News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 49

Fort Myers News-Press, Sunday, August 19, 1979 5C Bucs 4 teT Ln If i J- m. mm a FromPagm 1C the first half, Williams went six for 16 with one interception, totalling 109 yards. "It's not over yet McKay said about the number one quarterback position. "I think Mike hurt his heel in the game, but it's not over there." Rae agrees with McKay. "I can move this club.

You be the judge," he said. The Bucs accumulated 343 total yards and converted 42 per cent of their third downs into first downs. The Saints were held to 226 total yards 3 rushing and converted only one-fourth of the time on third down situations. Like the first- two preseason games, Tampa Bay repeated its first quarter scoring act with a touchdown against the Saints. Starting quarterback Williams, who had trouble finding receivers on long passes in the first half, lofted one directly to Larry Mucker on a 62-yard touchdown play with 2:36 left in the first quarter.

Mucker caught the ball near the 10-yard line, outraced defender Eric Felton Pro football Bears nip Bengals with rally Tkt Associated Press CHICAGO Mike Spivey intercepted a Jack Thompson pass and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown to cap a 17-point, third-quarter rally Saturday night which led the Chicago Bears to a 17-13 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in a National Football League exhibition game. Trailing 13-0. the Bears scored on a 37-yard field goal by Bob Thomas. Then they turned a fake punt into a 77-yard gain which set up a six-yard touchdown run by Art Best Spivey's interception then put Chicago ahead to stay. Outplayed and pinned back on their own 17, the Bears resorted to a fake punt by Bob Parsons.

He threw a pass to Brian Baschnagel, who ran another 39 yards to the Cincinnati six. Best went around left end from there for the 't k- a 'luVc v-. Redskin Dallas Hickman makes a diving catch in rally downs Houston 1 6-1 3 i t-A r-k 3 Atlanta Falcons TV: Channel 11, 1 p.m. RAIDERS-PATRIOTS The New England Patriots will be trying try to regroup today when they meet the Oakland Raiders in a NFL exhibition game. Coming off a sloppy 15-3 preseason loss to Los Angeles, the Patriots were shaken at midweek when the team traded tackle Leon Gray to the Houston Oilers for a pair of 1980 draft picks.

Patriots Coach Ron Erhardt was unenthusiastic about the deal while some of the players, notably guard John Hannah, were bitter. New England General Manager Bucko Kilroy contends, however, he made the right move. The Raiders, meanwhile, are 2-1 in the preseason and trying to put their offense in order. Quarterback Ken Stabler will play two quarters with his backups Jim Plunkett, once the backbone of the Patriots offense, and David Humm seeing service also. Plunkett hasn't appeared at Schaefer Stadium since 1975, prior to the April 5, 1976 trade that sent him to the San Francisco 49ers for draft picks that helped rebuild the Patriots.

Oakland Coach Tom Flores a first-year coach like Erhardt says Stabler "has played very well and is working hard." Plunkett, who had been mired in a lengthy slump, "seems to have regained command of the game. We're very pleased." Both coaches say the game, starting at 1 p.m. EDT, won't be a grudge match, although the last time the teams played an exhibition a year ago. Raiders safety Jack Tatum smashed into Patriots receiver Darryl Stingley, leaving him paralyzed. The teams later met in a regular season game in Oakland, won by New England without incident.

However, with today's's contest in Foxboro, Tatum may be absent. He's said to have a sore knee. "The Patriots will be a good test for us," Flores said. "We're going to play everyone on the team. We're trying to add variety to our offense." Second-year Patriots tackle Dwight Wheeler will take Gray's spot, backed up by another second-year pro, Terry Falcon.

DALLAS COWBOYS The Cowboys re-signed rookie defensive back Mike Kincaid after placing rookie defensive lineman Curtis Anderson on waivers. TP A ,5 the first period against the way thorugh the fouth period when Fuller, a first-round draft choice from Clemson, threw a touchdown pass as he was being hit by defensive end Bob Rozier. Belton, juggled the ball on his finger tips and the lunged across the goal line. The victory raised Kansas City's preseason record to 2-1 while the Cardinals fell to 1-2. The Chiefs emerged from the fumble-filled first half with a 10-3 lead forged on Mark Baileys's one-yard touchdown on the second play of the second quarter and Sten-erud's 51-yarder.

