The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 33

SUNDAY 7, 1996 tHE SALINA JOURNAL Sports D6 NFL D7 LIFESPORTS D8 IMPORTS JOURNAL WORLD SERIES HAROLD BECHARD The Salina Journal Yankees return to throne iOU showed something comeback i- MANHATTAN You have to be- lieVe that all those Oklahoma haters who filled KSU Stadium now haV.e much healthier respect of the Sooners. the third quarter came to an end Saturday on a windy afternoon, Kansas State held a comfortable 28-point lead on head coach John Blake's Sooners. Wildcats had 42 points and were 16oking for more, maybe even enough to eclipse the 59 they scored in the memorable 1969 slaughter of the Sooners. the break between the thitd and fourth quarters, the Sooners gathered as a team at mid- fiJgld on the sidelines and raised fijjir fingers into the air, signifying the start of the final quarter. "Isuspect many of the 43,815 fans smiled in amusement at the; Sooner symbol.

After all, their Wildcats led 42-14 and looked ready to bury Oklahoma. A year ago, on the: same field, the Sooners had all but quit during a 49-10 pasting, which just happened to be their loss in a half-century. IBut these aren't the Sooners of atrogant, pipe-smoking Howard Sehnellenberger or Gary Gibbs. These Sooners, under Blake, don't quit, as evidenced by their coifte-from behind wins over Texas and Baylor in the last two weeks. And Oklahoma didn't quit against K-State, either.

The Sooner? put a big-time scare into the Wildcats before losing 42-35 on a day more attune to kite-flying than football' K-State's vaunted secondary turned OU reserve quarterback Eric Moore into an All-American in a wad fourth quarter, which saw the have the opportunity to tie thSgamq in the final twojninutes. Blake if hiis team would have scof he may have gone for the two-point conver- sibh and the victory. But the Sooners didn't score Chris Canty made sure of that with anlnterception after being toasted much of the fourth quarter by OU receiver Michael McDaniel and Rotate escaped. "Spie. Wildcats had built the big eiujly lead on the strength of Brian strong right arm.

Kavanagh, who finished with' personal-bests in completions (27), y4rds (349) and touchdowns (4)j hadn't thrown the ball this well suice subbing for Matt Miller in last December's Holiday Bowl. put despite the numbers, Ka- wasn't pleased with the way he or his team finished the game. "We're just not putting it togeth- eftin the fourth quarter," Ka- vjgbagh said. "We had so many opportunities to blow the game wide Kavanagh's favorite target was wifde receiver Kevin Lockett, who is zerping on former Oklahoma State Hart Lee Dykes as the Big Eight's all-time leading pass- catcher (Big Eight career marks are still being tracked). Logkett, snubbed by Oklahoma during the recruiting process in 1991, finished game with personal single-game records of 12 catches and yards.

Jn the process, Lockett broke the K-gtaJe career receiving mark of current assistant coach Michael Smith. makes me feel good because this came against the University of Oklahoma," said Lockett, a Tulsa native. "Plus, there's people saying fa gone along with four, five, mjjiybJB six catches a game this season, but I haven't busted out. I busted out today, and to d4'-it against Oklahoma is very huge £nd very special to me." game was made even nforevspecial because of K-State's vjfjtopy, which was aided by Okla- htimal's horrid first In the fust $5 minutes, the Sooners fum- bfed a punt snap, uncorked a punt 002 yards, threw an interception A rian just 12 offensive plays. Maybe the ball was too slick, the si too bright or the wind too sfiphg.

Whatever it was, Blake's tr wps dug themselves such a deep hi le in the first quarter that even ol' boys like Bud or Barry cguldn't Have dug their way out. pBut they came close. jQklahoma has a lot of pride," Kfvanagh said. "They never gave and you've got to respect them." New York scores early then turns to strong bullpen to secure title By BEN WALKER 77ie Associated Press NEW YORK For the New York Yankees, a storybook season of comebacks ended with the ultimate. The Yankees, given no chance of winning the World Series after two humbling losses at home, won their first title since 1978 with a 3-2 victory over the defending champion Atlanta Braves in Game 6 Saturday night.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL Jimmy Key, who missed almost all of last year because of shoulder trouble, worked the first innings and then manager Joe Torre turned it over to his vaunted bullpen to clinch the Yankees' record 23rd championship. John Wetteland, the fifth New York pitcher, became the first reliever to record four saves in a Series earning him the MVP award despite giving up a run in the ninth. Marquis Grissom's RBI single with two outs pulled Atlanta within a run and put runners at first and second. Mark Lemke fouled out to third baseman Charlie Hayes to end the game and start a celebra- More coverage Page D5 tion marked with a massive pileup of Yankees on the mound. The Yankees beat Greg Maddux in becoming the first team to win a game at home in this Series.

