The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 39

The Orlando Sentinel, Sunday, October 21, 1984 C-7 Thyhsen enjoys a 'most satisfying' night FLORIDA STATE UCF igj By Joan Ryan SEMINOLES 27, GREEN WAVE 6 OF THE SENTINEL STAFF KNIGHTS 28, REDBIRDS 24 isu UCF First downs 29 Rushes-yards 43-118 35-149 Passing yards 379 -147 Return yards 147 105 Passes 27-60-3 7-19-2 Punts Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-1 Penalties-yards 12-113 TULANE 21 42-101 187 12 15-29-1 5-129 2-2 3-25 32:04 FSU 18 51-303 25 52 5-15-1 4-165 2-2 10-85 27:56 First downs Rushes-yrds Passing yards Return yards Passes Punts Fumbles-lost Penalties-yards Time ot Possession 024 728 3 15 21 6 Illinois St. Central Florida Tulane Florida State 3 3 0 06 6 0 14 727 FSU FG Schmidt 32; TUL FG Wood 40; FSU FG Schmidt 41; TUL FG Wood 42; FSU Wessel blocked punt return 10 (Schmidt kick); FSU Solomon recovered blocked punt in end zone (Schmidt kick); FSU G. Allen 42 run (Schmidt kick). A 54,785. ISU Garrett 3 yard pass from Coppens (Politi kick); ISU Brooks 36 pass trom Coppens (Politi kick); ISU Pryor 64-yard punt return (Politi kick); UCF Wilson 58 run (pass failed); ISU Politi 23 FG; UCF Wilson 37 pass trom Thyhsen (Russ 2 run); UCF Ashley 75 interception return (O'Brien kick); UCF Farmer 30 blocked punt return (O'Brien kick).

A 11,648. Individual stats TULANE There's no doubt in Dana Thy-hsen's mind that Saturday night's 28-24 upset of Illinois State was the biggest in his three years as starting quarterback for the University of Central Florida. "This is the most satisfying, definitely," Thyhsen said. It wasn't because Thyhsen played one of his best games. He didn't.

He completed 7 of 18 pass attempts for 147 yards and 2 interceptions. By comparison, ISU's quarterback, senior John Cop-pens, completed 27 of 60 for 379 yards and 3 interceptions. It was because everybody had written UCF off. With Coach Lou Saban stepping down under pressure from the administration, the players intimate and the frustration of a 1-6 record dogging them, the Knights weren't given much hope winning against a Division I-AA team ranked No. 17 in the nation by the Lexington, Ky.

Herald Leader. "To see the team pull together like it did, to see all our work come together that's what made it so satisfying," Thyhsen said. Individual stats ILLINOIS STATE Rushing JUDY BAYERL SENTINEL Rushing Player No. Yd. Net LG Jones 14 60 2 58 10 Carvello 10 57 3 54 15 Karcher 5 0 28 -28 0 Lavalais 7 25 6 19 10 Ambrose 10 2-2-2 McLaughlin 4 10 16 -6 7 Dent 1 6 0 6 6 Team 42 158 57 101 15 Lou Saban is remembered on helmets, Jerry Anderson for winning 1st game.

Passing It was also a team effort that lifted Thyhsen out of a first-half rut and into a second half in which he fired off two passes of 36 and 37 yards to lead UCF to a touchdown on its second possession. In the first half, Thyhsen was just 3-of-12 for 30 yards with two interceptions. "I was trying in the first half to points. The 24 points the defense gave up were the fewest in any game this season. "I put them the defense in some tough spots all night and they came through," Thyhsen said.

Twenty UCF defenders made at least one tackle Saturday night, with nine recording either an interception or a pass breakup. force it too much. I was wanting it too bad," Thyhsen said. "At half-time, the team told me, 'We're behind you. We'll take care of the bad, so don't worry so much and just go out there a do your Thyhsen praised the defense for making his job easier.

The UCF defense kept the ISU offense, ranked No. 19 in the nation with 28.7 points per game, to just 24 Player Karcher McLaughlin Att. 17 12 Co. 7 8 Int Yds. TD 1 106 0 0 81 0 Player No.

Vds. Net LG Toppens 5 12 41 -29 12 Federico 8 19 0 19 5 Winters 10 44 4 40 10 Jones 16 80 3 77 27 Brooks 1 4 0 4.4 Johnson 3 9 2 7 6 Team 43 168 SO 118 27 Passing Player Att. Co. Int. Yd.

