The Town Talk from Alexandria, Louisiana • Page 9

Holiday tourney, B-3 Budget cynicism, B-7 MnnHnv Nnupmhor 07 19R7 i I JI I i Saints steal show Defense forces turnovers for 23-14 win See POE, related story, B-2 By John D'Aquila Staff reporter NEW ORLEANS The bandwagon was full Sunday in New Orleans when the New Orleans Saints defeated the New York Giants 23-14 before a sellout crowd of 67,634 in the Louisiana Super-dome. About the only thing hotter than the Saints these days is a Saints ticket. "The hottest thing in New Orleans a Saints ticket," bellowed Tony Elliott as he strolled across the locker room. "You better believe it, baby. The scalpers are getting richer." Playoffs? So will the Saints as they are apparently headed for their first playoff appearance ever.

The victory over the Giants, fueled by a gritty defensive effort in front of a nationally televised audience, gave the Saints four consecutive victories for the first time in franchise history. The 7-3 record is also a first during this season of firsts. The Saints defense, bolstered by a boisterous crowd, picked off five passes and recovered two fumbles while Johnnie Poe blocked a punt. Giants out The loss all but knocked the defending Super Bowl champions out of the playoffs. The Giants, who had won two straight, are 3-7.

"That team we beat is a great football team," said a happy Saints coach Jim Mora. "In order for us to win it took a magnificent effort." For a while, however, it looked as though the Saints would come away losers. The Giants held a 14-13 fourth-quarter lead and had shut down the Saints' league-leading ground game. The Saints' offense sputtered, with the exception of a quick- decision on the play and caught Welch with his back turned. "When I went back I saw they had Martin double covered, but one guy had his back turned so I threw the ball past his head and Eric made a great run," said Hebert.

Swilling swoop The touchdown was set up by one of the biggest defensive stands of the game by the Saints. On third-and-five from the New York 22, Pat Swilling swooped in and hit quarterback Jeff Rut-ledge's arm as he was attempting a pass. The ball shot forward and was recoverd by Saints defensive back Dave Waymer at the 27.The play of the game, however, was not Martin's catch and run, and not Swilling's sack, nor Waymer's recovery, but Poe's blocked punt on the following Giant possession. The big play led to a 28-yard Morten Andersen field goal that closed out the game's scoring. Poe said the Saints had a return on the play and Mora confirmed that an all-out block was not on.

Somehow Poe shook free and streaked from the outside to get enough of the ball to send it straight up where it was plucked from the air by Gene Atkins. While the momentum seemed to turn on Swilling's sack of Rut-ledge and Waymer's subsequent fumble recovery, Poe's block was the game-winner. "That was a big play," said defensive end Jim Wilks of the sack and fumble recovery, "but I think the blocked punt and field goal were the turning points of the game. "We knew we were over the hump then. This was a big win for us." It was just as big a loss for the Giants.

"It's tough to even think about the playoffs at a time like this," lj w4) A 0 a H.I. Giant 0 7 7 0-14 NmOriwM 3 10 0 10-23 NO-FG Andersen 19 NYG Baker 46 pass from Rutledge (Allegre kick) NO Word 1 run (Andersen kick) NO FG Andersen 43 NYG Bavaro 22 pass from Rutledge (Allagra kick) NO Martin 22 pass from Heberl (Anderson kick) NO FG Anderson 28 A 67.739. HYC 16 16 17 75 37 103 First downs Rushes-yards Passing Return Vards CompAttlnt Sacked-Yards Lost Punts Fumbles Lost Penalties-Yards Time of Possession 223 175 40 1727 1 3-19 7-38 1-1 537 35:27 40 20 36 5 5-41 437 3-2 6 51 24:33 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Y. Giants, Rouson 8 35, Adams 7-19, Galbreatti 1-17, Rutledge 1-4. New Orleans, Mayes 24-84, Word 6 21, Milliard 59, Heberl 1 (minus 2), Hill 1 (minus 9).

Giants, Rutledge 20 36 5-264. New Orleans, Heberl 17 27-1-194. RECEIVING NY. Giants, Adams 6-44, Baker 4-100, Bavaro 3-43, Manuel 3 36, Rouson 3-34, Galbreath 1- 7. New Orleans Hilliard 8-81, Hill 3 53, Martin 2- 33.

Brenner 2-14, Tice 1-8, Pattison 15. MISSED FIELD GOALS-N Y. Giants, Allegrt 40. striking 22-yard scoring toss from Bobby Hebert to Eric Martin that put the Saints up 20-14 with 6:30 left in the game. Quick pass On the play, Hebert took a three-step drop on third-and-five and hit a double-covered Martin over the middle with a short pass.

Giant defenders Perry Williams and Herb Welch sandwiched Martin, who broke clean and sprinted the distance to the end zone. "I wanted to get the first down, but somehow I split the defenders," said Martin. "The Giants were putting a lot of pressure on and that really helped because they had a blitz on and Bobby hit me Hebert, who saw the double coverage, had to make a quick Associated Press Giant defender Andy Headen in first-quarter play Sunday. ing for pride," said Lawrence mined the outcome of this game. Taylor.

"They made the big plays when "I'm disappointed I didn't do they needed them and their de- anything that might have deter- fense played awesome." the world comtag to? Saints mow 7-3 "Cats and dogs are living together. Reagan's scheduled to meet with Gorbachev and Johnnie Poe is one of the many heroes for the Saints." Bob Tompkins The Town Talk What's NEW ORLEANS Archie Manning stopped to shake hands with cornerback Dave Waymer as he strolled through the Saints dressing room, congratulating some of his former teammates. "Seven and three," said a grinning Manning, who never experienced the thrill of playing for a Saints team to post such a record. "That's pretty good." "Seven and three!" Waymer shot back with a cackle. "And cats and dogs are living together.

