The Commercial Appeal from Memphis, Tennessee • 41

vwww evoWNre wrywo TN TkE Commercial Appeal SECTION MEMPHIS SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 24 1989 Florida avenges last loss by whipping MSU By David Williams own nsporur When Emmitt Smith ran up the middle then bounced outside for 22 yards in his first cany against Memphis State It looked he might run all night He have to Quarterback Kyle Morris added 210 passing yards and two touchdowns to fa raahfng yards and two scores as the Gators whipped the winless Tigers 38-13 before 25163 Saturday night at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Just wanted to go out play consistent and not iurt the offense said Morris who has been xxed often since becoming the starting quarter- -wck last year as a freshman Smith who has been bothered this fall by a irulsed knee said felt like I had a lot extra I felt ike 1 had something that been wanting to dls-ilay for a long time and have not had the opportunity to at full strength" Smith a junior tailback and presason consensus all-America had notched his third straight 100-yard game with five minutes remaining in the first half It was his 18th 100-yard effort in 22 collocate starts and his best rushing game since midway through his freshman year But air travel was also fine by Florida (2-1) Morris completed lSof-26 and went over 200 yards for the third straight game thought we played a complete Florida coach Galen Hall said got a good effort from Emmitt Smith and Kyle Morris" Both figured heavily in a blitz that wiped out an early lead for Memphis State (84) The Tigers led 74 with five minutes left in the first quarter when Marvin Cox ran 66 yards for a touchdown It was the longest by MSU in five years and helped Cox have a 113-yard night The lead lasted two minutes and eight seconds Tony Lomack returned the kickoff to midfield and Smith followed with a 40-yard run Three plays later Smith scored on a 1-yard run was a little bit surprised by how many tackles he broke" MSU nose guard Tory Epps said know if it was us mlsmng tackles or him making us miss tackles But he was impressive" Memphis State answered Smith touchdown with a 47-yard field goal by John Butler his longest of the season The score was set up by fullback Wayne 19-yard run on a fake punt from the Florida 47 But Florida broke the game open in the last six minutes of the half as Morris threw a pair of touchdown passes for a 24-10 lead I 5 a 1 ft Memphis State defenalve back Steve Smith (lett) stripe the ball from Florida receiver Terence Barber (3) after a first-quarter pass completion Memphis Anthony Collins' recovered the loose ball but the turnover was nullified by a defensive holding penalty against the Tigers Please see GATORS Page D4 Overlooked hero shines for Arkansas Hogs get away on Cooney stunts Reb comeback By Mike Fleming oun ntporar A1 DUNNING Sports Editor ence championship team quarterback (John Darnell) hung the ball just a little too long Cooney said when he (Willie Green) made his cut I just stepped in front of him" Cooney said against the University of Tulsa last week most of the Hurricane passes went to the other side of the field But he figured to see a lot of balls thrown his way Saturday night tested me the week before but I knew they would this time I anticipated pjn ACKSON Miss Everyone II in the crowd of 53000 knew IsD Anthoney Cooney was a hero But most of the mob probably overlooked Matt Pitner Cooney's interception in the end zone with 13 seconds to play snuffed a furious Ole Miss rally and preserved Arkansas's 24-17 victory Saturday night at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium heroics that flashy But the kid who started the week on Arkansas's hamburger squad turned into a 278pound Cinderella Thrust into the game after bruises hobbled three of the top four offensive guards Pitner made enough crucial blocks that Arkansas coach Ken Hatfield presented him the ceremonial game ball Pitner's summons to glory came early in the second quarter when a lick to the head sent Razorback guard Mark Henry to the bench moved our left guard Todd Gifford to right guard and that meant Matt Pitner who JACKSON Miss Anthoney Cooney majoring in Criminal Justice at the University of Arkansas was guilty of theft Saturday night against Ole Miss At least that what the Rebels were charging after Cooney the 6-2 202-pound senior cornerback intercepted a pass in his end zone to preserve the 24-17 win heist in the end zone before an estimated 53000 witnesses at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium was Count Two in the indictment against him Count One came late in the first quarter when he stole another pass which led to first touchdown For the eighth-ranked Razor-backs big plays were the difference It was especially big to a defense that had only has only played in a few games as a backup