Auburn had to go deep into its secondary to beat LSU on Saturday.

Backup cornerback Pat Lee became ill in pregame warmups and couldn't play. In the second quarter, starter Jonathan Wilhite went to the bench with an ankle injury.

Then, it was up to reshirt freshman Jerraud Powers to help defend one of the most talented receiving corps in the SEC.

"I have total confidence in Jerraud," Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp told The Huntsville Times. "He's an outstanding player.

"At most places, he'd be starting. Unfortunately, he plays behind some pretty good players. When his number got called, he stepped up and made plays."

Back-to-back Shutouts: After Georgia registered its second consecutive shutout, no one was more impressed than former Georgia coach Vince Dooley.

"It's an amazing feat in this day and time," Dooley told the Athens Banner-Herald. "People are more efficient kicking field goals than ever before. The offenses are more productive than ever before."

The last time Georgia posted back-to-back shutouts was in 1980 when Dooley's team won the national championship.

New QB At MSU: Mississippi State finally scored a touchdown Saturday, but excuse its fans if they'd don't celebrate. The Bulldogs also lost 32-29 to Tulane, which was coming off a 45-7 loss to Houston.

Most of Mississippi State's offense was provided by Omarr Conner. Remember him? He was last year's starting quarterback. He's also next week's starting quarterback against UAB.

Conner was shifted from quarterback to wide receiver in the second half of the 2005 season. He returned to quarterback in the second quarter of Saturday's game with the Bulldogs working on a third consecutive shutout.

"Coach (Sylvester Croom) came to me a couple of weeks ago and told me to stay ready," Conner told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. "I just knew that I would go in at some point, and that's what I did."

After starting quarterback Michael Henig was injured in the season opener, the Bulldogs turned to freshman Tray Rutland. When Rutland struggled again Saturday, Croom called on Conner.

Schaeffer Give And Take: Ole Miss quarterback Brent Schaeffer, who started for Tennessee two years ago, had his best game statistically Saturday for the Rebels. Schaeffer completed 13 of 26 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 11 times for 65 yards.

Unfortunately for Ole Miss, he also threw an interception and lost two fumbles in a 31-14 loss to Kentucky.

"No, he's not where he needs to be, obviously," Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron told the Clarion-Ledger. "He's making some plays, but he's making too many mistakes, too."

Better Day For Darby: You wouldn't expect Alabama to get excited over Ken Darby rushing for 79 yards on 14 carries against Louisiana-Monroe. But after his first two games, that was practically a breakout game.

Darby had 90 yards on 37 carries in the first two games. Last year, he rushed for more than 100 yards six times.

"I'm just feeling better now, health-wise," Darby told the Mobile Register. "I'm feeling better physically and mentally."

Darby said he was bothered earlier by a minor knee injury and hip pointer.

Woodson Improved: Former UT offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Randy Sanders apparently has had a positive impact on Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson.

Woodson, who ranks 12th nationally in pass efficiency, has thrown nine touchdown passes in three games. In 11 starts last season, Woodson threw six touchdowns.

Gamecocks Shakeup: South Carolina started nine new players in its 27-20 victory against 1-AA Wofford. Four of the new starters were either true or redshirt freshmen.

Extra Points: Kentucky 300-pound defensive tackle Myron Pryor had a leaping interception, recovered a fumble and forced another fumble against Ole Miss. ... South Carolina star receiver Sidney Rice, who had three catches for 44 yards in his first two games, caught seven for 151 yards against Wofford. ... South Carolina defensive tackle Stanley Doughty, who reported to preseason training camp overweight, is out of the coaches' doghouse and back in the starting lineup. ... After rushing for 122 yards in its first two games, Vanderbilt rushed for 240 yards in a 21-19 loss to Arkansas.