The Week

SOUTHWEST

There's nothing like a stunning loss to bring one down to earth—unless it's two unforgettable losses. Still gnawing at the Baylor Bears were two such downfalls: the previous week's 30-22 upset by San Jose State and last year's game at Arkansas, in which Baylor had led 17-0 in the third quarter only to go down 29-20. There would be no such comeback last week, as the Bears drubbed the Hogs 42-15. Baylor led 28-7 at the half, by which time it had built a 15-2 edge in first downs and a 270-32 bulge in total yardage. The good-news Bears' relentless attack was triggered by Walter Abercrombie, who rushed for 128 yards and three touchdowns. Baylor's victory, which assured it of no worse than a tie for the SWC championship, was its first at home against Arkansas since 1963, and its 42 points were the most it had scored against the Hogs since 1922.

Texas Christian came through with a hard-to-forget victory, its first of the season. Visiting Texas Tech led 17-0 early in the fourth period, but the Frogs wouldn't croak. Steve Stamp of TCU began the comeback by teaming with Stanley Washington on a 33-yard scoring pass. Bobby Stewart then hauled in a 25-yarder from Stamp, and Greg Porter tied the score with a 43-yard field goal. Then, less than two minutes from the end, came the clincher, Washington fighting off one defender to grab a pass from Stamp at the Red Raider 20 and escaping the clutches of another as he dashed into the end zone. That 82-yard play gave TCU an astonishing 24-17 win.

Terry Elston, who came off the bench to win four games for Houston last season, put on another dazzling performance at Texas. With 5:14 left and the Longhorns up 15-7, Elston, who had missed five games because of a wrist injury, went in and completed three passes for 49 yards. Lonell Phea made an eye-popping catch on the third throw, tipping a nine-yard pass some 10 feet in the air and catching it while on his back in the end zone. Texas 15, Houston 13. The Cougars went for a two-point conversion, but Elston's on-the-money throw to a wide-open receiver was dropped, and the Longhorns made the margin stand up. Three field goals by John Good-son and a resolute defense enabled Texas to end its two-game losing streak. Southern Methodist accumulated 417 yards of total offense while wiping out Rice 34-14. Lance McIlhenny, the Mustangs' freshman quarterback, who heretofore had a reputation only as a ballcarrier, passed for three touchdowns. Doing much of the legwork this time was sophomore Eric Dickerson, who ran for 147 yards.

BAYLOR (8-1)
SMU (7-2)
TEXAS (6-2)