The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 37

Des Moines Sunday Register September 12. 1993 9D 1 College Football Dallas-Buffalo: No Super Bowl i Jf ML 1 From Rkclstkk Wire. Services For seven months, the Buffalo Bills have longed to purge Super Bowl XXVII from their system. The 5 Vv-' Texas Tech's Uoyd Hill tries to slip ir.i n. "X- past Nebraska cornerback Barron 1 rtiniiiiil wnmnHriUfl ti MMlr- wtnn rw jwl I uskers heed Osborne's whip Texas Te 1 Miles during the first half at Lincoln.

Colorado 45, Baylor 21 Boulder, Colo. Wide receiver Charles Johnson scored three first-half touchdowns by a variety of methods, and lOth-ranked Colorado used a balanced offense to crush No. 24 Baylor. The Buffaloes, generating more than 200 yards rushing and passing for the second week in a row, built a 42-0 third-quarter lead before Baylor scored on three consecutive possessions. Johnson, who had six catches for 151 yards in the first half, caught a 69-yard pass from Kordell Stewart midway through the first quarter to put the Buffaloes ahead, 14-0.

Nineteen seconds later, Johnson scored again. One play after Baylor committed its second turnover of the game, Colorado tailback James Hill took a pitchout around left end and, as he approached the goal line, fumbled into the end zone. Johnson recovered for a touchdown. On the final play of the half, Johnson made a diving end-zone reception of a pass that was tipped by teammate Michael Westbrook for his third touchdown a pass that covered 39 yards. ch -f I Associated itos Hill scored on the play.

Missouri 31, Illinois 3 Columbia, Mo. Jeff Handy did the predictable, but Missouri's defense was a huge surprise. Handy passed for 281 yards and two touchdowns and the Tigers' defense, ranked last in the Big Eight last year, also had a big game in a season-opening victory. The game was so big that they've got a new nickname and T-shirts to show off. "I'm very pleased with the first appearance of the 'Black said Skip Hall, Missouri's fourth defensive coordinator in four years.

"That's the type of debut you hope for." Missouri hasn't had a winning season since 1983, but Illinois hasn't been the reason, losing five in a row at Columbia. Missouri, which has won three consecutive games, allowed its fewest points since a 28-3 victory over Northwestern in 1987. Coach Bob Stull said linebacker Darryl Major gave the defense a huge boost in its first series when he stopped Bobby Sanders and knocked the ball loose on a third-and-1 at the Illinois 27. That type of play continued. "If they'd have gotten things going, who knew what would have happened," Stull said.

"We did a real good job of keeping them in front of us and not giving up the big play." Handy has thrown for more than 200 yards in all seven of his career starts. Illinois 14 31- 80 175 52 19-392 7-43 2 1 5-54 30:01 0 3 Missouri 22 35- 71 294 45 21-33 1 7-44 1-0 9-75 29:59 0 03 7 31 First downs Rushes-yards Passing Return yards Passes Punts Fumbles-lost Penalties-yards Time of possession Illinois Missouri .10 7 Washington 2 run (Pooler kick) rG fooler 3D 1 FG Richardson 18 Jadlot 1 1 pass from Handy (Pooler kick) Holly 15 pass from Handy (Pooler kick) Washington 15 run (Pooler kick) INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Rushing Illinois; Lynch 19-81; Missouri: Washington 15-56. Freeman 8-17. Passing Illinois: Weaver 18-32-2-169: Missouri: Handy 20-30-28 1 Corso 1 -3-1 -1 3. Receiving Illinois Klein 7-57.

Fisher 3-41. Strong 2- 33. Dilgor 2-1 1, Mosely 117. Voelker 1-1 Missouri: Holley 6-82. Olodile 5-88.

Sallee 5-63. Jadlog 2-33. Jenkins 1-13. Griggs 1-13. Kansas State 38, Western Kentucky 13 Manhattan, Kan.

