Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 31

Inside sports Sports Opinions Scoreboard Bowling Notes SECTION C-2 C-3 C-11 Baseball erases 'blight' Fisher gets a silver pass page C-1 1 Lansing State Journal Sunday. November 1 6. 1 980. Lansing. Michigan 0U WWn 1 .1 mm By AMES TINNEY Staff Writer MINNEAPOLIS A season that once seemed it would stretch forever suddenly appears too short for the Michigan State Spartans.

The Spartans made the big plays on both offense and defense that had been so difficult to execute during their early-season disappointments as they grounded the favored Minnesota Golden Gophers 30-12 in sun-drenched Memorial Stadium Saturday. Sophomore quarterback John Lei Gophers was Joe's son, Tim, a freshman quarterback who may be out apartment hunting after his performance against the Spartans. He completed just five of 14 passes, threw two interceptions and also committed two fumbles that led to MSU scores. MINNESOTA ONLY managed 53 yards in the air, but the Gophers' ground game was so effective early that Minnesota stayed in control through much of the first half. "We tried to get too smart early," Waters said.

"We slanted and stunted a ster threw three touchdown passes, two to fellow sophomore Ted Jones, to squash any lingering Minnesota postseason bowl hopes before a meager crowd of 30,329 on a perfect football Saturday. "THEY TRIED running eight guys at a time, but when I got outside on them, their defensive backs didn't know whether to come up for the run or go back for the pass," said Leister, who passed for 209 yards. The Golden defensive backfield reacted to the situation by lot (on defense), and found that we couldn't do that against them. We just went straight in the second half and concentrated on stopping the run." Minnesota rolled up 208 yards rushing, while Michigan State managed only two yards rushing before intermission. The Spartans still led 14-12 going into the lockerroom, thanks to the passing of Leister and the stubbornness of the defense near its own goal line.

Minnesota led 3-0 on a Jim Gallery Concluded on page C-2 becoming spectators, at least on two first-half touchdown passes which gave Michigan State a lead it never relinquished- "It was a big win for us. Of course any win at this stage of the season is very satisfying. It was a strange game, but a good one," said MSU Coach Muddy Waters after his team's second straight win. "We're coming and getting better. This game was no work of art, but we made some big plays," Waters said.

THE HEROICS WERE hardly con fined to the offense. The Spartans' rebuilt defense yielded plenty of ground Minnesota finished with 335 yards in total offense but the Gophers were only able to penetrate the end zone once, and that time they were aided by a pass interference call. "We just plain and simple got our rear ends kicked. As good as we were last week we were that bad today. We are right back where we started too many mistakes.

You don't win with mistakes like that," said Minnesota Coach Joe Salem. Leading the mistake parade for the Michigan's fleet wide receiver Anthony Carter makes a diving grab of a 23-yard pass as Purdue's Bill Kay closes in. Okemos workhorse running back John Scarlett races for yardage in Saturday's 1 4-3 win over Farmington Harrison. 11 moire grabs ra way to sack him (Herrmann) is to have his receivers covered and have four active kids up front. We made him dump the ball." SCHEMBECHLER ADDED Evan Cooper and Gerald Diggs to the backfield along with inside linebacker Andy Cannavino, strong safety Keith Bostic, wide halfback Brian Carpenter and short halfback Marion Body.

"You have to remember we have some excellent speed in guys like Body and Carpenter and Bostic," he said. "Yes sir, they're playing very well." Schembechler was asked if this was his best coaching. "Hell, I'm the same coach who blows all those bowl games, aren't he said. "Or did you men of the media forget that. You don't let me forget it, do you?" Michigan, a winner of its last seven games, will take an 8-2 record to Ohio State to face last year's Big Ten champion Buckeyes, who are 9-1 overall and share the conference lead with Michigan at 7-0, each 7-0.

THE MICHIGAN secondary, led by free safety Tony Jackson and inside linebacker Cannavino (10 tackles), that found success against Herrmann will be called on for a similarly stellar effort at Ohio State vs. quarterback Art Schlichter, another Heisman Trophy candidate. "Michigan defensed us as well as anyone possibly could," said Boilermaker Coach Jim Young. "I THINK ONE of the major things Michigan did was to take away our confidence," Young added. "We had to work our defense hard when our offense couldn't move the ball, and that really hurt us.

Michigan's secondary -really fired up and stymied us. Concluded on page C-2 How the AP top twenty fared I. Georgia (10-0-O) beat Auburn, 31-21. 2.Southem Cal. (7-1-1) lost to Washington, 20-1 0.

3. Florida State (9-1-0) did not play. 4. Nebraska (9-1-0) beat Iowa State, 35-0. 5.

Alabama (8-2-0) lost to Notre Dame, 7-0. 6. Notre Dame (8-0-1) beat Alam-bama, 7-0. 7.0hio State (9-1-0) beat Iowa, 8. Pittsburgh (9-1-0) beat Army, 45- 7.

9. Penn State (9-1-0) beat Temple, 50-7. 1 O.Oklahoma (7-2-0) beat Missouri, 17-7. I I. MICHIGAN (8-2-0) beat Purdue, 26-0.

