The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page 7

She dimes Sunday November 19, 1978 Section Sports Outdoors Sports of The Times Page One NLU 3iock Upsets sweet for Penn State nn 180 passed to Don Zimmerman on an 81-yard halfback pass to set the tempo for the Indians. And 1970 was the last time that NLU had a winning season. Tech closed out at 6-4 on the season with a share of the Southland Conference title and the bid as the host team in the Dec. 16 Independence Bowl all wrapped up. The strapping Reliford walked slowly and quietly back to the NLU dressing quarters after the game while many of his teammates exhibited their excitement.

"I'm excited," he assured questioners. "I'm loving every minute of it." But as a 21-year-old he was cooler than most in the ecstacy of victory. Coach John David Crow, who had built NLU back to winning in three seasons, was composed, too. He was asked his feelings after the win and how it ranked in his long career in football. "When you start categorizing, a victory you're talking about covering a lot of ground," said the Heisman Trophy winner from Texas "It's easily the biggest in my-coaching career, though." Thibodeaux was not sharp early on, missing his first six passes.

But on one he almost struck paydirt. That one was targeted for Johnny Giordano who had worked himself free behind the defense and had clear sailing. But David Dumars, a converted receiver, made a terrific interception, spearing the ball as he (Continued on Page 2-D) ing UCLA 17-10 Saturday to clinch the Pacific-10 championship. The No. 5 Trojans won't know who they play in the Pasadena game until next Saturday when Michigan and Ohio State meet for the Big Ten championship.

Purdue, ranked 15th and bidding for its first Big Ten title since 1929, let the conference lead slip away Saturday, dropping a 24-6 decision to No. 7 Michigan as Rick Leach hurled two touchdown passes and Russell Davis rushed for 127 yards. That left the Big Ten race in a three-way tie and, with Michigan State eliminated by its probation status, the trip to Pasadena will be decided in next week's game between the Wolverines and OSU. The No. 19 Buckeyes topped stubborn Indiana 21-18 Saturday on second-half touchdown runs of 3 yards by Art Schlichter and 46 yards by Ricky Johnson.

The loss to Michigan left Purdue at 7-2-1 and its consolation will be a trip to the Peach BowL The Ohio State-Michigan loser will go to the Gator Bowl against No. 12 Clemson, which clinched its first Atlantic Coast Conference championship since 1967 with a 28-24 victory over No. 11 Maryland. Maryland heads for the Sun Bowl against No. 9 Texas, which walloped Texas Christian 41-0.

Notre Dame, ranked No. 10, will return to the Cotton Bowl, where the Irish won the national championship a year ago. The bid came after Notre Dame's 38-21 victory over No. 20 Georgia Tech as Vagas Ferguson set a school record by rushing for 255 yards. The Irish will play Houston, provided the Cougars, idle Saturday, win one of their last two games.

Arkansas, ranked No. 13, got three touchdowns from quarterback Ron Calgani in a 26-7 victory over Texas and then accepted an invitation to the Fiesta Bowl, where it will play UCLA. By HAL BOCK AP Sports Writer Top-ranked Penn State ended the suspense Saturday, accepting a bid to the Sugar Bowl to face the Southeastern Conference champion. The Nittany Lions, idle Saturday, announced their decision shortly after Orange Bowl-bound Nebraska, the nation's No. 2 team, was upset by Missouri 35-31.

Eighth-ranked Georgia, meanwhile, threw the SEC race into a tangle by tying Auburn 22-22. The deadlock was accomplished on a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Willie McClendon with 5:18 left to play and an extra-point placement by Rex Robinson as Bulldog Coach Vince Dooley disdained a 2-point conversion attempt which might have meant victory. The tie leaves the SEC title undecided until Dec. 2 when Auburn, which got 250 yards and two touchdowns from Joe Cribbs, plays No. 3 Alabama, which was idle Saturday.