Chad May passed for two second-half touchdowns and scored on a 1-yard plunge to help Kansas State break open a close game. May completed all eight of his passes in the second half after the Division I-AA Hilltoppers got a 35-yard field goal from Chris Pino at the end of the first half to pull within 14-13. The Wildcats ran their home winning streak to eight games, their longest in seven decades. May completed 15 passes for 233 50-27 third team since leaving Chicago in 1989, and the Bears hardly resemble the grizzlies he once starred for. But the bad blood between the two sides runs deep.

McMahon went out of his way this week to rip current Bears quarterback Jim Harbaugh don't think he has any gut instincts out and owner Mike McCaskey. He insisted that McCaskey once told him that it didn't matter if the Bears ever won the Super Bowl, so long as they stayed competitive. McCaskey denied the statement. In Green Bay, the Rev. Reggie White aims to spread the gospel, as well as Eagles blockers.

White, the $17 million, free-agent defensive end, will get his first shot at his former teammates. But this ordained minister really wants a shot at Eagles owner Norman Braman, who told a Philadelphia magazine that he couldn't believe how local media swallowed "that crap about God" from White. "Braman is the one who should be worried." White said. "He is the one who will have to answer to God some day for calling his stuff 'crap. In Washington, former Posse leader Gary Clark returns home as a Phoenix Cardinal.

After Clark left this summer, several of the Redskins called him a whiner and a locker-room malcontent. The Cards were ineffective against the Eagles last week. Phoenix Coach Joe Bugel formerly the Redskins' offensive line coach is under instructions to win nine games this season or lose his job. It doesn't help to know that his team has been outscored, 10G-3, in the past three meetings at RFK Stadium. In New Orleans, two quarterbacks who switched clubs will meet.

Wade Wilson, who started five games for the Falcons last season, faces his old team as the starter for the Saints. Former Saints starter Bobby Hebert will be on Atlanta's bench backing up Chris Miller. If the Falcons fall behind, don't be surprised to see Coach Jerry Glanville push Hebert into the game. "I'd love to stuff it down their throats," said Hebert. Elsewhere, the Chargers face their former running back, Rod Bernstine, in Denver.

And the Rams play host to their former pass-rush specialist, Kevin Greene, who now plays for the Steelers. Free agency will make these reunions commonplace in the future, but the first time is the charm. "I'm not thinking about playing San Diego twice a year," said Bernstine. "I'm thinking about making them look foolish right now for letting me go." Analysis ON THE VIKINGS: So, Jim McMahon, playing your first game against your old team, the Chicago Bears, in the Metrodome must be special, right? "No." That was one of the better re-. sponses from the Minnesota quarterback during his weekly media briefing and a far cry from his criticism of Bears President Michael McCaskey and quarterback Jim Harbaugh in the October issue of Inside Sports.

McMahon did say that today's game is important for the Vikings because they "lost the opener, and this is a division game we need to win." And that he still has a "lot of friends on (the Bears)" and that "we all want to win the game" and "we'll all be friends after" the game. And that the Bears' defense "played a hell of a game against the Giants." And that he failed to make some plays early in last week's 24-7 loss to the Raiders. But don't ask him about his days with the Bears. "That was a long time ago," he mumbled, before abruptly ending the brief briefing. Gregg Wong St.

Paul Pioneer Press ON THE BEARS: The Chicago Bears' blueprint for victory includes a sustained running attack, fewer turnovers and improved communication on defense. If the Minnesota Vikings and former Bears quarterback Jim McMahon will sit back and cooperate, the Bears can avoid their first 0-2 start since 1982, when Mike Dit-ka began his 1 1 -year career as coach. "This isn't Steve McMichael versus Jim McMahon, or McMahon versus the Bears," said Coach Dave Wannstedt. "i mean, we could fall into a real trap of putting all our attention on Jim McMahon and they could run the football right down our throat. We have to be ready to defend and play the Vikings as a team." Jim Harbaugh, who was intercepted once and lost a fumble in the Bears' opening 2(5-20 loss to the New York Giants, has tried to ignore disparaging remarks by McMahon in recent weeks.

