Messenger-Inquirer from Owensboro, Kentucky • 13

Sports MESSENGER-INQUIRER, Sunday. September 29, 1996 5B College Football: State Schools Mistakes cost Cards against Eagles (3 Down 7-0, Racers reel off 34 points vs. MTSU p. 1 Southern Mississippi's Eric Booth shoves Louisville's Leland Taylor as he runs for some of his 67 yards against the Cardinals. Associated Press record for receptions with 14 for 194 yards, breaking Jamie Asher's record of 12 against Kentucky in 1994.

"You can't drop back 63 times and win a football game, yet we still had a chance to win," said Louisville coach Ron Cooper. "That's the sad thing. I tip my hat to Southern Miss." turns worse for Cardinals By Mike Embry Associated Press LOUISVILLE Louisville couldn't overcome itself against Southern Mississippi. Southern Mississippi recovered four fumbles, intercepted two passes, and blocked one punt and one field goal to offset a record passing performance by Louisville redshirt freshman quarterback Chris Redman in posting a 24-7 victory on Saturday. "As far as the blacked punts and turnovers, it really hurt them," said Southern Mississippi linebacker Bryan Burns.

"The way they came about, they were on their heels all day. That's just our defense. We just go out there and make the plays." Redman connected on 35-of-63 passes for 400 yards, breaking school records set in 1984 when Ed Rubbert was 31-of-55 for 393 yards against Murray State. The most passing yardage by a Louisville quarterback was 451 by Browning Nagle, but that came in the 1991 Fi- Southern Miss 24 Louisville 7 Southern Mississippi 10 7 0 7 24 Louisville 0 0 0 7 7 First Quarter SM FG Lomoro 33, 3:50 SM Smith 13 blocked punt return (Lomoro kick), 13:56 Second Quarter SM Alexander 42 fumble return (Lomoro kick), 12:09 Fourth Quarter LOU Green 24 pass from Redman (Akers kick). 4:44 SM Booth 59 run (Lomoro kick), 12:33 A 36.462.

SM Lou ..25. First downs Rushes-yards Passing Comp-Att-int Return Yards Punts-Avg. Fumbies-Lost 13 39-97 23--5) 121 400 13-30-2 35-63-2 124 o-o 9-70 31:41 53 7-4 9-92 28:19 Penalties-Yards Time of Possession INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING S. Mississippi, Booth 18-67, Windsor 5-18, H. Shaw 12-15.

Graham 4--3). Louisville. Gordon 7-57, Fiody 4-5, Charastka 3-3, Redman PASSING S. Mississippi. Graham 12-27-2 112, Windsor 1-2-0 9.

Roberts 0-1-0 0. Louisville, Redman 35-63-2 400. RECEIVING S. Mississippi. Booth 5-50, Gideon 2-25, R.

Shaw 2-22, Pinkston 2-11, Lee 1-9. H. Shaw 1-4. Louisville, Montano 14-194, Gordon 7-70, Bates 5-40, Green 3-40, Croley 2-33, Floyd 1-13. Purry 1-8, Ware 1-4, Charasika 1-(1-2).

i- Prep Football esta Bowl. "We were playing catch-up and they knew- we had to throw the ball," said Redman, who passed for 325 yards the previous week in a 30-20 victory over Michigan State. 'We didn't have any luck today. Some of, the blitzes were leaving us off guard." Miguel Montano also set a school Bad day LOUISVILLE It just wasn't going to happen for the University of Louisville football team Saturday. Ron Cooper knew he should've tried to switch dates for the Southern Mississippi game.

Maybe from this Saturday to next, which is an open date for the Cardinals. He knew this because the foulups began for the Cardinals about three days before the game, a game in which of had a punt blocked for a touchdown, a fumble returned for a touchdown and minus-5 yards rushing in a 24-7 loss to Southern Miss. Earlier in the week. Cooper's coaching staff had given an incorrect coverage to two new players on the punt team. The mistake was discovered Friday night, and Cooper tried to correct the situation, but it was too late.