TD Coppens 60 27 3 379 2 Team 60 27 3 379 2 Receiving Player No! YdT Avg. TD Marcinek 10 141 14.1 0 Garrett 7 84 12.0 1 Brooks 2 52 26.0 1 Shelby 3 62 20.6 0 Federico 2 29 14.5 0 Winters 1 1 1.0 0 Jones 1 6 6.6-0 McNicholas 1 4 4.0 0 Team 27 379 iTl 2 Team 29 15 1 0 Receiving UCF From C-1 Player No. Yds. Avg. TD Route 6 87 14.5 0 Savini 4 59 14.7 0 Harrison 1 18 18.0 0 Adams 2 10 5.0 0 M.

Jones 1 4 4.0 0 Zeno 1 9 9.0 0 Team 15 187 12.5 0 Punt returns Player No! YdT Avg. TD Baham 3 5 1.6 0 Team 3 5 1.6 0 Kickotf returns Player No! Yds! Avg. TD Francis 2 35 17.5 0 M.Adam 1 21 21.0 0 Alexis 1 21 21.0 0 Team 4 167 0 Punt returns Player Pryor Dennison Yds. Avg. TD 102 25.5 '1 10 10.0 0 No.

4 1 Team 112 22.4 Kickofl returns No. 1 3 1 Yds. Avg. TD 16 160 0 78 26.0 ,0 20 20.0 0 Player Jones Johnson Shelby Team 114 22.8 0 FLORIDA STATE iTJ1 Pvl Rushing CENTRAL FLORIDA Rushing Player No. Yds.

Net LG Thyhsen 4 0 8 -8 Ector 12 39 4 35 14 Davis 4 6 15 2 Bonner 5 17 0 17 5 Wilson 2 58 6 52 58 Russ 8 48 0 48 16 Team 35 168 19 149 58 UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL Player No. Yds. Net LG G. Allen 15 131 20 111 42 Ce. Jones 8 26 1 25 7 Thomas 12 48 11 37 13 Snipes 12 81 0 81 20 CI.

Jones 5 37 0 37 19 vWolloman 1 12 0 12 12 Team 51 335 32 303 42 it Passing Player Att! Co! Int. Yds. TD Thomas 15 5 1 25 0 Team 15 5 1 25 0 Receiving Player No. Yds. Avg.

TD Carter 1 7 7.00 Ce Jones 1 -10 0 H. Jones 2 18 9.0 0 Gainer 1 10 10.0 0 Team 5 To 0 Darryl Gray of FSU tries to grab Tulane QB Ken Karcher before he can pass. Passing Player Thyhsen McCombs AH. 18 1 Co. 7 0 Int.

Yds. TD 2 147 1 0 0 0 Tulane's shifty defense causes trouble for FSU Team 19 2 147 1 Receiving By Steve Ellis Punt returns SENTINEL CORRESPONDENT fHJ ''4 A 0 Player No. Yds. Avg. TD Cunningham 1 24 24 0 0 Bonner 1 7 7 0 0 Ector 1 -1 -1 0 McCombs 3 80 26 6 0 Wilson 1 37 37.0 1 Team 7 147 21.0 1 Punt returns Player No.

YdT Avg. TD Farmer 1 30 30.0 0 Team 1 30 30.0 0 Kickotf returns Player No. Yds. Avg. TD Wilson 2 46 23.0 0 Team 2 46 23.0 0 Player No.

Yds. Avg. TD Soloman 1 19 19.0 1 Wessel 1 10 10.0 1 Shavers 1 23 23.0 0 1 0 0.0 0 Team 4 53 13.2 2 Kickorf returns Player No. Yds. Avg.

TD Snipes 1 52 52.0 0 Carter 1 7 7.0 0 Team 2 59 iil 0 lem is that our offensive line was asleep all last week. They didn't run anything new." Certainly, that's a subject up for debate at least for McDuffie and his linemen. What can't be disputed is that despite a convincing victory for the Seminoles, FSU's offense had an off night. "It was like we couldn't get anything going," Thomas said. "It seems like I go out one game and play well, and the next I don't.

I just wasn't sharp passing." For the game, Thomas was 5-of-15 and one interception his first of the season in 131 attempts. "It's like Coach Baker quarterback Coach Art Baker said. I have to be mentally ready to play every game," Thomas said. Baker, however, shared the blame. "Any time a change is made, it is difficult to adjust," Baker said.

"I did a poor job adjusting to those changes in their defense. I didn't help Eric, and he wasn't having a particularly good night, either. He just wasn't as sharp as usual." own hands by scoring two touchdowns in the third quarter one by an interception and one by a blocked punt. Illinois State got as close as the UCF 22-yard line with 54 seconds left in the game, but again the UCF secondary frustrated Coppens on every play until the Knights took over and ran out the clock. "The defense won that football game for us tonight.

