The Marshall News Messenger from Marshall, Texas • 16

Sports 2C The Marshall News Messenger, Sunday, November 30, 2003 Hobbled QBs take luster off Falcons-Texans game rP'''' -l-l L-l JLIII1J.LIIIL BUJ, job with their drafts. Both teams have got good, young quarterbacks. That's the key ingredient when you've got guys like Carr and, Vick: It gives you hope you can turn it around." Linebacker Keith Brooking, the Falcons' leading tackier, said Houston's youngest players are the most dangerous. Stopping the Texans means stopping the rookies, running back Domanick Davis and receiver Andre Johnson. "Those are their two go-to guys," Brooking said.

"In the passing game, it's almost like the quarterback is dropping back and he's looking deep and looking for Johnson. If that is taken away, he's checking on down to Domanick. So he's a big part of the passing game, as well." While it's no surprise Johnson, the No. 3 overall draft choice, is second among NFL rookies with 50 catches, Davis pops up in third place at 35 despite only six starts. Banks said those weapons, along with tight end Billy Miller and receivers Jabar Gaffney and Corey Bradford, are enough to get the ball moving against any defense, much less the worst in the league.

Still, he refuses to take anything for granted. "We haven't put a string of two wins together," Banks said. "We" can't be too confident against anybody." Tuesday with a torn ligament in his left foot. That leaves the ground game to T.J. Duckett, a 254- pound steamroller who presents a totally new set of problems for Houston (4-7), which the NFL's fifth-worst team tat stopping the run, but gradu ally improving after a rash Of injuries in the first half of the season.

"You've. got to prepare for just about anything when you've got a little squirrelly guy," Martin said, referring to Dunn. "Now you're kind of looking at a heavy hit-and-run game, lots of twin tight end sets. They're going to try to pound it with the big guy because he's effective." While Atlanta brings in the worst-rated defense in the league, giving up 402 yards per game, the Texans are only 22 yards behind as they have used 17 defensive starters. Their latest injury problem occurred last week when Pro Bowl cornerback Aaron Glenn's groin strain, which cost him two games, flared up again.

Reeves sees the similarities between the teams and believes they'll both be threats next season as long as they can stay healthy. "They haVe the type of experience mixed in with young players coming in that are new," Reeves said. "They've done areally good HOUSTON (AP). It Was one of those dates to circle when the. schedule came out: The top overall picks from the previous years' drafts, Michael Vick and David Carr, paired for a quarterback duel.

Even when the Falcons' Vick went down in preseason with a fractured lower right leg, he targeted Sunday's game in Houston for his triumphant return. And David Carr had shaken off an ankle sprain in October that Cost him a game. Then Carr hurt his right shoulder Nov. 16 in Buffalo, and Vick turned his gimpy ankle in practice four days later. Suddenly, Vick vs.

Carr was looking more like Doug Johnson vs. Tony Banks. "(Hou'ston has) got a good, young quarterback mixed in with a veteran guy that has really done a good job," Falcons coach Dan Reeves said. "Banks has stepped in and done a good job when he is playing. I think they're much improved over last year." If Atlanta (2-9) believes whoever starts for the Texans is an equal threat, the same can't be said for Houston's take on the Falcons.

"He can sit out and make sure he's good and healthy for the next week," Texans nose tackle Steve Martin said about Vick. That's not to say Johnson isn't potentially dangerous. He threw for 276 yards AP photo NEW. ENGLAND PATRIOTS corner back Tyrone Poole (38) keeps Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson (80) from catching a pass in overtime of the Patriots 23-20 win Sunday on Nov. 23 in Houston.

and two touchdowns last week and led Atlanta to an early 21-0 lead before Tennessee rallied for a 38-31 victory to send the Falcons to their ninth loss in 10 games. Johnson started the first six games before he was pulled in the second guy," Reeves said. The biggest immediate change to the Falcons' offense is at running back. Shifty Warrick Dunn, Atlanta's leading rusher who accounted for 143 total yards against Tennessee, was placed on injured reserve favor of Kurt Kittner, but coach Dan Reeves turned back to Johnson last week. However, there is a chance Vick could make his 2003 debut, even though he's not starting.

"The best case would probably be that he'll be the backup, Rice runs over La. Tech, 49-14; Houston soars past UAB, 56-28 45-yard pass to Vincent Marshall and his 53-yarder to Brandon Middleton. Kolb finished 9-of-13 for 1 yards. Kolb had nine carries for 64 yards as the Cougars rushed for 379 yards. UAB (5-7, 4-4) rushed for 281 yards, led by Corey White's 125 yards on 20 carries.

