Stay on top of breaking news!
Sign up for ABC 7 News e-mail alerts.
(Sports Network) -
ALABAMA: Greg McElroy tossed three touchdowns as Alabama overcame a sluggish
start to crush Arkansas, 35-7, in an SEC battle at Bryant-Denny Stadium this
past weekend. McElroy went 17-of-24 passing with 291 yards, while Mark Ingram
had a rushing and receiving touchdown for the Crimson Tide, who are now a
perfect 4-0 this season. They have won all of their games by double digits,
proof of their dominance to date. Ingram finished with 17 carries for 50 yards
and three catches for 21 yards for Alabama, which has won its last three
meetings with Arkansas. Next weekend, the Tide will do battle with a solid
Kentucky squad.
ARKANSAS: The Razorbacks were clearly outclassed this past weekend in a 35-7
loss to Alabama on the road. Ryan Mallett went 12-of-35 with 160 yards, one
touchdown and one interception for the Razorbacks, who were coming off a wild
52-41 loss to Georgia in their SEC opener the previous week. Michael Smith led
Arkansas in rushing with 12 carries for 61 yards, while Joe Adams led the
receiving corps with six catches for 81 yards. Alabama had 425 yards compared
to 254 for the Razorbacks. Arkansas steps outside of SEC play this coming
weekend for a clash with Texas A&M of the Big 12.
AUBURN: Chris Todd threw for 287 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Tigers
to a 54-30 victory over the Ball State Cardinals in a non-conference battle at
Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday. Terrell Zachery had a big game for Auburn, as
the wideout grabbed five passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Darvin Adams
collected five receptions in the win and finished with 73 yards and one score.
Onterio McCalebb paced the ground game for Auburn, rushing for 83 yards and
one touchdown on just eight carries. The Tennessee Volunteers will be the
opponent for Auburn next weekend, and that game figures to be close from start
to finish.
FLORIDA: Tim Tebow ran for two touchdowns and threw for another score before
taking a big hit that forced him from Saturday's game, as top-ranked Florida
won easily on the road, 41-7, over fellow SEC foe Kentucky. Tebow guided a
dynamic offense early that built a 31-point lead but took a nasty hit from
defensive end Taylor Wyndham late in the third quarter that ended his game
early. Jeffery Demps gained 97 yards on 12 attempts for the defending national
champion Gators, who opened up conference play with a 23-13 triumph over
Tennessee in Gainesville the previous week. It remains to be seen if Tebow,
who was released from the hospital with a concussion, will be ready to go on
October 10th against LSU. Fortunately, the Gators will be idle this coming
weekend.
GEORGIA: Blair Walsh kicked a 37-yard field goal in the waning moments of
regulation to lift Georgia to a 20-17 win over Arizona State this past
weekend. Joe Cox completed 17-of-31 passes for 242 yards with a touchdown and
two interceptions for the Bulldogs, who have won three in a row since a
season-opening loss on the road against Oklahoma State. A.J. Green led all
Georgia receivers with eight catches for 153 yards and a score. He also
blocked a potential go-ahead field goal late in the fourth quarter to keep the
score even at 17. A big-time SEC battle is on the docket this weekend as the
Bulldogs take on LSU.
KENTUCKY: The Wildcats hoped to score an upset over top-ranked Florida in
front of the home crowd this past weekend, but the result was an ugly 41-7
defeat. Mike Hartline completed 13-of-28 passes for 85 yards with one
touchdown and two interceptions for Kentucky, which opened league play with
its first loss of the season. UK had posted solid wins over Miami-Ohio and
Louisville to open the 2009 schedule. Speedster Derrick Locke was bottled up
by the Gator defense and rushed for 36 yards on 13 carries. Locke came into
Saturday's game leading the SEC in all-purpose yards and kickoff return
yardage. The Wildcats will attempt to upset an outstanding Alabama team next
weekend.
LSU: Jordan Jefferson threw for 233 yards and a pair of touchdowns as LSU
escaped with a 30-26 decision over Mississippi State at Davis Wade Stadium
this past weekend. Brandon LaFell added six catches for 101 yards and two
scores for the Tigers, while Chad Jones had a 93-yard punt return TD for LSU,
which locked up the win with a goal-line stand late in the contest. The Tigers
have won 10 consecutive meetings with Mississippi State and lead the all-time
series, 67-33-3. LSU figures to have its hands full this coming weekend, as
Georgia is on the schedule.
MISSISSIPPI STATE: This past weekend, Mississippi State outgained LSU 374-263,
including 151-30 on the ground. MSU also picked up 21 first downs to 12 for
LSU. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs were unable to score the upset, as they fell
to the Tigers by a 30-26 final. Tyson Lee completed just 15-of-38 passes for
172 yards and was intercepted three times for the Bulldogs. Marcus Green
racked up 100 receiving yards and Lee's lone TD pass on five receptions and
Anthony Dixon rushed for 106 yards on 27 carries and scored twice in defeat.
The Bulldogs will do battle with non-conference foe Georgia Tech this
Saturday.
OLE MISS: The Rebels entered this season with a ton of hype and expectations,
so last Thursday's 16-10 loss to South Carolina was both surprising and
bitterly disappointing. Jevan Snead completed only 7-of-21 pass attempts for
107 yards and a score for Ole Miss, which converted just 1-of-13 third-down
opportunities. Markeith Summers made the touchdown grab, while Dexter
McCluster ran for 85 yards on 15 carries. The Gamecocks held Ole Miss to 248
total yards, recorded four sacks, and thwarted the Rebels on a drive in the
final minutes. Ole Miss battles Vanderbilt this coming weekend.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Last Thursday in front of a capacity home crowd, South
Carolina put forth a tremendous defensive effort and knocked off then-fourth-
ranked Ole Miss by a 16-10 final. Stephen Garcia completed 16-of-34 passes for
220 yards and a score, and Spencer Lanning converted all three field goal
attempts for the Gamecocks. USC had never before beaten a top-five opponent at
home, but the club held Ole Miss to 248 total yards, recorded four sacks, and
thwarted the Rebels on a drive in the final minutes. Eric Norwood became the
all-time leader in sacks for the Gamecocks, but the news wasn't all good,
however, as defensive tackle Travian Robertson was lost for the season with a
torn ACL. Next, South Carolina plays FCS foe South Carolina State.
TENNESSEE: Montario Hardesty rushed for 140 yards and one touchdown as the
Volunteers defeated the Ohio Bobcats, 34-23, in a non-league affair at Neyland
Stadium this past weekend. Jonathan Crompton added 222 passing yards for
Tennessee and finished the game with two touchdowns and one interception. It
was Tennessee's defense that broke a 14-14 tie midway through the second
stanza, as Chris Walker intercepted a pass and returned it seven yards for a
touchdown. The Vols will clash with Auburn this Saturday in what should be a
very physical game.
VANDERBILT: Warren Norman ran for 119 yards and a touchdown, as the Commodores
handled the Rice Owls, 36-17, in non-conference action on Saturday. Jared
Hawkins added 61 rushing yards on 11 carries for Vandy, which racked up 216
yards on the ground in the win. Quarterback Larry Smith had one of the team's
four rushing touchdowns and he also threw for 268 yards on 23-of-41 passing.
John Cole pulled in seven passes for 67 yards and he scored on a 31-yard run
as well. The Commodores held a 484-282 advantage in total yards and went 8-
of-20 on third downs compared to just a 3-of-18 effort by the Owls. Vandy is
scheduled to clash with Ole Miss this coming weekend.
Copyright 2009 The Sports Network
All rights reserved
Email To Friend
ABC 7 News to leave comments on news stories.