The Desert Sun from Palm Springs, California • Page 15

thffcttrtSun Monday, November io, 1997 C2 3 C4 C7 Pro football Pro basketball Golf Boxing Sports Editor 778-4628, Fax: 778-4654 BILL PLUNKETT oorts 0L Michigan vaults to No. Nebraska slides to No. 3 APTop5 placed at No, 1 by Florida, which beat Tennessee, 33-20. On Oct. 18, a 16-15 win over Minnesota allowed Nebraska, which beat Texas Tech 29-0.

to move to No. 1. Huskers defensive tackle Jason Peter understands what's going on. "Michigan beat up on Penn State pretty bad," Peter said. RIDING HIGH: Says Michigan running back Chris Howard: 'It's hard to say if we're the best team in the country, but right now we're at the top of our game." Tar Heels coach Mack Brown thinks the Seminoles are pretty good, too.

"They play like that the rest of the which won more convincingly, On Saturday's so-called Judgment Day, the only verdict delivered was dissatisfaction with Nebraska's thrilling 45-38 overtime victory over Missouri. Combined with dominating wins by Michigan 34-8 over Penn State and Florida State 20-3 over North Carolina the Cornhuskers are out as top dog, with Michigan No. 1 in The Associated Press writers' poll and Florida State No. 1 in the USA TODAY ESPN coaches' poll. At Columbia, the Cornhuskers (9-0) needed a last-second fluke play to score a touchdown and way, they'll win the national champi-oaship," he said.

With three weeks to go in the season, the Orange and Rose bowls are still waiting to see which one ends up with a national title game. Next year, that won't be a problem when the Rose joins the bowl For now, though, the possibilities are intriguing. If all three teams finish with perfect records, the Wolverines would play the Pac-10 champion in the Rose on Jan. 1, and Nebraska and Florida State would meet in the Orange on Jan. 2.

Inside: Complete pollsC7 Wolverines with bite: Michigan's win over Penn State pushes it to the top in the race for the national title. RICHARD ROSENBLATT The Associated Press These days, winning isn't everything in college football at least as far as the No. 1 ranking is concerned. For the third time this season, the No. 1 team won but still fell out of the top spot, replaced by a team t.

Michigan, 1.723 points 2. Flonda State, 1,693 3. Nebraska, 1,623 4. Ohio State, 1,496 5. Tennessee, 1,477 force overtime.

Then Scott Frost ran 12 yards for the winning score. But Nebraska fell two places to No. 3. LEAPFROGGED: Now. Penn State has company.

Twice this season, the Nittany Lions won but fell to No. 2. On. Sept, 20, Penn State beat Louisville, 57-21, but was re Lakers demolish Warriors Lakers 132, Warriors 97: Shaq scores 27 and grabs 19 rebounds as Lakers stay perfect. By JOHN NADEL The Associated Press INGLEWOOD Shaquille O'Neal, playing in just his second game of the season, had 27 points and 19 rebounds Sunday night as the unbeaten Los Angeles Lakers overpowered winless Golden State, 132-97.

O'Neal finished 10-of-17 from the field and 7-of-12 from the foul line while playing 29 minutes. He came out of the game for good with 1:59 left in the third quarter and the Lakers leading, 88-61. O'Neal scored seven points during 12-0 run to starj second half, which gave the Lakers a 73-46 lead. Two of the points came when he dribbled nearly the length of the court and dunked as the Forum crowd of 14,623 roared. The Warriors (0-6), who are one of three winless teams in the JS'BA and have more losses than anyone in the league, weren't closer than 17 points after that.

The Lakers (4-0), who led from start to finish, are off to their best start since beginning the 1987-88 season with a franchise-record eight wins. Kobe Bryant came off the bench to score a career-high 25 points for the Lakers 10 in the fourth quarter before leaving with a sprained right ankle with 2:41 remaining. Inside: Lakers boxscoreC4 Seahawks 37, Chargers 31: Warren Moon hits Joey Galloway with the winning TD with 2:20 left, foiling a Chargers rally. ty RCRWH wasow The Associated Press SAN DIEGO In the end. Seattle's old man was too much for San Diego's kids.

The Chargers were poised for an upset thanks to big plays by a rookie cornerback and a third-string quarterback elevated to his first start. But Warren Moon, who turns 41 next week, was hardly finished with his afternoon's work. Moon threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Joey Galloway with 2.20 left the second long hookup between the two as the Seahawks rallied to beat the Chargers. 37-31. on Sunday was definitely Imad) with myself for how I had played a couple of series in that quarter.