There was a problem with room at the team hotel where the Cards were supposed to eat their pregame meal. The Cardinals had their pregame meal in the lobby. When the team was ready to leave the hotel for the stadium, one bus was missing. It arrived about 20 minutes after the first one left. By this time.

Cooper was frustrated and mad, and kickoff was still several hours away. Tilings really turned to slop once the pads started popping. That popping caused of to lose four fumbles, which led to 10 points. And it helped Southern Miss block a punt and return it for a touchdown and seven more points. Chris Redman, of L's Mark Mathis Sports writer Jamaal Alexander returned a fumble 42 yards for a touchdown and Chandler Smith ran 13 yards to score off a blocked punt to stake Southern Mississippi to a 17-0 half-time advantage.

"We had two turnovers turn into 14 points," said Cooper. "I'm frustrated. We're going to stay with it and become a better football team." Southern Mississippi (4-1) won its third straight game while Louisville (2-3) lost for the third time in four games. It was the Conference USA opener for both teams. Southern Mississippi also got a 33-yard field goal from Ed Lomoro in the first quarter that was set up by defensive end Jeffrey Posey's 27-yard fumble return to the Louisville 14.

Eric Booth darted 59 yards with 2:27 left in the game for Southern Mississippi's final touchdown. Smith's touchdown came with 1:04 left in the first quarter after Karr Shannon broke through the line to block Jeremy Borseth's punt. passing day ever for a Cardinal. His 35 completions on 65 attempts for 400 yards were all single-game school records. Receiver Miguel Montano's 14 catches for 194 yards were also single-game school records.

All of those numbers were numbing considering the score. Those numbers were there because of the Cardinals' ineptitude in the kicking game and their inability to hold onto the football. of now has had problems punting in two of its last three games. Kicker David Akers is totally out of sync, making just 1 of 7 field goals this season, including two misses and a block against Southern Miss. of led the nation in forced turnovers last year (41) and was second in turnover margin (21).

This year, of has committed 17 turnovers and caused 14. It had 20 turnovers all of last year. And, oh, yeah, the Cardinals can't run the ball either. With the minus-5 yards factored in from Saturday, of is averaging less than 70 yards a game on the ground. "This is actually embarrassing," WE'LL HELP I 7T2TU4 mm mm in am mmm fi SZ making it 10-0.

In the second quarter, Posey's crunching hit on Redman caused a fumble, which Alexander picked up and ran 42 yards for a 17-0 lead with 2:51 remaining. "If you play hard and fly around you'll make things happen, like tipped balls and fumbles," said Southern Mississippi coach Jeff Bower, whose team is off to the school's best start since 1988. "We were in the right spot to get some tipped balls and we made some big plays in the kicking game all day long." Louisville's touchdown came on Redman's 24-yard pass to Ibn Green, capping an eight-play, (W-yard drive with 10:12 remaining in the fourth period. In addition to having a field goal blocked, Louisville's David Akers also missed attempts from 42 and 52 yards. Louisville turned in a strong defensive effort, yielding just 218 yards and coming up with two turnovers.

Cooper said. "Somehow, we've got to find a way to run the ball in a game like this. No team in the nation can drop back 60 times a game and have a chance to win." Well, maybe if your name is Florida. But this is of and now the Cardinals must figure out what to do with the rest of the season. Beat the Golden Eagles, and of would've been in commanding position for that fabulous late-December trip to Memphis, for the Liberty Bowl.

Not the greatest, but you take what you can when you're a mid-major program in a fledgling conference. Lose, and you're playing for a 7-4 record, at best, and nothing more. A little early in the season for such urgency? Not at all. Southern Miss and of were generally considered the best teams in the league. Remember, this is a conference with Memphis, Tulane, Houston and Cincinnati as its other "football" schools.

