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SOUTHEASTERN ROUNDUP : Alabama Extends Win Streak With a 43-3 Rout

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From Associated Press

Antonio Langham lines up on defense, but the Alabama cornerback keeps finding ways to score.

On Saturday, Langham tied a school career record with his 16th interception, which he returned for a touchdown during No. 2 Alabama’s 43-3 Southeastern Conference victory over Arkansas at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Alabama (3-0 overall, 2-0 in the SEC) extended its winning streak to 26 games. The Crimson Tide’s last defeat was a 35-0 loss to Florida on Sept. 14, 1991.

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It was the third time Langham has returned an interception for a touchdown and his fifth touchdown overall, the others coming on blocked punts.

“He shows he has the ability to make the plays,” Alabama Coach Gene Stallings said. “He made the plays in high school, he has made them here at Alabama and I am sure he will make them in the NFL.”

Langham wasn’t the only Alabama player to achieve a personal milestone. Sherman Williams gained 100 yards for the third consecutive game. And quarterback Jay Barker improved his record to 20-0 as the Crimson Tide’s starter.

Williams, a junior who ran for only 407 yards his first two seasons, has done nearly that well in three games. Starting in place of injured senior Chris Anderson, he rushed for 148 yards against Arkansas (2-1, 1-1 in SEC), giving him 374 yards for the season.

Barker had his worst day of the season, completing seven of 14 passes for 118 yards with one interception. But he did pass for two touchdowns, and his 20-0 mark as the starting quarterback eclipsed the SEC record of 19 consecutive victories set by Louisiana State’s Warren Rabb from 1957-59.

Alabama, which rushed for 303 yards and outgained Arkansas 437-151, broke the game open with two touchdowns in the final 21 seconds of the first quarter.

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“It was the longest second half in my life,” said Arkansas Coach Danny Ford, who played at Alabama during the 1960s. “They probably could have scored 100 and I’m aware of that. One day we will play them and give them a good football game.”

Georgia 52, Texas Tech 37--Eric Zeier became Georgia’s all-time pass yardage leader by passing for 317 yards and four touchdowns at Athens, Ga.

Zeier, who completed 13 of 19 passes, increased his career yardage total to 4,905, breaking the mark of 4,836 set by Zeke Bratkowski from 1951-53.

Zeier’s touchdown pass plays covered 80 yards to Hason Graham, 57 yards to Terrell Davis and seven and nine yards to Brice Hunter.

Georgia (1-2) also hurt Texas Tech (1-2) with kick returns. Chris McCranie returned a punt 45 yards for a first-quarter touchdown and set up another score with a 46-yard return in the third quarter.

South Carolina 34, Louisiana Tech 3--Brandon Bennett scored two touchdowns and had 256 all-purpose yards to lead the Gamecocks at Columbia, S.C.

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Steve Taneyhill completed 15 of 32 passes for 311 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown pass play to Bennett as South Carolina (2-1) rolled up 631 yards, the second highest total in school history. Louisiana Tech (0-2) gained only 168.

Bennett, a senior tailback, rushed for 127 yards and caught five passes for 129 yards.

Mississippi 49, Vanderbilt 7--Eddie Small set a school record with 210 receiving yards in the victory at Oxford, Miss.

Small, a senior, had touchdown catches of 36 and 51 yards and set up another score with a 74-yard catch for Ole Miss (2-1, 1-1 in the SEC). The Rebels had 439 yards, their biggest margin of victory in an SEC game since beating Mississippi State 48-0 in 1971. It was also their most points in an SEC game since a 63-28 victory over Vandy in 1979.

Vanderbilt (1-2, 0-2), which averaged 306 yards rushing in its first two games, trailed 35-7 at halftime after getting only 25 yards of offense in the first half. The Commodores finished with 51.

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