The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 72

-THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR- SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1987 D-2 COLLEGE FOOTBALL Keyes: Purdue's lock of the century NOT LONG ago. as part of the celebration for Purdue's 100th year in football, fans selected their all-time team. It's an Impressive list; plenty of record-breakers, All-Amerlcans and Pro Bowlers. And It was no surprise that one player made It twice on offense and defense. But this was only because he was a whole heap of football player.

So, when It came time to name the best ever. It was an absolute, mortal lock. i f. wv i fwi- lti trf I It was No. 23.

Leroy Keyes. Take yourself back to 1966-67-68. Jack Mollenkopf put together some of the finest teams In Purdue history. They went 25-6 and won the 1967 Rose Bowl- They llt up the scoreboard and the hearts of 0 OPORTS OVER Lightly By BOB COLLINS STAR STAFF PHOTO ROB GOEBEU Tennessee State's Frank Pillow (left) snares a pass as Central State's Greg Fitzpatrick defends. Central St.

nips Tennessee St. By MARK AMBROGI STAR STAFF WRITER If Bill Thomas had It all to do over again, he wouldn't. If It was Stacy Grear's decision, he never would have. ft was a fake field goal attempt that failed in Tennessee State's 31-28 loss to Central' State In the fourth Circle City Classic football game in the Hoo-sler Dome Saturday. On fourth and 6 on the Central State 21 and time ticking down quickly.

Tennessee State tried a fake field goal that fooled nobody at least on Central State. The play lost two yards and the Marauders proceeded to run out the clock. "Now that is all with and it didn't work, I'd probably run a play," said Tennessee State Coach Bill Thomas. "We did have one assignment breakdown that was costly. Our wing was supposed to seal off the inside and he didn't.

But we could have run a play and that might not have worked. As far as field goals, we're talking about needing a pretty good kick." The botched play spoiled what was appearing to be a spectacular comeback bid by the the ball to Leroy. And get out of his way. The big dude (6-3, 200) from Newport News, was wondrous on a football field. He could run like the wind.

He could Jump In the air and throw the ball 40 yards. He caught passes. His klckoffs flew off of the playing field. He scooted for touchdowns. He caught passes for touchdowns.

He ran back kicks and fumbles for touchdowns. And he was. In my opinion and that of many others, one of the finest defensive backs ever to play college football. He could turn the best receivers Into spectators. There were so many facets to his game Purdue coaches had trouble deciding where to play him.

At first they used him mainly as a defensive back. But the lad ran like he had rockets In his shoes. When Leroy found daylight and switched to the after-burners the opposition saw nothing but smoke. And he knew how to run. So every once In a while the Purdues would put him In on offense.

It was sending a message. The entire stadium. Including 1 1 very Important people on the other side, knew what was coming next. It was like getting on the p.a. and saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, No.

23, Leroy Keyes Is In the game. He will take a pitch and run around left end." And he'd still gain 10 yards. I can see him now: head high, knees almost under his chin, legs swinging like they had a mind of their own. The late Max Stultz wrote, "The only way to stop Leroy Keyes is to deny him admission to the stadium." Keyes had so many great games It's hard to select a few. Better to stuff some notes In bottles and take the ones that arrive first.

So I'll try a few of my memories. In Leroy's Junior season he was burning up the country as a runner. But In the Notre Dame game, Terry Hanratty and Jim Seymour were connecting like Siamese Twins. Seymour was getting double coverage and still caught seven passes In the first half. So Mollenkopf went back to basics: one receiver, one Leroy.

It was an unfair match. Seymour caught only one more pass. Purdue won, 28-21. Against Iowa he ran for 143 yards and caught Mike Phlpps' passes for another 120. Just a day at the office for Leroy: touchdowns of 81, 3, 27 and 46 yards.

Against Illinois he scored three touchdowns and threw to Jimmy Beirne for another. He rushed for 224 yards, an average of 10.7 a carry. And he was playing with bruised ribs! Keyes was the national and Big Ten scoring leader with 19 touchdowns, 118 points and an average of 6.61 a carry. Leroy finished third In the Heisman Trophy voting. The following year he was slowed by Injuries, but still gained 1 .003 yards.