Cords Chiefs First downs 14 20 Rushes-vards 36-128 38-121 Possing vords 95 96 Return yards 98 138 Posses 13-23-2 15-24-0 Punts 4-42 4-42 Fumbles-tost 2-2 3-2 Penalties-yards 5-42 4-30 St. Louis 1 0 8 83 Konsas City 0 10 3 720 ST FG Little 18 KC Boilev 1 run (Stenerud kick) KC FG Stenerud 51 KC FG Stenerud 36 KC Belton 25 pass from Fuller (Stenerud kick) A 43,214 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS RUSHING St. Louis, Brown 45, Anderson 44, Bell 17. Kansas City, Bailey 23, Mc Knight 20, Reed 14. PASSING St.

Louis. Hort 8-13-1-60, Pisarkiewicz 10-45-1-51. Kansas City, Livingston 7-14-0-56, Fuller 8-10-0-90. RECEIVING St. Louis, Brown.

4-48, Chllds 3-23, Otis 1-17, stiet 1-17. Kansas City, Smith 3-34, Belton 1-25, White 4-23. Chargers 7, Giants 3 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -Dan Fouts threw a 14-yard pass to Greg McCrary for the game's only touchdown and the San Diego Chargers downed the New York Giants 7-3 in a preseason contest. The Chargers' defensive line, led by John Lee, Wilbur Young, Gary Johnson, Fred Dean and Leroy Jones, dominated the game recording nine sacks for 62 yards in losses and sending Giant quarterbacks Joe Pisarcik and Randy Dean to the sidelines with injuries.

Pisarcik was knocked out early in the game, decked as he completed a 27-yard pass play with Ken Johnson for the Giants' longest gain of the game. He suffered a bruised arm on the play, which moved the ball into position for Joe Danelo's 28-yard field goal that gave New York the early lead. Chargers Giants First downs 19 5 Rushes-yards 41-98 23-48 Passing yards 176 40 Return vords 49 46 Passes 17-31-1 11-23-1 Punts 8-30 12-40 Fumbles-lost 3-3 2-1 Penalties-vords 8-65 10-123 Chargers-Giants Stats San Diego 8 7 0 07 New York 3 0 0 83 NY FG Danelo 28 SD McCrary 14 pass from Fouts (Be-nlrschke kick) A 22,341 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS RUSHING San Diego, Owens 8-36, Williams 8-20, Thomas 7-25. New York, Norman 4-11, Simms 2-10, Taylor 8-10. PASSING San Diego, Fouts 11-20-1-135 yards; Harris 5-8-0-69; Oiander 1-3-0-3.

New York. Pisarcik 2-2-0-34; Dean 5-8-1-46, Simms 4-13-0-22. RECEIVING San Diego, McCrary 3-46, Winslow 3-29. New York, Robinson 3-37. First downs Rusnes-vards Passing yards Return yards Passes Punts Fumbles-lost Penalties-yards Cincinnati CiMCfcinall 30 Chicot 12 17-99 143 81 6-172 5-31 1-0 44-85 399 0 M-40-3 1-42 1-1 165 4-51 7 4 013 If 17 Chicot tin oritrin pass from Anderson (Bohr kick) Cln Bohr 24 Cin FG Bohr 41 Chi FG Thomas 37 Chi Best run (Thomas kick) Chi Spivey 43 interception return (Thomas kick) A 53.831 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS RUSHING Cincinnati.

A. Griffin 10-34. Alexander 13-18. Johnson 12-19. Chicago.

Ski-binski 8.50. Pavton 8-21. Best 3-14. PASSING Cincinnati. Anderson 13-18-1.

204; Chicogo. Phipps 34-1. 36; Evons 2-10-1, 30; Parsons 1-1-0, 77. RECEIVING Cincinnati. Boss 7-106.

Kreider 5-66, Curtis 4-90. A. Grittin 4-39. Brooks 3-48, Ross 2-46. Chicago.

Baschnagel 3-103, Richards 2-33. Earl 1-7. Lions 21, Browns 10 PONTIAC, Mich. Detroit quarterback Gary Danielson and wide receiver Luther Blue connected on first-half touchdown passes of 33 and 39 yards as the Lions defeated the Cleveland Browns 21-10 in an exhibition game. Danielson, playing just over a half, looked extremely sharp for the second straight week.

The for-. mer Purdue star completed seven of 10 attempts for 155 yards. Browns Liens First downs Rushes-yards Passing yards Return yards Posses 25 44-173 192 US 23-102 17S 104 33-17-2 16-8-1 Punts 3-39 4-40 5-1 0-0 7-55 10-64 1 I II 821 Fumbles-kwt Penalties-yards Cleveland Detroit Oet Blue 33 pass from Danielson (Ri- cardo kick) Cle FG Cockrott 3 Oet Blue 39 pass from Danielson (Rl-cardo kick) Del Gaines 1 run (Ricardo kick) Cle Moriarty 9 pass from Miller (Cock-roft kick) A 55.623 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS RUSHING Cleveland, M. Prultt 11-50, Moriorty 11-45. Hill.

