THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2009 FLORIDA, from page 5
comparison to the numbers he put up during his sophomore and junior seasons. Tebow ran for 23 touchdowns and threw 32 touchdowns with only six interceptions during his Heisman-winning sophomore season. But this season, Tebow has run for six touchdowns and has thrown eight touchdowns and four interceptions. Georgia coach Mark Richt said Florida is undefeated no matter what statistics its offense has put up, and that is what matters. “I don’t know if they’ve had to feel like they need to take a lot of chances downfield,” Richt said. “Whatever strategy they are using right now is working extremely well.” RISING IN THE EAST Another pair of SEC East rivals will meet Saturday night when South Carolina travels to Knoxville, Tenn. After last week’s victory against Vanderbilt, South Carolina (6-2, 3-2) is enjoying its best start since 2007 when the Gamecocks started the season 6-1 before losing the last five games to finish with a 6-6 record.
THE DAILY REVEILLE
Tennessee (3-4, 1-3), on the other hand, is coming off its second close loss on the road to a top-10 SEC opponent. Tennessee junior kicker Daniel Lincoln’s 44-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Alabama senior defensive lineman Terrence Cody as time expired to give Alabama the 12-10 victory last week. But Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin thinks his team, which hasn’t lost a game this season by more than 10 points, has played well in the last few games, especially on defense. “We played Georgia, and we played Alabama and haven’t given up a touchdown,” Kiffin said. “We have only allowed both teams combined to enter the red zone one time.” The Volunteer defense hasn’t allowed a single opponent to score more than 26 points the whole season. Furthermore, Tennessee has only allowed 1888 total yards and seven touchdowns this season, which are both second-best in the SEC behind Florida. “They seem to always be in position,” said South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier. “They’re a well-coached bunch of guys that seem to really understand their
he usually makes that he’s not making. I don’t worry about that,” Johnseason was to find help for his few son said. “He’s his own worst enreturning veterans, and several of emy, and I’ve got to get him to relax LSU’s projected contributors turned … He’s fine.” Senior guard Alex Farrer in solid performances. seemed out of sorts Sophomore as well, shooting forward Garrett just 1-of-8 in the Green missed a first half and finwide-open layup ishing with nine in the game’s first points on 3-of-12 minute but finished shooting. the game with 11 But Farrer points, two reand Mitchell were bounds and a block two of five players, while shooting Trent Johnson along with Spencer, 55 percent from LSU basketball coach sophomore guard the field. Green Zach Kinsley and worked his way to six hard-fought points in the paint in sophomore forward Storm Warren, the first half and added a free throw to play all 35 minutes of the scrimmage with just a 60-second halfand a mid-range jumper. “Garrett Green looked pretty time. good considering he’s been out for a year and a half with back problems,” Contact David Helman at Mitchell said. “He really took condhelman@lsureveille.com trol of his advantages.” The Tigers’ young guards showed flashes as well, as sophomore Chris Bass and freshman Aaron Dotson each dished out five assists and combined for six points. But they also tallied seven turnovers between them — mistakes Johnson said the team “just can’t have.” Mitchell, the team’s returning all-conference forward, never seemed to find a rhythm despite finishing with 20 points and eight rebounds. He turned the ball over a game-high six times and shot 36 percent. “There’s a lot of shots out there
assignments very well.”
STAYING ALIVE IN THE WEST Week nine’s matchup between Ole Miss and Auburn is a must-win game for each team to stay alive in the SEC West race. The Rebels need to slow down Auburn senior running back Ben Tate, who averages 115.4 rushing yards per game. The Tiger offense averages 430.9 yards per game, No. 2 in the SEC. “We know how fast they came out of the gate,” Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt said. “We’re going against a good Auburn team.” The Rebels will be led by junior quarterback Jevan Snead, who has thrown for a combined 572 yards and five touchdowns in the last two games. “I really think he’s come on and is really making good decisions for us,” Nutt said. “Early on with a brand new line to break in, I think there were some times where he felt like he had to make a play, and he forced some things, and interceptions mounted up.”
Contact Jarred LeBlanc at jleblanc@lsureveille.com
PAGE 15
LSU after missing last season’s contest with a season-ending shoulsenior running back Keiland Wil- der injury. Miles said Anderson, a canliams hadn’t gotten as many carries as he did in a breakout game with 72 didate for the Doak Walker Award yards and two touchdowns against who has rushed for 646 yards and six touchdowns Vanderbilt on Sept. this season, “is the 12. He said players kind of back you’re like Williams know going to have to their role is to contackle.” tribute to the team “[Anderson] in whatever ways has the potential they are called to make some big upon. plays,” Miles said. “We expect “He’s a talented [Williams] to be Les Miles running back — he a contributor in a LSU football coach can catch it, he can variety of ways, run it and he has and his plays may or may not be carries,” Miles said speed and size.” In regard to officiating, Miles Monday at his weekly media luncheon. “Our football team, even said he tells his players the “absothose individuals who maybe would lute truth” about calls made during like to have more touches, feels like games, and he has faith officials this is a team game and want to help will work as hard as the teams do. us win in any way they can.” “I’ve always felt like the offiTrue freshman fullback Domi- cials will do a great job, work hard nique Allen made his debut for LSU to get it right and pursue excellence against Auburn. Miles said both Al- just like we do,” Miles said. “I don’t len and sophomore fullback James want a player to harp on an issue.” Stampley will see playing time from now on. In Tulane’s running game, seContact Rachel Whittaker at nior running back Andre Anderson will be in the starting lineup against rwhittaker@lsureveille.com
MILES, from page 5
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‘We look forward to playing against [Tulane] and that’s benefited us in our preparation.’
SCRIMMAGE, from page 5
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‘There were some things out there that weren’t very good. But ... it was a good start.’
GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille
Sophomore forward Storm Warren, center, tries for a layup Wednesday while members of the purple team try to block the ball.