The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 35

THE COURIER-JOURNAL LOUISVILLE, KY. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1991 Vaecly bottles op time, Cats 17-7 Vols bring up the reai stun No. 5 Irish 35-34 By PAT FORDE Staff Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn. Early in the third quarter yesterday, the Vanderbilt Commodores took over at their 6-yard line. Somewhere in the distance was the end zone.

Eighteen plays and enough time for two playings of "Stairway To Heaven" later, Vandy quarterback Marcus Wilson came to rest in that end zone for a touchdown on the way to a 17-7 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats before a crowd of 40,168. "It was The Eternal Drive," Vandy center Kevin Brothen said. "When we got back at the 5-yard line, I looked downfield and saw a lot of lines. "The next thing you know we're at the 50, and the next thing you know we're in the end zone." And the next thing you know, Vanderbilt is a shocking 5-5. And Kentucky is an ugly 3-6 overall, 0-5 in the Southeastern Conference, and 1-25 on the road since early 1986.

That forced march through the UK defense pretty well summed up the game. The Cats' offensive possessions yesterday were commercial breaks in Vandy's two-hour, 45-minute production. The Wildcats made a habit of running out and muddling around for three and six plays at a time. Just about the time you noticed the offense was out there, Bill Hawk came in to punt. Then the Commodores took their ball and wouldn't share, methodically mauling their way through UK's defense.

Time of possession: Vandy 41 minutes, 51 seconds; UK 18:09. The Cats didn't get on the board until 37 seconds remained. "It's not fair," UK quarterback Ryan Hockman said. "They get 22 defensive players their offense and their defense. See VANDY Page 3, col.

2, this section By MIKE LOPRESTI Gannett News Service SOUTH BEND, Ind. So much for mystique. Notre Dame's last-second, game-winning field-goal attempt yesterday was ruined because it hit a guy from Tennessee on the rear end. Such was the uncommon ending to an extraordinary game. The No.

5-ranked Fighting Irish, ahead 31-7 late in the first half, walked away a stunned 35-34 loser to the No. 13 Volunteers after Rob Leonard's 27-yard field-goal try fluttered wide right at the gun. The kick had grazed the rear end of Tennessee's Jeremy Lincoln, who had roared in from the right side and dived in an attempt to block it. "I went up to my mom after the game," Lincoln said, "and thanked her for giving me such a big behind." Now that's something you don't hear every day after a key college football garnet But the Irish blowing dramatic finishes -r not to mention 24-point leads at home is rather rare, too. It was enough to send both coaches searching for highs and lows.

"The University of Tennessee has not had a more important comeback in our school's history," Johnny Majors said of his Vols (6-2). "This is the most difficult loss I've ever been associated with. It's the most disappointed I've ever been in in my life," Lou Holtz of his Irish (8-2), who had all chances of a national title shattered. They had driven 66 yards in the final four minutes to move into position for another rabbit-out-of-the-hat Notre Dame- victory with four seconds left. But all was not well.

Regular kicker Craig Hentrich had an left injured knee, leaving the chore to Leonard, a sophomore walk-on who was trying his first college field goal. The perfect Notre Dame hero story. But this time the luck of the Irish gave way to one good-sized rump. "They say there's a Notre Dame god." Tennessee tackle Shazzon Bradley said. "Well, there must be a Tennessee god, too." It completed a special teams disaster for Notre Dame.

Leading 31-7 and trying a short field goal late in the first half, the Irish had it blocked by Darryl Hardy-and returned 85 yards for a touchdown by Floyd Miley. See VOLS Page 9, col. 3, this section Lj" X. SSl L-- 1 ASSOCIATED PRESS Kentucky's Pookle Jones (16) fumbled when he was pressured by Alan Young. Jones managed just 28 yards passing.

Kentucky teams could use the one who got away -Vz i RICK 12 SP0RTS jff COLUMNIST NASHVILLE, Tenn. In a season when the University of Louisville runs the Err Schnellenberger attack and Kentucky tosses confetti over any completion more difficult than a pitchout, take comfort in this note: There is a Kentucky-bred quarterback who can do something with the football other than drop it, lose it, swallow it, deflate it or special deliver it to the wrong guys. Meet Marcus Wilson, leader of the Vanderbilt University offense. Meet a kid who remained the leading scorer in the South- I knew that for me to play quarterback there, they would have to change their whole offensive attack. I never did believe they were serious." Wilson rubbed a scar that twists across his nose and pointed to his ticker.

"But I always believed right here that I had the ability to play quarterback in the SEC," he said. "If I got the chance." Today Kentucky, winless still in the SEC, believes it, too. So does Army. Ole See LOCAL TEAMS Page 3, col. 2, this section learned that neither UK nor Uof believed he was the right one to run their attacks.

