Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 44

1 6D The Clarion-Ledger Sunday, December 20, 1992 COLLEGE FOOTBALL If ,1 lit 10 iff I 'r-i Tit 'u Rick GuyThe Clarion-Ledger Flying hit men Johnny Dixon (left) and Michael Lowery Miss, but they spend as much time blitzing or (above) are listed as strong safeties at Ole stopping the run as they do covering receivers. I- Ole Miss defensive backs Lowery, Dixon throw their bodies at opponents like pair of linebackers By Rusty Hampton Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer Who: No. 20 Ole Miss vs. Air Force When: Dec. 31,7 p.m.

Where: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis TV: ESPN Favorite: Rebels by 9 Tickets: $25 end zone, $30 sidelines; available at Ole Miss by calling 800-843-7709 or 232-7167, and at the Liberty Bowl by calling 901-274-7400. Neal, in his first year at Ole Miss, feels twice blessed. "Michael may have a little more overall potential than Johnny because he's faster," Neal said. "But he's got to reach Johnny's heights first. Johnny's as good as anybody in the country.

I watched him for 11 football games. He never plays a bad game." "I want to be consistent every game, that's the main thing," Dixon said "It doesn't matter if I make big plays or not, as long as I play consistently and get the job done. I'd rather play the whole season consistently instead of having a good game here and a bad game there." SEC coaches obviously were impressed with Dixon and Lowery. Dixon made the coaches All-SEC team. Lowery was named to the freshman All-SEC team.

Dixon was fourth for the Rebels with 87 tackles. His blitzes led to three sacks, four tackles for loss and two QB pressures. He had three interceptions, including one for a TD against Auburn, three fumble recoveries and nine pass deflections. Lowery, one of many collegiate defensive backs to come out of South Pike High School in McComb, started eight games and was eighth on the team with 60 tackles. He had four tackles for loss, four QB pressures, three deflections and two interceptions.

Lowery's interceptions came in the final minutes of victories over Memphis State and Mississippi State. The Mississippi State one meant more, he said, "because of the rivalry between the schools." But Lowery, usually shy and reserved, celebrated the interception against Memphis State much more vigorously, dancing on a bench, waving at the Ole Miss crowd. "When I came to the sidelines, my teammates said, 'you just made a big Lowery said. "They said, 'now get the crowd so that's what I did." The play Lowery remembers most came on a blitz in the 45-21 season-opening victory over Auburn. The Tigers tried a wide receiver reverse and Lowery smashed into the quarterback and receiver.

He knocked the ball backwards, where Auburn recovered for a 20-yard loss. That first-quarter play in the first game of the season no doubt had many Rebel fans searching through their programs for the identity of No. 37, a freshman Dunn said might play in the game. He's made big plays nearly each game since. So has Dixon.

"They run and blitz," said Ford. "They're like kamikazes, giving up their bodies." Defensive tackle Artis Ford calls Michael Lowery and Johnny Dixon Ole Miss' "little linebackers." Listed as strong safeties on the depth chart, Lowery and Dixon usually line up near or on the line of scrimmage and spend as much time blitzing and stopping the run as they do covering receivers. Thus Ford's linebacker designation. But at 6-foot, 210 pounds (Dixon) and 6-1, 193 (Lowery), they aren't nearly as big as most linebackers, especially in the Southeastern Conference. "They (the linemen) kind of tease us every now and then," said Dixon, a junior from New Orleans.

"Sometimes we play a nine technique and they'll say we've got two extra linebackers. I just try to block that out of my mind because I know I'm a defensive back. Those linebackers are way bigger than I am." Defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn devised the scheme that deploys two strong safeties. The idea is to get his best 11 players on the field at the same time. If that means playing only two linemen and an extra safety, so be it.

If one of those players happens to be a freshman, like Lowery, that's fine, too. In the alignment Ole Miss used most of the season and will use in the Dec. 31 Liberty Bowl against Air Force, Dixon usually lines up on the strong side and Lowery on the other. "Their positions are identical," said secondary coach John Neal. "My job," said Lowery, "is not to let them (ball carriers) get outside." "Last year I was more of a pass defender," said Dixon.

"This year it's a little of both. I'll be on the line, blitzing, forcing the run, then I have a lot of man coverage, too." EZ3 players' pay questioned An alumnus reportedly wrote off payments as maintenance fees. Merrick kicks Marshall to championship The late field goal gives the Herd a 31-28 win over Youngstown State in l-AA final. From Wire Service Reports The Associated Press Federal authorities are investigating whether at least five Texas football players were paid thousands of dollars in the past five years by a prominent Aggies benefactor, according to a published report. The Dallas Morning News also said in today's editions that federal agents served subpoenas Wednesday on properties belonging to Warren A.

Gilbert Jr. Gilbert, 67, is a director of the Letterman Association and one of the largest operators of public housing in Dallas. The newspaper said payments to the players were written off as maintenance fees for housing subsidized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development According to the newspaper, the players included Greg Hill, who was named honorable mention AP All-America. Texas will play Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl.

Aggies arrested: Texas reserve players Tommy Preston and Wilbert Biggens practiced with the team Saturday, a day after they were arrested on misdemeanor charges stemming from fights at a sorority dance. They are accused of trying to stop police officers from breaking up the fights early on Dec. 11. The two will be allowed to play in the Cotton Bowl. Washington's problems grow: Former Washington tailback Vince Weathersby, who claimed he received special favors from boosters, says he was pressured by the son-in-law of coach Don James to change his story-Jim Heckman, who is married to James' youngest daughter, Jeni, left a series of messages on Weath-ersby's answering machine, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported Saturday.