12. Baylor (9-1-0) beat Rice, 16-6. 13. Brigham Young (9-1-0) beat Colorado State, 15-14. 14.South Carolina (8-2-0) beat Wake Forest, 39-38.

15. North Carolina (9-1-0) beat Virginia, 26-3. 16. Purdue (7-3-0) lost to Michigan, 26-0. 17.

UCLA (6-2-0) vs. Arizona State, night. 18.Southern Methodist (7-3-0) lost to Texas Tech, 1 4-0. 19. Mississippi St.

(8-2-0) beat LSU, 55-31. 20. F1orida (7-2-0) beat Kentucky 17-15 Sports on TU TODAY 6-9 a.m. (Ch. (16), (23) Professional Football from Canada: Western Conference Final (Lansing, East Lansing-Meridian Cable TV).

10 a.m.-l p.m. (Ch. (16), (23) -NCAA Football: Princeton vs. Yale (Lansing, East Lansing-Meridian Cable TV). 1-4 (Ch.

2, 3, 6, 9C, 25) NFL Football: Green Bay Packers vs. New York Giants. 1- 4 (Ch. 4, 5, 8, 10) Lions Football: Baltimore at Detroit. 2- 5 (Ch.

(16), (23) Professional Football from Canada: Eastern Conference Final (Lansing, East Lansing-Meridian Cable TV). 4-7 (Ch. 2, 3, 6, 9C, 25) Football: San Francisco at Miami. 4-7 (Ch. 5, 8, 10) Football: Houston at Chicago.

(Progrom mformofion is suoolied by the netvwrks or the stations involved ond is subject to chonse.) By BOB GROSS Staff Writer ANN ARBOR Pasadena or Tempe is where the University of Michigan's spirited football team is going to be spending the Christmas holidays. The Wolverines guaranteed themselves a spot in the warm climate by crushing Purdue and Heisman Trophy candidate Mark Herrmann here Saturday, 26-0, before 105,831 fans, third-largest crowd ever to witness a football game in Michigan Stadium. All the Wolverines have to do to make the trip to Pasadena and play in the Rose Bowl is to beat Ohio State next Saturday in Columbus. If Michigan loses to Ohio State, it would probably play either Perm State or Florida State Dec. 26, though Alabama is also being considered for a berth after losing Saturday to Notre Dame.

Purdue, meanwhile, accepted an invitation to play in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Dec. 27. MICHIGAN, BEHIND a defensive performance Schembechler called "unbelievable" may have taken the Heisman Trophy out of the hands of Herrmann, who was intercepted four times. The Wolverine defense was so impressive that Purdue never got a first down in the second half. Herrmann was held to 129 yards through the air, hitting 21 of 34 passes.

"What did you say," Schembechler beamed when told that Purdue did not get a. first down after intermission. "I can't believe that. Wow! I never would have believed we could have done this to a team like Purdue, which came in here averaging 542 yards in total offense against the last five Big Ten opponents. But give the credit to Bill McCartney.

It was his idea to use six backs." Then Schembechler broke into a grin. "Yes, give Bill his credit but as you know, I have to go along with those ideas," he said. "In all seriousness, the Staff photo by MORRIS I New Year's Day. Except for Carter's touchdown, a virtual "gimme" after the fumble recovery, Notre Dame only threatened twice. Defensive end Jim Hankerd recovered an Alabama fumble at the Tide 13 some 5y2 minutes into the second period when Jacobs handed off poorly to Mark Nix and the ball squirted loose.

Kiel gave that fumble back six plays later. THE IRISH marched from their 23 to the Alabama one-yard line, consuming more than six minutes at the start of the fourth quarter. They were aided by pass interference and face mask penalties which cost the Tide 31 yards. But Alabama's E.J. Junior blocked Harry Oliver's 18-yard field goal attempt to kill that threat and keep the Tide just a touchdown away.

An exchange of punts gave Alabama the ball with 4:49 left to play but Notre Dame linebacker Bob Crable stopped Concluded on page C-3 INGELLS refuses By DAVE MATTHEWS Staff Writer BRIGHTON "What it is," said Okemos High School football coach Pete Schmidt, "is the kids hate to lose." The Chieftains hate it so much they refuse: no matter where, no matter who, no matter what. And all they need now is one more refusal to become the ultimate unbeaten team, a state champion. Okemos, completely unwilling to accept defeat since 1978, earned its second shot at a state Class football championship in five years here Saturday, frustrating equally eager Farmington Hills Harrison, 14-3, in an uncommonly well-played semifinal at Brighton High School. THE CHIEFTAINS, 11-0 in 1980 and winners of 21 straight, now have two weeks to get ready for a bout with Muskegon Catholic Central, 10-1, for the title at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov.

