The Jackson Sun from Jackson, Tennessee • 29

SECAREA COLLEGE FOOTBALL The Jackson SunPage 7C Sunday, Nov. 10, 1996 GaUoirs fend off Vanderbilt Auburn rallies to 28-24 victory STANDINGS SEC EAST Team SEC QwH Florida 7-0 9-0 Tennessee 5-1 6-2 S. Carolina 4-3 5-4 Georgia 2-4 3-5 Kentucky 2-4 3-6 Vanderbilt 0-6 2-7 SEC WEST Team SEC Overall Alabama 5-1 8-1 LSU 4-2 6-2 Auburn 4-2 7-2 Mississippi 1-4 4-4 Miss. State 1-4 3-5 Arkansas 1-4 3-5 II err i (- IS 4 AH A seconds on the two-point conversion before finding McLeod in the corner of the end zone to tie the score at 21. Craig went 17-for-32 with one touchdown and one interception for 248 yards.

Baker led the Tigers with six catches for 86 yards." Early; the game looked like if had blowout potential for Auburn when Tigers line-; backer Marcellus Mostella intercepted Philyaw's pass on Northeast, Louisiana's first possession. Craig took the Tigers 57 yards on eight plays for the opening touchdown, capped when he used a good block from Gosha to scramble in from 11 yards out But Auburn didn't get another first down until late in the second quarter, and in between, Northeast Louisiana controlled the game. The Associated Press Vanderbilt free safety DeReal Finklin (22) zeroes in on Florida tailback Elijah Williams on Saturday. The Commodores' defense held the Gators to their lowest point total of the year. Florida shuts down Commodores' second-half push in time to preserve victory.

By MIKE ORGAN The Tennessean NASHVILLE. Vanderbilt, which has found nearly every conceivable way to lose, nearly found a way to win the biggest one of all Saturday. In the end, the 28-21 loss to the nation's No. 1 team, Florida, was nothing more than another moral victory for the Commodores. The loss was terribly frustrating The numb feeling was so very familiar.

But the statement made by these players was heard loud and clear. "The reason I came here was to play against the best teams in the country and to be a part of something good," said senior safety DeReal Finklin. "This moment right here shows that we can play with anyone in the nation." Vanderbilt (2-7. 0-6 SEC) gave Florida its stiffest challenge since Nebraska riddled the powerful Gators in the Fiesta Bowl last year. Florida (9-0, 7-0) has won all five SEC Eastern Division titles, but the Gators had no answer until late in the game for Vanderbilt's furious second-half rally.

"You don't ever want to be happy with a loss, but nobody expected us to do what we did today," Finklin said. "We played them so much better than Tennessee, Georgia, Auburn and all those teams that Saturday's results Memphis 21, Tennessee 17 Florida 28, Vanderbilt 21 Kentucky 24, Miss. State 21 Arkansas 13, Ole Miss 7 Auburn 28, NE Louisiana 24 Alabama 26, LSU 0 Next Saturday's games Arkandsas at Tennessee Alabama at Miss. State Georgia at Auburn Vanderbilt at Kentucky LSU at Ole Miss South Carolina at Florida 0 14 0 10-24 7 3 3 15-28 Ne Louisiana Auburn made, however, they weren't enough to convince coach Rod Dowhower to take what would have been a monstrous chance at the end of the game. Vanderbilt shoved the ball all the way to the Florida 23, trailing 28-21.

Faced with a fourth-and-10. Dowhower elected to go for a field goal rather than a first down or the touchdown. Brett Speakman's attempt went wide right. "It was disappointing, but exciting. Intense." Dowhower said.

"It really just got our competitive juices flowing." FLA-Green 9 pass from Wgerttel (Edmiston kick). 7:56. VAN Duncan 31 fumble return (Yoder pass from AUen), 12 53. Fourth Quarter VAN-Dunnavant 42 run (Speakman kick). 139.

The Associated Press AUBURN, Ala. Dam-eyune Craig engineered a late 70-yard touchdown drive and threw the key block on Kevin McLeod's game-winning run Saturday as No. 22 Auburn came back to beat upset-minded Northeast Louisiana 28-24. The Auburn quarterback ran interference on McLeod's 6-yard touchdown run with 1:44 left that put the Tigers (7-2) ahead for the first time' since early in the first quarter. The game was expected to be an easy tuneup to get Au- burn ready for its final two Southeastern Conference games, against Georgia and Alabama.

