The Week

SOUTHWEST

Miami has just joined Santa Ana on the Southwest Conference enemies list. Last year the Hurricanes opened with an upset victory over Texas. This season they nearly blew the lid off the Astrodome by defeating Houston 20-3.

"People who think this win was a fluke are going to be surprised," said Middle Guard Rubin Carter. "We're going to take it right through the season this time."

Last time, which is to say last year, Miami fizzled to a 5-6 finish. But early in the week Coach Pete Elliott proclaimed this team to be better than the Illinois and California squads he led to the Rose Bowl. Sophomore Don Martin and senior Woody Thompson scored the Hurricane touchdowns on runs of one and four yards and freshman Chris Dennis kicked a pair of 22-yard field goals. The defense was bolstered by Carter, who had 12 tackles, and Eddie Edwards, who sacked Cougar Quarterback David Hussmann five times.

The game may have raised more questions about Houston than it answered about Miami, however. This was the Cougars' second loss in three games. They were 11-1 last year and many people expected them to be even better this season.

When Roosevelt Leaks underwent knee surgery last spring, Texas Coach Darrell Royal said there was no way the All-America fullback could return by the fall. Leaks said he not only could, but would. And he was right. But he did not know he would be back in the lineup as a halfback. Leaks made his appearance on the Longhorns' second possession against Wyoming and contributed a touchdown to the 34-7 romp. The man who replaced him at fullback, heralded freshman Earl Campbell, tallied a touchdown also. Another freshman, Gralyn Wyatt, scored two TDs and rushed for 127 yards in 11 carries. Leaks gained 56 in seven and Campbell 54 in 10.

Quarterback Ricky Wesson ran for two touchdowns and passed for another to lead Southern Methodist to a 28-25 victory over Virginia Tech. Wesson's scoring toss was a 35-yarder to Oscar Roan with 2:53 remaining in the first half. Then, with 25 seconds left, he sneaked in from the one to give the Mustangs a 14-7 lead. SMU was still ahead, 21-17 early in the fourth quarter, when Wesson got loose on a 77-yard romp that put the game on ice.

The week's most confused scoring summary came from Houston, where Cincinnati's Larry Rice recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown as Cincinnati beat Rice 28-21. Nobody named Cincinnati did a thing for the Owls, although sophomore James Sykes did run back a kick-off 97 yards for a touchdown. It was the third such dazzler of his career.

1. Texas (2-0)
2. Texas A&M (2-0)
3. Texas Tech (1-0-1)

MIDWEST