Hattiesburg American from Hattiesburg, Mississippi • 19

Sunday, September 24, 1 989 Hattiesburg AMERICAN 1 Quotable: "It was disappointing at the end," American captain Ray Floyd said. "That's obvious. We felt most of the day we were going to win three points in the don't think that two points is insurmountable and my players don't think so. We have a very good attitude." United States captain Ray Floyd commenting Saturday after his team fell behind the Europeans 9-7 In Ryder Cup competition. Scoreboard, 2B Top 20 roundup, 3B Stocks, 7B Marketplace, 8B 19-17 Idem Eagles Homed! Frogs gig use our defense to pen them up, go for a block or a return (on the punt) and try to get it back to a point where we could get a kick at a winning field goal." The question wasn't the decision to kick the field goal, but when it was kicked Trailing 19-14 with 4:31 left In the game, USM had driven to the TCU 10 and faced fourth-and-one.

Disdaining the field goal, the Golden Eagles went for the first down and got it on Rickey Bradley's 2-yard run. By TEVl DOHERTY AMERICAN Sports Writer FORT WORTH, Texas Texas Christian University tried its best to be the perfect host to the University of Southern Mississippi football team Saturday. Horned Frog penalties and four turnovers in the second half gave USM scoring opportunities, but the Golden Eagles declined the generosity and fell to a 19-17 defeat before 15,839 at Amon G. Carter Stadium. The loss sent USM to its third consecutive defeat after a season-opening upset of Florida State.

The last time Southern lost three straight was in 1986, when the Golden Eagles lost four In a row on their way to a 6-5 record. "We didn't take advantage of the opportunities that we had to put points on the board, and in the end, that cost us the game," said USM head coach Curley Hallman. "There will probably be questions about why we went for the field goal there in the fourth quarter, but our thinking was to put points on the board, But the TCU defense forced Southern Into another fourth down situation, at the 6. This time, place-kicker Chuck Davis was sent in and he booted a 23-yard field goal to cut the lead to 19-17. But only 2:16 remained In the game and USM had only two timeouts.

TCU quarterback Ron Jiles, who tossed two touchdown passes to compensate for his two interceptions, dashed the last USM hopes when he bootlegged for a first down onthird-and-seven. "We needed this win badly," Jiles said in berserk TCU locker room. "Turnovers almost cost us the game. We had to concentrate and eliminate our mistakes, and that's whatwedid." The win snapped a six-game TCU losing streak dating back to last season and gave the Horned Frogs a 1-2 record. Saturday, USM had more than enough chances to win.

USM's secondary came up with its first three interceptions of the season and recovered three fumbles. But the second half was a study in frustration for quarterback Brett Favre. The Golden Eagles couldn't get the big play when they needed it. Consider: A Favre bomb early in the third quarter off a flea-flicker that skipped off Eugene Rowell's fingertips. "(Brett) just put the ball up kind of high and I misjudged it," Rowell said.

Two plays later, Favre was nailed as he set up to pass at the See EAGLES, page 4B OH, MY ACHING BACK! Arkansas repels Ole Miss 24-17 in Dixie doozie V- 1 6 r'" Georgia wins dogfight 23-6; State now 2-1 By JEFF BUTLER Qtnrwtt Nrnn Service ATHENS. Ga. Georgia's defense provided the difference Saturday as the Bulldogs took a 23-6 victory against Mississippi State in Southeastern Conference play before a sellout crowd of 82,122 at Sanford Stadium. Georgia improved to 2-0, 1-0 in the SEC. Mississippi State fell to 2-1, 1-1 in the conference.

"Our defense really played well overall," Georgia coach Ray Goff said. "I have no complaints at all." Mississippi State entered the game averaging 279 yards a game rushing but was limited to 86. Tailback Kenny Roberts, who had more than 100 yards in MSU's first two games, had 34 Saturday. "We felt like we had to control the ball today," Mississippi State coach Rockey Felker said. "We did to some extent, but we couldn't extend it over a period of time." On the first play of the second half, a pitch from Mississippi State quarterback Eric Underwood hit fullback Treddis Anderson on the shoulder pads.

Georgia linebacker Morris Lewis fell on the ball at the MSU22. "We feel like we have to play aggressive and get the ball to our offense," Lewis said. "When you are around the ball, good things happen." Five plays later sophomore tailback Larry Ware scored on a 3-yard run to push Georgia's four-point halftime lead to 17-6 with just 2:33 gone in the second half. Ware, who substituted for injured tailback Rodney Hampton, had 61 yards on 12 carries to lead Georgia. On the next Mississippi State series, an Underwood pass was deflected by Georgia safety Ben Smith and intercepted by linebacker Matt McCormick, who returned it to the Mississippi State 30.