Heckman said he made the calls as part of a story he was preparing for his monthly tabloid, Sports Washington. "We can reverse this whole thing" if Weathersby would back off his claims of the alleged benefits, Heckman said in a message last Saturday. In a Los Angeles Times story earlier this month, Weathersby and other former players recounted receiving special favors that may have violated NCAA rules. The Associated Press Marshall's Orlando Hatchett celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter Saturday. HUNTINGTON, W.

Va. Senior Willy Merrick's first collegiate field goal, a 22-yarder with 10 seconds left, gave Marshall a 31-28 win over Youngstown State in the NCAA I-AA championship game Saturday. Marshall, 12-3, winning the title for the first time, avenged a loss to Youngstown State, 11-3-1, in last season's title game in a scenario that was strikingly similar, except for the outcome. Youngstown State trailed by 11 points in 1991 and came back to win; the Penguins trailed by 28 before coming back to tie the Herd 28-28 on Tamron Smith's 10-yard touchdown run with 2:28 to play Saturday. But then quarterback Michael Payton, the I-AA player of the year, marched the Herd from its 19 to the Youngstown State 5 by completing 7 of 9 passes for 60 yards.

After Orlando Hatchett's 8-yard run put the ball at the 5, Merrick kicked the game-winner. It was the first field goal Merrick ever attempted. Previously, the kicking was done by his brother, David, a sophomore, who was suspended for the game because he missed practice Thursday. Merrick's kick spoiled the Penguins' strong comeback, which started after Payton hit Hatchett for a 22-yard touchdown pass, making it 28-0 with 5:46 left in the third quarter. Marshall's defense had held Youngstown State to 84 yards, while the Herd offense had accumulated 307 yards to that point.

But it didn't take the Penguins long to get back into the game. They cut it to 28-7 with 3:41 left in the third on a 30- half. The Herd added to their lead thanks to a botched option pitch between Youngstown State quarterback Nick Cothran and running back Terica Jones. The ball popped up after hitting Jones' hands, dropping straight into the hands of Herd defensive back Shannon Morrison on the Youngstown State 28. Hatchett wriggled over for a touchdown seven plays later, making it 14-0 with 3:30 left in the half.

The Herd got a 1-yard run by Glenn Pedro in the third quarter and Payton's pass to Hatchett. Payton finished 25 of 39 for 270 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, while Cochran hit 18 of 31 for 256 yards, a score and two interceptions. Payton's favorite receiver was Brown, who caught 10 passes for 115 yards. yard pass from Nick Cothran to Herb Williams. That 57-yard drive took only 2:05, and the next two Penguins' scores took even less time.

Smith's 4-yard run with 16 seconds left in the third quarter capped a 65-yard, 40-second drive. Smith had a 1-yard run with 12:04 left to cap a four-play, 49-yard drive that took only 1:19. After a scoreless first quarter, Payton started making things happen for Marshall. On third-and-8 from his 22 early in the second, he threw to Troy Brown for a 38-yard gain to the Youngstown State 40. Six plays later, on fourth-and-1 from Youngstown State's 6, tight end Mike Bartrum caught Payton's pass at the 2 and scored, making it 7-0 with 10:33 left in the Henry From ID mental challenge remains.

The Texas game was on Astroturf. The Peach Bowl is, too. "I thought about that when Coach Sher-rill mentioned the Peach Bowl," Henry said, but that hasn't shaken his determination to wear the Maroon and White one last time. "If I had to crawl, I'd play there," he said. "I can't let it affect me." Despite the injury, Henry finished a close second to Arleye Gibson in tackles by a lineman.

He made 66 tackles, including 10 tackles and three sacks against Alabama. NFL scouts like his pass rushing ability. In the eiyl the gamble he made by choos "My teammates and my coaches, they were expecting me to sign with a school from the SWAC. I wanted something different. I wanted a challenge." "He spoke to me about it on several occasions," James said.

"He spoke to several instructors and several people in the community about why he made his decision. He told me he just wanted to give it a try. He felt like there was nothing wrong with it." Others weren't so sure, but Henry said he was pleased with the community's reaction. He thought people might consider him a traitor for rejecting schools wjth roots in his sacks. Henry started seven games last season and was second only to Nate Williams in tackles by a lineman.

Things were going well. Then came the opener of his senior season, and yet another setback. Henry tore the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. "It scared me. For a minute I thought my career was over," Henry said.

"I was very fortunate. I only missed one game." Thp effects lasted longer. He was slower moing sideways, less explosive off the snip. NoWj he is back to normal, but the ing State might have paid off in increased exposure and publicity. Nobody yet has followed in Henry's footsteps, though two current Mound Bayou players might.

Tight end Laharia Bernard and wide receiver Elluntape Bell have been recruited by State, Ole Miss and Southern Mississippi, James said. Henry offers no general advice. "It really depends on the player," Henry said. "It's about what you want to do and what you have your heart set on. The SEC is one of the biggest conferences.

I had the talent to play in the SEC. It was a challenge to me." community. That didn't happen. Instead he got support for his courage and his eventual success. The success came slower than he expected.

He was redshirted his first year, practicing but not playing. The next year he couldn't even practice. His American College Test score was invalidated. Finally, in his third fall at State, he got a chance to play. Even then, his time was limited because he was behind current Los Angeles Rams lineman Robert Young and Ryon Ford.

Henry still managed a team-high six I.