"I really don't listen to what peripheral people have to say," he said. Fred Mitchell Chicago Tribune Dallas Cowboys have been trying to forget about it for only a few days. The Bills insist there is no revenge motive in today's game at Texas Stadium. Likewise, the Cowboys pretend that a memorable Weak knee bz-u evening in the Pasadena twilight never took place. "Most of the guys are not really looking back at the Super Bowl," cornerback Kevin Smith said.

"Buffalo's a good team. They can play with anybody. We think we match up talent-wise with anybody in the league, but this game is not going to be like the Super Bowl." The Cowboys aren't looking for a five-touchdown landslide, not after their 35-16 opening defeat at Washington. It was the most one-sided opening loss for a Super Bowl champion. It was not a game that builds confidence for a team that remains without one of its greatest weapons, running back Emmitt Smith.

"We'd all like to go into a game with the best team we can have," center Mark Stepnoski said. "It is frustrating, but there's nothing you can do about it." The Bills know frustration. The 1971-73 Miami Dolphins are the only other team to play in three consecutive Super Bowls. Those Dolphins won two and are regarded as one of the game's greatest teams. The Bills have lost all three and have become the butt of jokes.

Said quarterback Jim Kelly: "This team knows how to focus. We keep our eye on the target and don't worry about the past." Kelly will be the focus of much attention at Texas Stadium. His cartilage-damaged right knee won't keep him from starting against Dallas, but significant contact could drive him from the game quickly. The Bills do have one of the game's best backups in Frank Reich, who led them to their memorable 41-38, wild-card victory over Houston last season. Reunion day Today is reunion day in the NFL.

There are more grudge matches in the league than the World Wrestling Federation has in a year. More than a dozen former free agents will face their old teams in less-than-cordial get-togethers: In Minneapolis, Jim McMahon goes up against the Bears for the first time in his career. He is on his Hometown ON THE PACKERS: Wayne Simmons' nickname is "Big Money." The Green Bay rookie linebacker should get plenty of chances to earn it today against Randall Cunningham and the Philadelphia Eagles. Simmons, a first-round draft pick, likely will play what's called the "look" position in the Packers' nickel defense. The "look" is a wrinkle the Packers employed effectively in last season's 27-24 victory over the Eagles.

The idea is to contain Cunningham, the finest running quarterback in the NFL, by placing the "look" linebacker about 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage on obvious passing downs. From there, the "look" mirrors Cunningham's every move. Brett Collins manned the position against the Eagles last season. He didn't register any tackles or assists, but did prevent Cunningham from applying extreme pressure by running free beyond the pocket. That would help today.

Chris Havel Green Bay Press-Gazelle ON THE CHIEFS: Joe came. Joe threw. Joe iced. Kansas City quarterback Joe Montana practiced Friday. He threw what Coach Marty Schottenheimer estimated to be 70 passes, including warm-up throws.

Montana declared the wrist fit, though still a bit sore. But no one is saying whether he will start against Houston at noon today in the Astrodome. "I thought he was fine," Schottenheimer said. "We'll make a decision Sunday." Friday, Montana had an ice pack strapped to his wrist while Dave Krieg took the team through its two-minute drill. "It didn't feel too bad for the first day," Montana said.

"It was a little sore throwing the ball. But once you got by the mental part of it and knowing the first few times you throw you are not doing any damage, I felt OK." KentPuUiam Kansas City Star Kelly Baylor Colorado 22 29 54-236 51-237 133 298 0 50 9 17 0 20-2SO 645 3-39 5-3 4-2 4-45 5-31 30 24 29 36 .0 0 7 14 21 .21 14 7 3 rally to By RICK BROWN Register Staff Writer Lincoln, Neb. With ninth-ranked Nebraska on its heels Saturday at Memorial Stadium, Texas Tech promptly shot itself in the foot. Trailing, 21-20, deep into the third quarter, the Cornhuskers turned two Red Raiders turnovers into quick touchdowns in less than a minute and went on to a 50-27 victory. "We had to dig down and see what we were made of in the third quarter," Nebraska linebacker Trev Alberts said.