A day after a 1-0 win, New York again put together enough hits to win by a run in baseball's Year of the Homer, there were none in the final two games. For the 56-year-old Torre, it brought redemption in his first year as Yankees manager. He had played and managed in 4,272 games without reaching the Series the longest streak in major league his- tory and once was fired as Atlanta's manager. The win came a day after his brother, Frank, received a desperately needed heart transplant at a New York hospital. "I never had any doubts about this club," Torre said.

"When you get as old as I am, you learn to appreciate it. I might come only once. "My brother Frank with the heart yesterday. My brother, Rocco, too. I know he was with me tonight," Torre said, referring to the brother who died of a heart attack during the season.

For veterans like Wade Boggs and Cecil Fielder, it brought them their first World Series championship. World geriet GAMES 8 0 8 NEW YORK WIN SERIES, 4-2 FIRST TITLE SINCE 1978 Wildcats withstand late OU rally K-State blows most of 28-point lead to Sooners in final period By HAROLD BECHARD The Salina Journal MANHATTAN The first quarter took 53 minutes. And with a strong wind blowing in their face, it probably seemed much longer than that to the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners had the wind in face and a nasty Wildcat on their back during the first quarter of Saturday's game against Kansas State. The result was a quick 21-point deficit for the Sooners, and things looked bleak for John Blake's troops.

Until the fourth quarter. The- gritty Sooners matched K-State with BG12 Oklahoma 35 Kansas State 42 KAVANAGH KELLY Salina Journal Kansas State running back Marlon Charles (21) tries to stiff-arm Oklahoma cornerback Gana Joseph on a second-quarter run. Kansas offers no test for Nebraska Huskers start slowly but kick into high gear late in first quarter By STEVE CARPENTER Harris News Service LINCOLN, Neb. The Kansas Jayhawks' change of fortunes continued Saturday night. After a stretch where KU had won 14 of 17, the Jayhawks lost their third straight game, this time a 63-7 loss to No.

5 Nebraska in front of 75,158 at Memorial Stadium. The 56-point loss was the worst in Glen Mason's nine years at KU. The 63 points given up tied the most relinquished by a Mason team. The two-time defending national champions pummeled a KU defense that has been shaky at best since PRO FOOTBALL getting burned by Utah in the third game of the season. Nebraska rolled up 595 yards, including 289 total yards and five touchdowns by much-maligned Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost.

The Nebraska junior completed 12 of 16 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed six times for 35 yards and two scores. Kansas 7 Kansas (3-4 Nebraska 63 overall, 1-3 in Big 12), had little sustained success offensively or defensively against the Huskers "There is a misconception, and I'm not trying to make an excuse, that Nebraska is not a very good football team because they lost to Arizona State," Mason said. "They are a very good football team. Ne- -braska is as good a defensive football team there is in college football." KU's running game, without suspended starter June Henley was non-existant against the vaunted Huskers defense.

The Jayhawks with Eric Vann and Eric Galbreath sharing the workload ran for just 21 yards on 30 carries, an average of 1.4 yards per carry. drew first blood as Frost completed a nine-play, 81- yard drive by hitting tight end Sheldon Jackson in the back of the end zone with an 8-yard touchdown pass 2:56 left in the first quarter. Nebraska won the coin toss and elected to kickoff, forcing KU to punt into a 45 mph wind. Dean Royal's punt traveled only 31 yards, but Michael Chandler caused Nebraska's Mike Fulman to mishandle the punt and Brian Gray recovered the ball at the KU 37. The Jayhawks weren't able to do anything with the break, going three plays and out after the turnover.

