TSU-FG Tynes 31, 11:01 A 57,122. 0-7 3-27 SFA 7 14-59 84 6-23 1 80 10 8 65 14:27 TSU 26 73-390 115 9-14-1 23 1-0 11-119 45:33 First downs Rushes-yards Passing Comp-Att-lnl Return Yards Punts-Avg. Fumbles-Los! Penalties- Yar Time of Possess.un DIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHINu-Stephen F.

Austin, Stoker 8-23, Pate 4-18, Fallon Mo, Mullen 1-2; Troy P. Jones 28-180, Block 18-120, Dunbar 9-43, Justice 8-24, Buttone 4-12, Nutter 3-6, AA. Jones 2-3, Philvaw 1-2. PASSING-Stephen F. Austin, Pate 5-19-1-75, Fallon 1-4-0-9; Troy Nutter, 9-14-1-1 15.

RECEIVING-Stephen F. Austin, Lyons 3-73, Stoker 3-11; Troy Philvaw 3-43, Buttone 2-23, Lucas 1-20, Hill 1-19, Williams 1-7, P. Jones 1-3. downs. Both ot Black's scores were set up on drives dominated by Jones.

Black scored on a 3-yard run in the third quarter that snuffed out any chance oi a Stephen F. Austin comeback. "This win means so much to this progidin and these kids," Bla-keney said. "We had never beaten them since we joined the Southland. We won the league in '96 and they beat us that year.

So we were trying to get that bear off our backs. By Jay Reeves The Associated Press BIRMINGHAM UAB earned its first victory over a ranked opponent after seven tries and nearly four years. Playing for an injured starter, redshirt freshman Thomas Cox ran for two second-half touchdowns and threw for another Saturday to lead the Blazers to a 36-17 win over No. 18 East Carolina. Rodregis Brooks, who was taken off the field on a stretcher in the first half after apparently hurting his neck, came back and scored on a 91-yard interception return.

He set up another score with a 59-yard Samford triumphs in overtime CULLOWHEE, N.C. Jerome Russell rushed for 231 yards and two touchdowns, including a game-winning 7-yard run, to lead Sam-ford to a 35-32 overtime victory over Western Carolina on Saturday. Samford trailed much of the game but took the lead with 1:12 remaining, only to see Western Carolina force overtime on a 60-yard pass from Shawn Snyder to Michael Banks with 23 seconds left in regulation. The Catamounts (2-7) then took a 32-29 lead in overtime on a 30-yard field goal by Josh Jones who went 6-for-6 on the day and set a Southern Conference single-game record for field goals but Russell got the ball all three times in a 3-play drive that gave Samford the victory. Russell earned all of his rushing yards in the second half.

Kadell Wright scored three touchdowns for the Bulldogs (5-4), including a 3-yard run with 8:49 left in the first quarter that was Samford's only score of the first half. The Bulldogs took a 29-22 lead with 72 seconds left in regulation on a 1-yard run by Wright, but Snyder connected with Banks 49 seconds later on a crossing pattern to force overtime. Northwestern St. 35, Jacksonville St. 7 NATCHITOCHES, La.

Tony Taylor ran for 170 yards and three touchdowns and Northwestern State's defense held Jacksonville State to just 66 yards rushing. The outcome left Northwestern State at 4-5 overall and 3-2 in the Mickey Welsh Staff Anthony Rabb, front, and Al Lucas kept Isiah Stoker and Stephen F. Austin's vaunted ground game under wraps. Troy State defense dominates matchup From Page 1B offensive line just wore them down. The backs could just pick and choose their spots." Senior tailback Phillip Jones enjoyed his best game as a Trojan.

Jones, featured in the basic smash-mouth attack, carried 28 punishing times for 180 yards and a touchdown. Known as "Downhill Phil" for his straight-ahead running style, Jones thrived in the game plan. "We wanted to pound the ball right at 'em," Jones said. "We saw on the film the only two teams that beat them ran right at them." "When things are tough, Phillip Jones is certainly the back you go to," Troy State coach Larry Blake-ney said. Jones wasted little time getting involved.

