The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 59

Canes Defense Gators Stops fractures and Steven Tannen, a defensive back, was carried off with a hip injury. Jimmy Dye and Tony C'llne were the top Miami casualties In an exhausting game where they were playing for keeps after the tradition of 29 years. The win gave Miami a 7-3 record to take to the Blue- his Florida mates as the was superb in fighting off the tension of the published "get Rentz" declarations in Miami. But in the final analysis, he lost for the first time in 15 games in the Orange Bowl because Miami intercepted five of his passes. He had only four intercepted all season before this.

Ken Corbin, a 218 pound linebacker, twice found the ball in his hands after Miami By BOB BALFE Sport Kill lor MIAMI (AFN) The Blade was mightier than the pen for part of a dramatic foothall afternoon here Saturday, but mistakes overcame heroics as Miami's great defense toppled Florida's explosive Gators 20-13, before 53,229 In the Orange Bowl. It was Miami's third straight and 16th victory in the 29 game series with the arch-rivals from upstate, and the Hurricanes did it with their crunching defense to have much the better ol it in a game of turnabout. Thirteen times Hie hall changed hands on fumbles anil interceptions, and this was how Miami won the scoreboard battle despile losing the statistics. Larry Rentz, the stringbean Junior quarterback known to Ray Harris' kick was good. A tremendous 79 yard punt return by Dye to the six gave Miami the next scoring chance.

Vince Opalsky flew over the line for the score from the one. Harris missed to leave the score at 20 0. In the final period, after Miami missed a 46 yard field goal attempt by Phil Trace, Florida got on the board twice, both times after Wages passed them Into position. lie hit Guy McTheny on a 37 yarder for one TD and the other was scored by Larry Smith after a pass interference call put the ball on the Miami one. everything including mistakes, but after the first half Miami was 70 in front.

Ironically. Miami had a touchdown In less than five minutes but needed 22 minutes to get a first down halfway through the second period. Mlami'k vallunt defense rose repeatedly to stall the Florida bid. Corbin's 80 yard runback of a Kentz pass was the first big bKw. Later the Miami forward wall halted 38 Gator drive at the 23 by stopping Kentz short on a fourth down keeper.

Next it was another interception, this by Jerry Pierce, a middle guard. All this Gator frustration came in the first period at which time Miami had run the ball only four times but held a 7-0 lead. Corbin did more damage in the second period when he pounced on a Brian Hipp fum ble but soon the Gators were threatening again with Rentz hitting Yarbrough twice, and Mike McCann to move to Miami's seven. But on a wide scramble to his right, Rentz was hit and fumbled, All-America Ted Hendricks recovering at the nine. It was more of the same for the luckless Gators after the Intermission.

They almost hit on a scoring pass to Torn' my Glenn, hut Kentz'K throw was over the wrong shoulder and by the time Glenn turned he rould not make the catch. Moments later a Rent pass intended for Yarbrough waa batted Into the air, touched by (wo or three players before Czlpulis gathered it in for Miami to stop that tin-cat. Soon the Gators had the ball again, but Miami rushed Rentz who pitched into the arms of Corbin and he went 45 yards to his second TO. rushers forced bad passes by Rentz, and lumbered 80 yards to the first period score and 45 for another touchdown in the third quarter, while a 79 yard punt return by Jimmy Dye set up the third Miami score. Only In the lust period, trailing 20 0, did the Gators manage two scores with the help ol Harmon Wages, a replacement after Rentz had a recurrence of an ankle Injury.

Rentz, however, returned to hold the ball for Wayne Bar-f i 1 's two conversion attempts. He missed the first, ending his national college record at 52 straight. Rentz was only one of a series of injury victims. Flanker Richard Trapp went out with a fractured rib, end Jim Yarbrough had chest injuries which might Include rib Palm Beach Post-Times SECTION WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1967 Rentz: Wait 'Til Next Year. Miami 'r' Bob Balfe 1 kbmfhJ-W 1 4 FLA MIAMI 23 11 260 71 S3 43 5 16-9 2 4- 43 SJ6 4 5- 55 103 Flnt downs Rushing yardaae Passing yardage Rturn yardage PassM Punls Fumbles Lost Yards Pencilled bonnet Bowl in Houston in two weeks.

