SOUTHEASTERN REPORT
* at No. 1 Georgia 45, Georgia Southern 21: Knowshon Moreno ran for three touchdowns and the Bulldogs, ranked No. 1 to start a season for the first time, raced to a 38-0 lead at Athens on their way to giving new mascot Uga VII a win in his debut. Uga VII, a white English bulldog and son of Uga VI, who died this summer, drew a standing ovation, and school President Michael Adams and Athletic Director Damon Evans slipped a red collar over the dog’s head in a pregame ceremony.
* at No. 5 Florida 56, Hawaii 10: Hawaii started this season the same way it ended the last one -- being blown out by an SEC power. The Gators scored on offense, defense and special teams to win big at Gainesville. It was Greg McMackin’s debut as coach of Hawaii, playing its first game since its 41-10 drubbing by Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.
* at No. 10 Auburn 34, Louisiana Monroe 0: Ben Tate ran for 115 yards in 13 carries and the Tigers scored touchdowns on defense and special teams at Auburn, Ala. The Tigers scarcely needed to pass in debuting offensive coordinator Tony Franklin’s new spread attack, relying on a still-punishing ground game and defense while alternating quarterbacks on every series for much of the game. Michael Goggans scored on a nine-yard fumble return and Robert Dunn had a 66-yard punt return for a touchdown.
* at Louisiana Tech 22, Mississippi State 14: Brad Oestriecher made a career-best three field goals and Louisiana Tech took advantage of three Mississippi State turnovers in the third quarter at Ruston. The win was the first by a Western Athletic Conference team over a BCS conference squad since Tech won at Michigan State in 2003, and the WAC’s first against an SEC team since Tech’s upset win at No. 18 Alabama in 1999.
* at Arkansas 28, Western Illinois 24: Casey Dick scored on a four-yard run with 1:49 remaining at Fayetteville, and Arkansas avoided disaster in Bobby Petrino’s first game as coach. The Razorbacks trailed, 24-14, in the fourth quarter, but Dick found Greg Childs over the middle for a 26-yard touchdown, then led an 83-yard drive for the winning score, converting on fourth and 10 at the Western Illinois 33 along the way.
* at Mississippi 41, Memphis 24: Jevan Snead connected with Shay Hodge on touchdown passes of 64 and 15 yards, and the Rebels won at Oxford in Houston Nutt’s debut as coach.
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