TheState.com: GoGamecocks: Around the SEC

Arkansas TE can't block out success

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:09 EST

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Arkansas tight end D.J. Williams nearly doubled his season's receiving yards Saturday in the Razorbacks' 33-16 victory against South Carolina.

Williams had a career-best 137 receiving yards on seven catches after combining for 170 yards on 16 catches in the first eight games.

"It feels good, because it feels like you helped out the team a little bit more," Williams said when asked about his receptions. "But if I have a good block or a good catch, it feels about the same."

Williams, a junior from Little Rock, opened his postgame comments by talking about some missed blocks.

"Even though I had a big receiving game, there were a couple of blocks in that game that are just hanging over my head," he said. "I never would have thought ... I was going to worry about that.

Tennessee routs in-state rival Memphis 56-28

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:47 EST

Jonathan Crompton threw for a career-high 331 yards and five touchdowns and ran for another as Tennessee routed Memphis 56-28 on Saturday night.

Crompton surpassed his career high of 310 yards with a 10-yard pass to Denarius Moore on Tennessee's first drive of the second half.

He tied his career high of five touchdown passes on the next play with a 16-yard connection to Moore to make it 49-7 with 12:38 left in the third quarter.

Crompton finished 21-for-27 and no interceptions and was replaced by backup Nick Stephens halfway through the third quarter.

Tennessee (5-4) gave coach Lane Kiffin his first winning streak and dominated the game much as it's done the series. The Vols hold a 21-1 advantage against Memphis and have won all 12 meetings in Knoxville.

Gators struggle on offense again, beat Vandy 27-3

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:47 EST

No. 1 Florida didn't do much to erase all the negative vibes from a rough week for the defending national champions.

Tim Tebow accounted for two touchdowns, Caleb Sturgis kicked two field goals and the Gators beat Vanderbilt 27-3 in a lackluster effort Saturday night at The Swamp.

Florida fans looking for something positive following linebacker Brandon Spikes' one-game suspension for dirty play and coach Urban Meyer's hefty fine for criticizing officials may have been disappointed.

The Gators (9-0, 7-0 Southeastern Conference) extended their winning streak to 19 games overall - and their streak against Vandy (2-8, 0-6) to 19 games, too - but struggled on offense for the fifth time in seven league games.

The solution was standing on the sideline in street clothes. Percy Harvin, a first-round draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings, attended the game along with former teammate and current Oakland Raiders receiver Louis Murphy.

Alabama beats LSU to move into SEC title game

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:18 EST

Julio Jones left defenders grasping at his heels and Alabama's defense was typically immovable. The Crimson Tide is riding that combination to the SEC championship game for the second consecutive season.

The popular Jones made the biggest play of what has been a relatively quiet sophomore season, breaking free for a 73-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and No. 3 Alabama locked down No. 9 LSU in a 24-15 victory Saturday.

Leigh Tiffin booted a 40-yard field goal with 3:04 left to seal it and the Tide (9-0, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) earned a rematch with No. 1 Florida for the league championship.

The hard-hitting affair left the Tigers (7-2, 4-2) without injured quarterback Jordan Jefferson and running back Charles Scott for most of the second half.

"It was a tough, physical game," said Alabama coach Nick Saban, who beat his former team for the second straight year. "Man, those games are fun to be a part of."

Todd leads Auburn past Furman 63-31

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:37 EST

Chris Todd was hoping that he and the Auburn Tigers would get off to a quick start against Furman Saturday afternoon.

That's exactly what happened as Todd completed his first 14 passes and Auburn jumped out to a 42-3 halftime lead before cruising to a 63-31 win Saturday over the Paladins, a Football Championship Subdivision team.

Todd said it was important to stay on the winning ways after last week's win over Ole Miss broke a three-game losing streak.

"We wanted to come out and have some players step up and keep the momentum going from last week. We had some guys really come out and play well," Todd said.

Todd played so well he got to watch the second half from the sidelines - something he didn't mind.