U-37. Detroit. Kont 7-29. Robinson, 3-28. Collicut S-23.

King 6-20. PASSING Cleveland. Sloe 9-21-2, 116; Miller 8-12-0, 100. Detroit. Donlelson 7-10-2.

155; Komlo 1-4-0. 20. RECEIVING Cleveland, Moriarty 6-57. Miller 3-5), Hill 3-45. Detroit.

Kone 4-82 Blue 2-72. Robinson 1-20. Packers 7, Bills GREEN BAY, Wis. Quarterback Lynn Dickey, playing in his first game since Nov. 13, 1977, connected with wide receiver James Lofton with 15 seconds left to give the Green Bay Packers a 7-6 victory over the Buffalo Bills.

The Packers improved their record to 2-1 and dropped Buffalo's record to 0-3. Dickey, who sat out the entire 1978 season after breaking his leg in a 1977 game with the Los Angeles Rams, found Lofton all alone at the goal line for the score. Chester Marcol booted the extra point to give Green Bay the victory after Buffalo place kicker. Tom Dempsey had put the Bills up 6-0 with second quarter field goals of 22 and 42 yards. Cowboys' By The Associated Press IRVING, Texas Reserve fullback Alois Blackwell, fighting for a spot on the Dallas roster, scored two second-half touchdowns and the struggling Cowboys overcame the Houston Oilers 16-13 Saturday night in a National Football League exhibition game.

Houston built a 13-0 lead midway through the third quarter before Roger Staubach got Dallas' high-powered offense into gear in the game billed as the "pro championship of Texas." Dallas, which had only three first downs in the first half, drove 77 yards behind Staubach to Butch Johnson passes before Blackwell scored on a one-yard plunge. After Rafael Septien kicked a 37-yard field goal to narrow the Dallas deficit to 13-10, Staubach moved the Cowboys 41 yards in seven plays for the go-ahead touchdown. Blackwell, a second year back from the University of Houston, barreled his way four yards for a touchdown, but the extra point went awry because of a poor center snap. Toni Fritsch kicked field goals of 47 and 22 yards for a 6-0 Oiler half-time lead. Wide receiver Ken Bur-rough caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Gif-ford Nielsen to put Houston on top 13-0 in the third quarter before the Cowboys warmed up.

A final Houston rally died at the Oiler 45 yard line when defensive end Harvey Martin sacked Nielsen and tackle Randy White recovered Nielsen's fumble on the play. Houston's all-pro running back Earl Campbell rushed 12 times for 76 yards, but did not play after a final appearance early in the third quarter. Campbell had a 38-yard run to set up the Oilers' second field goal. Staubach completed 15 of 28 passes for 177 yards, but also served up two interceptions. Dallas is now 2-2 in the preseason, while Houston is 1-2.

Oilers Cowboys First downs II 16 Rushes-yards 30-103 33- 88 Passing yards 126 155 Return yards 61 57 Passes 15-26-0 16-27-3 Punts 8-42 5-42 Fumbles-tost 4-1 0-0 Penoltles-yards 5-48 5-48 Houston 3 3 7 013 Dallas 8 6 7 914 HOU FG Fritsch 47 HOU FG Fritsch 22 HOU Burrough IS pass from Nielsen (Fritsch kick) DAL Blackwell 1 run (Septien kick) DAL FG Septien 37 DAL Blackwell 4 run (pass failed) A 62,803 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS RUSHING Houston, Campbell 12-76, Carpenter 8-17. Dallas, Blackwell 17-48. New-house 8-27. PASSING Houston, Nielsen 5-26-0, 166. Dallas, Staubach 16-27-3, 177.

RECEIVING Houston, Barber 5 65. Foster 4-39. Dallas, D. Pearson 3-54, Johnson CUIU UUUCU Mill liiC UIIC Felton had blocked a 30-yard field goal attempt by Neil O'Do-noghue on the Bucs previous possession. rouowmg me bucs intra toucn-down of the preseason, O'Donoghue kicked the extra point.

Before he got to try it, however, the Bucs were penalized five yards for delaying the game. Gary Huff, the holder, didn't get on the field in time to set up the kick. The pass was Williams' third rnmnlpltnn in tho Rfi-varrl caimn. Diav anve mat consumed iwo mm- I -1 tues, 54 seconds. He also connected with Gordon Jones for seven vards and with Jerry Eckwood for nine.

