top 25 roundup \ Saturday’s games

Washington 16, No. 3 USC 13

SEATTLE — Southern California was leveled by another post-Ohio State funk, taken down by upstart Washington with a late drive that must have looked familiar to the Trojans. Erik Folk kicked a 22-yard field goal with 3 seconds remaining and Washington’s fired-up defense stymied fill-in quarterback Aaron Corp. USC quarterback Matt Barkley, who directed an epic game-winning drive to beat the Buckeyes in Columbus last week, could only watch the latest stunning upset loss by the Trojans from the sideline. The star freshman was out with a sore shoulder. It’s the second consecutive season the Trojans have lost their Pac-10 opener days after an impressive win over Ohio State and it marks the fourth straight season USC has lost to an unranked team. This one will gnaw at USC coach Pete Carroll. Washington (2-1, 1-0) had lost 10 straight Pac-10 games and had snapped a 15-gane overall skid last week against Idaho. Now Washington coach, and former Trojans offensive coordinator, Steve Sarkisian has a victory that will go down in Huskies history three games into his career in Seattle. Corp, a redshirt sophomore making his first career start, was 13 for 22 for 110 yards with one interception. USC (2-1, 0-1) was held to its lowest point total since a 13-9 loss to UCLA on Dec. 2, 2006.

No. 1 Florida 23, Tennessee 13

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida didn’t embarrass Tennessee and its new coach, they simply beat Lane Kiffin’s Volunteers behind Tim Tebow and a stingy defense. Tebow ran for 76 yards and a touchdown, Caleb Sturgis kicked three field goals and the Gators opened Southeastern Conference play with their fifth straight victory against their East division rival. The Gators (3-0, 1-0) also set a school record with their 13th consecutive victory. Florida started counting down the days for this one more than nine months ago, right after Kiffin vowed to sing “Rocky Top” all night long after being the Gators. Kiffin also riled up Florida with his false allegations of NCAA violations by Florida coach Urban Meyer. Tebow completed 14 of 19 passes for 115 yards, but had two turnovers that Tennessee (1-2, 0-1) turned into 10 points. Brandon James returned three kickoffs for 97 yards, helping set up Florida’s first 13 points. The defense harassed Jonathan Crompton and twice held the Vols to short field goals when they were in position for touchdowns.

No. 4 Alabama 53, North Texas 7

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Greg McElroy passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another before sitting out most of the second half for Alabama. Mark Ingram ran for 91 yards and a TD on eight carries, and scored on a 29-yard reception for the Crimson Tide (3-0) in its final pre-SEC tuneup before Arkansas visits. Freshman Trent Richardson ran for 87 yards and a touchdown and Terry Grant scored twice and gained 79 yards. It was the highest-scoring game for Alabama since a 56-7 win over UTEP in 2001. With starting quarterback Riley Dodge out with a separated non-throwing shoulder, North Texas (1-2) was outgained 523-187.

Oregon 31, No. 14 Utah 24

EUGENE, Ore. — LaMichael James rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown, and John Boyett made a crucial interception to help Oregon snap the nation’s longest winning streak. Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli also ran for two touchdowns, but had two fumbles and an interception in the second half to help Utah rally from a 21-7 deficit to within 28-24 by the end of the third quarter. An interception by linebacker Eddie Pleasant set up a 31-yard field goal by Morgan Flint with 3:30 left in the game to give the Ducks (2-1) a 31-24 lead. The Utes (2-1) drove to the Oregon 37 with under two minutes to play, but Boyett picked off a pass from Terrence Cain at the 5 yard line to preserve the victory. The Utes had won 16 straight games, including their Sugar Bowl upset of Alabama.

No. 17 Cincinnati 28, Oregon State 18

CORVALLIS, Ore. — Tony Pike threw for 332 yards and hit Mardy Gilyard with an 18-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter as Cincinnati stopped a second-half Oregon State comeback bid. The Bearcats (3-0) snapped Oregon State’s streak of 26 straight nonconference victories at Reser Stadium, dating back to a 67-28 win over Northern Illinois on Nov. 16, 1996. Pike completed 31 of 49 passes and two touchdowns and Gilyard had nine catches for 65 yards. Sean Canfield completed 29 of 45 passes for 240 yards and an interception for the Beavers (2-1). Jacquizz Rodgers’ 9-yard scoring run to open the second half was Oregon State’s lone touchdown. Cincinnati built up a 21-8 halftime lead but didn’t score again until Gilyard’s TD catch.Last week Gilyard scored four touchdowns in a 70-3 victory over Southeast Missouri State, becoming the first Bowl Subdivision player to score on a punt return, a run and a catch in the same game since UCLA’s Maurice Drew (now Jones-Drew) did it in 2005. Oregon State’s Rodgers appeared bothered by a sore ankle that lingered from last weekend’s 23-21 victory over UNLV last weekend. Quizz, as he is known, insisted all week his ankle was fine. But his 31 yards rushing in the first half raised questions. Then he came out in the second half with his usual elusiveness for a 9-yard touchdown run that narrowed Cincinnati’s lead to 21-15, Quizz was the Pac-10’s offensive player of the year last season as a freshman. He and big brother James Rodgers, a flanker, had scored six of Oregon State’s seven touchdowns through two games this season, and accounted for 597 yards in total offense. Against Cincinnati Quizz had 73 for the game. James Rodgers ran for 67 yards and caught 11 passes for 90 yards.

No. 22 Kansas 44, Duke 16

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Todd Reesing threw three touchdown passes and Maxwell Onyegbule returned an interception 48 yards for another score, giving the Jayhawks their 25th victory in the last 29 home games. A surprised Kansas (3-0) found itself trailing 7-0 after Thad Lewis engineered a two-play, 87-yard drive on Duke’s first possession. The 22-point underdog Blue Devils (1-2) kept it tied 7-all into the second quarter before Reesing began finding his touch. The senior finished 28 of 41 for 338 yards, the 14th 300-yard day of his career. Dezmon Briscoe had six catches for 117 yards, including a 14-yard TD reception. Kerry Meier stretched out and made a diving catch of Reesing’s 6-yard TD pass for a 20-17 lead 76 seconds before halftime, and freshman Toben Opurum scored two touchdowns.

No. 24 North Carolina 31, East Carolina 17

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — T.J. Yates threw for two touchdowns and freshman receiver Erik Highsmith had a big game for North Carolina. Highsmith had six catches for 113 yards and a score for the Tar Heels, who are off to their first 3-0 start since winning the first eight games in 1997. Jheranie Boyd also had a juggling 59-yard touchdown grab for his first collegiate catch, and North Carolina got a solid all-around effort from its young offense to complement another strong performance from its defense. East Carolina (1-2) got a touchdown catch from Jamar Bryant and a TD run from Dwayne Harris, but finished with only 247 total yards.

Associated Press