The Michigan Daily - SportsWednesday - October 16, 2002 - 5B "I ASKED IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG OR IF I COULD DO SOMETHING FOR HIM, BUT HE JUST SAID, 'COACH, THEY'RE JUST TEARS OF JOY."' - MICHIGAN COACH LLOYD CARR ON HIS EMOTIONAL HOSPITAL MEETING WITH THE INJURED ZIA COMBS WEEKEND'S BEST HOW THE AP TOP 25 FARED NEW AP TOP 25 WIDE LEFT I: With one second left, Florida State coach Bobby' Bowden was fearing Wide Right IV, courtesy of kicker Xavier Beitia. So, for a change, Beitia pushed the 43-yard field goal left, giving the win to No. 1 Miami, 28-27. Florida State appeared to be in control when running back Greg Jones scored to give the Semi- noles a 27-14 lead with 11:44 left in th.e game. But Ken Doresey led the Hurri- cane offense right back, first on a 70-yard touchdown drive, and then after a Florida State punt, Miami took the lead on just two plays - a 68-yard screer pass to Willis McGahee and a 11-yard run by Jason Geathers. SIMMS SIMMERS DOWN: Last Satur- day was Texas quarterback Chris Simms' last chance to beat Oklahoma, but he threw three interceptions and cement- ed his reputation as a poor play- er against good competition. Simms now has zero touch- downs and 14 interceptions against top-10 teams. BIG SCORES IN BIG TEN: Wisconsin was labeled overrated at 5-0 and the last two weeks have proved as much. After the 34-31 overtime loss to Penn State last week, the Badgers lost to Indi- ana in Bloomington, 32-29 ... After getting pummeled 44-16 by Iowa, Michigan State fell to 1-3 in its last five games, with its only win coming against lowly Northwestern. Associated Press Poll for week of October 8. Games updated through October 15. Team: Last week: 1. Miami (Fla.) beat No. 9 Florida State 28-27 2. Oklahoma beat No. 3 Texas 35-24 3. Texas lost to No. 2 Oklahoma 35-24 4. Virginia Tech beat Boston College 2&23 5. Ohio State beat San Jose State 50-7 6. Georgia beat No. 10 Tennessee1813 7. Oregon beat UCLA 31-30 8. Notre Dame beat Pittsburgh 14-6 9. Florida State lost to No. 1 Miami (Fla.) 2&27 10. Tennessee lost to No. 6 Georgia 1813 11. Iowa State beat Texas Tech 31-17 12. Washington State beat Stanford 36-11 13. Michigan beat No. 15 Penn State 27-24 14. North Carolina State beat North Carolina 34-17 15. Penn State lost to No. 13 Michigan 27-24 16. Florida lost to No. 18 Louisiana State 26-7 17. Iowa beat Michigan State 44-16 18. Lousiana State beat No. 16 Florida 26-7 19. Kansas State beat Oklahoma State 44-9 20. Southern Cal. beat California 30-28 21. Air Force beat Brigham Young 52-9 22. Washington beat Arizona 32-28 23. Wisconsin lost to Indiana 32-29 24. Auburn lost to Arkansas 3&17 25. Mississippi beat Arkansas State 52-17 (first-place votes in parentheses) This week: at West Virginia Iowa State at Kansas State Rutgers at Wisconsin Vanderbilt Arizona State at Air Force bye bye Oklahoma bye at Purdue Duke Northwestern Auburn at Indiana South Carolina Texas Washington Notre Dame at Southern Cal. Ohio State at Florida at Alabama TEAM 1. Miami (Fla.) (65) 6-0 2. Oklahoma (9) 6-0 3. Virginia Tech 6-0 4. Ohio State 7-0 5. Georgia 6-0 6. Oregon 6-0 7. Notre Dame. 6-0 8. Texas 5-1 9. Iowa State 6-1 10. Washingon State 6-1 11. Michigan 5-1 12. Florida State 5-2 13. North Carolina State 7-0 14. Louisiana State 5-1 15. Iowa 6-1 16. Tennessee 4-2 17. Kansas State 5.1 18. Air Force 6-0 19. Southern Cal 4-2 20. Penn State 4-2 21. Mississippi 5.1 22. Washington 4-2 23. Colorado 4-2 24. Alabama 4-2 25. Bowling Green 5-0 PTS 1,841 1,776 1,675 1,608 1,555 1,463 1,403 1,235 1,146 1,116 1,114 1,032 980 914 830 639 619 583 506 435 358 354 213 165 83 PVS 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 3 11 12 13 9 14 18 17 10 19 21 20 15 25 22 NR NR NR Florida State's Xavier Beitia Others receiving votes: