The Week

SMU also sprang a surprise. His name is Brian Duncan, a fullback who did not know until shortly before the opening kickoff that he was starting against Virginia Tech. But start he did, and when the Gobblers keyed on Running Backs Alvin Maxson and Wayne Morris, as they had been expected to, Duncan tore through the middle of the Tech defense for 144 yards in 14 carries. With Maxson breaking loose for two touchdowns and Quarterback Keith Bobo for two more. SMU won 37-6 and for the first time since 1950 had launched a season with three wins.

Texas A&M sophomore Carl Roaches returned four kickoffs for 193 yards—one for a 100-yard score—and the Aggie offense out-gained Boston College 407 yards to 282. That had all the makings of an Aggie triumph, but Mike Esposito of the Eagles scored on runs of three and 36 yards in the closing two minutes for a 32-24 upset.

Three weeks ago, Clint Longley of Abilene Christian set a school record by passing for 433 yards. Last week he hit on 19 of 28 passes for 434 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-7 romp over Southwest Texas State.

WEST

1. USC (2-0-1)
2. ARIZONA STATE (3-0)
3. UCLA (2-1)

Judging from the buildup for the Oklahoma-USC game one might have thought the outcome was going to determine world supremacy—at least. Sooner fans invested in a huge billboard in Los Angeles that said: SMILE, OKLAHOMANS. NEXT WEEK NO. 1. Some 8,000 Sooner rooters invaded town in the hope that Trojan Coach John McKay was right when he groused about his team's unsteady play in the first two games. "We lack cohesion," McKay insisted. "We are making mental mistakes. It appears we either can't count or can't hear." All the while Barry Switzer, the Sooner skipper, retorted by saying, "They're a super, super team."

In the end the Trojans proved to be something less than super, super. A 42-yard pass that would have given them a 7-0 lead was called back because of a penalty. USC gained just 161 yards, Oklahoma 339, all but nine on the ground. Pat Haden's 15-yard pass to J. K. McKay brought USC its lone touchdown. For Oklahoma, Waymon Clark rumbled for 126 yards, but it was Quarterback Steve Davis who got the only Sooner score on a two-yard plunge. The result was a 7-7 tie. Hardly billboard material.

Other Pacific Eight clubs were fairly successful for the first time this season. Only two lost: Oregon State to Brigham Young, 37-14, and Oregon to Utah, 35-17. Aiding Washington State in a 51-24 win over Idaho were Eric Johnson, who ran back a punt 75 yards for a TD, and Robin Sinclair, who returned another 72 yards for a score. Stanford overcame San Jose 23-12, and in a showdown between the Orange of Syracuse and the Pear of Washington the Huskies won 21-7. No matter how many men the Orange deployed against Defensive Tackle Dave Pear there was no stopping him as he made 15 solo tackles and assisted on seven others.

Woody Green and Alonzo Emery both scored twice as Arizona State began defense of its Western AC title by drubbing Colorado State 67-14. In another WAC contest, Wyoming stopped Texas-El Paso 31-8. Air Force made New Mexico a 10-6 victim.

MIDWEST