SOUTHWEST ROUNDUP : Sherrill Improves to 7-0 Against Texas

Jackie Sherrill kept his hex on Texas.

The Mississippi State coach spoiled John Mackovic’s debut and soured the opening celebration of 100 years of Longhorn football with a 28-10 victory Saturday night at Austin, Tex.

Sherrill said he hopes he never sees the Longhorns again.

“I don’t want to come back to play Texas again,” Sherrill said. “We have enough to worry about in our conference. I’m 7-0 against them, and I’m willing to be happy with that.”

Quarterback Sleepy Robinson passed for one touchdown and ran for another before suffering a deep thigh bruise late in the first half. Backup Greg Plump ran for another score.

Robinson said the Texas defense was much softer than last year’s version, when Mississippi beat the Longhorns, 13-6.

“The Texas defensive front was not as tough as last year,” Robinson said. “Our offensive line was blowing them off the ball. We breed those big linemen down in Mississippi.”

The multiple Texas offense produced a total of 324 yards, but two interceptions and eight penalties hurt.

Mackovic, athletic director and coach at Illinois last season, was lured to Texas after David McWilliams was fired.

Plump’s one-yard scoring run gave the Bulldogs a 22-10 third-quarter lead after Keith Joseph returned an interception of Peter Gardere’s pass 48 yards. Chris Gardner kicked field goals of 41 and 34 yards in the fourth quarter.

The Memorial Stadium crowd of 70,438 on hand for the 100th anniversary of Texas football was silenced in the first quarter when Mississippi State scored touchdowns on the first two possessions.

Louisiana Tech 10, Baylor 9--Chris Boniol kicked a 30-yard field goal as time expired to give the Bulldogs an upset of the Bears at Waco, Tex.

The field goal was set up by a catch by fullback John Henry, who barely kept his feet in bounds while stretching for the ball.

The victory spoiled Trey Weir’s three field-goal outing, the last of which was a 30-yarder with 1:34 remaining that put Baylor up 9-7.

Tulsa 28, Houston 25--Gus Frerotte threw two touchdowns passes to Gary Brown as the Golden Hurricane, which closed out last season with seven consecutive victories, opened with a win at Tulsa.

Eric Lange kicked a 42-yard field goal, his fourth of the game, with 8:18 left for the final margin. Houston had three possessions left but could not get close to midfield.

Tulsa’s Phil Holmes sacked Jimmy Klingler to stall the second Cougar drive, and he sacked him again at the start of the Cougars’ final drive.

Klingler, a freshman taking over for brother David this season, completed 30 of 57 passes for 327 yards and two touchdowns, but he completed only three of 10 passes on the final three possessions.

Tulane 13, Southern Methodist 12--Joey Perry ran for two second-half touchdowns as the Green Wave survived a sloppy performance at Dallas in Coach Buddy Teevens’ debut. Teevens came to Tulane from Dartmouth.

SMU’s Russell Anderson missed wide left on a 30-yard field-goal attempt with seven seconds remaining.

Tulane overcame a return of a blocked extra-point kick, a blocked field goal and a squandered drive that stalled at the Mustang one.

Perry’s two-yard touchdown run with 1:06 remaining gave Tulane a 13-10 lead. But Chad Patton blocked the kick and Marcello Simmons returned it 88 yards for two points.

The Green Wave avoided becoming the first team to lose twice to SMU since it returned from the NCAA’s death penalty in 1989. The Mustangs’ lone victory last year was a 31-17 win over Tulane at New Orleans.