You can narrow that best-team category to one now, after Southern Miss' win. SELECT THE RIGHT i uy Associated Press Mike Cherry threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns as Murray State defeated visiting Middle Tennessee Slate 31-7 Saturday in the Ohio Vallev Conference. The Racers (3-1, 2-0 OVC) out-gained the Blue Raiders (1-3, 0-2) 407-227 and held them to just 86 yards passing. But Middle Tennessee State scored first after Librian McGill climaxed a 13-play, 63-yard drive with a 4-yard run with 6:50 left in the first quarter. The Racers reeled off 34 unanswered points after that, starting with an eight-yard run by Anthony Downs with 3:13 left in the first quarter.

After a 30-yard field goal by Rob Hart, Cherry threw the first of his two touchdown passes a 64-yard pass play to Jesse Jones with 2:42 left before hall'time. Murray struck again early in the third quarter when Ronnie Merritt intercepted a pass by Jonathan Quinn and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown and a 24-7 Murray lead. Hart hit another field goal six minutes later and Cherry hit Jones on a (ard pass play with 14:58 left in the game for a 34-7 lead. Cherry completed 13 of 25 passes without an interception. Eastern Kentucky 28, Tennessee Tech 7 William Mur-rell ran for career-high 211 yards and Daymon Carter rushed for two touchdowns as the Colonels won for the first time this season.

'Die Colonels (1-3. 1-0 OVC) out-rushed Tech (1-2. 0-1) 284-98 and outgained the Golden Eagles 329-234. But the Eagles scored first when Brant Billen capped an eight-play, 50-yard first quarter drive with an 18-yard touchdown run. Eastern answered midway through the second quarter when Murrell sprinted 86 yards for a touchdown.

The Colonels took the lead for good midway through the third quarter when Corey Clark intercepted a pass by Tech quarterback Andre Caballero and returned it 88 vards for a score. v. ji i TIRE FOR YOU BLEM SPECIALS Quiet Highway Rae Combined W'th Durabi'ity And Off Road Traction 30X9 5OR15C 99 B5 31X10 50R15C 108.93 3SX1150R15C 114.9S OUTLINE WHITE LETTER 1 57 95 P215 V5R15 P235 75R15SL 30 9 5OR1S 31 lOSdRiSB LT2 35 7SR15C LT215 8SR16D LT235 BIR'ftE LT225 75R160 99.93 74.93 79.95 73.95 81.95 87.93 77.93 99.95 OllT INF WHITF I EITr y. Vi, mum Cougars overcome tricky Hornets I fc 1 VrSTin mm wmmm mm mm McLean County 28, Hancock County 14 Site: Hawesville. Records: McLean County 5-0, 3-0 Class 2-A, Region 1, District Hancock County 1-4, 1-1 district.

Game recap: McLean County converted three turnovers by the Hornets into touchdowns and neld off a second-half rally to stay unbeaten. McLean County stats: Doug Garrett led the Cougars with 37 yards on nine carries and two touchdowns. Quarterback Mart Melloy completed 1 of 5 passes for 36 yards and one interception. The Cougars gained 141 yards rushing and had two turnovers. Hancock County stats: Committed six turnovers.

Nick Boling led all rushers with 93 yards on 30 carries. The Hornets were 9-for-14 passing for 96 yards with three interceptions Next game: McLean County at Owensboro Catholic, Thursday, Edmonson County at Hancock County, Friday. 11 i a ZT7T By Jake Jennings Messenger-Inquirer HAWESVILLE McLean County dodged everything Hancock County threw at it in the second half Saturday night in a 28-14 win at Schafer-Glover Field. A fake punt. A fake field goal.

A receiver-turned-quarterback who took his first varsity snap. An improvised offensive formation using two lineman in the backfield. The Hornets tried it all, but still came up short against the unbeaten Cougars. "They're a physical team," McLean County coach George Hatcher said of Hancock County. "They line up and hit you right in the mouth.

They lined up in that I-forma-tion and started giving (Nick Boling) the ball, and they were very effective." McLean County, playing without leading rusher Luke Searcy (sprained ankle), struggled in the second half after jumping to a 21-7 lead on three Hancock County turnovers. The Hornets managed to grab the momentum for part of the second half, scoring on a 10-yard run by Boling late in the third period to cut the margin to 21-14. The Cougars couldn't move the ball on their next two possessions, giving the Hornets a chance to tie. McLean County recovered a fumble to stop the first opportunity. Then, on their second possession of the fourth period.

