
SOUTHWEST There were some 40,000 fans in Baylor Stadium for the Bears' homecoming game against Arkansas. It would have been understandable if some of those rooting for the Bears had left before halftime. After all, the early going hadn't been much fun for them, what with the Razorbacks taking a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Besides, what chance did Baylor, already a five-time loser, have against an undefeated team that hadn't surrendered a touchdown in 17 periods and was fourth nationally in total defense? The Hogs were ranked fifth in the country by the Associated Press, and the Bears hadn't beaten a team of that caliber since way back in 1966. The first bit of hope for Baylor fans came when the Bears drove 80 yards for a touchdown that cut their halftime deficit to 14-7. Then, early in the fourth period, Baylor tied the score at 14-14 when Mike Brannan passed 12 yards to Allen Rice. Arkansas moved ahead on a 33-yard field goal by Martin Smith, but the Bears squared matters at 17-17 on a 32-yarder by Ben Perry with 7:19 to go in the game. Perry's footwork needed a helping hand. His kick into a gusty wind would have been too low to make it over the crossbar, but it deflected off one of the Razorbacks, and that gave it enough loft to get over the bar. Late in the fourth quarter Arkansas resorted to trickery, which was fitting for a team coached by amateur magician Lou Holtz. After a double reverse, Wide Receiver Mark Mistier threw downfield, but Baylor Defensive Back Preston Davis wasn't fooled and intercepted at the Hogs' 47. Tailback Alfred Anderson, who had scored Baylor's first touchdown on a two-yard run, barged over from four yards out with 2:38 remaining in the game and the Bears made that stand up for a 24-17 victory. Brannan, whose 10-for-20 passing accounted for 230 yards, stung the Razorbacks with three passes that were longer than any completed against them all season—52, 39 and 60 yards. It was a homecoming of a different sort for SMU Tailback Craig James and Split End Gary Smith during a 41-14 win over Rice in Houston. James, who is from Houston, had his biggest day of the year, rushing for 130 yards on 20 carries, scoring on a one-yard plunge and throwing a 62-yard touchdown pass. That ball was caught by Smith, who's also from Houston. Earlier, Smith had grabbed a 28-yard TD pass from Quarterback Lance McIlhenny. Eric Dickerson, the Mustangs' other fine tailback, scored on a 19-yard run and wound up with 102 yards on 25 carries. All of which left SMU a game and a half ahead of Arkansas in the Southwest Conference race. Texas recovered four Houston fumbles, intercepted three passes and handed the Cougars a 50-0 setback, their worst ever. The Longhorns led 30-0 at intermission and played their reserves most of the rest of the way. Texas Tech was a 16-14 winner at Texas Christian. Independent East Carolina got 16 points from freshman Placekicker Jeff Heath during the Pirates' 40-24 triumph at Texas-Arlington. In addition to booting four extra points, Heath kicked a school-record four field goals from distances of 53, 42, 45 and a team-record 58 yards. WEST Trailing by three Points, UCLA had a fourth and seven with less than half a minute to go at Washington. Bruin Quarterback Tom Ramsey threw what looked to be a perfect pass to Tailback Danny Andrews. A completion would give the Bruins a first down near the Husky 20. An incompletion would give the ball—and a 10-7 victory—to Washington. Just as the pass reached Andrews, so did Washington Cornerback Bill Stapleton—and his hard hit jarred the ball loose and put an end to UCLA's comeback. For the Bruins, it was the first loss of the season. Stapleton's hit was the last of many big plays by Washington defenders, who sacked Ramsey nine times, recovered three fumbles and intercepted two passes. Outside Linebacker Mark Stewart accounted for five of the sacks, for minus 17 yards. Nonetheless, the Bruins had 384 yards in total offense, 248 of them on 18-for-31 passing by Ramsey, who produced UCLA's only score on a 39-yard throw to Jojo Townsell with 5:37 to go. Washington had built a 10-0 advantage on a four-yard run by Jacque Robinson in the first quarter and an 18-yard field goal by Chuck Nelson in the third. The Huskies, who trail Arizona State by half a game, meet the Sun Devils this week in a showdown for first place in the Pac-10—and a likely trip to the Rose Bowl.
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