Tomlinson Tops 2,000 Yards in TCU’s 62-7 Win Over SMU

LaDainian Tomlinson clinched his second consecutive NCAA rushing championship, went over 2,000 yards for the season and had a 74-yard touchdown run as No. 13-ranked Texas Christian beat rival Southern Methodist, 62-7, at Dallas on Friday night.

TCU--10-1 overall, 7-1 in the Western Athletic Conference and headed for the Mobile (Ala.) Bowl--scored six unanswered touchdowns in the second and third quarters.

Tomlinson ran 26 times for 174 yards, giving him 2,158 yards this season--No. 4 all-time in NCAA Division I-A--and 5,263 yards in his career--No. 6 all-time. He’s the eighth player to run for 2,000 in a season and joined Ricky Williams of Texas as the only Division I-A player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season and 5,000 in a career.

SMU finished at 3-9 and 2-6.

Arkansas 14, No. 24 Louisiana State 3--The Razorbacks (6-5, 3-5) got off to a good start in the Southeastern Conference game at Little Rock, Ark., as Quinton Caver returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown on the first play for the Tigers (7-4, 5-3).

East Carolina 14, Southern Mississippi 9--The Pirates (7-4, 5-2) scored touchdowns on a Kelly Hardy interception return and a David Garrad pass in beating the Golden Eagles (7-4, 4-3) in the Conference USA game played in muddy conditions at Hattiesburg, Miss.