Gators romp, Tennessee survives late-game comeback by UCLA

A week after a dismal debut, Johnson tied a school record with seven touchdown passes in the first half and the Gators scored their most points in 84 years in an 82-6 victory over Central Michigan.

It was just the kind of game Florida needed heading into its Sept. 20 showdown with No. 3 Tennessee, but coach Steve Spurrier warned the Gators not to let it go to their heads.

"It won't be that easy anymore for us, I can assure our guys that," Spurrier said. "This kind of game can hurt you if you don't keep it in perspective. It's not that great for us - just better than the one last week."

Spurrier spent a week hounding his offense after a 21-6 victory over Southern Miss, the Gators' worst showing in a season opener since 1989. And even though Florida (2-0) had Central Michigan badly outmanned, he managed to find some positives.

"You've got to get in the habit of going up and down the field and scoring points," he said.

That wasn't a problem against the Chippewas (1-1).

Johnson, 17-of-34 for 231 yards last week, was 17-of-28 for 310 yards in the first half. He threw three touchdown passes to fullback Terry Jackson, two to Jamie Richardson and one each to Jacquez Green and fullback Rod Frazier for a 56-3 lead.

His seven TDs tied the record set by Terry Dean in a 70-21 victory over New Mexico State in 1994. Dean threw all of his touchdowns in the first half, too.

"I don't go out trying to tie records. I'm out there trying to win the game," Johnson said. "I got last week off my back."

He took off his pads at halftime and turned the game over to Noah Brindise and Canadian freshman Jesse Palmer. They each threw a touchdown, giving Florida a school-record nine TD passes for the game.

The previous record was eight, also against New Mexico State. The 82 points were the most scored since a 144-0 win over Florida Southern in 1913.

The Gators, who had 357 yards last week to rank last among Southeastern Conference teams, had 708 yards against the Chippewas. Freshman Bo Carroll rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries, while Fred Taylor had 106 yards on nine carries.

"Our offense had something to prove. They had 82 points, so I think they proved something," cornerback Fred Weary said. "You can't really tell how good it is because Central Michigan hasn't played a lot of tough teams. But with two weeks of preparation, I think we'll be ready for Tennessee.'"

No. 3 Tennessee 30, UCLA 24

Peyton Manning has come a long way in the last three years. He showed just how far on Saturday, although his team was hanging on for dear life at the end.

Returning to the Rose Bowl - site of his first collegiate game - Manning passed for 341 yards and two touchdowns as No. 3 Tennessee held off UCLA 30-24 despite Cade McNown's 400-yard passing performance.

It was a far different situation on Sept. 3, 1994 when Manning, a freshman, took three snaps during Tennessee's 25-23 loss to the Bruins. He didn't throw a pass, handing off three times before the Volunteers punted.

Manning handed off on his first three plays in this game, but that was just the beginning. The Heisman Trophy favorite completed 28-of-49 throws with one interception, and has now passed for 8,033 yards in his career - 651 in two games this season.

UCLA had two chances to go ahead in the late going, but came up empty.

No. 10 LSU 55, Texas-El Paso 3

Kevin Faulk scored three touchdowns in the first half as No. 10 LSU overcame numerous penalties and mistakes to rout Texas-El Paso 55-3 Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.

Faulk, who gained 84 yards on 12 carries, left the game two minutes into the third quarter after pulling his left hamstring on a 40-yard run.

It was the most points scored by LSU in a season opener since 1930. Texas-El Paso lost its eighth straight game, going back to last year's 2-9 season.

Texas-El Paso avoided the shutout when Ricky Bishop capped the Miners' longest drive of the game - 61 yards - with a 42-yard field goal with 8:29 left in the game.

No. 12 Texas 48, Rutgers 14

Texas' Ricky Williams is showing, like 1977 Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell, that the move from fullback to tailback can pay big dividends.

Williams ran 19 times for 155 yards and three touchdowns and Aaron Humphrey had three interceptions as the 12th-ranked Longhorns overcame a turnover-filled first half and rolled to a 48-14 victory over Rutgers Saturday night.

Williams, who was mistakenly arrested this week by a campus police officer after a routine traffic stop, considered his performance subpar because he struggled early before breaking a 74-yard TD run.

"I was really tired the first half," said Williams, whose first five carries included a 1-yard loss and a fumble. "I was a little bit nervous. I think playing halfback had something to do with it. I expected to just blow them off the ball, but they played well."

The Longhorns (1-0) trailed 7-0 after the first quarter and needed two big plays - the 74-yarder by Williams and a 32-yard TD pass from Brown to Wane McGarity after Humphrey's second interception - to take a 13-7 lead over the Scarlet Knights (0-2) at intermission.

Texas quarterback James Brown left the game late in the first half with a sprained left ankle and didn't return. Team doctors said the injury wasn't serious and listed him as day to day.

No. 17 Stanford 28, San Jose State 12

Just when San Jose State was gaining momentum, Jon Haskins came along and broke it.

Haskins returned an interception 22 yards for a touchdown and No. 17 Stanford survived San Jose State's late rally to beat the Spartans 28-12 Saturday.

"I locked in on the receiver on a slant pattern," Haskins said. "I was inside and rolled with it. I don't think the quarterback ever saw me. Once I caught the ball, there was nothing else I could do but run."

The Cardinal remained undefeated in 16 season openers against San Jose State and stretched their winning streak to six games dating to last season.

The Spartans, playing their first game under coach Dave Baldwin, scared Stanford before Haskins deflated upset hopes by picking off Brian Vye's pass and going in for the score with 3:30 remaining.

"I'm hurt because I thought we could win," Baldwin said. "I still think we can. I think we came out of this with our kids believing we can play."

Stanford quarterback Chad Hutchinson finished 18-of-36 for 302 yards and a touchdown, with Troy Walters making eight receptions for 166 yards.

Vye was 16-of-40 for 236 yards and a touchdown.

Both teams were hurt by turnovers and special teams breakdowns.

San Jose State turned the ball over four times, including three interceptions off Vye, and punter Jason Chapple failed to get off a kick when he mishandled a snap.

"I think we have to improve a lot," Vye said. "I think my game wasn't up to par. If I made better throws, we had a shot at this game."

Stanford had three turnovers, two of them interceptions off Hutchinson, and kicker Kevin Miller missed both of his field goal tries, including a 26-yarder that was shanked wide left.

"We've got to get a whole lot better," Hutchinson said. "They did a good job of rushing me. We missed a lot of oportunities but at least we're getting a lot of opportunities."

A 29-point underdog entering the game, San Jose was held scoreless through three quarters before Vye teamed with Oliver Newell on a 50-yard touchdown pass with 13:19 left.

K.J. Agu stopped the next Stanford drive by intercepting Hutchinson's pass.

09-08-97