Florida, UCLA, Marshall, Nebraska, South Carolina, Arkansas, Colorado State, Minnesota, Louisville, Auburn ..:. AP PHOTO Lousiana State quarterback Matt Mauck led his Tigers to a 36-7 upset victory over Florida, but suffered a foot injury in the game. SCOUTI NG THE NATION THE DAILY'S PLAYERS OF THE WEEK This week's edition contains three players that might not be getting the respect they deserve. Oklahoma's Quentin Griffin, Air Force's Chance Harridge and Indiana's Gibran Hamdan all don't play for good teams - Hamdan, we're looking at you here - but they all led their respective teams to big-time victo- ries this week, and with the exception of Indiana, could lead their teams to a BCS bowl. QUENTIN GRIFFIN, OKLAHOMA Why Griffin?: Chris Simms' worst nightmare might look something like Quentin Griffin. The senior running back from Oklahoma made it extraor- dinarily difficult for Simms to over- come his tendency to lose big games. Griffin carried the ball 32 times for a whopping 248 yards against the Longhorns, helping the Sooners to a 35-24 win over their Big 12 rival. Grif- fin added two touchdowns to the effort, both coming in the high-scor- ing fourth quarter. He caught a two- yard pass from quarterback Nate Hybl, and ran one in from 17 yards out. The second touchdown gave the Sooners a 35-17 lead, effectively put- Oklahoma's Quentin Griffin ting the game away. CHANCE HARRIDGE, AIR FORCE Why Harridge?: After being demolished 63-33 (the most points ever conceded by Air Force) by Brigham Young last. season, the Falcons have been waiting - for another crack at the Cougars. Air Force took advantage of the opporotu-t x nity, behind Harridge's incredible per- formance that included four rushing touchdowns. Harridge has been putting5 up the same numbers all season, and leads the nation's top rushing team. But this week's game was the most important - that is, until next week's home clash against Notre Dame.; Should Harridge and Air Force knock off the Fighting Irish, they will be knocking on the BCS's door at the end of the season. Air Force's Chance Harridge GIBRAN HAMDAN, INDIANA Why Hamdan?: A fifth-year senior quarterback with no starting experi- ence prior to this season, Hamdan pulled out one of the biggest wins the Hoosiers have had in years. Thanks to Hamdan's 310 yards passing and four touchdowns, Indiana scored the final 22 points of the game and beat No. 23 Wisconsin, 32-29, in Bloomington. The win was new coach Gerry DiNar- do's first in Big Ten play. Hamdan led the Hoosiers on a,10-play, 76-yard drive that finished with a 20-yard pass to junior Glen Johnson. Hamdan and Johnson connected again on the two- point conversion to give Indiana the 32-29 lead with just 2:16 to play. If Hamdan can continue to play like Indiana's Gibran Hamdan this, Indiana fans might stop lament- AP PHOTOS ing the departure of former quarter- back Antwaan Randle El. GAME PROGRESSION First Quarter: Michigan punter Adam Finley booms a 51-yard punt after the Wolverines' first posession. The ball bounces within the 5-yard line, but in trying to down it Michigan's Zia Combs and Ernest Shazor collide, and Shazor's helmet hits Combs hard in the chest. Combs is carted off the field and brought to the University Hospital. On the ensuing Penn State drive, the Nittany Lions also punt, but are able to down the ball on the Michigan 1- yard line. The Wolverines can't move the ball out of their own territory, and another Adam Finley punt is returned 25 yards by Bryant Johnson to the Michigan 17. A Larry Johnson run from the 17 to the endzone puts the Nittany Lions on the board. Robbie Gould converts the extra point. Penn State 7, Michigan 0 Second Quarter: After a drive from its own 36 to the Penn State 14, Michigan stalls out and faces a 4th-and-6. Kicker Phil Brabbs lines