Alabama Wins Big Without Its Big Guns

No Shaun Alexander? No Andrew Zow? No problem for No. 14 Alabama.

Shaun Bohanon ran for two touchdowns, Reggie Myles returned one of his two interceptions for a score and Freddie Milons had a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown to lead the Crimson Tide to a 35-14 victory over No. 20 Southern Mississippi Saturday in a nonconference game at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

It was the eighth consecutive victory for the Crimson Tide (6-2) over Southern Mississippi (5-3).

“We showed them we’re more than just Shaun and Zow, we’re a complete team,” said Milons, whose punt-return touchdown was Alabama’s first since 1992. “It’s good to know if someone goes down, there’s someone there to pick it up without us losing a step.”

The concern all week was how Alabama would fare without Alexander, its tailback, and Zow, its quarterback, both out with sprained right ankles. Both were in uniform but weren’t needed.

Alabama never had to worry about it.

Bohanon, a junior, finished with 104 yards in 28 carries. His previous best was 98 yards earlier this year in mop-up duty.

Watts, who was expected to challenge Zow for the starting job this year, was 11 for 20 for 128 yards and an interception. In limited action in five previous games, Watts had passed for only 89 yards.

Alabama’s defense held Southern Mississippi to minus-13 yards rushing and sacked quarterback Jeff Kelly seven times.

No. 4 Tennessee 30, South Carolina 7--The Volunteers, 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the Southeastern Conference, didn’t play their best against the Gamecocks (0-9, 0-7) at Knoxville, Tenn., but it hardly mattered.

South Carolina’s losing streak is now 19 games, longest in the nation.

Jamal Lewis led the Volunteers with 146 yards rushing, including a 70-yard touchdown.

The Volunteers drove 63 yards for a touchdown with the opening possession and were never threatened by the punchless Gamecocks. South Carolina’s only points came on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Mikal Goodman to Ben Fleming with 36 seconds left in the game.

South Carolina, which came into the game with the least productive offense among the 114 Division I-A teams at 223 yards a game, gained 225 against Tennessee. All but 67 yards came in the second half.

No. 25 Mississippi 42, Louisiana State 23--Deuce McAllister had 229 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns and Joe Gunn ran for 135 yards and two scores as the Rebels (6-2, 3-2) beat the Tigers (2-6, 0-2) at Baton Rouge, La.

LSU has lost six straight for the first time since 1992.

Arkansas 34, Auburn 10--Tight end Joe Dean Davenport caught two wide-open touchdown passes as the Razorbacks (5-2, 2-2) beat the Tigers (3-5, 1-5) in the rain at Fayetteville, Ark.

Clint Stoerner probably never had two easier touchdown throws than his first-quarter tosses of five and seven yards to Davenport.

Auburn lost quarterback Ben Leard early in the second quarter. Leard, who had been sidelined for a month with a separated shoulder, was knocked out after he was hit from behind while trying to pass.