Florida finished at 6-4. There Is no clear-cut state champion since Florida State, which aiso beat Florida, did not play Miami tills year. The game defied the statistics. Florida led in Just about us: I ff "WW-'-' FLYING VINCE run J. i.

4 St. MIAMI You can take the word of Ray Graves, defense is the name of the game. His Florida Gators lost their last two games to arch rivals Florida State and Miami because of too many mistakes. They banded the ball to Florida State four times on fumbles, lost by 21-16. They gave Miami the ball nine times on fumbles and pass interceptions, and lost 20-13.

It takes little in the way of higher mathematics to conclude that the1 Gators were only a few mistakes removed from winning both games. These are the factors of football which can't be measured in advance, but they add up to the fact that the defense has a hand in most such plays, and the defense therefore is the best basis for evaluating football. It was the reason to pick Miami In this Orange Bowl baltle because these Hurricanes of Ken Corbin, Bob Tatarek and Ted Hendricks and their platoon, played much this way all season. They actually won from tough LSU and Auburn, and they made possible victories by the offense in other games. Miami's 7-3 record might have been reversed If not for this defensive unit.

Graves was quick to give credit after Saturday's game. "They deserve credit for many of our errors," he said, "and believe me their defense is a lot more than Ted Hendricks. We couldn't help notice Ken Corbin, Bob Tatarek and Ted Hendricks." He can say that again tomorrow and the next day and next month, because the sight of Ken Corbin streaking 125 yards with two pilfered passes will be Florida's nightmare of this game. Only consolation for the Gators was that they didn't have to take back with them to Gainesville that horrible Indian war canoe which serves as the trophy for this annual contest. Miami kept the canoe.

What the teams really needed was a hospital ship. F'onda Miami 0 0 13-13 1 3 II 0-20 Mia Corbin 10 IMerception (Harris kirk) Mia Corbin 45 Interception (Harrll kick I Mia Ooaliky 1 run (kick foiled! Flo MrTherty 37 post from Wage (kirk foiled! Fio-Smiih 1 run (Barfield kick) Attendance 53,229. Gabriel guided the Rams 73 yards In nine plays, capped with a 16-yard scoring strike to Jack Snow early in the second quarter which brought a 7-7 deadlock. Chandler's 3 2 a field goal with 46 seconds remaining in the half sent the Packers to the dressing room with a 10 7 lead. The Rams took the second half kickoff.

Initiated by a 43-yard return by Willie Ellison and stormed down to the Packer 11, where Gabriel fired a bullet to Snow In the end zone for a go ahead touchdown. The ever dangerous Starr completed 10 of 20 passes for 13 yards and touchdown, BY HANK FROSIIAl'G Staff Writer MIAMI (AFN) The Miami Hurricanes got fair warning Saturday from a red-eyed, broken-hearted Gator. "Aaah'm sure not going to forget this," said Florida quarterback Larry Rentz between sips of cola In the Gators' dressing room after the Hurricanes had won a 2013 verdict. The junior quarterback from Coral Gables will get another crack at the Hurricanes next season In Gainesville. Two of the slim quarterback's passes were intercepted and run back for touchdowns by Miami linebacker Ken Corbin.

And the Hurricanes picked off five of his errant tosses. In five previous games this season Rentz had allowed only four pass interceptions. Saturday's game also broke another personal record for Rentz. It was the first time in 15 appearances In the Orange Bowl (13 as a high school player and once on the Florida Frosh team) that the blade-thin signal caller had tasted defeat. And Rentz refused to blame his blockers for his bad day at the helm.