Alberts, a senior from Cedar Falls, proved why he's a candidate for the Butkus Award, given each year to the country's top linebacker, with a huge game. He had 10 tackles, including four for a loss, plus three sacks. He also caused a fumble. "I've played better, but I'm pleased with the effort," Alberts said. After Byron Bennett's 29-yard field goal put Nebraska in front, 23-21, with 4 minutes 37 seconds left in the third quarter, Coach Tom Osborne had a meeting with the defense before it went onto the field.

"He said, 'Guys, we need a turnover, we need something big to Alberts recalled. Alberts obliged, stripping Texas Tech quarterback Robert Hall of the ball. Nebraska's Darren Williams recovered at the Red Raider 24. Five plays later, quarterback Tommie Frazier threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Gerald Armstrong. Texas Tech's Derrell Mitchell fumbled the ensuing kickoff, which was recovered by Nebraska's Tyrone Williams at the 5.

1-back Damon Ben-ning, starting in place of the injured Calvin Jones, scored from 2 yards out two plays later and the rout was on. "Without that fumbled kickoff, I think we would have been in the soup for the rest of the day," Osborne said. Jones, who is questionable for Saturday's game at UCLA after straining the medial collateral ligament in his left knee against North Texas State in the season opener, grew anxious on the sidelines when Texas Tech took the lead on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Hall to Bruce Hill. "I really wanted to come in when it was 21-20," Jones said afterward. Nebraska's 190th consecutive sellout crowd was also anxious until Texas Tech because gracious with the "Boy, I'll tell you, just a few things here and there and it's a different ball game," Texas Tech Coach Spike Dykes said.

"They (Nebraska) just rolled up their sleeves and went to work. That's the mark of a good team. They never panicked and they never did anything out of the ordinary. Against a team like Nebraska you've got to make a 60-minute commitment, and that's hard." Benning, a second-year freshman from Omaha, also scored Nebraska's first touchdown on a 45-yard scamper down the left sideline and finished with 127 yards in 19 carries. "My main concern is always the victory, and the 100 yards came along with it," Benning said.

Nebraska finished with 317 yards on the ground and 217 in the air. Frazier, who sprained an ankle on the first play against North Texas State and saw limited practice time during the week, completed just 12 of 27 passes and missed several open receivers. "That shouldn't have been 217 yards passing, it should have been 317," Osborne said. "Frazier didn't have his rhythm. He was a little rusty.

TtxuTtch 19 34-137 166 0 11-25-0 7-39 NlbrMha 29 59-317 217 43 13-29-0 3-44 2-1 13-111 37:06 627 14 50 First downs Rushet-yardi Passing Return yards Passes Punts Fumbles-tost 2-2 Penalties-yards 6-55 Time of possession 22:54 TexMTech 7 7 7 Nebraska 10 10 16 Benning 45 run (Bennett kick) FG Bennett 41 Mitchell 34 pass from Hall (Davis kick) Frazier 1 run (Bennett kick) T-L Hill 51 pass from Hall (Davis kick) FG Bennett 45 T-B Hill 26 pass from Hall (Davis kick) FG Bennett 29 Armstrong 5 pass from Frazier (Bennett kick) Benning 2 run (kick failed) Phillips 30 run (Bennett kick) Morris 19 run (run failed) Makovlcka 30 run (Bennett kick) A 75.771 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Rushing Texas Tech: Morris 16-114, Crain 1-14, Starr 2-12, Hall 12-7; Nebraska: Benning 19-127, Phillips 14-80. Makovlcka 2-28, Frazier 11-16. Passing Texas Tech: Hall 10-21-0-169. Clem-mons 1-4-0-17; Nebraska: Frazier 12-27-0-206, Ber-nnger 1-2-0-11. Receiving-Texas Tech: L.Hill 6-106.

