Arkansas Stuns Alabama Again

It seemed like an instant replay of 1995 for Arkansas.

Clint Stoerner passed to a wide-open Anthony Eubanks for a 29-yard touchdown with 1:45 left, giving Arkansas a 17-16 upset over No. 11 Alabama Saturday at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

It was the second consecutive one-point victory in Tuscaloosa, Ala., for Arkansas, which recorded a 20-19 victory at Bryant-Denny Stadium two years ago and went on to its only Southeastern Conference West title.

After Saturday’s victory, the Razorbacks carried Coach Danny Ford--an Alabama alumnus--off the field.

The Razorbacks, 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the SEC, became the first team to defeat Alabama (2-1, 1-1) two straight times in Tuscaloosa since Texas Christian in 1955-56.

“This is a very difficult place to win,” said Ford, an offensive lineman for Bear Bryant in the late 1960s. “We came down here and played a tough, tough football game against a very good team and we should be proud.”

It was a startling turnaround for an Arkansas team that was embarrassed, 31-9, the previous Saturday by Southern Methodist. But, just like 1995, Arkansas answered a humbling early-season loss to SMU with a winning performance over Alabama.

No. 25 Georgia 42, NE Louisiana 3--Zealously guarding their first ranking in two years, the Bulldogs scored on the first three possessions and rolled over the Indians at Athens, Ga.

Mike Bobo completed 11 of 17 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns, and Hines Ward, finally showing his big-play ability, scored twice. Ward ran 63 yards on a fake punt to set up a touchdown in the first quarter and took a screen pass in the flat and raced 62 yards to the end zone early in the third.

Northeast Louisiana (1-3), playing like the 30-point underdog it was, was out-gained, 451-140.

The Bulldogs (3-0) are off to their best start since 1988, Vince Dooley’s final season as coach.

South Carolina 26, East Carolina 0--Anthony Wright, who grew up 25 miles from the East Carolina campus in Greenville, N.C., returned to throw two touchdown passes and the Gamecock defense avenged last year’s 291-yard rushing performance by Scott Harley in shutting out the Pirates.

East Carolina (1-2) rallied from a 21-0 first-half deficit last weekend to beat Wake Forest, 25-24, but the Pirates never could get their offense moving this time after falling behind, 17-0, by halftime.

South Carolina (1-2), allowing an average of 388.5 yards and 31 points after its first two games, shut down Harley and the East Carolina offense from the opening kickoff. Harley, still nursing a sore left ankle he suffered in the season opener and re-injured on his first rush, carried four times for five yards.

Vanderbilt 40, Texas Christian 16--Junior Damian Allen, from Strongsville, Ohio, passed for two touchdowns and ran for another at Nashville, Tenn.

The Commodores are off to their first 2-1 start in five years.

Running back Jimmy Williams scored on runs of three and 23 years for the Commordors.

TCU (0-3) scored all of its points in the second quarter when Vanderbilt fumbled twice and failed to convert a fourth down from its own 34. The Horned Frogs led, 16-10, at halftime.