Newton leads Kentucky past Eastern Kentucky 37-12

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:12 EST

Morgan Newton threw his first two career touchdown passes and three other Wildcats ran for scores as Kentucky dominated Eastern Kentucky 37-12 Saturday, extending its nonconference winning streak to a school-record 18 games.

Newton, a true freshman starting his fourth game in place of the injured Mike Hartline, threw the first scoring passes of his brief Wildcats career just over a minute apart late in the third quarter.

First, he connected with Maurice Grinter from 14 yards out. Then, after an interception by Sam Maxwell gave the Wildcats the ball right back deep in Eastern Kentucky territory, Newton found Chris Matthews in the corner of the end zone on an 18-yard timing play.

Reeling from a loss to Mississippi State a week earlier in which Anthony Dixon set a Bulldogs single-game rushing mark, the Wildcats (5-4) needed to win this game and at least one of their final three SEC contests to become the first Kentucky team to qualify for a fourth straight bowl appearance. Coach Rich Brooks and the players had set an even loftier goal of improving their postseason destination this year after winning two Music City Bowls and one Liberty Bowl the previous three seasons.

Newton, who completed 20 of 29 passes for a career-high 187 yards and no interceptions, wasn't the only offensive playmaker replacing an injured teammate against the overmatched Colonels (5-4).

Ealey, Georgia run past Tennessee Tech 38-0

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:15 EST

Washaun Ealey ran for two touchdowns as Georgia focused on its running game to beat Tennessee Tech 38-0 on Saturday for its first shutout in three years.

The game provided boosts for Georgia's running offense and scoring defense. Each ranked last in the Southeastern Conference.

Georgia (5-4) posted its first shutout since a 34-0 win over Alabama-Birmingham, coached by current Tennessee Tech coach Watson Brown in 2006.

Ealey had touchdown runs of 7 and 44 yards and led the Bulldogs with 89 yards rushing on seven carries. Georgia, which led 31-0 at halftime, had a season-high 304 yards rushing.

Tennessee Tech (5-4), a FCS team, suffered its second lopsided loss of the year to a FBS team, following a 49-7 loss at Kansas State.

Auburn hosts Furman for homecoming

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:39 EST

The Auburn Tigers don't need to beat Furman Saturday to make a bowl game. They took care of that last weekend with a win over Mississippi.

The Tigers (6-3) enter game 10 of an 11-week marathon with a less tangible goal: Keeping those good feelings intact leading up to games with their two biggest traditional rivals.

"It's one of those games where we really need to see some improvement in our game," Auburn coach Gene Chizik said. "We'd like to go into this game against Furman and see a lot of improvement. We've got to go in and try to win the game."

Any other outcome would surely ruin the Tigers' mood going into rivalry games with Georgia and No. 3 Alabama, with their only bye week in between. Auburn has won 17 straight homecoming games, matching the school's longest streak.

The Tigers rebounded from a three-game losing streak last weekend with restored offensive balance and a defense that forced key turnovers after getting bullied during the skid.

ACC-SEC rankings

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:06 EST

As voted on by writers from The State (Seth Emerson and Paul Strelow), The Charlotte Observer (Ron Green Jr. and Ken Tysiac) and the Raleigh News and Observer (Joseph Giglio and Edward Robinson).

Team Votes Last week

1. Florida (6) 144 1 One trip to Atlanta punched . . .

2. Alabama 138 2 . . . Another one on the verge.

3. Georgia Tech 130 4 Paul Johnson: The ACC’s best coaching hire since Roy Williams?

Spikes asks to miss all of Vandy game

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:28 EST

With all the negative attention "weighing heavy on his heart," Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes asked to serve a full-game suspension for apparently trying to gouge the eyes of a Georgia running back.

Coach Urban Meyer obliged, saying Wednesday that it was in the top-ranked Gators' best interest that Spikes sit out Saturday's game against Vanderbilt.

