Miller, Mississippi Too Much for LSU

Romaro Miller threw four touchdown passes, the last one a 25-yarder to Cory Peterson in overtime as Mississippi defeated Louisiana State, 37-31, Saturday at Oxford, Miss.

The Rebels (6-2 overall, 3-2 in the SEC) scored on the third play of overtime. After Peterson made the catch near the three, the ball popped up about five feet--and then dropped into his lap between three defenders as he fell into the end zone.

But a low snap led to a blocked extra point and gave LSU (4-4, 2-4), which overcame a 21-point in the final 10 minutes of regulation, another chance to win.

LSU needed two plays to get to the 10, but after Kevin Faulk picked up six yards, two rushing plays gained nothing. On the last play of the game, Herb Tyler rolled left, but Larry Foster couldn’t handle the low pass in the end zone.

The Rebels posted consecutive victories over LSU for the first time since 1968-69, when Archie Manning was the Rebels’ quarterback. The Rebels won, 36-21, last season in Baton Rouge, La.

Deuce McAllister ran for 176 yards, his third consecutive 100-yard game.

No. 14 Arkansas 24, Auburn 21--Eric Branch scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 14-yard third quarter run and the Razorbacks overcame five turnovers to win at Auburn, Ala.

Turnovers almost cost Arkansas (7-0, 4-0). Leading, 24-21, with 2:10 to play, the Razorbacks, who had only eight turnovers this season, lost their third fumble of the game.

Rob Pate recovered on the Auburn 11 to give the Tigers (2-6, 1-5) another chance. But Auburn, which had played a mistake-free second half after three first-half turnovers, was unable to capitalize.

No. 3 Tennessee 49, South Carolina 14--Tee Martin set two NCAA single-game records by completing 23 of 24 passes, and threw for for four touchdowns at Columbia, S.C., as the Volunteers (7-0, 5-0) handed the Gamecocks (1-8, 0-7) their eighth consecutive loss.

Last year, Peyton Manning ran for his life against the Gamecocks’ pressure, finishing only eight for 25 for 126 yards and a interception. But Martin couldn’t miss against in setting records for consecutive completions (23) and passing efficiency (95.8%).

Martin was three for three on the opening drive, including a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Copeland.

Alabama 30, Southern Mississippi 20--Freshman Andrew Zow passed for 361 yards and threw three touchdown passes to Michael Vaughn to carry the Crimson Tide (5-3) past the Golden Eagles (4-4) in a nonconference game at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Vanderbilt 36, Duke 33--Vanderbilt’s John Markham made a 19-yard field goal in the second overtime to carry the Commodores (2-6) past the Blue Devils (4-5) in a nonconference game at Nashville, Tenn.