Georgia settled for John Kasay's 49-yard field goal and a two-touchdown advantage. Less than halfway through the third quarter, the Bulldogs had broken open a close game with their defense. Georgia quarterback Greg Talley said: "When given the opportunities, we have to get points. Our defense gave us the ball today, and we were able to get points. But we need to get the ball in the end zone.

We eventually have to get where we can get the ball in the end zone 100 percent of the time when we get down there." Underwood said: "Georgia controlled the line of scrimmage. We could never get our running game going. They filled the gaps well and did what they had to." Georgia defensive tackle Bill Goldberg said: "There was no secret what they were going to do. They just See DOGFIGHT, page 4B kr r. would be a touchdown," said Darnell.

"Then I saw (Green) go down and I thought it was pass interference from my standpoint." Said Green, "He tripped me but I don't know if it was before or after the catch. I felt contact. But the guys in the striped shirts didn't call anything and we have to live with their decision." Cooney said he was expecting the play to come to his side. "I was looking for the quick slant. I just tried to stay with my man.

I was able to make the big play." Arkansas coach Ken Hatfield, whose team erased an early 7-0 deficit, summed it up best. "We were just one play better than Ole Miss tonight." That one play left the Rebels with a 3-1 record and two weeks to think about what might have been. "We thought we were good enough to beat them. I still do," said Darnell, who completed 12-of-25 passes for 149 yards and a 43-yard TD pass to Pat Coleman that tied the game 14-14 in the second period. "But we can't dwell on it.

We have to go on. It is not going to get any easier for us." You got the feeling early that underdog Ole Miss might be primed for an upset. Three minutes into the game, Chris Mitchell of the Rebels alertly picked off a Quinn Grovey pass and returned it 21 yards for a score. Arkansas tied the game 7-7 on a one-yard run by E.D. Jackson early in the second period and took the lead on a 2-yard burst by Jackson four minutes later to make it 14-7.

Ole Miss answered with a six-play, 71-yard drive, capped by Darnell's TD pass to the fleet-footed Coleman. Perhaps more important in the drive, Ole Miss punter Charles Childers faked a punt and ran 27 yards for a first down to the See ARKANSAS, page 4B By CHUCK ABADIE AMERICAN Sports Editor JACKSON Only nine yards separate Ole Miss from a Top 25 ranking this week. Nine measly yards. The difference between a 4-0 record and the best start for the Rebels since 1970 and a 3-1 beginning. When the dust finally settled from this college football battle of arch-rivals Saturday night at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, it was eighth-ranked Arkansas 24, Ole Miss 17.

The outcome could have been different only If Ole Miss quarterback John Darnell's pass to wide receiver Willie Green with 13 seconds left to play had been thrown a little quicker, a little lower, a little sooner. Instead, Arkansas cornerback Anthony Cooney guessed right, stepped in front of Green and intercepted Darnell's pass, preserving the Razorbacks' victory and their fifth straight win over the Rebels. The crowd of 55,000 chilly fans looked on as the Rebels operated the 2-minute drill to perfection, starting from their own 31 with 2:11 to play and moving to the Arkansas four-yard line in 11 plays. Then Ole Miss was penalized for illegal motion, Darnell saying he called for the snap before his linemen were set. That moved the ball back to the nine, setting the stage for the play that decided things.

"We wanted to get the ball to (Green) on a crossing route," said Ole Miss coach Billy Brewer, who is now 1-5-1 against the Razorbacks. Darnell dropped back in the pocket and saw Green crossing the end zone with Cooney trailing close behind. "When I threw it, I thought it 1 I 4 1 4- X1 AP photo OHIO STATE quarterback Greg Frey throws the ball away as he is hit from behind by Southern California linebacker Junior Seau during Saturday's game in Los Angeles. USC rolled to a 42-3 win. More college football, 3B.

Baseball pennant races Jones JC dominates rival Pearl River 31-0 ALEast Pet GB GLft, NLEast Pet. GB GLft, 85 70 .548 3h-4a Chicago 88 67 .570 Ma Baltimore 84 71 .545 1 llva St. Louis ...84 71 .544 4 4h-3a Milwaukee 78 76 .508 6tt 4Ma New York 82 72 .534 Vk 4h-4a ALWest Pet GB GLft NLWest Pet. GB GLft 93 61 .603 7h-la San Francisco. 90 65 .583 lh-6a California 89 66 .575 5 6h-la San Diego .85 70 .550 5 6h-la Kansas City .88 67 .566 bVt lh-6a Houston 83 72 .534 7 3h-4a tackles John Stringer and Vincent Lee, led a Bobcat line surge that dominated the Wildcats from start to finish.