He was runner-up to O.J. Simpson for the Heisman. Even without considering that he mostly was a defensive player during his sophomore season, his numbers are Incredible. He scored 37 touchdowns and 222 points. He caught 80 passes for 1,204 yards.

He completed 12 of 22 passes for six touchdowns. He traveled almost 300 yards with kick returns and another 166 with pass Interceptions. Keyes now Is a desegregation liaison specialist for the Philadelphia school district. And he still is the same happy-go-lucky, I-hardly-can-walt-for-the sun-to-rise-tomorrow guy. only regret Is that his professional career never got off the ground.

Many figured that his selection in the NFL draft was a passport to the Hall of Fame. But near the end of his rookie season he pulled an Achilles tendon. That's serious. He had an operation and at the Insistence of management returned too soon. He Injured It again, and it all was downhill from there.

lasted four years with the Eagles and one more with Kansas City. So, at least he stayed around long enough to qualify for a pension. The trip to the Hall of Fame detoured early. But like I said, Leroy is an up person. Start him talking about his years at Purdue and you almost can see the smile through the telephone.

"All of my memories of Purdue are good." he recalls. "It's a great Institution. I got an excellent education and the friendships are.ones I'll never forget." His memories of his Purdue career are a montage: a canvas filled with happy days. He has trouble sorting out the games. Still, It's Interesting to note that two readily recalled by the greatest running back In Purdue history were defensive assignments.

There was the "Seymour game." There was another against Southern Methodist. SMU had a player named Jerry Levlas, who traveled at about the speed of light. Purdue had an outstanding defensive backfield, but Mollenkopf gave Keyes, a sophomore, the assignment. Says Leroy, "It was Jack's way of saying, 'I trust That was important for a sophomore." Of course, Leroy kept Levlas in a blanket. Keyes Is returning to West Lafayette for the Ohio State game.

Oct. 17. He can hardly wait. When the multitude at Ross-Ade Stadium sensed that Leroy was about to carry the football, there wasn't a fanny on a seat. They all were on their feet.

Another standing ovation on Oct. 17 would seem to be In order. 14 on a 10-yard pass from Hines -to Pillow. -i Morrow's first TD run was set up by a 27-yard pass from Tay-t lor to Moore that narrowly missed being a touchdown. "I'd say I went out on half-Inch line," said Moore, shared Most Valuable Player honors with Pillow.

Moore caught three passes for' 101 yards and returned seven punts for 96 yards. Pillow ished with 12 catches for 202 yards. "They knew we had a good running game and seemed to be, ready for that." Moore said. "Irt" the first half, they were employ-" 1 ing a one-on-one. I love one-on-one coverage.

My eyes get real big when I see that and so does the quarterback's." Taylor completed Just 5 of 21 for 1 50 yards, but rushed for 63 yards on 13 carries. who was averaging over 90 yards a game, was held to 55' yards on 22 carries. Morrow add-1 ed a 2-yard TD run in the third, quarter. For Central State, it was Just the team's fifth victory in 28; meetings with the Tigers. On the I season.

Central State Improved to 5-0 while Tennessee State fell to 1-2-1. "They are a real fine football team with a great tradition," said. "Anytime you can beat team that plays on a higher lever than you. It's nice. They're, a Division 1-AA team and we're Just a NAIA school." T.niwtM.

1 a Cntral St (II 7 TSU-Harrli St pass from Hines (Sherrill kkk) CSU-Moort SO pass from Taylor (kick failed) CSU Morrow 1 run (Taylor run) CSU-FG Khalai 44 rt CSU-Morrow I run (Khalai kick) TSU-Pillow 10 pass from Hines (Sherrill kick) CSU-Morrow 2 run (Khalai kick) TSU-Grear 1 run (Sherrill kick) TSU-PHlow 31 pass from Grear (Sherrill kick) TSU CSU First downs 17 14 Rushes-yards K-a 45-147' Purdue fans. It also was the era of give Butler to win after an opening game loss. Northeast Missouri, which amassed 497 yards total offense, had driven to the Butler 21 after Roketi Esau had cut Butler's margin to 27-22 with a 57-yard touchdown run. Joe Glllum's one-yard TD smash and John Jenkins' conversion In the first quarter got Butler off to a 7-0 lead and the visitors never trailed, holding a 7-3 margin at halftlme. Butler's other touchdown came on a 16-yard third-quarter pass from quarterback Rob Cutter to Chad Alcorn.

