NFL Scores

JUCO FINAL: East Mississippi 40, ICC 34

This game was played in West Point Saturday.

Talk about the games …

Click here to talk about Mississippi State and Tennessee at Brad Locke’s blog.

Click here to talk about Ole Miss and Alabama at Parrish Alford’s blog.

Tennessee beats Mississippi State 34-3

Mississippi State’s Brandon McRae (6) catches a pass as Tennessee’s Eric Berry defends during the first half Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn. Berry was called for pass interference on the play. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

By BETH RUCKER
Associated Press Writer

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.-Eric Berry shattered a 60-year old Southeastern Conference record with a 72-yard interception return, and Tennessee avoided its worst league start in two decades with a 34-3 win over Mississippi State on Saturday night.

Berry picked off a pass by Tyson Lee with 10:37 left in the fourth quarter and ran it back for a touchdown to put the Vols (3-4, 1-3 SEC) up 20-3.

With the return the sophomore became the SEC’s career interception return leader with 397 yards, surpassing Mississippi’s Bobby Wilson, who amassed 379 between 1946 and 1949.

The play ignited a Tennessee team that was off to its worst start under coach Phillip Fulmer and sent Mississippi State (2-5, 1-3) reeling further.

The teams entered the game nearly identical in many statistical categories, including total offense, scoring offense and total defense.

But the Vols outplayed the Bulldogs, picking up 275 yards on offense compared to Mississippi State’s 189 and gaining 101 interception return yards.

Tennessee had little problem scoring after Berry’s interception. Demetrice Morley picked off Lee a minute and a half later and ran 32 yards for a touchdown.

Mississippi State went three-and-out, and Tennessee responded by running Lennon Creer on every down of a 12-play, 51-drive. He scored on a 1-yard run to put Tennessee up 34-3 with just under 3 minutes left.

Creer finished with 68 yards on 17 carries.

The SEC’s two lowest scoring teams lived up to the billing early, staying out of the end zone in the first half.

Two long Tennessee drives ended with Daniel Lincoln field goals of 36 and 28 yards when Nick Stephens failed to connect with his receivers. Lincoln also missed one from 34 yards.

Mississippi State’s lone score came on a 10-play, 44-yard drive highlighted by a 12-yard pass from Lee to Henderson on third-and-11. Adam Carlson hit a 43-yard field goal to tie the game at 3 with 6:34 in the second quarter.

Anthony Dixon, who gained 107 yards a week earlier in the Bulldogs’ upset of Vanderbilt, was held to only 46 on 15 carries.

Austin Rogers appeared to reach the end zone on a 21-yard pass from Stephens on third-and-10, but officials ruled him down inside the 1 on review.

Montario Hardesty flipped over the goal line pile one play later to give Tennessee a 13-3 lead with 10 minutes in the third quarter.

Clements’ 6 TD passes leads Rice in shootout win

The Associated Press

HOUSTON – Chase Clement threw for 444 yards and six touchdowns, including three to NCAA record-holder Jarrett Dillard to help Rice hold off Southern Miss in a 45-40 win Saturday.

The Golden Eagles kept their hopes alive after Austin Davis hit DeAndre Brown for his fourth touchdown catch with 17.2 seconds left, but Rice recovered the ensuing onside kick.

Dillard, who pushed his NCAA record for career touchdowns to 54, caught seven passes for 141 yards. The Owls (4-3, 3-1 Conference USA) moved to 3-0 at home and have won two of three after a two-game slide.

Southern Miss (2-5, 0-3) has lost four straight.

Davis was 32-of-61 for 461 yards and threw all four of his touchdown passes to Brown, who had 221 yards receiving. Damion Fletcher had a game-high 120 yards rushing on 17 carries.

After Clement hit Dillard for a 44-yard score to make it 38-26 with 11:45 left, Rice got its final touchdown when James Casey scooped up a fumble from teammate Patrick Randolph and ran it 26 yards to the end zone.

The Owls led 17-12 at halftime behind Clement, who finished the game completing 30 of his 43 passes.

Alabama’s late stand stops Ole Miss, 24-20

Alabama running back Mark Ingram (22) flips over Ole Miss defensive back Brandon Sanders (14) for a first down during the first half in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Saturday. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

By JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – John Parker Wilson threw for a season-high 219 yards and a pair of touchdowns and No. 2 Alabama made a late defensive stand to hold off Mississippi for a 24-20 victory Saturday.

The Crimson Tide stopped the Rebels on fourth-and-5 from its 43-yard line in the final minute, when Jevan Snead’s pass to Dexter McCluster fell incomplete. He was well covered by Javier Arenas.

Alabama (7-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) scored 24 consecutive points after falling behind for the first time, 3-0, and allowing its first points in an opening quarter. Then Ole Miss answered 17 straight points and closed to within 24-20 on Joshua Shene’s 35-yard field goal with 6:09 left.

College Scores

From Tuscaloosa and Knoxville

Parrish Alford is in Tuscaloosa for the Rebels and Tide clash.
- Click here for Parrish Alford’s blog on Ole Miss football.

Brad Locke is in Knoxville for the Bulldogs and Vols.
- Click here for Brad Locke’s blog on Mississippi State football.

Watch for updates here after those games and read all about them in the Daily Journal Sunday.

GameDay – Get ready for College Football here

Click here for a PDF of GameDay.

Friday Night Photos

PHOTO:C. Todd Sherman
South Panola running back Nicholas Parker is stopped by Tupelo defenders LaQuarius Dozier and DeAndre O’Neal during the second half on Friday.

PHOTO:C. Todd Sherman
The crowd gets fired up late in the second half as Tupelo closes in on South Panola.

PHOTO:C. Todd Sherman
Justin Bean’s catch in the end zone in the second half is thwarted by South Panola defender Kendrick Market who pushed the receiver out before he landed.

PHOTO:C. Todd Sherman
Team captains for South Panola and Tupelo meet with the officials at mid-field before Friday’s game.

PHOTO:Deste Lee
North Pontotoc’s Joe Robbins watches as the ball pops loose as he is brought down by Ripley defenders in the second quarter.