The stingiest defenses are found in the South these days:
— In Baton Rouge, La., Louisiana State`s ”Dalton-James Gang” was put under arrest by Florida. The Gators allowed Garry James 2 yards and Dalton Hilliard 35 in a 20-0 victory. Florida smothered LSU`s passing attack, sacking Jeff Wickersham seven times and intercepting him once.
— In Auburn, Ala., Mississippi was held to 9 yards while Auburn racked up 606–including 240 by Bo Jackson. Auburn coach Pat Dye called his team`s 41-0 victory ”a very unusual game. I don`t have any explanation why it was so lopsided. We`re not that good, and they`re not that bad.”
Tennessee nearly got a rude surprise in Knoxville. The Vols opened a 21-7 lead, then had to hold on for a 31-29 victory over Wake Forest. ”You can`t be too hoggish about the way you win in this day and time,” said Vols` coach Johnny Majors. Wake outgained Tennessee 455 yards to 309. ”We came over here to win. We didn`t come over here to acquit ourselves,” said Wake coach Al Groh.
Vinny Testaverde was 23 of 34 for 385 yards and 3 TDs to rally Miami
(Fla.) to a 27-15 victory over East Carolina. He also was intercepted six times, three of them by Kevin Walker.
Top games
Florida 20, Louisiana State 0–Neal Anderson threw a 51-yard TD pass and broke Florida`s rushing record. He ran for 124 yards, bringing his career mark to 2,670. Florida is 3-0-1, 2-0. LSU is 2-1, 0-1.
Auburn 41, Mississippi 0–Jackson had two TDs. Auburn (3-1, 1-1) scored on its first four possessions. Mississippi is 2-2-1, 0-1.
Tennessee 31, Wake Forest 29–Tony Robinson ran for a TD and threw for another. He was 13 of 23 for 170 yards. Keith Davis rushed for 102 yards, including a 22-yard TD. Tennessee (2-0-1) turned three Wake turnovers into TDs. Foy White was 24 of 39 for 270 and 2 TDs for Wake (3-2).
Miami (Fla.) 27, East Carolina 15–Michael Irvin`s 17-yard TD reception gave the Hurricanes (3-1) the lead for good in Greenville, N.C. Brian Blades caught a 71-yarder, and Alonzo Highsmith had a school-record 88-yarder. Jeff Heath had three field goals for the Pirates (2-3) and became the school`s all- time leading scorer with 224 points.
Georgia Tech 31, North Carolina 0–Jerry Mays rushed for 123 yards and threw a TD pass and John Dewberry (9 of 14 for 143 yards) passed for two TDs and scored another in Atlanta. It was Tech`s first shutout since 1979. The Yellow Jackets are 3-1, 3-1. The Tar Heels are 2-2, 0-1.
Virginia 37, Duke 14–The Cavaliers (3-1, 2-0) had 17 first downs, 288 yards and 3 TDs in the first half in Charlottesville, Va., to take a 24-7 lead. Kevin Morgan finished with 128 yards on 18 carries. Duke is 2-2, 0-1.
Maryland 31, North Carolina State 17–Alvin Blount`s 4-yard run with 3:27 left broke a 17-17 tie in Raleigh, N.C. Stan Gelbaugh`s 19-yard run sealed the victory. The Terps are 3-2, 1-0. State is 1-4, 1-2.
Mississippi State 31, Memphis State 28–Artie Cosby kicked a school-record, 54-yard field goal on the final play in Starkville, Miss. Memphis
(1-2-2) gambled and failed on fourth down on its 37 with 12 seconds left. The Bulldogs are 4-1.
Vanderbilt 24, Tulane 17–John Gromos passed for 142 yards and ran for 2 TDs for Vandy (2-3) in New Orleans. Tulane is 0-5.
Kentucky 26, Clemson 7–Brian Williams returned a punt 57 yards for a TD and Joey Worley kicked four field goals for Kentucky (3-1) in Lexington, Ky. QB Bill Ransdell suffered a punctured lung. Clemson is 1-3.
Richmond 38, James Madison 15–Bob Bleier (15 of 22 for 221 yards) threw for three TDs and Danny Holly (146 yards rushing) ran for two more in Norfolk, Va., for the No. 1 team in Division I-AA. Richmond is 5-0. James Madison is 2-3.
