SOUTHEASTERN ROUNDUP : Matthews Leads Florida Past Georgia, 38-7

Shane Matthews passed for 344 yards and three touchdowns and Florida’s defense scored on an interception return and set up two other first-half touchdowns as the Gators beat Georgia, 38-7, in a Southeastern Conference game Saturday at Jacksonville, Fla.

Florida (8-1, 5-1) ended a three-game losing streak in the annual neutral-site series between the SEC rivals.

The Gators are barred from postseason play and ineligible to win the SEC championship because of NCAA probation, but goals of finishing with the league’s best record and the school’s first 10-win season are within reach.

A victory over Kentucky next week would assure the team of no worse than a tie for first, plus leave the Gators in position to go after their best-record ever in the season finale against Florida State.

“Next week we’re going to say, ‘We’re the best in the SEC’--I can assure you that--if we can beat Kentucky,” said Florida Coach Steve Spurrier.

Matthews, who completed 26 of 39 passes, threw for touchdowns of six and 16 yards to Ernie Mills, and Terence Barber made an over-the-shoulder catch to score on a 51-yard pass play that gave Florida a 31-7 lead midway through the third quarter.

Georgia (4-5, 2-4) lost for the fourth time in five games. The Bulldogs drove 96 yards after recovering a fumble to cut Florida’s advantage to 14-7 in the first quarter, but accomplished little on offense the rest of the game.

Florida’s defense, ranked first in the SEC and second nationally, forced three turnovers.

Tim Paulk had a fumble recovery that set up the Gators’ first touchdown and then returned an interception 36 yards for their second.

Alabama 24, LSU 3--Chris Anderson ran 30 and 46 yards for touchdowns and the Crimson Tide defeated Louisiana State in an SEC game at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Alabama is 5-4, 4-2 and above .500 overall for the first time in Gene Stallings’ first season as coach. LSU is 4-5 and 2-4.

Anderson’s 30-yard run, after LSU had taken a 3-0 lead, put Alabama ahead 7-3 at halftime, and Philip Doyle’s 22-yard field goal made it 10-3 on the second play of the final quarter.

Three plays later, Alabama linebacker Spencer Hammond intercepted a Chris Moock sideline pass and went 12 yards untouched to score.

Anderson’s 46-yard run came in the fourth quarter and made it 24-3.

Anderson finished with 116 yards in 15 carries, his second consecutive 100-plus yard game.

Kentucky 28, Vanderbilt 21--John Bolden caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Freddie Maggard in the fourth quarter to give the Wildcats an SEC victory over the Commodores at Lexington, Ky.

Bolden redeemed himself for a dropping a 33-yard pass in the end zone earlier in the winning drive.

Al Baker rushed for two touchdowns and 151 yards in 25 carries to lead Kentucky (4-5, 3-2) to its third victory in four games.

Vanderbilt (1-7, 1-5) has now lost 22 consecutive road games, dating back to 1984. The Commodores play their final three games of this season at home.

Sophomore fullback Carlos Thomas had 18 carries for a career-high 171 yards and one touchdown in Vanderbilt’s wishbone offense that amassed 341 rushing yards.

Mississippi State 27, Memphis State 23--Kenny Roberts scored three touchdowns and rushed for 127 yards as the Bulldogs beat the Tigers at Memphis.

Roberts’ final score came on a 71-yard touchdown pass play with just over seven minutes left and gave Mississippi State a 27-21 lead. The Bulldogs allowed Memphis State to score a safety in the final minute, but the Tigers could get no closer.

The win gave Mississippi State of the Southeastern Conference a 4-5 record. Memphis State, an independent, dropped to 4-5-1.