He said that the Hurricane line did not put more pressure on him on paws 1 a a than previous opponents. eg-r lien J'v iff i i if 1r" Jmmemmv 1 a (Staff Photo by Bill Lamntck) OPALSKY GOES OVER GATOR LINE TO INNING TOUCHDOWN Third Miami Touchdown Proved Margin In 20-13 Victory mej Trip Pack, Showdown w- 'ef9. ttUek'1ee9let4e4MrtfvRej44eV ISC' if: Just Nolcs Rams Force By BOB MYKUS LOS ANGELES (AP) A blocked punt set up Los Angeles' winning touchdown Saturday in an electrifying 27-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers, keeping alive the Rams' hopes in the Coastal Division of the National Football League. The Packers apparently had this thriller wrapped up when reserve back Chuck Merccin ran four yards and Don Chandler's conversion put them "Our line did a fine job of pass protection," he said. "It wasn't their fault.

It was mine. I hurried my throws." On the interception run back 80 yards by Corbin, for a first quarter Miami TD, Rentz commented: "It was a screen pass and I was trying to lead my receiver. I think I led him too much." Asked what he thought of the play of Miami's All-Am-erican defensive end Ted Hendricks, Rentz replied. "He played a heck of a ball game." Florida head coach Ray Graves, still limping after his injury several weeks ago, was calm and cool in the dressing room, although obviously disappointed. "I'm proud of our team," Graves said.

"But I'm disappointed that our seniors couldn't win. We played as well as we could but it was not good enough. You can't lust play a team as good as Miami and make as many mistakes as we made. Still I'm proud of the way our team fought back when they were behind. "You have to give Miami credit," Graves continued.

"They were alert and they made some of Die breaks. I think we played against bet ter defensive lines Auburn (Continued on rage D2) rr- the scoreboard with the help of a pass interception late in the opening half. Schottenheimer, filling in at middle linebacker for John Tracey, who missed his first game since 12, set the tempo when he intercepted a Don Trull pass and returned from the Boston 41 to the eight on the game's sixth play. On the next play, Jack Kemp passed to Keith Llnroln for the first touchdown. The Bills added another first period touchdown, Wray Carlton going over from the five to cap a 57 yard drive.

Kemp ran three yard for touchdown btfire Janik picked off a TniO pau for his scoring Jaunt. Trull swept right end on a keeper for seven yards and Boston's first touchdown. The Patriots collected a safety as Kemp was dropped in the end, zone by Jim Hunt at the outset of the third quarter but Schottenheimer came up with his second interception to kill Bolton's f.nal hoj.es. 11 iWimeiii'iHiiiiiiii'WwwniniiinMwiiiiiniwiinwiw V. i i "i touchdowns this season, returned the boot 104 yards with a sensational display of speed, Williams took the ball in the end zone, broke the tackle applied at the ight, cut to the Green Bay sideline and waa never seriously threatened as he raced on to score the tying touchdown.

Gossett's second field goal from the 16 put the Rams back in front 20 17. Then came the series of climaxes thatleft the huge Ram crowd hoarse and limp from cheering. Green Buy took the lead In the first quarter on a 30-yard pass (rom Bart Starr to Carroll Dale. This aeries of plays followed a blocked 46-yard field goal attempt hy Gossett, Leroy Caffey getting credit for the defensive effort. Colts Pick Over Saints Pockir Rome Plrt downi 12 20 Rrishlng yardogt 98 10? Prming Yorriaqt 120 227 Pel urn yardagt 210 Pfi4if 1ft-JO-1 20 31 Punrt Fumbles 0 1 Yards penalized 31 (Staff Photo by Unulo 5emonn) GATORS PREVENT A MIAMI TOUCHDOWN Steve Tannen steals pass at intended for Jim Cox Bills Bomb Boston 4i A iultote 14 14 10 e-44 Bojlon 0 7 2 7-t Su Lincoln I pou from Kemp (AAer- cer kkki Surf Carlton 5 run (Merrer kick) 'jtt Kemp 3 run (Mercer kickf BuH janik 31 pm interception (Mer.