He carried the first three snaps on the first possession of the game gaining chunks of 14, 9 and 6 yards. It was shockingly easy. "Our line was just knocking them off the ball," Jones said. "You could see guys going backward." Troy State completed the 65-yard march in seven plays all on the ground capped by LeBarron Black's 4-yard touchdown run. The drive set the tone for the entire game.

Stephen F. Austin never found an answer. "After that first drive, it was like, shoot, we're gonna keep running until they stop us. And they never did," Nutter said. Troy State was brutally efficient.

It set a school record with a stunning 45:33 in time of possession more than three quarters. TSU's 73 rushing attempts which led to 390 yards on the ground was another school record. The Trojans ran 87 offensive plays; the Lumberjacks ran 37. TSU picked up 26 first downs; SFA had seven. Jones wasn't the Trojans' only rushing star.

Black carried 18 times for 122 yards and two touch- 24.S9 i 29.89 26. 9 P2G575R15 30.S i PJ1S7SR1S 31. I BIO 10-S38 anSMILE lIMIIEOirVAHHAMI JniDGesrone HAMX.f: THE ROAD. WfHorDrvi CT7Q9 tsveoTRu P19S60TR14 ...6 70. I i P20S65TR1S 73.

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They've got a chance to be really special." GolfSpecial Now Available GOLF ALL DAY $20.00 (plus la; Monday-Friday $25.00 (plus tai) Saturday-Sunday Coupon good for 1 -4 Players Must present coupon Expires 11799 281-3344 Massage, Dry Sauna, Shaver Tanning for Men Women tS33SSSSl izuo cauum Diva. 324-231-2377 FlCATES AVAILABLE ABMT License E1 100 Vatue Prtred Smooth Ride zosrroRi4ttrw P21570R14WW $48 89 P20S70R15WW $47 9 P21570R1SWW $80.99 $62.99 8IQjO8 MHE LIMITED MANMANI CALL TODAY FOR THE LOWEST MICKILtM PRJCSS 80.000 mit LIMITED WARRANTYI MICH PUTTVUf CPSJJCAAl'SUSN 361-9608 741-0275 1.M9E Main St 3904 Peppered Pwy www aarmr QOOO THROUGH niOSM Great Tire! NAVIGATOR gold Premium, All-Season Touring P18565R14 58.89 P19565R14 60.79 P19565R15 63.64 P20565R15 66.49 P22570R15 76.99 P23570R15 77.89 P22560R16 86.44 70,000 MILE LIMITED WARRANTY FIATTYU1E CFEIAAl 361-9608 741-0275 XT wro Will i lilll -ilrn-i-niiiiini- I lirf By Ken Rogers Montgomery Advertiser TROY Al Lucas was tired of hearing it. Anthony Rabb was tired of hearing it. The rest of the Troy State defense had its fill, too. In the battle for No.

1 in the Southland Football League, Saturday's showdown with Stephen F. Austin matched the league's No. 1 rushing offense against Troy State's top-ranked rushing defense. So much for statistics. Stephen F.

Austin came into the game averaging 243 yards per game on the ground, 439 yrds total and 35 points per game leading the SFL in each category. KaRon Coleman was fourth in the NCAA with 177 all-purpose yards per game. Isiah Stoker, listed second behind Coleman on the Lumberjacks depth chart, had rushed for 681 yards on 104 carries. "We just wanted to close their mouths," Lucas said wearily after Troy State's 27-7 victory. "They were talking about being the best rushing team in the SFL, maybe the best in the nation.

We weren't going to say anything. We just came to play." Troy State left little doubt that silence is golden. The Lumberjacks managed just 59 yards on 14 carries. Stoker carried eight times for 23 yards. "It was time to step up," senior middle linebacker Anthony Rabb said.

"It was a big challenge with a good running team coming in here. We put 'em in a situation where they had to pass." That was not where the Lumberjacks wanted to be. Quarter back Wes Pate was just 5 of 19 passing with an interception. Travis Fallon, his backup, was 1 of 4. "They were good," Pate said of the Trojans.

