Southeast Roundup : Miami (Ohio) Surprises No. 8 LSU

Long after the game was over, the Miami of Ohio players wrestled each other through the sloppy field in celebration of the 21-12 upset of eighth-ranked Louisiana State at Baton Rouge, La., Saturday night.

“We just didn’t want to leave the field,” said wingback Andy Schillinger, who scored two touchdowns on passes from Terry Morris, including the 82-yard third-quarter scoring play that clinched the game for the Mid-American Conference team.

The victory kept alive an upset tradition that Miami of Ohio started in 1912 with a 13-8 victory over Kentucky. Miami is 8-0-1 against the Southeastern Conference over that span of 74 years. Miami is 2-1 this season, LSU is 1-1.

“Once in a while, beating a big opponent keeps the Miami legend alive,” Coach Tim Rose said.

LSU contributed to its demise, giving up five fumbles and two interceptions.

Defensive tackle Bob Getz led a Redskins’ defense that blocked a punt, recovered five fumbles, intercepted two passes and three times kept LSU from scoring touchdowns when the Tigers had first and goal from inside the Miami eight.

LSU Coach Bill Arnsparger, a graduate of Miami of Ohio, said it was strictly emotion.

“The game was a great tribute, I think, to their great football team,” he said. “They came in to play hard. They came in with enthusiasm. They came in with excitement and desire.

“I told our squad that 10 years from now they won’t ever forget tonight. And if they don’t ever forget, then 10 years from now they may be better people for it.”

Clemson 31, Georgia 28--David Treadwell kicked a 46-yard field goal with no time remaining at Athens, Ga., to boost the Tigers to an upset victory over the 14th-ranked Bulldogs.

Clemson (1-1), which overcame five turnovers, drove 34 yards to the Georgia 30 in the final 1:11 to set up the game-winning kick. Tailback Terrence Flagler had a key 16-yard run in the drive, and quarterback Rodney Williams added a 15-yard run.

Treadwell had an opportunity to win it with 10:19 remaining but missed on a 39-yard attempt.

Clemson defensive back A.J. Johnson stopped Georgia’s bid for victory only moments earlier when he recovered a fumble by quarterback James Jackson on his 10-yard line with 4:39 left to play after the Bulldogs (1-1) had driven 52 yards to the Tigers’ 15.

The fumble was Georgia’s fourth turnover of the game.

Auburn 45, East Carolina 0--At Auburn, Ala., junior quarterback Jeff Burger passed for two touchdowns as the 10th-ranked Tigers rolled over East Carolina, extending the Pirates’ NCAA-leading consecutive loss streak to 12 games.

Burger connected on second-quarter scoring passes of 51 yards to Lawyer Tillman and 48 yards to Trey Gainous for the Tigers (2-0).

East Carolina (0-3) has the longest losing streak in NCAA Division I-A football. That streak includes two losses to Auburn--one Saturday and one last season.

Arkansas St. 10, Mississippi 10--At Oxford, Miss., freshman Richard Kimble ran one yard for a game-tying touchdown to keep the Division I-AA Indians undefeated at 3-0-1.

Mississippi, a Division I-A team, is 1-1-1.

Southern Mississippi 28, Mississippi St. 24--Tailback Sheldon Gandy’s 4-yard touchdown run with 29 seconds to play capped a 98-yard drive by Southern Mississippi, enabling the Golden Eagles to edge the Bulldogs at Jackson, Miss.

Gandy scored all four touchdowns as Southern, a loser to Alabama a week ago, handed Mississippi State’s new Coach Rockey Felker his first loss. Both teams are 2-1.

Gandy scored on a 2-yard run in the first quarter, a 66-yarder in the second and a 5-yard run in the third. He finished with 115 yards in 15 carries.

Kentucky 37, Kent State 12--Mark Higgs ran for 3 touchdowns, and Ivy Joe Hunter rushed for 2 more at Lexington, Ky., as the Wildcats (1-0-1) built a 30-6 halftime lead and substituted freely in the third quarter.

Higgs, who rushed for 73 yards, scored on runs of 8, 10 and 2 yards. Hunter finished with 71 yards, including touchdown runs of 10 and 17 yards.