The right one? Uh-huh. "It really came down to Vanderbilt and Kentucky," Wilson said. "I didn't like the way my brother (James) got treated at UofL When the Louisville assistant coach came to recruit me, he talked about my playing defensive back. I looked right through that. "Kentucky said I might play quarterback and I might play defensive back.

But eastern Conference yesterday by dancing into the end zone twice in vandy's solid 17-7 victory over UK. Meet a kid who learned the game at Louisville Butler High School, and then 'ipmu my up wwm H7? 4. ft mm. A iiK A i 4' It really can get worse: Memphis State rips hapless of 35-7 By RUSS BROWN Staff Writer MEMPHIS, Tenn. This is how totally inept the University of Louisville offense was yesterday in the Cardinals' 35-7 loss to Memphis State in the Liberty Bowl: If such awards were given, defensive end Mel Mills would be the defensive and offensive player of the game.

Mills recovered a fumble in the end zone in the first quarter to account for of L's only points in what coach Howard Schnellenberger called the worst offensive performance by any of his Cardinals teams since he took over in 1985. And the ugly figures in of L's sixth consecutive defeat bear him out. The Cards (2-8) mustered only 101 yards total offense, including 8 net rushing yards, the second-lowest total by an opponent in Memphis State's 80-year football history. The record is a net of 0 rushing yards by Texas Arlington in 1962. The Cards crossed midfield only once under their own power, in the final minutes of the game, and then ran just two plays: An incomplete pass and a sack.

Their only other venture into Tigers territory came courtesy of a 54-yard kickoff return by Ralph Dawkins in the first quarter. Quarterbacks Erik Watts and Marty Lowe were sacked five times for 41 yards and were otherwise running for their lives or getting smashed when they released a pass. of had three turnovers two pass interceptions and a fumble and its average gain per play was only 1.8 yards. All of this against a Memphis State defense that had given up 1,140 yards the previous two weeks in losses to Tulsa and Tennessee and was allowing 389 yards per game. "Once again our football team shot themselves in the foot with a number of errors in See MEMPHIS STATE Page 5, col.

1, this section ASSOCIATED PRESS Memphis State's Jeremy Williams, left, zeroed In on of L's Ralph Dawkins, who was trying to escape Anthony Collins. Fit for a Queen romps by five in Churchill BBC Handicap going a one-turn mile is like a long sprint, said Penrod, who won his 19th stakes here. "And she's never on the lead in a sprint." Fit for a Queen, a chestnut daughter of Fit to Fight Titled by Impressive, paid $5.40. Wilderness Song, the even-money favorite ridden by Pat Day, finished IVi See FIT FOR A QUEEN Page 18, col. 4, this section drew away through the stretch while Lopez tapped her just once with the whip.

Fit for a Queen was timed in 1:38 over a track rated fast that played deep and tiring. "I just let them go on, didn't attempt to rush her," said Lopez, who won his fourth stakes at Churchill since coming to Kentucky IVj years ago. "I just waited for my moment to make a move." "There was a lot of speed in the race, and Cup's premium stakes program. She also was fourth last weekend in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Distaff. Fit for a Queen usually races on the lead, but for this one-mile race around one turn jockey Ricardo Lopez settled her in third behind dueling leaders Summer Matinee and Spinster winner Wilderness Song.

Lopez then swung Fit for a Queen outside to take command turning for home, and she day's five-length victory in the $154,700, Grade III Churchill Downs Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap for distaffers her fourth beer triumph, along with two seconds and three thirds. "She's a Budweiser horse, isn't she?" said trainer Steve Pcnrod. A Breeders' Cup one as well. Fit for a Queen won the Sabin Breeders' Cup last winter at Gulfstream, which is part of the By JENNIE REES Staff Writer They call the Budweiser Breeders' Cup Special Stakes program "beer" races, so Hermitage Farm's 5-year-old mare Fit for a Queen must be considered the Queen of Beers. Fit for a Queen has been in nine Bud races the past three seasons, with yester INSIDE LOOKING BACK 46 YEARS AGO NOV.

10, 1945 No. 1 Army routed No. 2 Notre Dame 48-0 In college football the most lopsided victory ever by a No. 1 team over a No. 2 team.

Holy Cross' Baum, Trinity run to titles Notre Dame tops Mercy in state volleyball final Pro basketball High school sports Pro football Sports Etc. Outdoors 12-13 14 15 16 17 18-19 See Page 12 See Page 13 Bowling. Thoroughbred racing 'Baum.