The Week

Fumble recoveries by Defensive End Dave Hibbard led to both of Bucknell's touchdowns during a 13-6 upset at Lehigh.

1. PENN STATE (8-0)
2. NAVY (7-0)
3. PITTSBURGH (5-2)

SOUTHWEST

"It seemed that everywhere we turned we ran into a blind alley," said Arkansas Coach Lou Holtz following a 20-9 loss at Houston. The first three times the Razor-backs had the ball they scored, Ismael Ordonez booting field goals of 27, 42 and 27 yards. Then it was blind-alley time, the Hogs gaining only 45 yards rushing in the final three periods. Meanwhile, the Cougar backs were finding daylight, Randy Love ripping off 120 yards and Emmett King 123.

Keeping pace with Houston for the Southwest Conference lead was Texas, a 22-3 winner over Southern Methodist. Heeding the request of Johnny (Lam) Jones turned out to be a wise move for Longhorn Coach Fred Akers. "I believe if you put me on the kickoff-return team I can make a contribution," Jones had said to Akers early in the week. Given a chance, Jones set a Texas record by zipping 102 yards for a touchdown with a kickoff in the third period after SMU's Eddie Garcia had tied the score 3-3 with a 27-yard field goal. The Longhorns then scored TDs on their next two possessions. Texas defenders corralled Mike Ford of the Mustangs, who had been averaging 302 yards a game passing, limiting him to a 10-for-31 performance and 122 yards.

Emory Bellard, disturbed by a rumor that he would be fired at the end of the season, resigned as coach at Texas A&M. There was apparently no substance to such gossip, but Bellard nonetheless stepped down midway through his seventh season and was replaced by one of his assistants, Tom Wilson. On the Aggies' first play against Rice, Wilson ordered a play "I had been waiting five years to use." The play sent a man in motion to the right and then had Aggie Quarterback Mike Mosley pass to the left, where Split End Gerald Carter, running a fly pattern, hauled in the ball and went 52 yards into the end zone. Two one-yard plunges by Raymond Belcher put the Aggies comfortably ahead before the first period was over, a cushion they extended to 31-0 before Randy Hertel got Rice on the scoreboard with three touchdown passes. The Owls' resurgence was not nearly enough as A&M won 38-21.

For the second week in a row, freshman Walter Abercrombie of Baylor went on a rampage. This time he picked up 167 yards and scored twice as the Bears, in spite of eight turnovers, fought off Texas Christian 28-21.

1. TEXAS (6-1)
2. HOUSTON (6-1)
3. ARKANSAS (4-2)

WEST

It gets a bit messy, but Coach Terry Donahue doesn't mind his players celebrating victories by dousing him and his white alpaca sweater with Coke. Neater, but less elated, was Arizona Coach Tony Mason, a 24-14 loser at UCLA. The Bruins held on to the No. 1 spot in the Pac-10 by breezing to a 24-0 halftime edge while unveiling a talented freshman. Freeman McNeill, who gained 104 yards rushing and scored on a 44-yard against-the-grain run.