"They were blitzing a lot. It was hard to do anything." Of course, they didn't have the ball much. SFA managed just 14:27 in time of possession. First-year SFA head coach Mike Santiago said his team was overwhelmed. "We couldn't run and we couldn't throw," he said.

"They kept getting us in long-yardage situations. We couldn't beat their man (to-man) coverages." "Our main thing is always stop the run first," Lucas said. "If we make you pass, our defensive line is good enough to put pressure on the quarterback." Troy State can try to clinch a share of the Southland Football League championship with a victory next Saturday at McNeese State in Lake Charles, La. After Saturday's emotional win, the top-ranked Trojans will have to guard against a letdown. "Our work isn't done," Rabb insisted.

"McNeese beat us last year. That's enough. We can't let this win hang around too long." Troy State coach Larry Blake-ney was thinking the same thing. "We'd be awfully stupid if we go looking anywhere but dead down the sights of the next game McNeese State," he said. "You've got to physically and mentally invest in yourself to be spiritually ready to play this game on Saturdays.

You have to prepare yourself every week especially in this league." i'lHtrl'U- UtM'liiiHM-LJ bolted ar imports; -H bpwa Rated wimum. 1IDR14BW P18570SR13 28.99 P18570SK14 31.99 P19570SR 14 32.99 i Biaie83MMfwiiE P19560HR14BW. (46.99 Pl9f60HR1fBW. $48.99: P20S60HR 1 5BW $60.89 P22560HR15BW $66 99 BIQ1QS UFfOFTWEAD uinnuiwnnHAHi Southland, Jacksonville at 2-7, 1-5. Northwestern also remains unbeaten in four home games, but 0-5 on the road, while Jacksonville remains winless in four road games.

Northwestern State seized a 21-0 halftime lead on touchdown runs of 4 and 20 yards, sandwiched around a 1-yard touchdown run by Troy Sumrall. Jacksonville narrowed the Demons' lead on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Tim Gallahan to Joey Hamilton early in the third period, but Northwestern stormed back. 23, West Alabama 17 MONTICELLO, Ark. Kevin Craft's two field goals provided the only points after a tied first half as Arkansas-Monticello beat West Alabama. Craft booted field goals of 23 yards in the third quarter and 30 yards in the fourth quarter to win the game for the Boll Weevils (4-6, 3-5 Gulf South Conference).

He also had a 25-yard field goal in the first quarter. West Alabama (1-9, 1-7) took a 7-0 lead at 14:21 in the first quarter on a 68-yard run by Phillip Keef. North Alabama 31, Valdosta St. 28 FLORENCE Mike Mitchell kicked a 27-yard field goal with 27 seconds remaining to give North Alabama a come-from-behind victory over Valdosta State. The Lions (4-6, 4-4 Gulf South Conference) rallied with 17 points, including Mitchell's field goal, in the last 5:27.

Valdosta State (4-6, 3-5) nearly pulled out the win as Reggie Mosely returned the ensuing kickoff 74 yards before Jason Brown's touchdown-saving tackle at the Lion 26. North Alabama quarterback Tyler Peterson, who was benched after three plays, returned to the game to lead all five scoring drives, including three in the final nine minutes. Peterson completed 12 of 19 passes for a career-high 260 yards and a touchdown. Michael Bridgeforth scored the tying touchdown on an 8-yard run. Savannah St.

49, Miles 12 SAVANNAH, Ga. Troy Ham-brick rushed for 128 yards and three touchdowns to lead Savannah State to a 49-12 win over Miles. The Golden Bears (3-7) scored first after Dwight Moore hit Derek Hall on a 14-yard pass play with 11:19 to go in the first quarter. The Tigers (5-5) answered with a 40-yard run by Hambrick. Brian Sidberry cut Savannah's lead to 28-12 after scoring on a 30-yard run with 14:13 to go until the half.

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