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Tide Score Late To Upend Arkansas

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The Associated Press

Published: September 16, 2007

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Matt Caddell caught a 4-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone from John Parker Wilson with 8 seconds left, lifting Alabama to a 41-38 victory against No. 16 Arkansas (1-1, 0-1 SEC) on Saturday night, for the first major win of the Nick Saban era.

The Crimson Tide (3-0, 2-0) moved from its own 27-yard line with 2:13 left after twice blowing 21-point leads, mostly on the Wilson-to-Caddell connection.

Wilson hit Caddell across the middle for a 19-yard completion and two 9-yarders to move the ball across midfield. Arkansas' Kevin Woods and Matterral Richardson were both whistled for pass interference, Richardson on a third-and-9 play. That set Alabama up with a first down at the 13, and Wilson hit Keith Brown for a 9-yarder.

Wilson found a leaping Caddell in the left side of the end zone, sending the crowd into a frenzy and prompting a celebratory pileup on the receiver.

LSU 44, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 0: Ryan Perrilloux looked nothing like a backup quarterback in his first career start for LSU.

Perrilloux threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 2 LSU (3-0) past visiting Middle Tennessee (0-3).

With an SEC showdown against No. 17 South Carolina looming next weekend, LSU coach Les Miles decided to rest regular starter Matt Flynn, who had sprained his right ankle a week earlier and whose participation in practice had been limited since.

Throwing hard and accurately, Perrilloux completed 20 of 25 passes while putting his all-around ability on display with 37 yards rushing.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 19, AUBURN 14: Christian Ducre scored the go-ahead touchdown with 5:15 to play and Mississippi State stopped host Auburn inside the 10 in the final seconds.

It was another big win for Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom in his home state. Croom, the SEC's first black head coach and a former Alabama player and assistant coach, upset Alabama 24-16 last year in Tuscaloosa.

Mississippi State (2-1, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) had lost six straight against Auburn.

It was the second consecutive upset at home for the Tigers (1-2, 0-1), who lost to South Florida 26-23 in overtime last week.

GEORGIA 45, WESTERN CAROLINA 16: Georgia, held without a touchdown last week for the first time in six years, struggled early before enjoying an offensive revival.

Matthew Stafford threw two second-quarter scoring passes as No. 23 Georgia (2-1) beat visiting Western Carolina.

Stafford lost a fumble on a sack during a sloppy opening quarter which ended 3-3. The Bulldogs pulled away with three second-quarter TDs.

SOUTH CAROLINA 38, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE 3: Blake Mitchell threw three touchdowns and No. 17 South Carolina defeated visiting South Carolina State (1-2) to make the Gamecocks 3-0 for the first time in six years.

South Carolina won its sixth consecutive game and the defense didn't allow a TD for the second straight.

Mitchell finished 14-for-21 for 147 yards. Cory Boyd (132) and Mike Davis (102) surpassed 100 yards rushing, but the Gamecocks' offense looked lost for a half against the Bulldogs.

VANDERBILT 31, MISSISSIPPI 17: Chris Nickson threw for 200 yards and ran for 78 more and a touchdown to lead Vanderbilt (2-1) past visiting Mississippi (1-2).

Cassen Jackson-Garrison had three touchdowns and 127 yards rushing, and the Commodores improved to 1-1 in the Southeastern Conference, while the Rebels dropped their league opener for the fourth consecutive year. Ole Miss fell to 46-34-2 against Vanderbilt.

Brent Schaeffer relieved Seth Adams in the fourth quarter, and threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace on his first attempt to narrow the score to 24-17. Schaeffer failed to complete a pass on the following possession, and Jackson-Garrison scored for the Commodores on a short field to put the game out of reach.

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