29, in the Pontiac Silverdome. Muskegon Catholic, 10-1, routed Chesaning, 30-0, in the other semifinal. "This is what high school sports are all about right here," Schmidt said, By DEB POZEGA PIERCE Staff Writer KALAMAZOO In August, Western Michigan football Coach Elliot Uzelac said the Mid-American Conference championship would go to the healthiest team with the most talented quarterback. He hit the nail on the head. Central Michigan, behind the surprisingly sound running of quarterback Kevin Northup, busted the Broncos 22-10 in Waldo Stadium Saturday and earned its second straight MAC crown.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP leaves CMU 7-2 in the conference and makes Coach Herb Deromedi's Chippewas the second team ever to win consecutive MAC titles. Miami of Ohio won an uncontested three straight championships from 1973 through 1975. "It's just as sweet the second time around," Deromedi said afterward. "It's very special when you consider the number of teams that do it. We really came back, and it's a credit to our football team." Indeed, Deromedi's crew of comeback specialists had marched relentlessly back from a 10-0 first-quarter deficit, tying the tally at 10-all by half-time.

Sturdy fullback Willie Todd zipped in for the winning TD, his 33rd Concluded on page C-5 Staff Photo by SUSAN TUSA dofoaft shortly after being gently returned to the turf following a gala victory ride on the shoulders of two happy Chieftains Saturday. Prep football playoffs Pg. C-4 i "No great stars, just a great team effort with everyone doing his job," Schmidt continued. "I could not be prouder of a group of young men. They've earned everything they've received, done everything I've asked of them." THE FIRST THING Schmidt asked the Chieftains to do was shut off Harrison's explosive offense.

No problem. The line and linebackers dominated the Hawks' ground game, permitting only 79 yards in 27 carries. That freed the secondary to concentrate on Harrison's greatest threat, rangy (6-foot-2) wide receiver Reggie Upshaw. Upshaw didn't have a bad day, by anyone's standards, catching five passes for 101 yards. But he did not score.

"You have a hard time throwing on Concluded on page C-3 Fowler definitely didn't quit Saturday, relying on its defensive prowess to ward off any threatening drives Reading, 9-2, seemed to mount. Tom Weber, Doug Cook and Dave Koenig-sknecht each intercepted a pass, and Steve Thelen recovered a fumble as Fowler picked up its 10th victory of the season. Weber's sixth interception of the season set up the game's only touchdown and stopped the Rangers' deepest penetration Fowler's 19. IT TOOK Fowler just five plays to capitilize on Reading's first-quarter mistake and travel 69 yards. Senior halfback Lloyd Feldpausch set up the winning score with a 38-yard run.

Facing fourth and four at the Reading 25, quarterback Luke Hufnagel threw right to Cook, who leaped high between two defenders for the score. Concluded on page C-3 2) Central Michigan Coach Herb Deromedi and guard Tony Vitale wear championship smiles. Irish defense stops Alabama Gutty Fowler gets llverdome berth less than a minute before Carter's touchdown when freshman quarterback Blair Kiel fumbled a snap and Warren Lyles recovered for Alabama at the Tide's 1-yard line. But two plays later, Alabama quarterback Don Jacobs botched a handoff to fullback Billy Jackson and defensive end Scott Zettek recovered for Notre Dame at the 4. Carter slammed twice over right guard, scoring with 6:02 left in the second quarter.

The Irish then turned things over to their stingy defense, which handed Alabama its first shutout in 54 games dating back to early in the 1976 season. It was the fifth consecutive game in which Notre Dame did not allow a touchdown. Alabama didn't cross midfield until the final play of the first half and did, not threaten seriously until midway through the third quarter when Peter Kim missed a 37-yard field goal attempt after the Tide drove from its 26 to the Irish 20. Alabama will go to the Cotton Bowl for the fifth time, meeting Baylor, the Southwest Conference champion, on By HERSCHEL NISSENSON AP Sports Writer BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Sixth-ranked Notre Dame ended Alabama's quest for an unprecendented third straight national championship Saturday, scoring on Phil Carter's 2-yard plunge in the second period two plays after a fumble recovery to beat the fifth-ranked Crimson Tide 7-0 Saturday.

The triumph gave Notre Dame an 8-0-1 record and sent the Irish into the Sugar Bowl against top-ranked Georgia, which boosted its record to 10-0 by defeating Auburn 31-21 to win the Southeastern Conference title. Alabama, which had won the last three SEC crowns and eight of the last nine, suffered its second setback in 10 games overall. It marked the third time in eight years that a loss to Notre Dame knocked Alabama out of a shot at the national championship and it gave the Irish a 4-0 record against the Crimson Tide in the epic series between two of college's all-time powers. NOTRE DAME had failed to score By STEVEN WAITE Journal Correspondent JACKSON Steve Spicer was the first to concur it wasn't a picture-perfect prep football game, by any means. But the Fowler Eagle coach was also the first to agree that he'll take a victory any way he can get it.

And Spicer picked up a free sideline pass to the Pontiac Silverdome, Nov. 29, Saturday with an 8-0 Class semifinal victory over Reading at Jackson's Withington Stadium. "OUR WHOLE season hasn't been picture perfect," Spicer said. "We lost to Olivet, trailed Pewamo-Westphalia by six with five minutes to go and were outplayed by Portland. Still, we managed to win two of those games and that says a lot about this team.

"We struggle with ourselves at times," Spicer continued, "but the kids never quit, no matter what happens.".