Trt tViA vet iiiq rtoi U7 Illi orvic? completed five of nine passes for .100 yards. By halftime, he had completed one more for nine yards and threw six incompletions. The Saints managed to even the score at 7-7 with 1:51 left in the half on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Archie Manning to a wide-open Ike Harris capping a seven-play 30-yard drive. Buc defenders Jeris White and Cedric Brown, seemingly confused in their zone coverage, weren't within five yards of Harris as he skipped the final five yards into the end zone. Other than the scoring pass, the longest gain was a Manning pass to Brook Williams for 19 yards and a first down at the 50.

Three plays later, the Saints scored. Manning played the entire first half, gaining 100 yards and completing nine of 17. At the end of the 118 UL IJUUI IV! JIWVWV.l1 IL. 11UVA I L. passing yardage of one.

The Tampa Bay defense didn't make things easy for Manning, either. Sanders sacked him twice -for 19 and five yards. Wally Chambers and Bill Kollar also pressured him constantly. "I was very disappointed with out performance," said Saints coach Dick Nolan, whose team will return to Tampa Stadium in October for a regular season game. "We didn't move the ball like we should have.

We were just flat out there." The Bucs are now 2-1 against the Saints. They Bucs won their first regular season game ever again-1 the Saints in 1977 and lost to them last December. Blanchard From Page 1C confidence in my ability. I think I can punt with Ray Guy (Oakland) or John James (Atlanta) or any of the top punters in the NFL. And when Dave Green comes back we'll just have to see what happens." Blanchard also lists Exrelben on his list of top punters someday, if not now in the NFL.

"He's a hell of a kid," he said. "There's a lot of pressure on him. But he's going to be a great one. I've watched him in practice. He's got a great leg.

The pressure's really on Russell right now. This was really just his first full game of kicking. Before he was having to split each half with me. I just can't have anything bad to say about anyone connected with the Saints." Instead, he was impressed with the Bucs. 'I don't give a damn what people are saying, I've been here eight years and think I'm doing a great ob.

Lawrence McCutcheon Redskins 16, Falcons ATLANTA Joe Theismann fired two touchdown passes and set up a field goal with a 19-yard run as the Washington Redskins downed the Atlanta Falcons 16-6. Theismann hurled a 30-yard scoring pass to Ricky Thompson early in the second quarter for the first Washington touchdown in three preseason games and connected with Danny Buggs on a 59-yard scoring play in the third quarter as the Redskins lifted their record to 2-1. Atlanta's only score came late in the first half when Steve Bart-kowski completed three consecutive passes for 57 yards, the last a 32-yard touchdown strike to Wallace Francis. It was the third straight setback for the Falcons. Theismann's 19-yard run to the Atlanta 17 in the second quarter set up a 27-yard field goal by Nick Lowery.

Theismann also had a 44-yard scoring pass to Buggs nullified in the opening quarter when the Redskins were called for holding on the play. Theismann, playing a little over half the game, completed 12 of 17 passes for 159 yards and his key target was Thompson, who had six receptions for 80 yards. Redskins Falcons First downs Rushes-yards Possing yards Return yards Passes Punts Fumbies-lost Penalties-vords Washington Atlanta Wash Thompson 14 16 37-130 28-113 186 182 80 9 16-30-0 8-30 4-1 7-45 18-34-2 9-40 2-1 12-115 10 6 6 614 6 from 30 pass Theismann (Lowery kick) Wash FG Lowery 27 Atl Francis 32 pass from Bartkowski (kick failed) Wosh Buggs 59 pass from Thelsmonn (kick failed) A 52.478 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS RUSHING Washington. Theismann 3-36, Forte 5-34, Malone 7-19. Atlanta, Mavberry S-33, Patton 8-31, Andrews 7-21.

PASSING Washington. Theismann 12-20-0, 159; McOullken 4-10-0, 37. Atlanta Bartkowski 9-16-2, 120; Hunter 9-18-0. 109. RECEIVING Washington, Thompson 6-80, Buggs 4-78.

Atlanta, Francis 4-75, Jackson 3-44, Mavberry 3-35. Chiefs 20, Cardinals 3 KANSAS CITY, Mo. Steady Jan Stenerud booted two field goals and Horace Belton made a fingertip catch of a 25-yard-touchdown pass from rookie Steve Fuller to lift the Kansas City Chiefs to a 20-3 exhibition victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Stenerud, a 13-year veteran who ranks sixth on the NFL's all-time scoring chart, hit a 51-yard field goal in the second quarter and added a 36-yarder in the third, his third successful kick in four attempts during preseason.