cer kick! Bo Trull 7 run (coopeliettl kirk) BowSaiety Kerrp latMed In enrt rortt Surf Srhottenneimer 4i posi Interception iMereer kirkl Bull FC, AAercer 12 B.jtlfG Mener II Butt FO Werrer 73 Leo JS pom trom forilll (Coppel-leltl kirk) Attendance 70 .77. Sports On Air Tjday KM p.m. Floriila Miami highiighis 1 p.m. Florida Miami highlights (I HF 31) p.m. NFL Football dnuhle-hrader let troll at New York, tullimed hy Ovrland at St.

Uiils (4 and I MF-JI) p.m. Af-L Football Kansas City at New York. RADIO Today 4p.m. AFL Football Miami Dolphin, at San Dk-go (HEAT 800) One of Florida's most underrated linemen, Don Giordano, will play a double homecoming. The Miami product played his last game for the Gators Saturday in the Orange Bowl, will appear there again in the North-South Shrine game on Christmas Day.

Some olher Florida gridders, including Richard Trapp from Bradenton, will also be on the South squad Not all the "Ho-Ho-Ho" on Dec. 25 will come from the guy in the red suit. Cecil Samara, who calls himself the loudest and greatest fan of Oklahoma University football teams, is due in the Palm Beaches that afternoon during a barnstorming tour to the Orange Bowl, where his Sooncrs will probably need vocal support on New Year's night when they play Tennessee Next Saturday is the legal date for signing high school gridders to college grants-in-aid, and Seacrest and Newman, our area's winningest teams, lead in prospects. Two Palm Beach High players revealed their intentions at a luncheon last week when they received Civil an awards as outstanding Wildcats. Dave Edmonds says he prefers the Florida Gators, and Dive Bailey says he hopes to go to Princeton.

They're both good students as well as athletes Mel O'Bradovich is attempting to work out final details for a Pop Warner Little Football doublheader here on Dec. 30, sending two local teams against two outstanding teams from Pennsylvania Adolph Rupp, the baron of the Bluegrass, has the best winning percentage of active basketball coaches in college ranks, a tremendous but In longevity he is outranked by one year by Hank Iha of Oklahoma State and Tony Ilinkle of Butler, each in his 38th season Now that F.arle "Greasy" ISVale. has been Inducted in the Football Hall of Fame, West Palm Beach could make it two in a row. One of the 32 nominees for next year's selection is Heartly "Hunk" Anderson, also now a local resident. His credentials include the ultimate in praise.

Knute Kockne of Notre Dame caller? him the greatest line coach in all college football. George Halas of the Chicago Bears later called him the greatest line coach in the history of professional football John Kirik, one of the best young catchers developed in local baseball in recent years, is already preparing for his spring training chnnre in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. His greatest ambition is to make the grade and help show up the Atlanta Braves, who wouldn't give him a chance Notre Dame's players picked Southern Cal as the best opponent they faced. O.J. Simpson as the best back and Ted Hendricks of Miami as the best lineman.

They also named Bob Tatarek, Ken Corbin and Dave Dice, of Miami to their all-opponent team, on which Purdue landed eight and Southern Cal six BOSTON (AP) Corner-back Tom Janik intercepted three passes and linebacker Marty Schottenheimer picked off a pair, all setting up scores as the Buffalo Bills humbled Boston 44 16 Saturday in the Patriots' 19fi7 American Football League home finale. Janik returned one intercep- ahead 24-2" with less than three minutes left in the game. A fumble by the Rams' Pick Russ was recovered by Jim VVeatherwax on the Rams' 43 and paved the way for the final Packer touchdown. The Rams' defense held and on fourth down a punt attempt by Donny Anderson was blocked by Tony Guillory and his teammate, Claude Crabb, scooped up the hall and rambled 20 yards to the Green Bay five. With 54 seconds left, Roman Gabriel's first pass was Incomplete.

