The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 25

UvLLoi luS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1995 The Indianapous Star Cote Feb(0)iimdl (from Jfe After a horrible start, the Colts make a terrific comeback, capping it with Mike Cofer's 52-yard field goal. Harbaugh gets support of teammates with rally Robin Miller Colts 27 NY Jets 24 Next game: vs. Buffalo, Sept. 17, noon; WTHR-13, WIBC-1070 AM. 4l East Rutherford, N.J.

Ted Marchibroda says he's going to give the quarterback position some serious consideration this week. But consider this: By Mike Chappell STAR STAFF WRITER East Rutherford, N.J. The Indianapolis Colts continued to work overtime Sunday evening at Giants Stadium In search of an identity. Cardiac Colts? Harbaugh's he-. roes? Mission: Improbable? Miserable at the start and mediocre in the middle, the Colts were downright magical down the stretch.

They stumbled into an ominous 24-3 black hole only a couple of minutes into the third quarter, but scrambled into the blinding light of a 27-24 overtime victory over the New York Jets that was created by Mike Cofer's 52-yard field goal. Credit defensive end Tony Bennett, who breathed life into the comatose Colts late in the third quarter by scooping up a Ron Moore fumble and returning it 32 yards for a touchdown that cut the monster 21 -point deficit to a more manageable 24-10. Credit backup quarterback Jim Harbaugh. who replaced Craig Erickson for the second week In a row and drained the life out of the Jets and 65,134 stunned fans by orchestrating a triumph that was an unlikely as it was imperative. Credit Cofer, who made amends for two earlier missed field goals by nailing a 52-yarder with 10:33 to play in overtime that nailed the Jets to the wall.

And credit the Colts en masse, who emerged their second overtime game in as many weeks with a 1-1 record and, most importantly, a pulse. Next stop: Buffalo. "I don't want to even think what it would have been like to be 0-2 and headed to Buffalo," said veteran center Kirk Lowdermilk. That's a feeling of desperation Lowdermilk and the Colts averted when they manufactured a triumph that carried historic overtones. Sunday's rousing resurrection tied the franchise record for its biggest comeback ever, equalling a 42-35 win over Buffalo In 1975 during which the Colts erased a similar 21 -point deficit.

The coach of that chaotic Colts' comeback? The same as Sunday's: Ted Marchibroda. "Sure, I remember (1975)," he said, "and we did it again. Being down 21 points Isn't a good situation, but anything can happen in the National Football League. The best thing about this team is that it never forgets to fight. "We can't always be doing things in this manner, but this ee COLTS Page 4 v- without Jim Harbaugh the Colts would be 0-2, this franchise would be deader than Jerry cia and their coach might be cleaning out his desk this morning.

Because just as everyone was about to stick a fork in Indy's 1995 season, Marchibroda stuck In Harbaugh. And did he ever stick it to New York. Playing with a burning ambition that finally ignited his team-tnates, Harbaugh lit up The Mead-owlands and toasted the Jets in one of the most incredible comebacks in NFL history. The 31 -year-old veteran took the field early in the third quarter looking down the barrel of a 21-point deficit. But he pulled the trigger for two touchdown passes and Inspired Indianapolis into overtime for the second straight week.

Only this time, Harbaugh got a Chance to finish the job. "Jim Harbaugh for mayor, no, make that president," shouted David Tate in the Colts' post-game euphoria. "Was that Troy Aikman or Joe echoed Damon Watts. "Soak it up, Jim, soak it up," screamed Ray Buchanan. Harbaugh, sitting among reporters still in uniform while everyone else headed for the bus, clearly was enjoying the afterglow.

And deservedly so. "This might be the best of all-time," he said, trying to describe his feelings. "I'm so happy, I'm just numb." That would likely be the Jets' condition today. On top 24-3, the New Yorkers got beat by a hot hand and a cool head who never seems to impress anybody no matter how well he plays. Harbaugh stepped up and made big completions scrambled and kept drives going strode into the huddle and took over, I "He was pumped up and he definitely sparked us," said center See MILLER Page 4 Saw mJ Star Staff Photos Paul Sancya I KNOW IT! Mike Cofer didn't even need to look at his game-winning kick, but he watched his 52-yard effort in overtime sail through the uprights anyway.

