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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Sunday, September 21, 2003

WAC & UH OPPONENTS
No. Illinois stuns Alabama to end skid against SEC

Associated Press

The program known for its 23-game losing streak beat the one famous for Bear Bryant and national championships.

Josh Haldi threw two second-half touchdown passes and Michael Turner ran for 156 yards as Northern Illinois beat No. 21 Alabama, 19-16, last night at Tuscaloosa, Ala.

"When you talk Alabama, you're talking one of the best," Huskies coach Joe Novak said. "This is a win we'll never forget."

Nor will Alabama (2-2), a 14-point favorite that couldn't muster much second-half offense or bring down Turner.

"We played pitiful tonight," said Tide tailback Shaud Williams, stymied until a 54-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. "We couldn't have beaten anybody the way we played tonight.

"We played pathetic. I've never been so embarrassed in my life."

Then again, there's no shame in losing to the Huskies (3-0) these days. The team that struggled in the 1990s toppled its second ranked team of the season after opening with an overtime upset of then-No. 15 Maryland.

Northern Illinois had been 0-8 against Southeastern Conference teams.

"We don't get a lot of opportunities to come down to the Mecca of college football and play a team like Alabama," said Haldi, who was 16 of 24 for 149 yards.

Williams burst between the tackles for his long score with 5:36 left to make it 19-16. Alabama got the ball back just over a minute later after a defensive stop.

The Tide converted a fourth-and-2 on Brodie Croyle's 5-yard pass to Triandos Luke, but still couldn't get past its own 40.

Three plays later, Croyle fumbled after cocking his arm to throw and had to fall on it for an 8-yard loss. He underthrew Luke on fourth-and-11 and the Huskies ran out the clock.

WAC

No. 13 Texas 48 Rice 7: Cedric Benson scored three touchdowns and backup Selvin Young had two more in a 41-point first half as Texas beat Rice at Houston.

The Longhorns (2-1) had 322 yards rushing on 53 carries.

The Owls (0-3) got inside the Longhorns' 20 only twice and didn't score until quarterback Greg Henderson's 6-yard run with 5:18 to play.

Rice plays Hawai'i Saturday at Aloha Stadium.

Oregon St. 26, Boise St. 24: Derek Anderson threw for 408 yards and James Newson had nine receptions for 208 yards as Oregon State held on to beat Boise State at Corvallis, Ore., ending the Broncos' 13-game winning streak.

Ryan Dinwiddie was 19 of 36 for 334 yards for the Broncos (2-1).

The Beavers (3-1) gained 562 total yards, and Kirk Yliniemi kicked a team-record four field goals.

Fresno St. 16, Louisiana Tech 6: Dwayne Wright ran for 177 yards on 25 carries and scored the only touchdown of the game as host Fresno State beat Louisiana Tech.

Brett Visintainer kicked three field goals to help Fresno State (2-2) overcome a 6-0 halftime deficit in the WAC opener for both teams.

Louisiana Tech (2-2) finished with 256 yards of offense.

Louisville 42, UTEP 14: Stefan LeFors threw for 164 yards and two touchdowns to lead host Louisville over UTEP.

Running backs Lionel Gates and Eric Shelton offensive lineman Kurt Quarterman all had 1-yard TD runs for the Cardinals (3-0).

Howard Jackson rushed for 118 yards for the Miners (0-4).

Tulsa 54, Arkansas St. 7: James Kilian threw for 180 yards and three touchdowns to lead host Tulsa over Arkansas State.

Tulsa (2-2) held Arkansas State (2-2) to 45 rushing yards in building a 24-0 halftime lead.



UH OPPONENTS

Appalachian St. 24, Morehead St. 21: Erik Rockhold made three field goals, including the game-winner with 18 seconds left, as Appalachian State (1-2) rallied to beat Morehead State (1-2) at Boone, Ala.

Rockhold's 31-yard kick capped a 76-yard drive that started when quarterback Richie Williams ran a draw play 73 yards to the Eagle 17.

Hawai'i beat Appalachian State, 40-17, on Aug. 30.

Tulane 50, Army 33: J.P. Losman passed for 350 yards and five touchdowns as Tulane beat Army at West Point, N.Y.

Roydell Williams caught three TD passes as Tulane (3-1) ended its three-game losing skid to Army (0-3) in the Conference USA opener for both teams.