Nebraska made it 14-0 just 31 seconds into the second quarter. Ahman Green took an option pitch from Frost and scored from 11 yards out. After Eric Warfield recovered a Vann fumble, Frost hit split end Brendan Holbein over the middle for a short gain, but Holbein broke two tackles and went in from 20 yards out for a 21-0 NU lead. Kansas struck right back on its next play from scrimmage. Johner went deep to Isaac Byrd, who beat freshman defensive back Ralpl Brown, for a 77-yard touchdown strike to trim the margin to 21-7 with 13:58 left in the half.

The 77-yard play was a career high for both Johner and Byrd. The teams scored four TDs in the first five minutes of the second quarter as Nebraska gained a 28-7 lead. three touchdowns of their own in the fourth quarter and scared the daylights out of the Wildcats before falling 42-35 in sold-out KSU Stadium. "We don't handle prosperity very w.ell," a relieved K-State coach Bill Snyder said after his team had improved to 4-1 in the Big 12 and 7-1 overall. It marked the second straight week Snyder had watched his team build a comfortable lead at halftime and then hang on to win.

Last week, Texas turned a 20-3 halftime deficit into a 23-20 game. Saturday, K-State was up 28-7 at halftime and 42-14 heading into the fourth quarter before OU quarterback Eric Moore brought his team back. Moore, who replaced an ineffective Justin Fuente in the first half, threw three touchdown passes in the final quarter before an interception by K-State's Chris Canty sealed the Wildcat victory with 1:35 remaining in the game. "We did some good things, it was just too late," Oklahoma coach John Blake said. "Last week, I said we were one play from losing (a 28-24 win over Baylor) and this week we were one from winning." See KSU, Page D2 Chiefs, Broncos set for AFC West showdown Elway enjoying big season as Kansas City comes calling today By JOHN MOSSMAN The Associated Press DENVER He has played in three Super Bowls and four Pro Bowls and been named the NFL's most valuable player (1987).

But never has John Elway had as much fun as he's having now. Elway has had three straight 300-' yard passing games and is on track to set personal records in touchdowns and completion percentage, and he's close to the pace he needs for his second season. Better still, his team is winning. The Denver Broncos boast the only 6-1 record in the AFC, a mark they will put on the line today at Mile High Stadium against the division- ELWAY rival Kansas City Chiefs (5-2). "This is the most confidence I've had, with the different things we can do and the people we have within the system," Elway said during preparations for Kansas City.

"It's fun to be in my position and be able to run it. "It's nice to have as many weapons as we have. It's perfect right now, because we're both running and throwing the ball well. We've got to have that kind of balance, especially against a good defense like the Chiefs." After seven games, Elway has completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,712 yards and 14 touchdowns with nine interceptions. As a team, the Broncos lead the NFL in total offense (395.7 yards per game) and rushing (166.4).

Asked to explain his success at age 36, when most of his contemporaries appear in decline, Elway said, "I think it's a combination of the system, my experience, the people we have running it, the people around me and the offensive line. Terrell Davis is running the ball great, the offensive line is doing a great job both run- and pass- blocking, and our receivers are getting open downfield." Tight end Shannon Sharpe said Elway appears "a lot more comfortable and has a better feel for the that coach Mike Shanahan installed in 1995. "For so long, he had to carry the team," Sharpe said. "He was all the offense we had. Now Terrell is having an excellent year, and he's dumping the ball off to me and Ed McCaffrey and Anthony Miller and Aaron Graver." In his past three games, Elway has completed 80 of 117 passes (68 percent) for 984 yards and nine touchdowns.

His play hasn't gone unnoticed. "During the last three weeks I don't know that anyone has played any better," Kansas City coach Marty Schottenheimer said. In Schottenheimer's view, this is not a good week for his team to be trying to keep pace with the AFC West leader. "We have clearly not played as well as we think we can play," he said. "Hopefully, at some time we'll put together a complete game.

I'm not yet convinced that we're ready to do it. "I think our numbers on offense are not any different than they were a year ago. But defensively we're not playing as well." KANSAS CITY AT DENVER WHEN: 3 p.m. today WHERE: Mile High Stadium TELEVISION: NBC, Salina cabled, 13 RADIO: KINA, 910-AM; KSKG, 99.9-FM RECORDS: Kansas City 5-2; Denver 6-1 LAST T(ME MET Chiefs beat Denver 17-14 at home In Week 4. More coverage Page D7 SUGGESTIONS? CALL BOB DAVIDSON, SPORTS EDITOR, AT (913) 823-6363 OR 1-800-827-6363 i.