The Tigers came in as 41-point favorites against a team in its third year in Division I-A The Indians (4-5) lost 59-0 last week to Mississippi State and had been outscored by Auburn 82-26 in their meetings the last two years. But Northeast quarterback Raymond Philyaw lit up the Auburn defense for 308 passing yards, including 46- and 48-yard completions to Marty Booker on fourth-quarter scoring drives. The second pass and a 4-yard hookup with Mike Mitchell brought the Indians to the Auburn 1 with three minutes to play, but the Tigers defense held, forcing "Northeast Louisiana to settle for an 18-yard field goal and a 24-21 lead. After the kickoff, Craig hit Willie Gosha for 17 yards a and Markeith Cooper for 28 more to take Auburn to the "Indians 25. Three plays later, Craig handed off to McLeod, who slithered through the right side, then used Craig's block to work through the backfield for the Auburn defensive lineman Jimmy Brumbaugh had a sack and a fumble recovery on the next possession to end Northeast Louisiana's are supposed to be better than us." Vanderbilt was a 43-point underdog and by halftime appeared on its way to that kind of lopsided lashing.

But the offensive line came to life for the first time this season early in the second half when the Commodores mounted a 13-play, 64-yard drive that led to a 27-yard field goal. It was only a pecking at the big Florida lead, but a sign of things to come. "AH season long, the media have been bashing our offensive line," said Vanderbilt running back Jason Dunnavant, who scored on a 34-yard touchdown run later in the half. "It was time for something good to happen for them." Whatever steps forward Vanderbilt's offense might have FLA Firstdowns 19 Pushes-yards 37-105 Passing 283 Comp-Att-Int 18-29-1 Return Yards 82 Punts-Avg 5-38 2 VAND 16 36-122 113 10-274 27 4-348 5-2 6-35 29 47 1-1 17-147 Fumbles-Lost Penalties-Yards 3013 Time ot Possession INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 7 14 7 0-3 0 11 7- Florida Vanderbltl Flnt Quarter Aub-CnJg 11 run (Holme I). 5:50.

Second Quarter NE-Rkard 1 run (Babineaia kick), 6:26. NE-Phiraw 4 tun (Babineaia kick), 11:10. Aub-FGHOtms 30, 14:53. Third Quarter Aub-FQHoimn 24, 12:35. Fourth Querter NE-Booker 17 pass Iran Philyaw (Biblneaux kick), Aub-Baker 25 pass from Craig (McLeod pass from Craig), 8:44.

NE-FG Babtweux 18. 12:09. Aub-McLeod 6 run (Holmes kick), 13:16. NE Aub Firstdowns 22 19 Hushes-yards 46-121 35-164 Passing 308 248 Comp-Att-Int 1843-1 17-32-1 Return Yards 90 92 Punls-Avg. Fumbles-Losl 2-2 1-0 Penalties-Yards 7-50 6-59 Time of Possession 36:19 23:41 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING NE Louisiana, Williams 25-92, Ricard 8-15, Philyaw 7-9, Gardner 6-5.

Auburn, William 9-77, Beasley 6-44, Craig 11-14, Cooper 6-13, Holmes 1-10, McLeod 2-6. PASSING-NE Louisiana, Philyaw 18-33-1-308. Auburn, Craig 17-32-1-248. RECEIVING Booker 7-162, Gardner 328, Bridges 2-38, Spencer 2-31, Mitchell 2-9, Stephens 1-12, Patterson 1-8 Auburn, Baker 686, Bailey 4-58, Gosha 443, Cooper 2-26, Lowe 1-25. Alabama 26, LSU0 RUSHING Florida.

Taylor 9-57. Williams 11-49. T.Jackson 5- 24 Green 2-3. Anthony 1-2. WuertW 9-(minus 30).

Vander-' bill. Dunnavant 23-88. Fleming 1-39. DeGrattenreid 0-8. Ouke 6- 1.

Allen 6-(mmus 14). PASSING-Ftonda. Wuerttel 18-29-1-283. Vanderbitl. Alien 10-27-0-113.

RECEIVING-Ftonda. Green 5-75 Hidiard 441. Anthony 4- 70. Jackson 3-36. Allen 1-15.

Williams 1-6. Vanderbilt. Yoder 3-32. Fleming 2-0. Tomchek 2-30.

