The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 49

Ij. rt, M. T- j- Palm Beach Post -Times, Saturday, November 18, 19781)5 Chuck Otferson Spedi Wnltr Today's Gaines fiR I A3 I 5 Second-Half Slack Doesn't Bug Langer By CHUCK OTTERSON PmI taH Wrlttr MIAMI After a few minutes, Navy at FSU Time: 12 50 p.m. (Channels 10,12) Site: Doak S. Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee (capacity Florida State 6-3, Navy 7-2.

FSU Highlights: The return of Homes Johnson to a starting role helped the Scminoles defeat Virginia Tech 24-14 last week, and FSU will need a similar performance from Johnson (152 yards) due to key injury to wide receiver Jackie Flowers (sprained knee.) Flowers, FSU's leading receiver with 43 catches for 757 yards and seven touchdowns, is listed as doubtful and probably will not play. As a result, quarterback Wally Wood-ham, who hit 17-of-29 passes for 198 yards last week, will have to direct passes to Kurt Unglaub (10 catches for 194 yards) and speedster Sam Piatt (12 catches for 233 yards and 3 touchdowns). Tight end Grady King, out of last game with a shoulder injury, also will see action. The Seminole defense, which shut complete breakdowns in the second half." Although they've won three straight, the Dolphins have done it against teams using four-man defensive lines. They have had a great deal of difficulty against clubs using three-man fronts the last time they faced one, they lost to New England 33-24 and Houston Was one of the best 3-4 defenses in the National Football league.

"That's irrelevant," Langer said. "We played very well against New England. We were in the game till the end and very easily could have won it. "It doesn't matter if the other team uses a three-man front a four-man front. What matters is how well we execute our assignments." Despite their second-half problems, the Dolphins lead the NFL in scoring.

But they have a you got the feeling you were listening to Jim Langer discuss his Theory of Irrelevancy. The Miami Dolphins have failed to score a touchdown in the second half of their last three games, but Langer, the Dolphins' All-Pro center, isn't bothered by that. "That's irrelevant," he said yesterday. "It's something for the so-called experts to talk about. It doesn't concern us at all.

"If we score SO points in the first quarter and don't score the rest of the game, who cares? As long as the team is playing with the same intensity, that's all that matters. "When you get a lead in the first half, naturally your tendencies will' change in the second half. If we were having to come from behind, we'd probably be scoring a lot more in the second half. "As long as we're winning, I don't care when we're scoring the points." And the Dolphins are winning. They've won three in a row, six of their last seven, eight of their last 10 and take a record of 8-3 into Monday night's game with the Houston Oilers at the Astrodome.

But Miami has staged a Jekyll-' and-Hyde act in the first and second halves of its last three games and head coach Don Shula, for one, is concerned about it. The Dolphins scored 26 points in the first half against Baltimore and failed to score in the second half. San Diego Stat at Miami Time: 7:30 p.m. Site: Orange Bowl, Miami (capacity 77,061) 1978 Records: San Diego 3-5; Miami 3-5 San Diego Highlights: This is the first meeting between the Aztecs and Hurricanes. San Diego State is led by quarterback Mark Halda, the third-ranked passer in the NCAA.

The sophomore is another in a long line of outstanding quarterbacks produced at the school which has Craig Penrose and Jessie Fre-tias among its graduates. Halda has hit 56 percent of his passes for 1,547 yards. His top receiver is tight end Don Warren with 29 receptions, while flanker Rick Garretson is a close second with 22 catches. The Aztecs may be without leading rusher Marcus Jennings, who pulled a hamstring in last week's 21-3 loss to Brigham Young. Rushing defense has been a weakness for the Aztecs but they held BYU to minus 5 yards.

Defensive end Kent Perkov and linebacker Scott Carter head the defense that has allowed an average of 255 yards rushing per game this season. San Diego State, which has lost all five its road games, must win the final three games of the season or suffer its first losing season since 1960. Miami Highlights: It's no secret that Miami plans to run right at the Aztecs. Senior Ottis Anderson needs 177 yards to reach the 1,000 yard mark for the season. But Hurricane head coach Lou Saban will start six freshmen, including quarterback Mike Rodrique in place of sophomore Kenny McMillian.

Other freshmen slated to start are tackle Frank Frazier, right guard Clement Barbarino, running back Chuck Hirschman and linebackers Scott Nicolas and Bob Nelson. Miami will have to throw the ball some to keep the Aztecs from blitzing every down, as they did against BYU. Saban has used three quarterbacks this season and the team is averaging just 94 yards per game, virtually wasting the talents of wide receiver James Joiner, who leads the team with a meager 12 receptions. Florida at Kentucky Time: 1:30 p.m. Site: Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, Ky.