Cutter completed 10 of 25 passes for 136 yards and Alcorn led Butler receivers with four catches for 33 yards. Esau, who scored a third-quarter touchdown on a three-yard run, piled up 151 yards rushing on 25 carries for Northeast Missouri, while Matt Held-mann. who hit Ed Stowe with a four-yard scoring pass, completed 28 of 63 aerials for 312 yards. Walsh does it like Vinny in Miami comeback win Harold Hogue caught Grear for a 10-yard loss. Grear didn't give up.

hitting Craig Hodge for passes of 3 and 1 1 yards. After the fake failed. Central State ran the clock out finally. "With a 31-14 lead, we were trying to be conservative take 1 the ticks off the clock and keep our offense off the field," Central State Coach Billy Joe said. "But we got too conservative and gave them the opportunity to get back in the game." On the strength of a few big plays and Terry Morrow's three touchdown runs.

Central State cruised to a 31-14 lead. The Tigers scored the first touchdown of the game on a 58-yard TD pass from Hines to Terence Harris. The Marauders came back with a big play of their own on a 50-yard scoring, pass from Mel Taylor to Pernell Moore. The extra point attempt failed, but Central State went ahead for good on a 1-yard TD run by Morrow In the second quarter. Reza Khalaj then added a 44-yard field goal before Morrow scored again on a 1-yard run to put Central State ahead 24-7.

But Tennessee State closed the gap at halftime to 24- ence what was happening In the ballgame. they were determined to win." The Seminoles. who limited Miami to 81 yards in the first half, appeared en route to an easy victory. Dwayne Williams ran 1 yard for a touchdown on the first play of the second period for a 7-3 lead and Schmidt sandwiched his two successful field goals around a blocked punt by Martin Mayhew, which Alphonso Williams returned 5 yards for a third-period touchdown. BRING IN 20 or $5.00 Rebate MICHELINj WiittwiB XA4 WiitiwaH xwwt wkittwin XH-XCH4 Trick GT4 Radial TA Bias RWL Tl Radial RWL Tamil Radial Mid Tirraii Radial mm FREE Lowest Prices (Willi pi K.qulr.d TIRE AD AND ON A SET OF trf.

IMi i'Ml, Tigers before a record Circle City crowd of 47,415. "I was surprised by the call. I wanted us to go for It." said Grear, who replaced starting quarterback Chauncey Hines (12 for 40, 192 yards) In the fourth quarter. "I thought the momentum was In our favor. But I'm Just a player, not a coach." Sparked by a change of quarterbacks.

Tennessee State scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull within three points. Grear hit all nine of his passes for 166 yards. He tossed a 35-yard pass to Frank Pillow and a 21-yarder to Terence Harris to set up his own 1-yard TD run. On the next possession. Grear hit Pillow for a 31 -yard scoring strike.

Grear admits that being sacked twice hampered the final drive. The first time, Darren Harris nailed him for a 10-yard loss to make It second and 20 on the Tigers' 40. But Grear hit Eric Gray for a 8-yard pass and Pillow for a 9-yarder to set up a big fourth down play. On fourth and 3, Grear and Pillow connected on an 18-yarder. On first down on the Central State 25, the Marauders came up with another key sack as" ered for Miami at the 11.

The Hurricanes scored the winning touchdown four plays later. Finally, McManus threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Ronald Lewis with 42 seconds to play. But, after each team called a timeout, Miami cornerback Bubba McDowell knocked down McManus' two-point conversion pass Intended for tight end Pat Carter. "I thought we had won," Florida State Coach Bobby Bow-den said. "I don't really know how we lost this one.

I didn't think we deserved to lose it. We were up 19-3 and had to make mistakes for them to get back into it." Bowden said his staff "had decided before the game, and I had decided" after 1980 when we lost by one, that I would go for the tie In the same situation. We had the extra-point team in, but I changed my mind. We had missed so many today and the wind was really affecting our kicker." The dramatic raily gave Miami its 16th consecutive regular-season victory away from home and extended the Hurricanes' regular-season winning streak to 24 games. Miami is 3-0 this season.