ANOTHER ESCAPE: Jim Harbaugh slips through the grip of Jets Marvin Washington (top) and Hugh Douglas. Sampras makes point in Open vin over Agassi cm 4 M- Villeneuve gets crown -m i11 1 ii pi 27 NYJets 24 despite llth-place hmsh WEEMSEEi Oakland 20 Washington 8 Protests WOn't matter Unser, a two-time series champi- St. Louis 17 New 13 Jatomininrt tVile on looked worn out following his Minnesota 20 Detroit X) 111 determining miS tough drive through the field after Buffalo 31 Carolina 9 year's IndyCar Champ. starting 14th. Kansas City 20 NY Giante 17 It "We're down a bit but we gave Cleveland 22 Tampa Bay 6 By Mike Harris our best shot.

Unser sald- Cincinnati 24 ''''Jacksonville''''' 17 associated press "That was everything we had." Unser needed to finish first or Sarl Francisc 41 Monterey, Calif. In the end It second to have any chance to beat Pjego Seattle 10 didn't matter that Jacques Ville- Villeneuve, and even then the title Dallas 31 Denver 21 neuve closed the season with a duel would have depended on the Philadelphia 31 Arizona 19 problem-filled llth-place finish In decision of a special panel that Sunday's Bank of America 300. wm near Team Penske's appeal of AMERICAN LEAGUE He had fun anyway. And now Unser's disqualification for a tech- Cleveland 5 Baltimore 3 he a champion. nlcaJ violation after he had appar- Detroit 5 Toronto 2 We had two tire punctures and enty won at Portland, in fexas 5 MHwaukeis 2 I ran over a piece of somebody iunp lexas 2 else's car that knocked off part of T.

Mnc 0, anH 5... pakiand 3 our front wine and cost us a lone That cost Unser 21 points and 5 Kansas City 4 our ironi wing ana cost us a long th remain in ques- pit stop but It was a fun race." tjon tne mcets the f0 t-hornia won byy Brazilian rookie. Gil de tK JSfSdS NATIONAL LEAGUE Ferran was Just good enough to w)th Vllleneuve beating Unser New York 6 Montreal wrap up the IndyCar PPG Cup 173.140 ln the unofficial results. Houston 5 Philadelphia wasa fun race because we reversal would give Unser giogo had to run hard all the way." the back his 21 points and take one San Francisco 8 Chicago 24-year-old Canadian-born driver awaV from Villeneuve. taking the Los Angeles 8 said.

"We ran aggressively and final margin 172-161. Florida 5 Atlanta A- came up through the field a couple "It's great having won the of times. And the result was what championship and not having to Keeping track with InfoLine we needed today." wait until the appeal," said Ville- For sports results, call Al Unser bid to overtake neuve, who will now take his first Star's InfoLine Ser-Vllleneuve In the standings fell far major championship with him pfcajjl vice at 6244636. Individ-short asv the defending series HMfia uul category cods are champion, drove to sixth place. See V.J-LENEUVE Page 5 listed on torjy's Scoreboarage.

A- By Steve Wilstein ASSOCIATED PRESS New York One point, 22 shots, a championship at stake with every breathtaking stroke. In that magnificent rally at the end of the first set Sunday, Pete Sampras imposed his will on Andre Agassi and broke him, literally on serve, figuratively in spirit. It was a point that meant more than any of tle 24 acs Sampras knifed through the whipping wind, more than the volley he dived for when he bloodied his knuckles and skinned his knees on the way to a third U.S. Open title, 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. that point, even with three sets yet to play, defined the match and decided it, showing that Sampras could beat Agassi at his own baseline game, no matter if he had to chase every ball from corner to corner.

"It's probably one of the best points I've ever been part of," Sampras said. "I certainly hope that makes the play of the day." That point should be preserved on videotape with alllthe gasps and screams and the final explosive cheers of the 20,000 fans in the background. TThat's one of the best points I've ever seen in my life;" Paul Annacone, Sampras' Interim coach, said. "Before the match I told Pete to try to get Into as many athletic points as he could get in." With that polijj1 and the eventual victory, jjfampras Associated Press TO THE TOP: Pete Sampras is the only player currently capable of handling Andre Agassi. reached No.

1 In the esteem of his greatest rival, if not yet once more In the rankings themselves, two months after taking his third straight Wimbledon championship. See SAMPRAS Page 5.