Miller 2-24. Winkler 1-27. First Quarter VAN-FG Speakman 27, 4:06. FLA-Anthony 14 pass Iran WuertW (Edmiston kick). 6.30 Second Quarter FLA-Gmen 28 pass from Wuerffel (Edmiston kick).

.09. FLA-Mard 31 pass from Wuerttel (Edmiston kick). 6 24. Third Quarter Razorbacks get first SEC victory tucky amassed a season-high 392 yards. Taite completed 12-of-23, passes for 200 yards as Mis-f sissippi State gained 319 total! yards.

the third quarter. On second-and-two, Stewart Patridge wanted to throw a swing pass but Mark Smith blitzed and the pass was behind the receiver. The lateral was recovered by C.J. McLain at the Arkansas 29. 0 7 12 7-26 0 0 0 0-0 Alabama LSU 7 7 7 7 0-21 5 7-24.

Mississippi St. Kentucky First Quarter 0 0 7 0- 7 3 0 0 10-13 Mississippi Arkansss hopes for an upset- MS-McCaskey 3 pass from Taite (Hazehvood kick). 3:43 KY-FG Johnson 20. 10 39 Second Quarter MS-Isaac 1 run lHazelwood kick). 6:02 KY-Yeast 55 pass from Logan (Johnson kick).

12:46 Third Quarter KY Mason 7 pass from Haskins (Johnson kick). 5:02 MS-Grant 19 pass from Taite (Hazelwood kick). 13:24 Fourth Quarter KY-Mason 24 pass from Haskins (Johnson kick). 7:57 Second Quarter Ala-8lexandr 17 run (Brock kick), 3:18 Third Quarter Ala-S Alexander 73 run (kick fail), 6:34 Ala-SJUexander 72 run (pass fail), 14:42 Fourth Querter Ala-S. Alexander 12 run (Brock kick), 10:42 Ala LSU Firstdowns 19 9 Rushes-yards 1 51-351 25-52 Passing 1 61 196 Comp-Att-Int 6-18-0 11-41-2 Return Yards 25 209 Punts-Avg, 841.4 Fumbles-Lost 2-1 1-1 Penalties-Yards 7-64 8-106 Time ol Possession 35:58 24:02 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING-Alabama, S.

Alexander 20-291, Riddle 15-84, Madden 4-13, Kitchens 12-(minus 37). LSU, Faulk 14-45, Mealey 7-20, Cleveland 2-1, Sparacino 1 -(minus 3), Tyler 1-(minus 11). PASSING-Alabama, Kitchens 6-1861. LSU, Sparacino 8-35-2-133, Tyler 3-563, Taber 0-1-0-0 RECEIVING Alabama, Riddle 2-10, Vaughn 1-19, C. Aleander 1-12, Buchanan 1-11, West 1-9.

LSU, LaFleur 4-30, Foster 3-56, Mealey 2-34, Frazier 1-51, Beard 1-25. mi 1-15. Smith 17. Kentucky 24, Mississippi State 21 LEXINGTON, Ky. Billy Jack Haskins completed two touchdown passes to Norman Mason, including a 24-yard strike with 7:03 to go.

to lift Kentucky to a victory over Mississippi Slate. Kentucky (3-6, 2-4 Southeastern Conference) won its second straight game since the school announced that Bill Curry would not return as coach next season. Mississippi State (3-5. 1-4) lost for the third time in its last four games. Mississippi State's Brian Ha-zelwood attempted a wind-aided 50-yard field goal with 1:26 to go, but it sailed wide left.

Logan equaled his school record of 41 carries and gained 186 yards. Haskins hit 12-of-21 passes for 126 yards as Ken The Associated Press FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -Wide receiver Anthony Eu-banks eluded linebacker Walker Jones and caught Pete Burks' 12-yard touchdown pass that lifted Arkansas to its first Southeastern Conference victory, 13-7 over Mississippi on Saturday. The pass, on third-and-nine, came in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter. After Burks used Arkansas' final timeout, the Razorbacks (3-5, 1-4) lined up with four wide receivers and got the mismatch in coverage.