Florida State 4-1. Miami leads the Intrastate se-riesJ8-13 "Do they have some character?" Miami Coach Jimmy Johnson said after upping his road record to 18-1. "We beat one heck of a football team out there. Florida State plays us better than anyone. "But Florida State for the last three years has had a lead on us at halftime.

and we've gone out and won in the fourth quarter. "They (Miami) absolutely would not quit. They absolutely would not give up." Johnson said. "It didn't make any dlffer- raising yaros 324 S) miurn yaras 45 Passw SM S-J1-0 n.37.2, 7-44, 32:43 Punts n-39 1 Fumhles-lost 3-j Penalties-yards us Time of possession 2717 Individual itatlitlci RUSHING-Tennessee Hines 4-20, Gray 5-13. Central Taylor 13-43, Morrow 22-55.

PASSING-Tennessee Hines t2-40-19J-Q Grear 9-9-164-0. Central Taylor 5-21-1SM RECEIVING-Tennessee Pillow 12-202, HafJ' ris 4-114. Central Moore 3-101, Watts 2-49. ANY CURRENT INDIANAPOtIS rfoftPfW 1 I WE WILL MATCH THE PRICE 4 TIRES AND YOU RECEIVE ASSOCIATED PRESS Tallahassee, Fla. Steve Walsh has been under a microscope as the successor to Vlnny Testaverde, the Miami Hurricane's Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.

On Saturday, after almost three quarters of misery, the 6-foot-3 sophomore from, of all places, St. Paul, earned his place In the sun and the college football spotlight. Held to eight completions in his first 20 attempts against a ferocious Florida State defense. Walsh passed for three touchdowns in the final 16 minutes, Including a 73-yarder with flanker Michael Irvln on an audible with 2:22 left, that gave third-ranked Miami a stunning 26-25 victory over the No. 4 Semlnoles.

"We showed a great deal of character, a great deal of patience and a great deal of poise," said Walsh, who passed 49 yards to fullback Melvin Bratton with 57 seconds left In the third period and 26 yards to Irvln at 3:21 of the final period. He also hit Brian Blades and Warren Williams with two-point conversion passes, the second of which tied the score, 19-19. Florida State, which led. 19- 3. with 16 minutes remaining, had three chances to win In the final 6V2 minutes but wasted each opportunity.

Derek Schmidt, who kicked field goals of 36 and 25 yards but missed a 29-yarder In the third quarter as well as a conversion attempt following Florida State's second touchdown, was wide right on a 31 -yard try with 6:17 remaining. With 3:29 left, quarterback Danny McManus fumbled a snap from center and All-Amerlcan free safety Bennle Blades recov CASH REBATE per fire with purchase ol less than 4 1J.1.I J- 1 OOODVCAH Arriva Whitewall Vector Whitewall Tiempo Whitewall Caste S.T. RWL tajle GT RWL Stitltr Radial Tiftr Paw Radial Fastrtek Radial Ti Paw Plat wist. Koiy Meet MOUNTING are Evervthina! lower than the lowest. Roberts rushes STAR SPECIAL REPORT Klrksvllle.

Mo. Sophomore tailback Steve Roberts scored two touchdowns and set a Butler single-game Individual rushing record of 247 yards to lead the Bulldogs to a 27-22 over the host Northeast Missouri Bulldogs Saturday. Roberts, who carried the ball 34 times, accounted for all but four of Butler's 251 -yard rushing total In eclipsing the previous school record of 206 yards set by Bruce Sclfres against Franklin In 1976. Roberts, who prepped at Indianapolis Ritter, scored his first touchdown on a 38-yard scamper in the third quarter, then scored on a 77-yard Jaunt In the fourth period to give Butler a 27-16 lead. But it took a pass Interception by Butler's Bob Esplch at the Butler 10-yard line with 21 seconds left in the game to seal the Bulldogs' third straight victory Otherwise why would we advertise? NO GIMMICKS just buy America's best tires at 53.UU per tire mmm.