Tne next one was a direct hit in the end zone to Bernie Casey for the win-ning touchdown. A sellout crowd of 76, tin jammed Into Memorial Coliseum under sunny skies for the imli-inil'v televised game, one Hint produced thrill upon thrill be'ore the llnM gun. It was a must victory for Los and kept the Rams at least one game behind Baltimore. The Colts, barring a miracle, figure to defeat the freshman New Orleans Saints in Baltimore Sun-da v. The Rams' triumph over the defending world champion Packers gave Los Angeles a 10 1 2 record.

Baltimore tjoes against the Saints with 100-2. The- Ranis, after trailing ltt-7 at the half, were in front lilt in the third quarter when the romp'exinn of the game clwngpd quirktr. Brute Cosset kicked a 23-yard field goal hut on the k.rk-off to the Packers, rookie halfback Travis Wiliiams from Arizona State, who had run three such kicks back for with two Interceptions. Gabriel connected on 2 and for 227 and three touchdowns, with two Interceptions. One of Starr's two Interceptions came in the final series of play as the clock ticked away.

But the end came when his pass was picked off by Maxie Baughan. Only then did the Ram fans really explode. The blocked punt was key play. "We had the punt block play on," Ram Coach George Allen said. "Guillory blocked It it was his second this year and Claude grabbed It." "I saw the ball there," Crabb said.

"I never saw anything so good In my life." "The first thing had to do after that." said Casey, "was to kill the clock. Gab did that. Then we had the play. We had worked on this play all week. The packers had to think whether we'd pass or go for the power pop play.

Gahe threw me a perfect pass." "We faked running action to Tommy Mason." Gabriel said. "I had perfect protection. All I had to do was get it up ther." C-een B-iy 1 I 1 774 Lou ArKTelM 7 10 1027 r.S Dote 30 pnt from Starr (Chancer kirk) i. i'-w 14 pou trom Oobriel Gov k.r.l CStmrller i-A-viow it paw from Gabriel (Got tett kkh IA FO Crmetl JJ OS- wiim 104 kickort return CM-en' ki-n Owurl G3rtrn 4 run ICtian-tter fcirlrl LA Cmey Povi from OaBre4 (tVtt-u kirkl Attendance 76,437. BALTIMORE (AP) The Baltimore Colts, unbeaten but still forced to battle for the championship in the National Football League's Coastal Division, will be a top-heavy choice to whip the New Orleans Saints Sundity.

But, after watching the per-sistcnt Los Angeles Rams edge the Green Bay Packers 27 21 Saturday and stay in contention, there was little doubt the Colts would be ready for the Saints. "He'll have lo face reality now," said a I a ck Tom Matte. "Me were sort of hoping Green Bay wool I do the Job for us, but I gtiesa we actually exported we'd have to do It ourselves." A Packers' victory would have given Baltipiore an opportunity to wrap up the title before next Sunday's game at Los Angeles. Now, even though victory over Oilcans would restore Baltimore's edge going into the regular season finale, the Rams rcld take the championship hy brsiiing the Colts. The Rams and Colts tied 2S 28 in their first meeting, so if they finish deadlocked in percentage points after a (Continued on Page D2) lllt Polriotj downl Rirthinq Yorringe 113 PoMing vordnije lie Return yorooge 13 ewe ic PiinU 2 44 yjt Fumble Imt 0 1 Yaros pnai(ed SO 59 tion 38 yards for a touchdown In the second period while Schottenheimer raced 45 yards with an aerial theft in the third quarter.

The Bills, still smarting from a 3I lot at the hands of Biislon, their first shutout In history in Bulla lo earlier this year, stunned the Patriots hy grabbing a S) ad In the first half. The Patriots fuial'y gut on I.