Earlier in the nine-play, 71-yard drive, Burks followed a timeout with a 35-yard pass to Eubanks. Mississippi (44, 1-4) had an excellent chance to increase its 10-7 lead after John Avery ripped off a 20-yard run to the Arkansas 21 midway through MS Firstdowns 14 Rushes-yards 35-119 Passing 200 Earlier in the fourth quarter, Philyaw followed his 46-yard pass to Booker with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Booker that gave Northeast a 21-13 lead. Auburn answered as Craig capped a 65-yard scoring drive with a 25-yard pass to wide-open Robert Baker. Craig scrambled for about 10 Comp-Att-int 13-23-0 KY 20 55-211 181 13220 37 4-355 31 7-41 35:15 Return Yards 6 First Qusrter Ark-FQLalourelte 23. 11:31 Third Quarter Mtss-Avery 12 run (MonU kick).

3:36 Fourth Quarter Ark-Eubanks 12 pass from Burks (Latourette kick). 0.10 Miss Ark Fust downs 15 23 Rushes-yards 30-145 S9-146 Passing 87 133 RetumYarda 18 31 Comp-Att-mt 11-28-1 10-17-1 Punts 647 3 5-43 2 Fumtdesiost 2-2 1-1 Penalties-Yards 10-86 fS Taneot Possession 22 52 17:08 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Mississippi. Avery 20-155. Fisher 1-5. Cannion 34.

Spearman 1-(minus 1), Head l-lmmus 3). Parndge 4-(minus 15). Arkansas, Malone 32-126. Chukwuma 12-32. Cornelius 1-7.

Stoerner 2-(minus 1). Burks 12-(minus 1B). PASSING Mississippi. Patridge 9-23-0-68. Head 2-5-1-19.

Arkansas. Burks 10-17-1-123. RECEIVING-Mississippi. Heard 2-25. Rone 2-16.

Avery 2-13. Bilbrew 1-12. Fisher 2-10. French 18. Mangum 1-3.

Arkansas. Eubanks 4-68. Snowden 2-22. Cornelius 2-21. Louder- Punts-Avg.

Fumbles-Lost 2-1 Penalies-Yards 5-50 Time of Possession 24.45 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING-Mississippi Isaac 17-73. Buckhalter Taite 6-16. McKmley 1-4. Kentucky. Logan 41-186.

Haskins 11-' 16. Wesley 39. PASSING-Mississippi Taite 13-23 0 200. Haskins 12-21-0 126. Logan 1-1-0 55.

RECEIVING-Mississippi SI. Jennings 3-66. Grant 3-54. Woodberry 324. Belcher 1-29.

Butler 1-17. Greer 1-7. Mc-Caskey 1-3 Kentucky. Mason 5-64. Yeast 4-89.

Logan 2-14, Dennis 1-11. Spencer 1-3. Middle Tennessee rolls over UT Martin fourth quarter. 0 27 3 0-30 0 0 0 12-12 Middle Tenn. Clip and Mail Entry Form High School Second Quarter MTSU-Green 25 run (Ray kick), 3:00 MTSU-Grten 4 run (Rey kick), 5:22 MTSU-Green 10 run (Ray kick), 9:37 MTSU-Green 46 run (kick tailed), 12:34 Third Querter MTSU-FQ Ray 44, 4:22 Fourth Quarter UTM-Reedar 29 pasa from Wilson (conversion failed), 8:01 UTM-Reeder 22 past from Wilton (conversion failed), 10:04 or an "I Beat Fearless" Bumper Sticker in the Jackson Sun's Firstdowns Rushes-yards MTSU UTM 14 20 49-201 28-(mlnut 8) 35 233 6-12-1 24-45-2 65 0 431.0 2-2 2-1 7-89 2-10 passing Comp-Att-Int Return Yards Punts-Avg.

Fumbles-La4 Penakiee-Yarda Time of Possession FOOTBALL FORECASTING CONTEST Trv vour luck at pickinq the winners of area high school I I I 31:55 26:05 and college football games by entering The Jackson Sun's Friday. Nov. 15, 1996 i VISITORS HOME I Wayne County At USJ JCS At Moore County McEwen At Lake County I Trenton At Goodpasture I Lipscomb At Huntingdon I Westview At Lewis County Camden At Loretto i White House At Humboldt i McNairy At Giles County Bolivar At Collierville Munford At Brentwood Acad. College Saturday, Nov. 16, 1996 i Arkansas At Tennessee Johnson C.

