SEC ROUNDUP : Vanderbilt Overcomes Zeier in Upset

Quarterback Ronnie Gordon ran Vanderbilt’s option offense to perfection Saturday, rushing for a career-high 126 yards and three touchdowns and throwing for a touchdown as the Commodores stunned Georgia, 43-30, in Athens, Ga., despite another record passing day by the Bulldogs’ Eric Zeier.

Vanderbilt tailback Jermaine Johnson also had a career-high rushing day, running for 177 yards in 27 carries, including a 45-yard touchdown run as the Commodores (3-3, 1-3), who led the Southeastern Conference in rushing with 228 yards per game, had 415 on the ground and 480 total in dominating the Bulldogs (4-3, 2-3).

Although Georgia outgained Vanderbilt 501-480, the Commodores dominated time of possession, controlling the ball for nearly 42 minutes.

Zeier completed 23 of 54 passes for 441 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions en route to setting his 15th SEC record, this one for career completions. He has 744, breaking the previous mark of 721 set by Shane Matthews of Florida from 1989-92.

He also moved into eighth place on the NCAA Division I career passing list with 10,096 yards, passing Glenn Foley of Boston College (1990-93), who had 10,042.

The victory was Vanderbilt’s first in Athens since 1961 after 15 consecutive losses.

Mississippi State 41, South Carolina 36--Chris Jones caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from Derrick Taite with about a minute left as the Bulldogs (4-2, 2-2), who squandered a 21-point lead, beat the Gamecocks (4-3, 3-2) in Columbia, S.C.

Steve Taneyhill threw three second-half touchdown passes and a successful two-point conversion pass for South Carolina, which took a 36-35 lead after trailing, 35-14.

Taite needed less than two minutes to direct a six-play drive that ended when Jones beat cornerback Corey Bell to the left corner of the end zone with 1:04 to go.

LSU 17, Kentucky 13--Freshman quarterback Melvin Hill came off the bench to throw two touchdown passes and rally the Tigers (2-4, 2-3)) past the Wildcats (1-5, 0-4) in Baton Rouge, La.

Hill, who replaced struggling starter Jamie Howard, completed 10 of 17 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

After throwing his 13th interception, Howard played one series in the second quarter, throwing threw three incomplete passes before being pulled in favor of Hill.

Arkansas 31, Mississippi 7--Defensive ends Marcus Adair and Steven Conley came up with turnovers that led to 10 quick points and helped the Razorbacks (3-4, 2-3) beat the Rebels (2-4, 1-4) in Fayetteville, Ark.

Arkansas led, 14-7, early in the third quarter when linebacker Don Bray deflected Josh Nelson’s pass. Adair intercepted and returned it 20 yards to the four. Marius Johnson’s fourth-down touchdown from the one made it 21-7.

Five plays later, David Sanders hit Nelson from behind, and Conley grabbed the ensuing fumble at the Mississippi 30. It led to Lance Ellison’s 31-yard field goal.