Harper sacked as Clemson QB

TOMMY BOWDENReady for a change

From preseason player of the year to a seat on the bench, Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper has had a miserable fall.

Tigers coach Tommy Bowden said yesterday he'd start freshman backup Willy Korn against Georgia Tech Oct. 18, seeking to spark up what was supposed to be among the country's best offenses.

In control of it all was Harper, a steady senior who led the Atlantic Coast Conference in passing efficiency a year ago and set nearly two dozen school marks in his first season as a starter. And that made him the clearcut choice this summer for the league's top award.

However, the Tigers (3-3, 1-2 ACC) and Harper have not come close to last season's record-setting attack.

The final straw for Bowden was Thursday night's 12-7 loss at Wake Forest. Clemson managed 198 yards and Harper threw his sixth interception - matching his 2007 total - deep in Tiger territory that helped the Demon Deacons rally from a 7-3 deficit.

Since leading Maryland, 17-6, at halftime Sept. 27, a game the Tigers would eventually lose, 20-17, Clemson has scored just 7 points in six quarters.

"We got to find a spark offensively," Bowden said. "We need to reevaluate our plan and a more mobile quarterback gives us more options."

Harper has completed 99 of 161 throws for 1,121 yards with four touchdowns. Korn, in mop-up appearances against The Citadel and South Carolina State, completed 14 of 18 passes for 157 yards. He's thrown for one TD and rushed for another.

Bowden decided on the switch yesterday after watching tape of Thursday night's loss. He said he and offensive coordinator Rob Spence had not yet been able to contact Harper, who was given yesterday and today off. The Tigers return to practice tomorrow evening.

Saint Anselm 48, Merrimack 42 - Luke St. Marie rushed for a school-record 241 yards and two touchdowns, including a 45-yard run early in the fourth quarter that turned back a Warriors rally as the visiting Hawks snapped a 34-game losing streak that dated to 2005.

Marc Wilson ran for 181 yards and two TDs and passed for 114 yards and two more scores for Saint Anselm.

Saint Anselm (1-5, 1-3 Northeast-10) set school marks for most rushing yards in a game (439), most yards of total offense (553), and most points in a game as the teams combined for 1,200 yards of total offense.

James Suozzo rushed for 132 yards and three TDs and Richard Johnson had 161 yards and another score to lead Merrimack (3-3, 2-2).

Southern Conn. 47, Bentley 14 - John Wiechman rushed for 229 yards and four touchdowns and the Owls (4-2, 3-1 Northeast-10) scored the first 27 points en route to an easy win over the Falcons in New Haven. Bryant Johnson passed for 204 yards and two touchdowns for the Falcons (3-4, 2-2).