center had to play three-fourths of the game at left Hatfield said just did an outstanding job" Pitner conducted one of the fastest postgame interviews in the history of college football He couldn't wait to get showered and scramble outside where his mom and dad Grace and Charles were waiting live in Houston but they go everywhere we play They never miss a game Pitner said them here tonight well it's gotta be one of the greatest things that's ever Arkansas fullback JuJu Harshaw gots enough yardage for a first down as he collides with Ole Miss's Don Price The Razorbacks defeated the Rebels 24-17 Saturday right said Cooney who has 10 career interceptions Ole Hiss had a second-and-8 from the Razorback 10 when Cooney stepped in front of a slant pass from Darnell meant for split end Green Cooney fell in the end zone with the ball cradled in his arms and only 13 seconds left on the dock The Rebs had driven from their 31 with a little over two minutes left to position them- Brewer said he was disappointed for his team and Rebel selves for what Rebel coach Billy Brewer said would have been a touchdown and a two-point try for the win three starters returning from ithwest Confe last Southwest ler- Please see THRILL Page D5 Please see HOGS Page DS Top tame Bullies Georgia puts spin on State turnaround Angels squander prime opportunity By Bobby Hall Staff Reporter By Chock Melvin The Associated Press CLEVELAND California manager Doug Rader belittle his predicament by calling it frustrating would be frustrating if a Goff said referring to State's open date after a 26-23 victory over Southern Mississippi tw0 weeks ago may have thrown off their rhythm a On State's first snap of the second half quarter back Eric Underwood attempted a pitchout to his right In the rush to make the toss the ball bounced off a blocker and Georgia linebackef Morris Lewis recovered at the MSU 22 Georgia scored in five plays with tailback Larry Ware getting the touchdown on a 3-yard sweep of right end with a 176 lead Georgia was on its way (fumble) was my fault just a crucial Underwood said went into the second half with momentum and Georgia got it back on that play" Then on its next series State committed another turnover Underwood's attempt to hit receiver John Parker with a pass was broken up by free safety's Ben Smith's deflection Linebacker Matt McCormick alertly intercepted the tipped ball at State's 30 The Bulldog defense held but Kasay came on to hit a 49-yard field goal with 7:53 left in the third period Kasay completed the scoring with 11:46 left in the game with a 48-yard field goal tive batters from the second to the seventh inning Brook Jacoby walked to force home the winning run in the first game and tripled home the goahead run in the second game which rookie Joey Belle broke open with a bases-loaded triple in the seventh inning Oakland's magic number for winning the division is four despite a 54 loss in Minnesota California has lost three straight to Cleveland after Oakland beat the Indians three straight earlier in the week The Angels have been swept in four of their five doubleheaders this year Had they swept they would have been 2 games out still got a slight chance and we have to win every shorstop Dick Schofield said has to stumble a little This definitely a good ATHENS Ga The top dog in Southeastern Conference football is still from Georgia Mississippi early season turnaround got spun around Saturday in Sanford Stadium as 19th-ranked Georgia prevailed 236 in a showdown of previously unbeaten Bulldogs before 82122 big key was the start of both said State coach Rockey Felker whose 25th-ranked team fell to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the SEC A swarming Georgia defense and three field goals by John Kasay were enough to give the Bulldogs their fifth consecutive victory over State got the ball from them in great position a couple of times and we lost the ball only once" said Ray Goff Georgia's first-year coach might say we were lucky but I feel we made some of our own luck" Georgia (2-0 1-0 in the SEC) seized command with a 10-point third quarter to pad what had been a 106 halftime lead Georgia a traditional SEC power had jumped to a 100 lead in the first quarter when State bidding for new respect in the lack of effort was involved Disappointing I think is the proper ward" Rader said after the Angels aware that Oakland had lost to Minnesota squandered a chance to gain ground in the American LeagueWest Saturday by losing a doubleheader to the Cleveland Indiana 44 and 6-2 The Angels now 4V4 games be-Oakland blew the opener 4-3 when reliever Greg Minton walked home the winning run to cap a two-run eighth-inning rally In the nightcap Tom Candiotti held California to seven hits retiring 14 consecu conference appeared sluggish an off week can be bad instead of Please see GEORGIA Page D6 Please see ANGELS Page D9.