The Chiefs held a 13-3 lead mid Bills Packers First downs 19 16 Rushes-vards 40-161 24-78 Possing yards 157 166 Return yards 30 25 Passes 13-24-3 19-36-0 Punts 3-41 6-43 Fumbles-tost 2-1 2-2 Penalties-yards 9-80 7-75 Buffalo 6 8 86 Green Bay 8 6 6 77 But FG Dempsey 22 But FG Dempsey 42 GB Lofton 20 pass from Dickey (Marcol kick) A 54,857 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS RUSHING Buffalo, Brown 7-63, D. Johnson 15-35, Miller 5-26. Green Bay. Whltehurst 2-23. Mlddleton 11-22.

PASSING Buffalo. Ferguson Green Bay, Whltehurst 9-17-0-40, Dickey 10-19-0-126. RECEIVING Buffalo, Plccone, 2-44, Hooks 2-30. Green Bay, Lofton 3-53, Middleton 6-47. I .4 McCutcheon considered moody but reliable Ac1-' By PAUL OBERJUERGE Gannett News Service FULLERTON, Calif.

It wasn't so much a question as a challenge cool, slightly threatening. "You lookin' for somebody?" "Yeah, you." "Well, you found him. Whatchu want?" So began an interview with Lawrence McCutcheon, Los Angeles Rams running back. That's the trouble with Lawrence McCutcheon. People, journalists in particular, can be put off by his often less-than-sunny demeanor.

When he comes at you with that Sonny Liston glare, asking questions in a "why-don't-you-leave-me-alone" tone of voice, most interviewers end up wishing they'd passed up a chance to talk with the leading rusher in Ram history. Howvever, McCutcheon means nothing by it. Plenty of great athletes would rather pull a hamstring than talk with a reporter. But it no doubt has cost him dearly in terms of publicity, recognition, endorsements and appearances. How else can you explain why the No.

3 active career ground gainer in the National Football League (behind O.J. Simpson and Franco Harris) is practically anonymous outside of southern California? How else can you explain why after one subpar season that most of the press and public is ready to relegate him to the scrap heap? "Clutch" had been as dependable as the sunrise, piling up 5,943 yards. He's still bothered by both injuries. "I don't feel bad, but I don't feel good," he said. "I'm not saying I'm hurting, but I don't feel 100 percent.

My hamstring's a little sore, a little tender. My thigh swells up every now and then. I'm being bothered by it. The two-a-days (practices) aren't helping any. I just hope to play enough in the preseason to get my timing down.

I doubt if I'll feel 100 percent, but I foresee no problems." Since he's still bothered by injuries incurred nearly a year ago, some are suggesting McCutcheon, 29, could be finished. Few running backs last as long as he has. Others insist that even if he plays he is not that kind of speedy, breakaway back they say the offense needs. They note he has never broken a run longer than 48 yards in 1,362 career carries. McCutcheon is aware of such sentiment and appears not as offended by it as one might think.

"I don't worry about it," he said. "That's a thing people have been saying ever since I've been here. Everybody has their opinions as far as what the problem with the Rams is. As far as I'm concerned, I'm doing a great job. "As far as the running back position, we've never been lacking a running game.

We've always been up How else can you explain why analysts are nearly unanimous in their opinion the Rams need a breakaway running back when they already have a man who's had four seasons. "I don't give a damn what people are saying," McCutcheon said quietly. "I've been here eight years and I think I've done a great job. As long as I know I'm doing the job and as long as the coaches know I'm doing the job, that's cool with me." It was early in the afternoon at the California State Fullerton training camp. He was sitting in the shade created by a peach tree outside his dormitory room, clad in a pair of sneakers, white shorts and a yellow, mildly obscene, "Hustler" magazine T-shirt.

He was asked tibout his injury-marred 1978 season, in which he missed half the season and gained a career-low 420 yards. "It was by far my worst season," he said. "Up until last year, a few bumps and bruises were the worst injuries I had. But both injuries were freak injuries. Hopefully, I have them out of my system." McCutcheon was first hurt in the preseason, when he tore the quadracep muscle in his left thigh.

After missing five games, he returned, but looked sluggish and tentative. Eight weeks later, he ripped his right hamstring in a game at Cleveland and was lost for the season. The Rams suffered without him. For five years with the top two or three running teams in the league. I don't know what the fans want.

I've learned not to harp on the situation." Actually, this intelligent, introverted man has learned not to say much at all. He has cultivated his teammates, not the press. His goals for the coming season are simple. "I just want to stay healthy. If I do, then all the other things will fall into place and I think we'll win the division and maybe make the Super Bowl." Maybe that would make him a celebrity, but don't count on it..