For the night, JCJC made 24 first downs, ran for 299 yards and ran off 87 plays to 48 for Pearl River in evening its record at 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the South Division. PRCC fell to 1-3 and 0-2. "They just ripped us," said Pearl River coach Mike Nelson. "It was complete domination everywhere." That it was, and the surprising part was how well Jones ran the ball. With a brisk wind making the pass a risky proposition, the Bobcats turned to their line and a hard-running pair of backs, Donald Matthews and Bill Lowman, to control the ball and the game.

See JONES, page4B By STAN CALDWELL AMERICAN Sports Writer ELLIS VILLE In order to have a true cat fight, both species have to have the same weaponry. Saturday night at Bush-Young Field, that was not the case. The Jones County Junior College Bobcats, armed with the full array of fangs, claws and mean disposition, completely de-fanged, de-clawed and spayed, to boot the Pearl River Community College Wildcats 31-0 before 4.500 spectators. "We planned to just mash on 'em, and that's what we did," said Bobcat guard Brad Holif ield. Mash or was that M'A'S'H? -was a good word for what Jones did to Pearl River on this night.

Holifield and his fellows, guard Ben Barry, center Joel Ford, and Saturday's results Minnesota 5, Oakland 3 Cleveland 4, California 3 (lnd) Cleveland 6, California 2 (2nd) Boston 6, Detroit 1 Milwaukee 4, Toronto 1 Baltimore 10, New York 2 Seattle 8, Kansas City 0 Texas 6, Chicago 4 Today's key games New York at Baltimore, 12:35 p.m. Toronto at Milwaukee, 1:30 p.m. Oakland at Minnesota, 1:15 p.m. Saturday's results Chicago 3, Pittsburgh 2 New York 13, Montreal 6 St. Louis 11, Philadelphia 5 San Diego 7, Los Angeles 1 San Francisco 3, Houston 1 Cincinnati 11, Atlanta 5 Today's key games Pittsburgh at Chicago, 1:20 p.m.

Philadelphia at St. Louis, 2: 15 p.m. San Diego at Los Angeles, 3:05 p.m. Houston at San Francisco, 3 05 p.m. AMERICAN photo by Steve Coleman PEARL RIVER Community College tailback Scooter Byrd (32) dodges Jones defensive end Tim Harper (21) for a short gain.

On TV. Digest 3 p.m. NFL football (Los Angeles Raiders at Denver Broncos), NBC 3 p.m. Golf (PGA Seniors PaineWebber Invitational final round), ESPN. 5 p.m.

Horse racing (Louisiana Super Derby), same-day tape, ESPN. More drug problems St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Leon Durham (right) has been suspended for 60 days for failure to comply with the baseball commissioner's drug policy. Scoreboard PGA scores Southern Open 3rd round David Canipe 69-65-64198 Jay Haas 68-67-64199 Dave Kenny Knox 65-68-67-200 Ted Schulz 6f66-68 200 L. Ten Broeck 70-66-65-201 Larry Rinker 70-68-64-202 Andrew 202 Jim Benepe 69-67-66-202 John Inman 68-67-67-202 Hal Sutton 67-68-67-202 LPGA scores MSBS Classic Pamela 206 Nancy Lopez 73-69-65207 Rosie Jones 70-72-65207 Cindy Rarick 70-68-70208 Colleen -69-69 209 Beth Daniel 74-67-69210 AmyAlcott 69-69-73211 Patti Rizzo 69-74-68211 Pat Bradley 69-69-73211 Shelley 212 Alice Ritzman 70-72-70212 11:30 a.m.

Auto racing (NASCAR Winston Cup Goody's 500), ESPN. Noon NFL football (New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers), CBS. Noon NFL football (Buffalo Bills at Houston Oilers), NBC. 12:30 p.m. Major league baseball (Montreal Expos at New York 1:05 p.m.

Major league baseball (Cincinnati Reds at Atlanta Braves), TBS. 1:20 p.m. Major league baseball (Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs), WGN. Mitchell or Clark? American sports writer Van Arnold studies the National League MVP race and casts his vote. PAGE 3B Goody two shoes Winston Cup points leader Dale Earnhardt holds the pole position for today's Goody's 500 race in Martinsville, Va.

PAGE 5B Radio today Noon NFL football (New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers), WHSY-AM. in -it i pi i in fii i.