Hornets' coach Bill talented redshirt freshman, won't need to visit a tattoo parlor anytime soon after getting sacked six times and getting knocked on his back another 20 or so. They kept on bringing it," said Redman, who was still able to jog off the field after the game, albeit stiffly. Redman had the most prolific take four minutes off the clock and build a 28-14 lead when Doug Garrett scored from the 2. The Cougars have a short week to prepare for Thursday night's game at Owensboro Catholic a contest that may decide the district champion. Hatcher said Searcy, averaging 194 yards per game, probably will play and was held out of this game to make sure his left ankle healed completely.

"We didn't want to play him if we could win the football game without him," Hatcher said. MCLEAN COUNTY HANCOCK COUNTY MC- MSS iron MeifOv ijones wu. VC-Garett 1 tjones kc 4 11 Starves lucKi MC-Paw 'iv MC-Gtf'etr 2 ocres ncm ...14 7 0 7-26 ....0 7 7 0-14 fense did a super job to shut him down." DAVIESS COUNTY APOLLO A-Han 6 03SS tarr AieafOff kJCfc) 17 reur tarwfi DC-Crand' 2C tyrw tfijn ipass tawed! 0 0 0 12 12 7 0 0 0 -7 CSENTUCKV CHECK YESTERDAY'S AD IN MOVIE SECTION (9-28-96) FOR DETAILS! TRACK PHONE 233-5777 MICH CLIN LTX MS RMAU 69'95 BLEM SPECIALS 69,95 excellent TRAOTt P23570R15 CRWL 74,95 LONG M1EA3E DCHS: Apollo fumbles game away Cartwright was ejected from the game for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties after arguing for a face mask penalty during a critical third-and-1 1 situation with nine minutes left. "I lost it a little bit, and I deserved that first one," Cartwright said. "The second one was a mistake.

I hollered, 'Punt the and at that time, I'm sure it was the tone of my voice that got the call. (The officials) did what they thought was right." Cartwright will have to sit out next week's game with Edmonson County unless he wins an appeal from the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. McLean County put the game away on its next possession. The Cougars used an eight-play drive to Apollo took a 7-0 lead on the game's first possession as Hanley caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Alexander. Midway through the second period, the Eagles threatened again after Isaac McCarty intercepted a Brett Coomes pass.

Apollo drove from its own 49 to the Daviess County 7 before being forced to attempt a field goal. Jason Midkiffs 24-yarder, however, sailed wide right. Thereafter, Panther defense dominated. Midkiff, averaging 77 yards rushing per game, was limited to just 5 yards on eight carries. Apollo gained just 13 yards in the second half.

"We felt Midkiff was their heart and soul," Barnes said. "Our de Daytnna TRANS TRAC GOODfYEAR WINGFOOTHP P185 70R13 P195 70RU P205 70R14 P215 70RU 70R15 P2M70R15 P205 65R15 BSL P215 65R15BSL P185 60R14 BSL P195 60R14 BSL P215 60R14 BSL P195 60R15 BSL P205 60R15 BSL 49.95 59.9S 57.9S 61.93 66.93 73.93 60.93 62.93 32.93 34.93 61.93 36.93 38 95 It! ill WHITE LETTER THE WE ACCEPT From Page 1B "In all my years of playing and coaching, I've never seen two fumbles like that returned for touchdowns so quickly," Barnes said. "But I sure was glad to see it tonight." Apollo had two more possessions, but gained just 9 yards in seven plays. "We gave it away. got to be able to handle the big game better than this." said second-year Apollo coach Dan Gooch.

"We just didn't play very hard, didn't play with any emotion. I felt like we folded under pressure, and that they wanted it more than we did. "But, in this district, everybody's going to beat everybody. We're still in it." 90 DAYS FREE ttt -V FINANCING Itt Si FINANCING JJJ M- 1. lJi 111 CREDIT CARD AVAILARLF WITH AI'PROVKI) CKKDIT IDOGinillDo GuZH I.