Moon said It was a matter of me getting my" poise back and in the huddle letting those guys know we were going to make a play somehow," That they did, with Galloway getting behind rookie cornerback Paul Bradford to haul in the winning pass "Warren made a tremendous throw," said Galloway, who had sprained his ankle in the fourth quarter and sat out an entire series as it was re-taped The TD pass made it 34-31 Seattle's Todd Peterson added a late field goal, his third of the game and second in the final 6 02. SURCINO SEAHAWKS: The Seahawks (6-4) have won four of five and swept the season series against AFC West rival San Diego (4-6). which has lost two straight and three of four. "I took my eyes off my man for a 'N v.e sit Th Associated PrM Experienc counts: Seattle QB Warren Moon (1) burned the Chargers for two TDs on Sunday. Chargcro' third option is promising SAN DIEGO Craig Wheli-han was an expert idler, the model quarterback for the slacker generation.

A third-year NFL veteran who was well on his way to being vested in the league's pension plan without ever playing a down, the 26-year-old Whelihan had flown standby for two of those years, listed as the Chargers' inactive third quarterback for 30 of 33 games (regular season and playoffs) and active but unused in the other three. But, injuries to veterans Stan Humphries (concussion again) and Jim Everett (elbow) forced the Chargers to make Whelihan pull his weight this week. Making his first NFL start Sunday, Whelihan was also starting a meaningful game in front of rabid fans for the first time since his senior year of college. Distant memory And, that did not turn out so well. As a senior at the University of the Pacific, Whelihan led his Tigers against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln.

The Tigers lost, 70-21. So, maybe the Chargers shouldn't be planning any Super Bowl trips with Whelihan at the wheel just yet, despite the bright spots that were visi- ble during Sunday's 37-31 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. "He did enough things to give you some encourage-. ment." Chargers head coach Kevin Gilbride said of Wheli-ban's performance "I think the good thing is the more he plays, the fewer mistakes he'll make." That's a step more than they had a right to expect. Wheli-nan's presence on the roster hadn't exactly been keeping "Humphries up at night the past three years and there was reason to wonder if the kid from Pacific could hit the ocean in his debut.

And yet, Whelihan proved right away Sunday that he knew what it takes to put points on the board with this Chargers team a three plays-and-out opening series resulted in a fumbled punt that San Diego recovered and returned for a touchdown. After that, Whelihan was like someone who had just slipped into the driver's seat of a new car. He could not help but touch everything around him. In fact, his 1 1 first-half completions were to nine different receivers. By late in the half, Whelihan had the Chargers up by two touchdowns, 17-3.

The first half was encouraging Whelihan was 11 of 15 for 108 yards and one touchdown to Tony Martin, albeit against a Seahawks defense that was missing defensive backs Shawn Springs (broken thumb) and Benme Blades (back spasms), and defensive lineman Cortex Kennedy (a fractured ankle suffered on the second series of the game). The first Ume he touched the ball in the third quarter, Whelihan fumbled the ball in the end zone. Seattle recovered for a touchdown and its first lead, 24-17. After his cortfklence-building first half. Whelihan was just 6 of 14 for 98 yards in the second half, most of it coming on one pass a beautifully thrown 61-yard TD to Martin on a deep post route that gave San Diego a 31-24 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Veterans Day But, it's Veterans Day across the nation Tuesday and across the NFL on most Sundays. Seattle's 41 -year-old quarterback. Warren Moon, had essentially been outplayed by Whelihan. Until the fourth quarter, that is. After Martin's second TD catch put San Diego ahead, Moon led Seattle to 13 unanswered points (and a second come-from-behind victory over the Chargers this season).

By contrast, Whelihan had two opportunities to lead the Chargers back. San Diego got the ball twice in the final 2 08 and ran eight offensive plays a three-yard scramble, four lncomptetions, one completion -for four yards that was not worth the time it ran off the tnk and two fumbles by Whel.han. "It was a crazy eirprrience." V.fcr!.han said, "it's almost tike a coaster ar.l the person who stays en the most even keel is goirg to come out with the wix I ---t fctpe 1 pi some mere chasers." second and kept my eye on the ball with one interception. Galloway had three catches for 84 yards, in sons, all coming in a span of four games because of injuries to Stan Humphries and Jim Everett. After his touchdown pass to Martin, Whelihan went to the sidelines to hug Humphries, who's out for at least a month after suffering two concussions in 18 days.

Whelihan was 17-of-29 for 206 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception. Martin caught five passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Intide: Game summary. C2 a little too long," Bradford said. "It happens." Bradford, put into action after Dwayne Harper got hurt just before halftime, went from hero to goat.