I can't heap enough praise on them. They did a heck of a job," Anderson said. "The defense kept hanging in there and hanging in there and gave the offense a chance. They had it in their minds they were going to win that football game." UCF senior quarterback Dana Thyhsen got the Knights started in the second half when he completed a 36-yard pass to McCombs to put UCF on ISU's 38-yard line. Two plays later, Thyhsen rocketed another pass for 37 yards, this time to Wilson in the end zone with 6:53 left in the third quarter.

Halfback Tim Russ's 2-point conversion was good, and UCF closed the gap to 24-14. On ISU's next possession, strong safety Curt Ashley picked off a Coppens pass and ran it 75 yards for a touchdown with 4:08 left in the third quarter. The Knights took the lead for the first time as the third quarter ended again thanks to the defense. Cornerback Corris Ervin blocked Link Woodward's punt, and defensive end Jeff Farmer scooped it up and ran it in for a touchdown. O'Brien's PAT was good, and UCF led, 28-24.

Coppens confounded and frustrated the UCF defense by amassing 212 yards on 13 completions in the first half to become the all-time Missouri Valley Conference pass completion leader. UCF got off to a slow start, and it look as though it would be much like most other nights for the Knights. Thyhsen especially couldn't seem to get started. On the second play of the game his first pass attempt Thyhsen was intercepted by two-time Ail-American cornerback Mike Prior on UCF's 25-yard line. Five plays later, Coppens connected with split end Billy Garrett on a 3-yard pass in the end zone.

Paul Politi's kick gave ISU a 6-0 lead. Coppens struck again at 8:30 in the first quarter for ISU's second touchdown with a 36-yard pass to Lance Brooks. Politi's kick again was good, and ISU led, 14-0. Four plays later, UCF was forced to punt, and Prior juked and dodged 64 yards for a quick touchdown and a 21-0 lead. UCF took advantage of an ISU fumble to set up their first touchdown.

Defensive end Eric Simpson recovered the ball on the ISU 42-yard line. Wide receiver Ted Wilson took a reverse, headed to the sideline then cut inside and ran it in for a touchdown. ISU led 21-6 after a conversion attempt failed. ISU missed opportunites to score as penalties held them back. Early in the second quarter, Prior returned a punt 51 yards for a touchdown, but it was called back for clipping.

Less than four minutes later, ISU cornerback Gary Conley intercepted a Thyhsen pass and ran it to the UCF 1-yard line. Illinois was penalized for roughing the passer, however, and UGF regained possession. TALLAHASSEE Jamie Dukes felt helpless. Jerry Rio-pelle was confused. And quarterback Eric Thomas had his worst passing effort of the season, netting 25 yards.

All three Florida State players gave blame and credit to a Tulane defense they called new and confusing. "We didn't know what we were doing," said Dukes after FSU's 24-6 victory. "We've never seen that defense before. It posed a lot of problems. "They put the linebacker outside so it looked like a double end formation.

Most of our offense is based on the read of the linebacker," said Dukes, an offensive guard from Orlando Evans. "He threw off my and the tight end's blocks. I felt helpless. I've played a long time, but I never have seen anything like that." Offensive coordinator Wayne McDuffie, didn't agree. "They Tulane ran everything we watched on film.

Our prob How they scored FIRST QUARTER ILLINOIS STATE Garrett scored orv 3-yard pass trom Coppens. Key play: Prior's interception at UCF's 26-yard line. Politi PAT 26 yards, 5 plays, 2 26 7-0, Redbirds ILLINOIS STATE Brooks scored on a 36-yard pass Irom Coppens Key play; Coppens' 19-yard pass to Brooks to the UCF 46. Pohti PAT 9 plays, 90 yards, 8 30. 14-0, Redbirds ILLINOIS STATE Prior returns McComb punt 64 yards Politi PAT.

7:18. 21-0. Redbirds CENTRAL FLORIDA Wilson scores on reverse Key play Simpson's recovery ot Winters' tumble on ISU's 42-yard line. Slack's conversion pass tails. 42 yards, 1 play, 5:05.

21-6, Redbirds. UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL How they scored FIRST QUARTER FLORIDA STATE Derek Schmidt kicked a 32-yard field goal. Key play; Henry Taylor tecovered Tulane fumble at the FSU 44. 41 Vards. 11 plays, 4:01.

3-0, Seminoles. TULANE Tony Wood kicked a 40-yard field goal. Key play: Ken Karcher passed 18 yards to Craig Harrison on third and 8, plac-tng ball at the FSU 34. 57 yards, 10 plays, 5 30. 3-3.

tie. FLORIDA STATE Schmidt kicked a 41-yard field goal. Key play: Rosie Snipes relumed kickotf 52 yards to Tulane 48. 24 yards. 9 plays, 3:58.