Hill 3-32, Mitchell 1-34; Nebraska: Dixon 6-116, Muhammad 2-43. Oklahoma 44, Texas A 14 Norman, Okla. Cale Gundy accounted for three touchdowns and 17th-ranked Oklahoma had an outstanding effort from its defense to beat No. 5 Texas A Gundy threw two touchdown passes and scored on a 2-yard run. Scott Blanton kicked three field goals as the Sooners beat a team ranked in the top five for the first time since defeating No.

1 Nebraska in the final game of the 1987 season. The Aggies got within 27-14 midway through the fourth quarter after trailing by 20, but Oklahoma scored 17 points in the final 3 minutes. Oklahoma's defense limited the Aggies to 71 yards in the first half as the Sooners opened a 13-0 lead. Oklahoma had five interceptions and blocked a punt in snapping Texas A M's streak of 22 consecutive regular-season victories. The Sooners held A below 200 yards rushing for the first time in seven games.

It was the Aggies' worst loss since a 52-15 loss to Oklahoma State in 1988. Gundy wound up 13-of-24 for 167 yards. The Aggies got the first break of the game when they recovered a fumble at Oklahoma's 23-yard line. But they couldn't take advantage. Corey Pullig overthrew his receiver on third-and-4 and John Anderson intercepted to stop the threat at the Sooner 7.

The Sooners then used two big penalties to drive down the field and finish with a 37-yard field goal. Texas AiM Oklahoma First downs 1 5 26 Rushes-yards 39-172 53-230 Passing yards 97 167 Return yards 0 55 Passes 10-23 5 13-25-0 Punts 5-41 3-45 Fumbles-lost 2-1 4-2 Penalties-yards 7-55 2-20 Time of possession 26 17 33 43 Texas 0 0 7 7 14 Oklahoma 3 10 7 24 44 0 FG Blanton 37 0 Warren 8 pass from Gundy (Blanton kick) 0 FG Blanton 39 0 Allen 10 pass from Gundy (Blanton kick) Thomas 1 run (Venetoulias kick) 0 Gundy 2 run (Blanton kick) Thomas 3 run (Venetoulias kick) 0 FG Blanton 42 0 Chandler 9 run (Blanton kick) 0 Thompson 6 run (Blanton kick) A 68.211 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Rushing Texas AAM: Thomas 22 106. McElroy 10- 51. Smith 2-10; Oklahoma: Allen 21-98. Collier 11- 79.

Chandler 5-31, Gundy 14-19 Passing Texas AAM Pullig 9-20-3 84. Preston 1- 2-1-13. Oklahoma Gundy 1 3-24-0-167 Receiving Texas Schorp 3-43. McElroy 214 Bierne 1-10 Harrison 110 Mathews 1 1 5: Oklahoma: Warren 4-41. Allen 3-33, Brady 2-31 Mills 2-35.

Chandler 1-19 First downs Rushes-yards Passing Return yards Passes Punts Fumbles-lost Penalties-yards Time of possession Baylor Warren 1 run (Berger kick) CC Johnson 69 pass from Stewart (Berger kick) C.Johnson fumble recovery in end zone (Berger kick) Stewart 2 run (Berger kick) CC Johnson 39 pass from Stewart (Berger kick) Kidd 25 pass from Joseph (Berger kick) Strait 1 run (Van Dyke kick) Henry 2 run (Van Dyke kick) Henry 1 4 run (Van Dyke kick) C-FG Blake 33 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Rushing Baylor: Jackson 14-73. Henry 14-59. Strait 8-48, Lewis 8-39. Muhammad 2-11; Colorado Salaam 20-79, Warren 14-60, Stewart 6-39. Hill 5-30 Joseph 4-22.