If Alabama wins that game, the Crimson Tide draws the Sugar Bowl bid. If Auburn wins, Georgia gets the conference title and the Sugar Bowl invitation. Nebraska, hoping for a national championship showdown against Penn State, lost that chance when Missouri's James Wilder scored four touchdowns, the last one from 4 yards out with 3:42 remaining in the game. Unranked Missouri's payoff for that upset will be a trip to the Liberty Bowl to face No. 17 Louisiana State, which lost to Mississippi State 16-14.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma, which lost to Nebraska 17-14 last week and dropped to No. 4, walloped Oklahoma State 62-7 as Billy Sims exploded for 209 yards and four touchdowns. Then the Sooners accepted an invitation to the Orange Bowl for a rematch with Nebraska. Southern California will be the host team in the Rose Bowl after defeat w.i -v -i. -a By GERRY ROBICHAUX Times Sports Editor MONROE Northeast Louisiana University finally made it out of the doghouse in its rivalry with Louisiana Tech.

And fittingly a trained doghandler had a big part in the 18-0 shutout victory scored by NLU Saturday that snapped the Bulldogs' domination in the series. Ron Reliford, a walkon linebacker from Haughton, made his first start of the season a memorable one, logging four tackles, recovering a fumble and keeping steady pressure on the Louisiana Tech passers. In the contest, NLU held at its own one yard line on two separate occasions to preserve the shutout ending a string of 98 games in which the Bulldogs had scored. Reliford played at Haughton and then entered the Air Force as a 17-year-old. His service time was spent in security police, working the canine patrol with guard dogs.

Saturday he and his defensive mates combined to lead Tech a dog's life. Besides the two stands at the one, NLU pulled off four interceptions three against starting quarterback Keith Thibodeaux and one against his relief, Eric Barkley. Barkley, the freshman from Fair Park, was the most effective of the two quarterbacks, completing a dozen passes for 173 yards. He moved Tech from its own 20 into range in the final six seconds of the contest when an interference ruling put the ball at the Northeast one as time ran out. In the play that followed (the game can't end on a defensive penalty), running back Ron Vernasco was stopped on a plunge into left tackle by a host of Indians and Reliford.

NLU, which closed out the season at 64-1 had beaten Tech for the first time since 1970 when a defensive back, Wayne Matherne, was inserted into the lineup on a special play and 9 Rose USC vs. MichiganOhio State Cotton Notre Dame vs. Houston Sugar-Penn State vs. Alabama Georgia Orange Nebraska vs. Oklahoma Gator MichOhio State vs.

Clems on Liberty Missouri vs. LSU Fiesta UCLA vs. Arkansas Hall of Fame-Iowa St. vs. Texas Sun Texas vs.

Maryland Tangerine Pittsburgh vs. N.C. State -i Independence Louisiana Tech vs. TBA Holiday Brigham Youn vs. Navy Garden State Rutgers vs.

TBA 1 Peach-Purdue vs. TBA Astro-Bluebonnet TBA coo i i 0 II bouiiian Tech ortheast La. NE FG Weimer 'KicKHUSSer 10 MSS r0m Arceneaux IWcimer NE Safety Barkley tackled in end zone NE Johnson 14 run (kick failed) A 17.000 1 Ttch 18 29-56 194 25 14454 I 35 3 2- 1 3 0 NE 21 59201 1018-2 7 31 9 31 430 First downs Rushes-yards Passing yards Return yards Passes Punts Fumbles-lost Penalties-yards DiicuMur- DIVIDUAL LEADERS u.nVstt'N.P: Louisiana Tech-George Yates. 1141. NLU Nathan Johnson, 22-140.

Louisiana Tech-Keith Thibodeaux. 4- 3-3. 21 yds; Eric Barkley. 12-32 1. 173 yds.

NLU Kifby Arceneaux, 10-18-2, 135 yds. tJEFi'iVING: Louisiana Tech Scooter Spruiell, 5- 60. NLU Larry Hamilton, 4-47. S- PifChnstian DiorJ kOvX m1y vj 1 it i aw J-AJ The Allure Of Velour By Christian Dior Thinking Christmas? Every man needs a little softness in his life. Sketched are three of the lushest robes a man could ever own.

Thick, cuddly velour robes incredibly soft to touch in luxurious Arnel velour. Right, hooded maxi robe in pearl grey and huckleberry, 67.50. Center, maxi unhooded robe in multi colors of black, tan and rust, 65.00. Left, knee length kimono with contrast colors on sleeves, 45.00. Men's Furnishings, all stores.

-j Selber Last Three Days To Save On Free Christmas Gift Wrap On Any Purchase From Selber's Shop Shreve City Monday night 'til 6. Pierremont Mall 'til 6. South Park Mall 'til 9. lt4lkMlfkAMl)Mffe4fffc.