up to take the kick, but instead is on the receiving end of a fake field goal pass from John Navarre. Michigan does not convert for the first down. At the end of the half, Navarre throws passes to running back Chris Perry, fullback B.J. Askew and tight end Bennie Joppru as the Wolverines march down the field to the Penn State one-yard line. Navarre punches it in with a sneak to tie the game. Troy Nienberg converts the PAT. Michigan 7, Penn State 7 Third Quarter: On a drive that started on their own 16, the Nittany Lions make big plays to move downfield. Quarterback Zack Mills engineers two successful third- down conversions - each coming on 3rd-and-long - including a 53-yard completion to Bryant Johnson. The drive was completed with an eight- yard touchdown reception by tight- end Mike Lukac. Gould fails to convert the PAT. Penn State 13, Michigan 7 On the ensuing posession, Michigan moves the ball 80 yards in less than three minutes. An 18-yard Navarre pass to Joppru and passes of 14 and 16 yards to Ronald Bellamy highlight a drive capped by a fade to Braylon Edwards for a touchdown. Nienberg converts the PAT. Michigan 14, Penn State 13 Fourth Quarter: Mills again moves the ball effortlessly against the Michigan secondary, with the benefit of multiple Larry Johnson screens for first downs. A Bryant Johnson touchdown reception and two-point conversion give Penn State a seven point lead. Penn State 21, Michigan 14 Michigan responds on the strength of a 37-yard kickoff return by Jeremy LeSueur, and Navarre's precision passing. Navarre finds Edwards again to tie the game. Nienberg converts the PAT. Michigan 21, Penn State 21 Two controversial calls on third-down receptions - one called complete, one incomplete - highlight a last- ditch effort for Penn State. The Nit- tany Lions punt and Navarre runs the clock out for the first-ever overtime at Michigan Stadium. Overtime: Penn State's first field goal attempt sails wide right, but Michigan is penalized for jumping offsides. Gould converts his second try. Penn State 24, Penn State 21 A nine-yard Edwards reception sets up three Chris Perry runs, the last of which gives Michigan the win- ning score. Michigan 27, Penn State 24 WHO'S NEXT: PURDUE The Boilermakers have struggled with close games this season, as they have lost four games by a total of 20 points. Purdue will look to a talented defense to give its young offense a chance to upset Michigan in Ross- Ade Stadium. The Wolverines are try- ing to end a two-game losing streak at Purdue. NEWS AND NOTES Louisiana State quarterback Matt Mauck might have played the best game of his career last Saturday in the Tigers' 36-7 win at Florida. But thanks to an injury suffered in the middle of the fourth quarter Mauck's right foot is in a cast and it is unclear whether he will play this week against South Carolina. X-rays show no break, though more tests will be taken because of the swelling in the foot. If Mauck hasn't practiced by tomorrow, backup quarterback Marcus Randall would probably play against the Gamecocks. Mauck's counterpart in Gainesville, Florida quarterback Rex Grossman, left practice early on Monday to receive treatment for an unspecified injury. The injury came just a day after Florida coach Ron Zook said that he would consider benching Grossman for backup Ingle Martin if his play didn't improve. Grossman, originally a Heisman Trophy frontrunner, has thrown just 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in the first seven games. Nebraska quarterback Jammal Lord had a little bit too much fun celebrating his team's 24-13 win over Missouri last Saturday. The junior was ticketed for disturbing the peace later that night, as the 21-year-old appeared to be drunk and was taken to a detoxification center early Sunday. He was not arrested, and coach Frank Solich said that the citation does not require suspending Lord from any games. Lord practiced Monday, and his status for the game against Oklahoma State will be determined later this week. Maryland running back Bruce Perry, who has sat out every game of this season because of a torn groin, is still doubtful for tomorrow's game against Georgia Tech. His status for the rest of the year also remains in ques- tion. Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said that Perry's endurance isn't where it should be. The Terps have run the ball well recently in Perry's absence, as senior Chris Downs and freshman Josh Allen combined for 183 yards rushing in Maryland's 48-17 rout of West Virginia. WHAT THEY'RE SAYING Nebraska's DeJuan Groce took it upon himself to make sure his team didn't lose its third game of the season. Ahead 14-13 in the third quarter, Groce returned a Missouri punt 89 yards to put the Huskers up 21-13. "DeJuan should be a Heisman candidate," safety Philip Bland said. "To be out there every single play on defense and then to do that is amazing. There's few people in the country who can go out and do the things he does. Florida State coach Bobby Bowden was in a familiar place Saturday afternoon: Watching his field goal kicker sail a potential game-winning kick wide of the uprights. In three other contests in the past 11 years, Seminole kickers didn't capitalize on a chance to help Florida State beat Miami. Saturday, kicker Xavier Beitia missed a 43-yard field goal as time ran out, and his team lost, 28-27, to No. 1 Miami (Fla.). "I simply can't believe we lost the game like that again," Bowden said. "I've had that picture so many times before in my career. I can't stand it." e Texas quarterback Chris Simms still hasn't thrown a touchdown pass against a top-10 team in his four-year career. Simms threw three interceptions in a 35-24 loss to Oklahoma last Saturday in Dallas. "I don't know if anyone in this room wanted to win this game more than me," Simms said. Staff and wire reports contributed to this report. BIG TEN STANDINGS Smith fails to respond to Joppru Despite being called out by Michigan tight end Bennie Joppru for his season-long struggles, Daily Sports Editor Joe Smith continued to settle for medioc- rity. While his 8-7 record this week is his strongest yet, Smith still languishes 11 games out of first place. Speaking of first place, the three- way ti6 between David Horn, J. Brady McCollough and Jeff Phillips was broken this week. A 10-5 week from Phillips and a 6-9 week by Horn separated the for- STAFF PICKS WEEK 5 SELECTIONS ALL PICKS MADE AGAINST THE SPREAD. CORRECT PICKS IN BOLD. MICHiGAN (-4.5) vs. Penn Stat IowA (-6) vs. Michigan State OHIO STATE (-28,5) vs. San Jose State MIAMI (FLA.) (-13) vs. Florida State Clemson (.5) at VIRGINIA NORTH CAROLINA STATE (-6.5) at NORTH CAROLINA eNaEASKA .1vs. MISSanri David Horn Micigan. Michigan State Ohio State' Miami (Fla.) Clemson North Carolina State NAraka 4( i J. Brady McCollough Penn State Iowa San Jose State Miami (Fla.) Clemson North Carolina State Nebraska Team Iowa Ohio State Michigan Minnesota Michigan State Indiana Penn State Purdue Illinois Wisconsin Northwestern Big Ten 3 0 2 0 2 0 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 0 2 0 3 Overall 6 1 7 0 5 i 6 1 3 3 3 3 4 2 3 4 2 5 5 2 2 5 Jeff Joe Phillips Smith Michigan Iowa San Jose State Miami (Fla.) Virg|nia North Carolina State Misnuri Michigan Iowa Ohio State Miami (Fla.) Virginia North Carolina State Nebraska THIS WEEKEND'S RESULTS MICHIGAN 27, Penn State 24 (OT) MINNESoTA 45, Northwestern 42 OHIO STATE 50, San Jose State 7 IowA 44, Michigan State 16 INDIANA 32, Wisconsin 29 Purdue 38, ILLINOIS 31 (OT) i .............. .............. .............. .............. I