Web posted December 29, 1997

Associated Press

SHREVEPORT, La. - Kevin who?

With Kevin Faulk, the Southeastern Conference's leading rusher, out with a twisted ankle, backup Rondell Mealey rushed for 222 yards Sunday, including 26 on the game-winning drive in the third quarter, as No. 15 LSU beat Notre Dame 27-9 in the Independence Bowl.

Mealey, a sophomore, also set Independence Bowl and LSU records - previously held by Faulk - with a 78-yard run in the fourth quarter. He was voted the offensive player of the game.

It was sweet revenge for the Tigers (9-3), who were embarrassed 24-6 by the Irish (7-6) seven weeks ago at Baton Rouge, their worst loss of the season. Teams that lost the regular-season game have now won seven of the 13 rematches in bowl games.

The loss brought Notre Dame's turnaround to an end with a crashing, ugly thud. After starting the season 1-4, the Irish won six of their last seven regular-season games and came into the bowl with a five-game winning streak.

When Mealey hit his stride in the second half, he took all of the life out of the Irish, whose offense gained just 14 yards in the third quarter. Quarterback Ron Powlus was sacked four times in the second half, including a brutal hit that seemed to knock the wind out of him. He finished 8-of-18 for just 66 yards.

As the final seconds ticked off, LSU fans stormed the field, waving flags and hugging players. The Notre Dame players walked to midfield with heads bowed to shake hands with LSU.

Notre Dame hasn't won a bowl game since beating Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl after the 1993 season.

LSU came out sluggish early, and things looked bleak when Faulk went down with a twisted ankle on the Tigers' second possession. But Mealey picked up the slack, and Faulk's absence wasn't even noticed.

He rushed for 38 yards on LSU's first possession in the second half - one more than he had in the first 30 minutes of the game - to set up LSU's 42-yard field goal that tied the game at 6.

Notre Dame got a tough break on the kickoff, as Allen Rossum slipped at the 6 and was ruled down, despite making it to the 21. The Irish only managed six yards, and the Tigers got the ball at the Irish 49.

That meant more Mealey time. He rushed for seven yards and a first down the first time he touched the ball, then shook off a tackler for a 13-yard gain on his next carry. LSU got down to the Irish 12, and Herb Tyler connected with Abram Booty for the go-ahead score with 4:05 left in the third quarter.

Notre Dame added Scott Cengia's field goal with 13:14 left in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late. And just for good measure, Mealey scored twice in the fourth quarter, on runs of 1 and 2 yards.