Passing Baylor: Joe 9-1 7-0 1 33: Colorado: Stewart 14 18-0 221, Joseph 5-7-0'55. Tobin 1-3-0 22 Receiving Baylor: Crawford 3 31, Lewis 2 33, Dennard 219. Stanley 1-39, Strait 1-11: Colorado: Johnson 6-151. Westbrook 4-46, Warren 3-16. Kidd 1-25.

Ford 1-22. Cunningham 1-11. Embree 1-11. Oklahoma State 45, Southwest Missouri State 7 Stillwater, Okla. Two long touchdowns by Rafael Denson and a defense that forced six turnovers lifted Oklahoma State.

Denson, a flanker, turned a short pass into a 56-yard touchdown and returned a kickoff 89 yards for a score as the Cowboys broke open the score with 31 points in the second quarter. Southwest Missouri State, a Division I-AA school from Springfield, got its only score when Adrion Smith intercepted Gary Porter and returned the pass 34 yards for a touchdown. SW Missouri 12 33 29 131 84 16-28-2 738 6-4 3-25 Okla. St. 16 54-140 184 36 12-18-1 7- 50 2-0 8- 65 3633 0 7 045 First downs Rushes-yards Passing yards Return yards Passes Punts Fumbles-lost Penalties-yards Time of possession 2327 Southwest Missouri State 0 7 0 Oklahoma State 7 31 7 OS Adams 1 run (Vaughn kick) OS-FG Vaughn 28 OS Walker 18 fumble return (Vaughn kick) OS Denson 56 pass Irom Porter (Vaughn kick) OS Adams 1 run (Vaughn kick) SMS Smith 34 interception return (Boyer kick) OS Denson 89 kickoft return (Vaughn kick) 05 Culver 45 pass from Porter (Vaughn kick) INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Rushing Southwest Missouri State Reed 10-28, Wiggins 6 16 Oklahoma State Johnson 12-46.

Jefferson 9-43. Adams 7-21, Thompson 3-15. Passing Southwest Missouri State: Johnson 13-20-2-114. Whittaer 3-8 0-17. Oklahoma State: Porter 8-11 1152, Jones 4 732 Receiving Southwest Missouri State Pegues 6- 44 Perkins 4-37.

Calhous 3 27, Estes 2-16. Oklahoma State Denson 3-63. Thomas 4 59. Culver 1-45, Johnson 218, yards. W.Kent.

I First downs 1 5 Rushes-yards 56-179 Passing 112 Return yards 4 Passes 9-14-2 Punts 7-34 Fumbles-lost 4-2 Penalties-yards 5-35 Time of possession 36 01 Western Kentucky 0 13 0 Kansas State 7 7 14 KS-Smith 33 run (Wright kick) WK Jackson 6 run (Pino kick) WK-FG Pino 27 Kansas St. 22 331 75 249 53 16320 536 22 7-40 2359 0 13 10 38 KS Schiller 10 run (Wright kick) WK-FG Pino 35 FG KS-Lockett 33 pass from May (Wright kick) KS May 1 run (Wright kick) KS-Coleman 21 pass from May (Wright kick) KS FG Wright 24 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Rushing Western Kentucky Jackson 11-52. Jewell 20 36. Floyd Sarher 7-22, Bryant 5 20; Kansas State: Smith 11-99, Schiller 12 67, Edwards 4 33 i Passing Western Kentucky: Jewell 9-14-2 112; Kansas State May 15-29-0 233. Kavanagh 1 3-0 16 Receiving Western Kentucky Johnson 6-73.

Watti 2 33. Kansas State Coleman 4-67. Lockett 4-57. Seib 2-26. Smith 217.

Running 1-40. Logka 1-16, Schwteger 1-14. Smalls 1-12 4 i.