SOUTHEASTERN ROUNDUP : Zeier Propels Georgia on a Record-Setting Day

Eric Zeier threw for four touchdowns and 379 yards as Georgia routed Vanderbilt, 41-3, Saturday at rainy Nashville, Tenn., a victory that moved the Bulldogs out of a tie for the Southeastern Conference cellar.

Georgia, 3-4 overall and 1-4 in the SEC, entered the game tied with Vanderbilt (2-4, 0-4) for last place in the SEC’s Eastern Division, because of the first 0-4 conference start by the Bulldogs in school history.

Zeier, who set a SEC passing record with 544 yards last week against Southern Mississippi, quickly took control as the Bulldogs scored on their first seven possessions.

Zeier moved past Johnny Rauch in setting Georgia records for touchdown passes in a career (34) and a season (15) with his third touchdown pass of the day, a nine-yard scoring pass to Jeff Thomas at 1:21 that gave the Bulldogs a 34-3 halftime lead.

The junior completed 25 of 35 passes in 2 1/2 quarters and capped his day with his fourth touchdown pass on a 41-yarder to Jerry Jerman late in the third quarter. The Bulldogs finished with 520 yards.

Mississippi 19, Arkansas 0--Walter Grant kicked four field goals, three in the first half at Jackson, Miss., after Mississippi was unable to convert inside the 15.

Ole Miss (4-2, 3-2) got inside the Arkansas 15 three times in the first half, and didn’t let the Razorbacks past midfield, but led only 9-0 at halftime as Grant kicked field goals of 23, 31 and 30 yards.

Arkansas (3-4, 2-3), which has scored only 65 points this season, had its best drive to open the second half, but running back Carlton Gray fumbled into the end zone.

Michael Lowery, who also had an interception, recovered Gray’s fumble which Ole Miss followed with a 31-yard miss by Grant.

The Razorbacks had 168 of their 238 yards in the second half, but also had three of their four turnovers. Arkansas’ Lance Ellison missed a 36-yard field-goal try at the end of the third quarter.

Renard Brown had a 23-yard touchdown run and Grant a 46-yard field goal for the Rebels in the second half.

Kentucky 35, Louisiana State 17--Damon Hood rushed for two touchdowns and linebacker Duce Williams set up two scores with fumble recoveries in the second half, leading the Wildcats (4-2, 3-1) to an SEC victory over the Tigers (2-5, 1-4) at Lexington, Ky.

Kentucky’s Pookie Jones, who left the game early in the fourth quarter with an elbow injury, was 14 of 23 for 164 yards.

Mississippi State 23, South Carolina 0--Michael Davis rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown at Starkville, Miss., and Mississippi State its first SEC shutout in 30 years.

Mississippi State (2-4, 1-3) used a big night by Davis and ball control to end a five-game SEC losing streak. South Carolina (3-4, 1-4) got past midfield only four times all night.

The last time the Bulldogs held an SEC team scoreless was a 7-0 victory over Tennessee in 1963. They blanked Tulane, 48-0, in a nonconference game in 1991.