Memphis Stuns Mississippi, 20-13

Danny Wimprine threw for 266 yards, including a fourth-quarter touchdown to Tavares Gideon, and DeAngelo Williams ran for 118 yards Saturday night to lead Memphis to a 20-13 victory over Mississippi at Oxford, Miss.

Memphis controlled the game throughout and spoiled the first career start for Micheal Spurlock, who is trying to replace Eli Manning at quarterback.

Spurlock was 11 for 31 passing for 182 yards. The junior quarterback did direct a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that ended with five-yard run by Vashon Pearson. The drive pulled the Rebels within 20-13 with 8:55 left.

The Memphis defense responded by holding the Rebels to one first down in the final two offensive series.

Spurlock was sacked for a 22-yard loss by linebacker Tim Goodwell with 1:35 left to secure the victory.

“We had a hard time getting anything done offensively,” Mississippi Coach David Cutcliffe said. “As the evening went on, we did poorly in third-down situations. It’s hard to sustain drives when you are three of 15 on third down. We have a lot of work to do.”

Wimprine was 21 for 43 as the Tigers defeated the Rebels for the second consecutive year.

Memphis led, 10-3, at halftime.

Jonathan Nichols’ 47-yard field goal pulled the Rebels within 10-6, but Memphis answered with Stephen Goskowski’s 45-yard field goal on the ensuing series.

Memphis grabbed control with a 12-play, 76-yard drive to open the fourth quarter that ended with Wimprine’s scoring pass to Gideon with 10:43 left.

No. 3 Georgia 48, Georgia Southern 28 -- Danny Ware rushed for 135 yards and three touchdowns at Athens, Ga., as the Bulldogs romped over the Division I-AA Eagles.

Ware, the first freshman running back to start his first game at Georgia since 1943, became Georgia’s first 100-yard rusher in two years.

The Bulldogs went through all of last season without a player reaching triple figures, the first time that had happened in 31 seasons.

No. 17 Auburn 31, Louisiana Monroe 0 -- Jason Campbell passed for two touchdowns and Carnell Williams ran for 103 yards at Auburn, Ala., as the Tigers unveiled their West Coast offense and improved to 12-0 against Sun Belt Conference teams.

New Auburn coordinator Al Borges’ offense scored on its first three possessions to build a 17-0 lead and the Tiger defense shut down the Indians.

Alabama 48, Utah State 17 -- Brodie Croyle threw two touchdown passes at Tuscaloosa, Ala., and the Crimson Tide took a step toward rebounding from a 4-9 season.

The Aggies, who trailed, 17-10, at the half, have lost 14 of 15 road games.

Mississippi State 28, Tulane 7 -- Jerious Norwood ran for 112 yards and a touchdown at Starkville, Miss., as the Bulldogs broke a scoreless tie at halftime and pulled away for the victory.

South Carolina 31, Vanderbilt 6 -- Dondrial Pinkins ran for a touchdown and threw for another at Nashville as the Gamecocks handed the Commodores a 14th consecutive loss in a Southeastern Conference opener.

Arkansas 63, New Mexico State 13 -- Matt Jones completed 13 of 16 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown at Fayetteville, Ark., as the Razorbacks won their 22nd consecutive nonconference game.