He stepped in front of a pass from Moon to Galloway and returned it 56 yards for.a 24-24 tie with 30 seconds left in the third quarter. Moon and Galloway said the Chargers defensive backs were anticipating intermediate routes. Moon completed 24 of 45 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns. cluding a 30-yard touchdown pass from Moon just before halftime. WASTED EFFORT: Seattles comeback spoiled a big performance by young Chargers quarterback Craig Whelihan.

Making his first start, Whelihan hit Tony Martin with a 61-yard touchdown pass to give San Diego a 31-24 lead with 11:20 left. Whelihan, 26, was making just his third appearance in three NFL sea Aztecs double their chances at DVL tennis tournament uled to begin at 1 m. They are free and open to the public. Cheung, a senior, was a finalist in the DVL singles tournament last year when she lost to teammate Jennifer Baker Cheung won the DVL singles title two years ago. This year Cheung, who began the year ranked 33rd in the USTA ranking system for junior 16-year-olds, led the Aztecs to their 12th straight league title.

"She is tough and she makes you work on every Fritz said. "Slie is aggressive, but she is very patient. That may be the best thing about her. being smart and patient." Cheung opened the tournament with an 8-0 win over Indio's Vanessa Partida. "She had some good ground strokes." said Cheung, who is playing in her third DVL tournament.

"She ran pretty well. She gave me a good run." Moreno, seeded second for the tournament. defeated Palm Springs" Cary Bingham. 8-1, in the second round and Cathedral City's See TENNIS C8 DVL tournament WHEN: 1 p.m. today WHERE: Palm Spnngs Tennis Center HOW MUCH: Free, open to the pubuc second-seeded Jennifer Moreno of La Quinta in one semifinal match today.

The other semifinal pits top-seeded Lorraine Salas, a sophomore from Coachella Valley, against fourth-seeded Jennifer Case, a junior from La Quinta. In doubles. Palm Desert's team of Serena Saluja and Nikki Wayne face off against teammates Sarah Espinola and Tonia Raftu in one semifinal, while the other match pits Melissa Markovsky and Jenny Fraser of Palm Desert against Meena Rao and Jessica Landfried of Palm Springs. Markovsky and Fraser will be vying for their second straight doubles title. Fraser is a three-time doubles champion.

The matches will be played in a best-of-three format and are sched Battta tested; Regular season champs hope to retain their singles, doubles titles. COCASTWO The Desert Sun PALM SPRINGS Laurie Cheung has been through this before. The Palm Desert singles player took her wins in stride on Friday, racing through two matches to advance into today's semifinals of the Desert Valley League girls tennis tournament at the Palm Springs Tennis Center. "She is just too experienced," Palm Desert coach Harry Fritz said after Cheung knocked off Cathedral City standout Verena Streitferdt, 8-0. in a quarterfinal match.

"She is very match tough. She works hard every day. She is probably the hardest working girl I've ever coached. She is dedicated to becoming a better player." The unseeded Cheung will face JV I 1 Rtttfrlg The Deset Sun Breakthrough effort Coachella Valley's Lorraine Salas is the top singles seed in today's DVL girts tennis tournament. LCGK AHEAD EAGLES' RHODES HAS THE WQZOS.

HOT TKE ViliS Dallas 24, Arizona 6 Denver 34, Carolina Tennessee 10, New York Gtants 6 New tntf 3nd 31, Buffalo iO New Orleans 13. Oakland 10 Pittsburgh 37, Baltimore Here a look at what's coming up the Spons section: Tlf iJ'JM I kintvul Deterl Colt: Take a g'impse rto the pf scene, frt on your rrvvj ur-ym for Ch.it gorf rtvj of tne week. sccriEto K3A Utters 132. Golden Stale 97 Sacramento 66. New Vo 78 Seattle 112.

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Irx. 7 MYva 29, O'C-aji 22 Cincinnati 28, tnaapohs 13 fuddled ther coach. His Wood pressure, for when he takes medication, is stilt percolating as he watches his team make the same mistakes week after week. There are the penalties. 1 5 in last week's toss and 71 overall a season in when the Nfl average rs 60.

There is the maMrty to scoe points despite churning out an NfC-teadrg 3.293 yards. And tiene are tt-e teams woes, a pTWem throughout Rhodes years with the fffiode tfso has shufd Qoate-tacks this season, ad Ty Dctmer returns to the staging toxsjo agsnst S-1 Fra-co. ABC. 6 p.m. Ef tt v.

49rt: The fiery sermons no longer do wonders. The motivational methods that served Ray Rhodes so wet! when he was coach of the year in 1995 are now out of fashion with the Philadelphia Eagtes. ft definitely tocs I've been shut out the door," Rhodes. Kise team plays the San ranasco 49ers (8-1) tor.t. "It's UKe On the outside taking in." Rhodes, who i.r! 10 wins Out Of the Ear PS the past two seascyis.

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