Smith At Lane Union At Lambuth UT Martin At Samford I Bethel At Cumberland, Ky. Alabama At Mississippi State Georgia At Auburn Vanderbilt At Kentucky I LSU At Ole Miss South Carolina At Florida i Address City ZIP Phone) I Gannett News Service MARTIN Freshman tailback Kelverick Green rushed for four touchdowns in the second quarter and finished with 168 yards to lead Middle Tennessee to a 30-12 victory against Tennessee Martin Saturday. Green's four touchdowns tied a -school record for TDs in a game held by Kippy Bayless (1993). The win kept Middle's (4-5, 2-4 OVC) hopes of a winning season alive. should not have lost two weeks ago to Southeast Missouri, MTSU coach Boot Donnelly said tersely.

"I thought our team responded they way that they should have. In the first-half we played good football. Green, starting just his third game, had his third straight 100-yard rushing game. His first-half rushing total of 156 yards surpassed the 143-yard effort by former starter Lebrian MpGill against Tennessee-Chattanooga earlier this season. McGill underwent surgery on his ankle three weeks ago and is out for the season.

rThe 5-9, 180-pounder carried the ball only five times in the third quarter and sat out the fourth when Middle led 30-0. 1- Martin (1-8, 1-6) was struggling just to move the ball. Skyhawks starting quarterback Bill Joe Spann broke his wrist early in the game after "being tackled. Jeff McCrone re--placed him but was only 2-of-ll 'for 28 yards and was picked off once. McCrone was replaced by Jtick Wilson from Westview, a freshman who led Martin to both of its scoring drives in the I I Beat Fearless football forecasting contest.

Old Fearless, The Jackson Sun's football prognosticated will publish his picks each Wednesday throughout the season. HERE'S HOW TO PLAY: Choose the team you think will win by marking an in the box. Mail or drop off your entry by Tuesday, November 12. Each "I Beat Fearless" entry form must be from the official "I Beat Fearless" ad which runs each Sunday in The Jackson Sun. Entry forms may be picked up at the front desk of The Jackson Sun at 245 W.

Lafayette St. in downtown Jackson. Each contestant who beats Fearless by picking more winning games than he does wins an "I Beat Fearless" INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Middle Green 25-168, Wilson 10-34, Kelley 4-7, Miller 14, Gordon 3-(minus 1), Baker 2-(minut 1), Quinn 4-(mlnus 6). Joyner 8-16, Cowan 1-8, Lester 44, Atwster 64, Wilson 4-(minus 8), Spam l-iminut 8), McCrone 4-(minut 27). PASSING-Middle Tena, Gordon 51-38, Green 0.10, Outm 1-3-0-(minus 3).

McCrone 10-26-2-108, Wilson 1 1-13-105, Sperm 30-20 RECEIVTNG-Mlddle MostfTker 3-22, Green 1-1 2. Lowe 1-4, Kelley 1 -(minus 3). Reader 5-90, Harris 6-73, Cowan 7-33, Brewer 3-32, Joyner 1-3, Welch 1-2, Bienlemy 1- North Greenville 31, Bethel 7 McKENZIE Co Co Henderson rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns to lead North Greenville over Bethel (1-9) in a Mid-South Conference game. Terrance Harris had the Wildcats only touchdown, a 9-yard run in the third quarter. Statistic bumper sticker and automatically becomes eligible for that week's Grand Prize Drawing for $50.00.

Each "1 Beat Fearless" winner may pick up hisher bumper sticker from The Jackson Sun. Bumper stickers will not be mailed. You need not be present to win. Mo purchase necessary. Employees of The Jackson Sun are not eligible to win.

Winners will be announced each Wednesday. NQ First downs 25 8 Yards rushing 241 72 Yards passing 125 51 10-22-3 6-19-1 Fumbles-tost 0-0 2-2 Punts-Avg. Penalties 14-125 6-54 North Greenville 14 0 6 11 31 Bethel 0 0 7 0 7 Arc yon Jackton San tnbscrlbcr? Vet No I Tf Jcko 9am, Fnrim Contest NAIL ENTRIES TO: P.O. Bo 10S. imckm.

330t-1059 chr.ftirhrtongum NO Co Co Henderson run (Patrick Barmittar kick); NQ Kenrwtt Proctor 1 run (Bannister kick); BO- Ten-ance Harris run (Bannister kick); NQ Daniel Reynolda 9 pas tram Derek Bumette (kick failed); NQ Henderson 6 mn (Reynolda paaa from Bumette); NO Bannister 20 FQ. For home delivery call 423-1010 or 800-372-3922 --1 -ir- j--Hi if- -f nai.a.