(Capacity: Expected Crowd: Sellout. Records: Florida 3 5 (2-3 in Southeastern Conference). Kentucky 4-4-1 (2-2 In Southeastern Conference). Florida Highlights: By now, the Gators must be wondering what they have to do to win a game, having lost to Georgia Tech by four points and to Georgia by two. The answer isn't very complex.

Florida simply has to show that it can score from close proximity, which it did in the rout of Auburn and didn't in the defeat by the two schools from Georgia. Coach Doug Dickey either has faith in his set lineup or has no one better, for there are no announced changes. Though Kentucky is a slight favorite. Dickey must know that the Wildcats' pass defense is suspect, opening up the chance for the Gators to exploit that weakness. Cris Collins-worth appears to have recovered from the bruise he suffered against Georgia.

In turn, Kentucky's strength is the run, which Florida has had decent luck stopping most of the year. Oh, and about Dickey's future. Should Florida lose, the yells will grow strident, especially with their game against Florida State in Tallahassee next weekend. Kentucky Highlights: If it means anything to the fans who were hoping for a repeat of the Wildcats' 10-1 record of 1977, all four losses have been to teams ranked in the top 20: Penn State, Georgia, Maryland and But Kentucky has won two straight and coach Fran Curci, explaining his team's 53-2 victory over Vanderbilt last Saturday, said, "We know if we win the last three impressively, we can go to a bowl." So unless sudden generosity hits, Curci probably will not let up if Kentucky goes out to a lead. To do that, Curci must get good running from tailback Chris Hill (269 yards) and fullback Rod Stewart (216).

Also, quarterback Larry McCrimmon must be able to pass to Felix Wilson, who has caught 34 passes for an average of 16 yards a reception. Southern California at UCLA Time: 4 in, (channels 10-12) Site: Los Angles Coliseum (capacity. 100,000) 1978 Records: UCLA 7-2; Southern Cal 7-1 UCLA Highlights: The Bruins are coming off an upset loss to Oregon State that threw the Pacific 10 race up in the air. UCLA coach Terry Donahue likes to run the ball and Theotis (Bigfoot) Brown is one of the nation's best in that department. The Bruinss also have a very talented freshman runner in Freeman McNeill, who gained 104 yards two weeks ago in UCLA's 24-14 win over Arizona.

Brown, who gained his nickname because of his size, 6-foot-2, 230-pounds, set a UCLA single-season rushing mark with 274 yards against Oregon. In that game, he carried the ball 26 times and had touchdown runs of 68 and 74 yards. If the Bruins get hungry for points, kicker Peter Boermeester is consistent. Southern Cal Highlights: The Trojans Charles White is USC's answer to UCLA'S Brown. Although White is much smaller, 5-11, 180, he is the school's all-time leading rusher.

Not bad considering O.J. Simpson and Anthony Davis matriculated at the school. But White, a junior and a Heisman Trophy candidate, has helped. Lynn Cain gained 133 yards in one game for coach John Robinson. Trojan quarterback Paul McDonald isn't against throwing the ball.

When California threw an eight-man line at the Trojans to stop their running game, McDonald hit on four touchdown passes, three of those to split end Kevin Williams. Trojan kicker Frank Jordan has won two games this season for Southern Cal. The Trojans, ranked No. 5 in the country trail the Bruins by a half-game in the Pacific 10 race. The loser would have little chance at going to the Rose Bowl.

The only other team left in the race is Washington with a 5-2 conference mark. UCLA is 6-1, Southern California 5-1. 0 0 DISC BRAKE OVERHAUL We Install linings, new front seals and brake hardware, rebuild calipers, resurface rotors, repack Iron! wheel 0 1 bearings, inspect master cyiinoer ana oraae noses. 1 bleed system and add necessary fluid, then road test the cer. I 0 M0NR0-MATIC SHOCKS lack-luster 1-3 record against teams with winning records.

Their other seven victories were over clubs with a combined record of 17-38. And their five remaining regular-season games are against teams with winning records (36-19 combined) and playoff hopes. "That's a statistic that's very misleading," Langer said. "We have nothing to say about what teams we play. That's our schedule.

"Sure, we lost to the Jets and we lost to the Eagles. They're both good teams. But that was early in the, season and I think we're a better football team than we were then. "It's really irrelevant. Doesn't mean a thing." Langer said his preparation for a team using a three-man defensive line is only slightly different from that for an opponent with a 4-3 defense.

"Mentally, you prepare yourself for a more physical type game," he said, "since you'll be going nose to nose." The 6-foot-2, 252-pound Langer will line up opposite Houston's 6-1, 265-pound nose tackle, Curley Culp. "He's a hell of a football player," Langer said. "He's tough, has a lot of strength and he's the classic nose-guard type heavy, with a strong upper body, quick hands and an low center of gravity. "He's been a great player for a lot of years. I have a lot of respect for him." They scored 20 points in the first half" against Dallas and managed only a field goal in the second half.