RUSTON, La. (AP) Robbie Beck ran for three touchdowns as Rice totaled 692 rushing yards to beat Louisiana Tech 49-14 on Saturday. Rice kept to the running game and had three players with over 100 yards rushing. Thomas Lott led with 127 yards on 11 carries, quarterback Kyle Herm had 115 yards on 17 carries and Beck 108 on 13 tries. Beck scored Rice's first two TD runs one for 6 yards and the other 12 in the opening four minutes" of the first quarter.

Herm tacked on a 12-yard TD run to give Rice a 21-0 lead going into the second quarter. Herm was 2-of-3 for 42 passing yards. The Rice Owls (5-7, 5-3 Western Athletic Conference) led28-7athalftime. Beck's third touchdown came in the third quarter. He scored on a 14-yard rush that gave Rice a 35-7 lead with 10:54 left in the quarter.

Also scoring for Rice were Ed Bailey, Jordan Kramer and Marcus Rucker all on runs. Bailey scored on a 1-yard rush in the opening minutes of the second quarter and Kramer scored a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter. Rucker took in a 39-yarder with 9:56 left in the game. Louisiana Tech quarterback Luke McCown was 18-of-30 for 242 passing yards and no interceptions. Both Louisiana Tech touchdowns came off of McCown throws a 38-yard pass to Ryan Moats with 11:27 left before halftime and a 9-yard pass to Chris Norwood with 3:05 left in the third.

The Bulldogs (5-7, 3-5) had 344 passing yards and 97 yards on the ground. Moats ran for 37 yards on 11 carries and gained 88 yards on seven catches. Houston 56, UAB 28 HOUSTON (AP) Kevin Kolb passed for two touchdowns and ran for two more and Anthony Evans rushed for 165 yards and three scores as Houston beat Alabama-Birmingham 56-28 Saturday. Houston (7-5, 4-4 Conference USA) scored on its first three possessions, going up 21-7 on Kolb's 10-yard TD run, his sWjm Hwy. 59 S.

903-938-5111 Prep football playoff schedule, results 0kffi Just Arrived I NEW SHIPMENT of Lane Recliners "Where Quality is the Difference" Clark's furniture appliances 203- 213 E. Austin 903-938-1161 Heartbeat of East Texas 103:9 FM 1450 AM BROADCAST SCHEDULE SUNDAY NOVEMBER 30 FM-Horseman's Weekly AM FM-Gospel Greats AM Cares" Program 8:00 AM FM-Crestview Church of Christ 8:30 AM FM-Central Baptist Church 10:45 AM AM-Wesley United Methodist Church 1 FM-Houston Texans vs Atlanta 1 1:45 AM FM-Kansas City San Diego 3:00 PM FM-Tampa Bay Jacksonville 7:00 PM MONDAY DECEMBER 1 FMAM-Talk of TX AM FM-Tiger Talk with Ralph Harris PM FM Tennessee NY Jets 8 00 PM TUESDAY DECEMBER 2 FMAM-Talk of TX AM FM-Hallsville Christmas Parade Remote 7:00 PM O'Connor or PSJA North, TBA. CLASS 4A DIVISION I Quarterfinals Region I North Crowley 35, EP Riverside 8 Region II Texarkana 12, Dallas Kimball 11 Semifinals North Crowley vs. Texarkana, TBA. Region III Quarterfinals Bay City 13, Beaumont Central Region IV Quarterfinals Kerrville Tivy (10-2) vs.

CC Calallen (12-0), 8 p.m. Saturday at Alamodome. Semifinals Bay City vs. Kerrville Tivy or CC Calallen, TBA. DIVISION II Region I Regionals Aledo 23, Pampa 2 Plainview (10-2) vs.

Denton Ryan (11-1), 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Abilene. Quarterfinals Aledo vs. Plainview or Denton Ryan, TBA. Region II Regionals Kilgore 20, Wylie 17 Dallas Highland Park 38, Ennis 28.

Quarterfinals Kilgore vs. Dallas Highland Park, TBA. Region III Regionals La Marque 31, Nederland 8 Quarterfinals La Marque vs. El Campo, TBA. Region IV Regionals SA Alamo Heights 36, Gregory-Portland 6 New Braunfels Canyon 19, Mission Sharyland 0 Quarterfinals SA Alamo Heights vs.

New Braunfels Canyon, TBA. CLASS 3A DIVISION I Region I Quarterfinals Abilene Wylie 18, Snyder 6 Region II Quarterfinals Gainesville 24, Forney 21 Semifinals Abilene Wylie vs. Gainesville, TBA. Region III Quarterfinals Jasper 24, Manor 21 Region IV Quarterfinals Burnet 42, Sinton 21 Semifinals Jasper vs. Burnet, TBA.

DIVISION II Region I Regionals Vernon 6, Sweetwater 3 Merkel (9-3) vs. Kennedale (11-1), 6 p.m. Saturday at Wichita Falls. Quarterfinals Vernon vs. Mekel or Kennedale, TBA.