"I really don't want to be a distraction to the team," Spikes said after practice. "I want the guys to prepare without any negative things going on, and I feel like if I would play, it would be a big thing going on. I'm just trying to stay out of the way and just motivate the guys."

Meyer had faced criticism for only suspending his star defender for the first half of the Vandy game. The SEC accepted the original punishment.

Spikes stuck his hand into the facemask of Georgia's Washaun Ealey during Florida 41-17 victory against the Bulldogs. There was no penalty called at the time, but after talk about the play spread, Meyer reviewed it and decided to punish Spikes.

We're guilty of trial by YouTube

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:54 EST

BRACE YOURSELF FOR what I am about to write:

Brandon Spikes is a victim.

A victim of the tweeting and Twittering times we live in.

A victim of YouTube.

This might sound strange considering Spikes, the star linebacker for the No. 1-ranked Florida Gators, did something very naughty on the football field Saturday when he stuffed his hand inside a helmet and gouged at the face of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey.

Georgia's Ealey: Spikes shouldn't be suspended

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:22 EST

A most unlikely person came to the defense of Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes, who was suspended for half a game for apparently trying to gouge the eyes of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey

Ealey said Tuesday he doesn't believe Spikes should have been suspended.

In fact, Ealey seemed surprised the play from Saturday's game drew so much attention.

Florida coach Urban Meyer on Monday suspended Spikes for the first half of this week's game against Vanderbilt after the defensive captain stuck his hand in Ealey's helmet and appeared to try to stick his fingers in Ealey's eyes.

Ealey says he doesn't agree with those who have said the suspension was not stiff enough.

Etheridge: After neck injury, walking "a miracle"

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:48 EST

Auburn safety Zac Etheridge feels blessed to be able to walk after a serious neck injury and expects to play football again.

With his neck immobilized by a brace, Etheridge spoke to reporters and teammates Tuesday, three days after sustaining an injury in the Mississippi game that landed him in the hospital for two nights.

He said his fifth vertebra was cracked and he tore ligaments in his neck in a headfirst collision with teammate Antonio Coleman.

Etheridge said he wants to play again and doctors told him he should be able to. He has to wear the brace, a harness-like device with a support under his chin and running up the back of his neck, for three to four months.

The junior said he probably will not attend Saturday's game against Furman, but "I will definitely be at the Iron Bowl" against rival Alabama on Nov. 27.

Title implications on the line for Bama, LSU

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:52 EST

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Just another game. Or a top-10 showdown that could help set up a one-game playoff with Florida for a shot at the BCS national championship.

The next one. Or an our-coach-is-better-than-yours statement game.

Take your pick, even the Alabama players don't seem quite sure how to treat Saturday's game between the No. 3 Crimson Tide (8-0, 5-0 SEC) and No. 9 LSU that might just be the next best thing to a Tide-Gators championship game.

They can downplay it in one breath: "If we were playing the smallest school in the country, it would still be a big game because it's the next game. That's just the way this team operates," Tide quarterback Greg McElroy said Monday.

And talk it up the next. "This game is huge. It's huge for the coaching staff, it's huge for us, it's huge for our fan base," McElroy said.

Razorbacks may shake-up secondary for USC

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:34 EST

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Arkansas' situation at cornerback might look different this week against a South Carolina team that likes to stretch the field.

Three-game starter Ramon Broadway will try to return from the hamstring injury that sidelined him last week, and Andru Stewart, a four-game starter, will attempt to rebound from the academic issue that kept him out against Eastern Michigan.

"We're hoping Broadway is back," Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. "He did go out and run yesterday with the trainers, and he's supposed to run this evening with the team."

Rudell Crim recovered from the hip pointer he suffered at Ole Miss and started his eighth consecutive game, while freshman David Gordon filled in at the boundary corner spot where Broadway and Stewart had split time.

"Andru Stewart will be evaluated daily as far as how he does on his academic responsibilities," Petrino said. "I like the player. He's done a nice job playing for us, he just has to take care of his responsibilities academically."