What's the world coming to?" The world may not believe it, but the New Orleans Saints are 7-3 after beating the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants 23-14 Sunday. The Saints believe in defense with a passion after a day's work of seven turnovers, five sacks and a blocked punt. It was that de- to be playing underneath coverage, and one of our corners was supposed to play deep. When I looked around, he (Bavaro) was all alone and all I could do was try to run him down." All Atkins could do when Gibson left the field in the first quarter with a broken arm was "tighten my jock and get out there and play." "I knew I had to do something outstanding because I knew they were gonna say, 'Hey, we got a rookie in the game now, let's pick on him The rookie, earlier this season derided as a "scab" by some of his current teammates, said he feels like he's accepted now, along with the other replacement players, who won two of three games for the franchise during the players' strike. "We're playing as a team," he fense that turned the momentum and helped the Saints score 10 points in the final 6 minutes to seal the victory before 67,639 ecstatic fans at the Superdome.

Cats and dogs are living together, Reagan's scheduled to meet Gorbachev and Johnnie Poe is one of many defensive heroes for the Saints. Indeed, what is the world coming to? The answer is that the Saints, in their 21st year of existence, are finally catching up with the rest Saint's Dalton Hilliard is hit by said Giant defensive end Leonard Marshall. "We are not playing for a play- off spot at this time, we are play- crowd to get it, looking like a reveller at Mardi Gras fighting for a doubloon. That was just one way Atkins, the Florida product who joined the Saints during the strike earlier this season, contributed to the victory. He had two interceptions, one on the first play of the second half and the other late in the game.

To those watching, it might've seemed his stellar play was a bit of redemption for Atkins, who trailed Mark Bavaro when the All-Pro tight end scored the Giants' go-ahead touchdown in the third period on a 22-yard pass from Jeff Rutledge, who was playing for the injured Super Bowl MVP, Phil Simms. "There was miscommunication on the defense on that play," explained Atkins. "I was supposed Associated Press A H' ft 4 liiv 1 V- Southland foes meet in playoffs said. "I'm just one of the guys trying to help the Saints move on." In the only home game in November for the Saints, Sunday's win was even more emotional than their conquest last week of the 49ers in San Francisco. "I think they (Saints wins) are getting more and more emotional because they're more and more believable," said nose tackle Tony Elliott.

"We're getting in the habit of winning, and I don't think there's anything in front of us now that can stop us." Can you believe the Saints, the team with the most futile record in the NFL, are talking this way? "I think people are starting to believe in us now," said defensive end Jim Wilks, who was in on half of the Saints' five sacks Sunday. You can probably include the Giants in that number of believers, too. Iowa, 8-3; and Arkansas State, 7-3-1, at Jackson State, 8-2-1. NLU will be the No. 2 seeded team in the playoffs, according to Benny Hollis, Northeast athletic director and one of the four district chairmen who supervise the playoffs for the NCAA.

Northeast finished No. 3 in the NCAA poll and Appalachian State is the first seeded team and the No. 2 ranked club. No. 1 ranked Holy Cross chose not to participate in the playoffs.

The third seeded team is Northern Iowa and will be in the bracket with Northeast while the No. 4 seed is Idaho. Hollis said if Northeast wins Saturday, the Indians would play the winner of the Eastern Kentucky-Western Kentucky game in Monroe on Dec. 5. Northeast Coach Pat Collins was philosophical about playing a rematch with North Texas State.

"When you play a tough schedule as we did, you have to expect to see some of the teams you played in the playoffs, he said. "We've got plenty of respect for North Texas State and I. don't think there's any danger of our players being overconfident considering how the game turned out." NLU has played three of the 16 playoff teams, beating Georgia Southern, 26-17, and Arkansas State in addition to North Texas State. of the world. Or at least the rest of the NFL.

They're doing it with big plays. Linebacker Pat Swilling forced a fumble and Waymer recovers to set up the Saints' go-ahead drive. With the Saints leading 20-14, Poe partially blocked a punt that fluttered into the sky like a dying -quail. Rookie Gene Atkins, playing for injured strong safety Antonio Gibson, jumps high in a 1 f'iMwii i)lnii'r" 'A I -vi vV' uJf I 9 It. MONROE After ending its regular schedule with one of the most exciting games of a very exciting season, Northeast Louisiana's football team now looks ahead to something old and something new.

The something new is NLU's first venture into the national division I-AA playoffs. The Indians secured their place in the playoffs by whipping Arkansas State Saturday night, 31-21, with a furious comeback to take the school's first undisputed Southland Conference championship and the automatic playoff berth that goes with it. The something old is NLU's first round opponent fellow SLC member North Texas State, a team the Indians edged, 24-23, on Nov. 14 when a NTSU game-tying extra point attempt hit the goal post with 1 23 remaining. North Texas State tied for second in the conference with Sam Houston at 5-1.

Northeast, 9-2, and North will meet Saturday, Nov. 28, at 2 p.m. in Malone Stadium in one of eight national playoff games. In other games, Richmond, 7-4 Slays at Appalachian State, 9-2; laine, 8-3, is at defending national champion Georgia Southern, 8-3; Weber State, 9-2, is at Idaho, 9-2; James Madison, 9-2, at Marshall, 7-4; Western Kentucky, 7-3, at Eastern Kentucky, 8-2; Young-stown State, 8-3, at Northern i Lending a helping hand Indianapolis running back Eric Dickerson and New England de- fender Ronnie Lippett exchange forearm thurst in Sunday's game. Watching is Andre Tippett.

New England shutout Indianapolis, 24-0. The teams are in a fie for first place in AFC East with a 5-5 mark. For complete pro football results see B-2..