Region II Regionals Gilmer 35, Tatum 27 Atlanta 21, Jefferson 0 Quarterfinals Gilmer vs. Atlanta, TBA. Region III Regionals Bellville 56, China Spring 19 Marlin 21, La Grange 0 Quarterfinals Bellville vs. Marlin, TBA. Region IV Regionals Port Isabel 35, Liberty Hill 27 Rice Consolidated 48, Devine7 Quarterfinals Port Isabel vs.

Rice Consolidated, TBA. CLASS 2A DIVISION I Region I Quarterfinals Shallowater (11-1) vs. Canadian (10-2), 5 p.m. Saturday at Kimbrough Stadium, Canyon. Region II Quarterfinals Jim Ned 35, Maypearl 10 CLASS 5A DIVISION I Region I Quarterfinals San Angelo Central (9-3) vs.

Arlington Lamar (12-0), 6 p.m. Saturday at Brownwood. Tyler Lee vs. The Woodlands (13-0) 50, Tyler Lee 48 (30T) Semifinals San Angelo Central or Arlington Lamar vs. The Woodlands, TBA.

Region HI Galena Park North Shore 42, Houston Lamar 19. Region IV Austin Westlake 45, Harlin-gen 14 Semifinals Galena Park North Shore vs. Austin Westlake, TBA. DIVISION II Region I Regionals Lubbock Monterey vs. Southlake.

Carroll (12-0), 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Lowery Field, Lubbock. Abilene High (84) vs. Irving, 8 p.m. Saturday, Texas Stadium, Irving.

Quarterfinals Lubbock Monterey or Southlake Carroll vs. Abilene High or Irving, TBA. Region II Allen vs. Klein Forest, 4 p.m., Saturday at SHSU Bower. Leander 11, Dallas Carter 9 Quarterfinals Allen or Klein Forest vs.

Leander, TBA. Region III Katy 34, Port Arthur Memorial 14 Fort Bend Hightower vs. Aldine Nimitz, 5 p.m. Saturday, Reliant Astrodome. Quarterfinals Katy vs.

Fort Bend Hightower or Aldine Nimitz, TBA. Region IV Schertz Clemens 38, CC KinglO SA O'Connor (10-2) vs. PSJA North (11-1), 4 p.m. Saturday at Alamodome. Quarterfinals Schertz Clemens vs.

SA Region III Quarterfinals Elysian Fields (10-2) vs. San Augustine, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Kilgore. Region IV Quarterfinals Comfort 23, Karnes City 16 DIVISION II Region I Regionals Sonora (6-6) vs. Holliday, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday at Sweetwater. Panhandle 35, Coahoma 27 Region II Regionals Bangs (8-4) vs. Italy (11-1), 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Birdville FAAC. Whitewright 29, Crawford 13 Region III Regionals Garrison 50, Omaha Paul Pewitt 29 Timpson 28, Troup 0 Region IV Regionals Rogers 34, Randolph 12 Class 1 A Region I Regionals Sunray 41, Anton 6 Stratford 28,, Crosbyton 23 Quarterfinals Sunray vs.

Stratford, TBA. Region II Regionals Albany 25, Roby 19 (30T) Windthorst 55, Roscoe 20 Quarterfinals Albany vs. Windthorst, TBA. Region III Regionals Gilmer vs. Chilton (11-1), 7 p.m.

Saturday, Athens. Bosqueville 44, Joaquin 14 Quarterfinals Gilmer or Chilton vs. Bosqueville, TBA. Region IV Regionals Shiner 49, West Sabine 7 Falls City 37, Burkeville 12 Quarterfinals Shiner (12-1) vs Falls City (13-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Victoria.

FM-Dallas Mavs vs. Washington WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 3 FMAM-Talk of TX THURSDAY DECEMBER 4 FMAM-Talk of TX FM-Jefferson Christmas Parade FM- Dallas Mavs vs LA Lakers FRIDAY -DECEMBER 5 FMAM-Talk of TX FM-Shop Marshall First Remotes Football Playoffs SATURDAY DECEMBER 6 FM-Cowboy Comer FM-Larry Scott "Sing'n Swing'n" Football Playoffs FM-Notre Dame Syracuse FM-Army vs. Navy FM-Marshall Christmas Parade AM-Dallas Mavs vs Orlando SUNDAY -DECEMBER 7 FM-Horseman's Weekly FM-Gospel Greats Cares Program 7:30 PM AM AM 6:00 PM 8:30 PM AM 10AM-4PM TBA TBA 11:30 AM 2:30 PM 6:00 PM AM AM 8:00 AM 8:30 AM FM-Grestview Church of Christ FM-Central Baptist Church AM-Wesley United Methodist Church FM-Houston Texans Jacksonville FM-NFL Game TBA FM-Carolina Atlanta 10:45 AM 12:00 AM PM 7:00 PM 7 i.