New look, same tough Vols 'D'

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:13 EDT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee's jerseys changed. Its defense didn't.

The Vols continued to stifle opposing offenses on Saturday in Neyland Stadium. This time it was South Carolina, by a 31-13 score.

UT almost shut out the Gamecocks in the first half. The Gamecocks drove into UT territory once, to the 26, which resulted in their lone first-half score, a 47-yard field goal by Spencer Lanning.

The Vols' defense started fast, forcing fumbles on USC's first two drives.

"It was huge," Vols coach Lane Kiffin said. "We played great defense lately, but we had not been an explosive defense."

Vols fullbacks come up big

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:16 EDT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Carries are hard to come by.

But that doesn't mean Tennessee is afraid to put the ball in the hands of a fullback.

Either one of them.

The Vols aren't likely to build their offense around Austin Johnson or Kevin Cooper any time soon, but at least for one night they were among the main attractions in a 31-13 win over No. 21 South Carolina at Neyland Stadium on Saturday.

"We know our role on this team, and that's to block and be able to block for our running backs and give protection (for the quarterback)," Johnson said. "We work on protection, protection, protection, then block, block, block - but when we get in the flat (routes) we know we have to make the most of our opportunities.

UT players drive push to wear black jersies

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:16 EDT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Now that's a good trick.

There were rumors and speculation on the Internet all week that Tennessee would don special Halloween uniforms -specifically uniforms with black jerseys - for Saturday night's game against South Carolina.

The Vols came out for warm-ups wearing orange jerseys and orange pants, but when they lined up in the tunnel to run through the 'T' they were wearing black jerseys with orange numbers and orange pants.

It was contrary to what UT officials and coaches had been saying all week: There will be no funky uniforms for Halloween.

"On Wednesday Eric Berry and Montario Hardesty came to see me about possibly wearing black jerseys," UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said. "You know, I'm a pretty consistent person. That wasn't something I was really in favor of, but I do believe as Lane (Kiffin, UT coach) alluded to it's a players' game and those guys have represented our university in a great way all season long in the way they've handled themselves both on the field and off the field. Frankly, at that point (Wednesday) I didn't know if we could get it done."

No. 11 Georgia Tech downs Vanderbilt 56-31

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:13 EDT

Turns out Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson has a few more tricks in his offense than just the triple option.

Josh Nesbitt ran for two touchdowns and threw for two scores, Jonathan Dwyer ran for a career-high 186 yards rushing with three TDs, and No. 11 Georgia Tech rallied to beat Vanderbilt 56-31 Saturday night.

The Yellow Jackets ran less triple-option than usual.

"They decided they were going to take that away, and they did. We tried to play with our auxiliary stuff, and it worked out well," Johnson said.

Did it ever.

No. 9 LSU cruises past Tulane, 42-0

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:33 EDT

Brandon LaFell caught two touchdown passes, moving him into second on LSU's career list, and the ninth-ranked Tigers shut out Tulane for the first time since 1969, 42-0 on Saturday night.

Charles Scott rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns and freshman Russell Shepard scored his second career TD - and second in as many games - with a 19-yard run. Jordan Jefferson threw for 163 yards and two scores, both to LaFell, who has 22 career TDs, four behind Dwayne Bowe.

On the 50th anniversary of Billy Cannon's Halloween night, 89-yard punt return to beat Ole Miss, LSU's Trindon Holliday was unable to take a punt all the way back. He did, however, have a pair of 50-yard returns, the second setting up Scott's second touchdown.

LSU (7-1) now can set its sights on next weekend's trip to Alabama, with the lead in the Southeastern Conference's Western Division riding on the outcome.

Tulane (2-6) has lost four consecutive games this season and 18 straight to the Tigers since the Green Wave's last victory in the series in 1982. That also was Tulane's last win against a Top-25 team. The Wave has lost 38 straight against ranked teams, including BYU and Houston this season.