6-3, Seminoles. SECOND QUARTER TULANE Tony Wood kicked a 42-yard eld goal. Key play: Joseph Caravello car-tied for 15 yards to the FSU 27. 50 yards, 9 )lays. 2 42.

6-6, tie. THIRD QUARTER FLORIDA STATE Joe Wessel picked up blocked punt at the Tulane 10 and scored. Kick was blocked by Lenny Chavers. Schmidt PAT. 13-6.

FSU. FLORIDA STATE Jesse Soloman blocked a Tulane punt and recovered it in end zone for touchdown. Schmidt PAT. 20-6. Seminoles FOURTH QUARTER FLORIDA STATE Greg Allen ran 42 yards for touchdown.

Key play: FSU defense stopped Tulane on fourth and 31, when the Green Wave tried a fake punt. Schmidt PAT. 42 yards, 1 play, 0:06. 27-6, Seminoles. How 'Holes have fared Greg Allen takes off he rushes for 111 yards.

FSU From C-1 THIRD QUARTER ILLINOIS STATE Pohti kicked 23-yard field goal Key play Wilson tumble recovered by McCarthy on UCF 36 36 yard9, 4 plays. 9 12 24-6, Redbirds. CENTRAL FLORIDA Wilson scored'on a 37-yard pass trom Thyhsen. Key play: Thyhsen 36-yard pass to McCombs to put UCF on ISU's 38-yard line Brien PAT. 75 yards 5 plays, 6 53 24-14, Redbirds CENTRAL FLORIDA Ashley returned interception 75 yards for a touchdown Brien PAT 4 08.

24-21 Redbirds. CENTRAL FLORIDA Farmer scores when he picks up a punt blocked by Ervin and runs 20 yards into end zone. O'Brien PAT 28-24, Knights. both offensively and defensively. Everyone knows the weapons Florida State has.

I think we played them jaw to jaw." Chavers and Soloman certainly played that way. Soloman said his block fulfilled a revenge wish. "I had made up my mind that I wanted to block one of their punts," Soloman said. "Last year when 1 went in to block one, the kicker kicked me right over the eye. So I wanted this one." Chavers and Soloman line up in the middle of the line on the FSU punt defense, and they might have been able to shake loose because of Tulane's preoccupation with Wessel.

Wessel, who lines up on either end of the line during punts, had blocked three kicks coming into the game. Tulane was well aware of that. "They had a guy on me every time," Wessel said. "But if they pull people out to cover me, that opens it up on the inside." FSU scored first on a 41-yard field goal by Derek Schmidt, but Tulane's Tony Wrood tied it with a 40-yard kick at 4:01 of the first quarter. FSU had threatened to go ahead by a touchdown at the end of the half.

But a fourth-down gamble backfired with FSU at the Tulane 7 and 29 seconds left. The Seminoles, needing 4 yards, decided to go for it. Thomas dropped to pass, was hit from behind and fumbled. Tulane recovered' and ran out the clock. sudden turn of events and could not recover quickly enough.

Tulane started at its 22 after Chavers' block, ran three plays and was forced to punt again. Punter Tony Wood stood at his 4 and was surrounded by Seminoles shortly after the ball reached him. Soloman got both hands on it, and fell on the ball in the end zone for the touchdown. FSU now has blocked seven kicks this season. Saturday's blocks sealed Tulane's fate.

The Green Wave changed quarterbacks but still could not get much going. Tulane did have one chance to get back into contention when it reached the FSU 2-yard line with 7:24 to play. On first-and-goal, tailback Mike Jones fumbled, FSU recovered and the drive was thwarted. Green Wave Coach Wally English said the blocks demoralized his team. "Obviously they are excellent in the kicking game," English said of the Seminoles.

"We had our chances. We just have to become more consistent as a'football team. I couldn't be proudtr of our effort How UCF has fared Bethune-Cookman 43 Central Florida 22 Northeast Lousiana 49 Central Florida 21 Georgia Southern 42 Central Florida 28 Central Florida 35 Western Kentucky 34 Florida State 48 East Carolina 17 Florida State 42 Kansas 16 Florida State 38 Miami 3 Florida State 44 Temple 27 Florida State 17 Memphis State 17 Auburn 42 Florida State 41 Florida State 27 Tulane 6 Nov. 3 at Arizona St. 9 30 p.m.

Nov. 10 at S. Carolina 1:30 p.m. Nov 17 UT-Chattanooga 7 p.m. rj Southwest Texas 39 Central Florida 13 Akron 26 Central Florida 21 Eastern Kentucky 37, Central Florida 14 Central Florida 28, Illinois St 24 Oct 27 Austin Peay 730 pm Nov 3 at Indiana St.

1:30 p.m. Nov. 1Q at Furman 1:30 Florid! 7 p.m. Jec. 1.