And they scored 22 points in the first half against Buffalo and added only a field goal in the second half. "When we jump out to a big early lead, it takes a lot out of the other team emotionally," Langer said. "It's like a pitcher getting staked to a six-run lead. It's going to be a lot tougher to beat him when you're coming from behind like that. "We could have scored 21 points in the second half against Buffalo.

A completed pass here, a run there, not fumbling when we got to their 2 we just didn't execute. "But that's something we can correct. It's not like we're having Offense for missed last week and yesterday was first day of practice this week, prompting McKay to say he didn't know if Carlton would be able to play against the Bills. Television Debut May. Ignite FAMU pannannnnnnnanann enthusiasm has been very high.

Of course, you want to play better when you've got a lot of people watching you." Bethune-Cookman has the weekend off. Its next game will be against FAMU at Tampa. TALLAHASSEE (AP) Florida University will makes its regional television debut today, but the Rattlers have all the incentive they need in their drive for a post-season playoff berth. "The 7-1 Rattlers play 4-5 Southern I DRUM BRAKE OVERHAUL We install licton irv pn-irced Iiiiifxy. rih win avals) auv return sorlnns.

rafaulld ill llninn mui frnnl taflf anit I four wheal cylinders, and I risurfaca brake drums jnaw I wheal cylinder $7 aacn. il needed), repack front wheel bearings, bleed system and iub necessary iiuib. out Virginia Tech in the second half, is relatively intact. It is the first meeting of the two teams, and Florida State is rated a slight favorite by oddsmakers. Navy Highlights: The Midshipmen got off to their best start since 1960, winning their first seven games.

But Navy came back to earth when it lost last two games; 27-7 to Notre Dame and 20-17 to Syracuse. Injuries will be a factor for Navy. The Middies have lost split end Phil McConkey for the remainder of the season with a knee injury and starting fullback Lawrence Klawinsjki was injured in the Syracuse game and is doubtful today. Midshipmen are led by quarterback Bob Leszczynski, who has thrown a Naval Academy record 25 touchdown passes in his career. Leszczynski is 63-of-132 this season for 1,025 yards and eight touchdowns.

Steve Callahan, the sophomore tailback who missed the Syracuse game with a bruised thigh, will play today. Callahan, with 694 yards in 160 carries, has scored five touchdowns rushing and caught one touchdown pass. McKay Alters TAMPA (UPI) Tampa Bay coach John McKay said yesterday he will make some changes in his starting offensive line Sunday against the Buffalo Bills in an effort to get more quickness off the ball. Part of the rejuggling is necessary because of injuries. McKay said he will move Gary Puetz from right guard to right tackle and reinstate Dan Medlin at right guard.

Medlin had been the starting right guard until the Buccaneers obtained Puetz from the New York Jets earlier this season. Puetz will be filling the tackle slot normally played by Darryl Carlton, who has a shoulder injury. Carlton FLA. (305) 967-2626 traffic lights to Lawrence Rd. 0 1Vm Ph.

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The game can be seen Sunday on 'Channel 10 at 10 a.m. on a tape-delay basis. FAMU coach Rudy Hubbard thinks his team must sweep Southern, Be-thune-Cookman and Grambling to reach the Division I-AA playoffs. Regional winners will be selected from the East, West and South, plus one wild card team. Hubbard predicted that Jackson State, ranked second by the NCAA, will win the South.

So his team, ranked third, is fighting for a wild card berth. His team shouldn't have much trouble against Southern, but Hubbard pointed out that FAMU hasn't won in Baton Rouge since 1972, so he is not taking Southern lightly. "They are big and physical, especially on defense," Hubbard said. "They go to the ball real well. On offense they pass the ball.

They run split backs, but they kind of hide a wingback in there, too." he said. FAMU tailback Ike Williams can pass 1,000 yards on the season by gaining 117. He's averaging 110.4 a game. "I wish the game was being televised all over the state of Florida," said Hubbard, whose team will earn J200.500 from ABC. "We have practiced better and better this week.

I am sure that has something to do with television. The Regatta To Open At Sandpiper Bay PORT ST. LUCIE Sixteen boats including last year's semnd-place finisher are among entrants in the ninth annual Sandpiper Bay Star Regatta today and Sunday at the Sandpiper Bay Resort Frank Zagarino of Coral Gables, No. 2 in 1977 behind Jimmy Lip-pincott of Annapolis, is one of the top contenders. Zagarino won the regatta in 1971.

Races will be held at 1 and 4 m. today ai.d finals are Sunday at'10 30 on the St. Lucie River. Admission is free. ial F78-14, 15; G78-14, 15; H78-14, 15 1795 Plus 43C to 52C Fed.

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