Tallahassee Democrat from Tallahassee, Florida • Page 11

i n( ii Lffig Reds trim Braves 2-0 8F Jp Ryan gets 5th no-hitter Gators give Bulldogs 28-7 victory it HOUSTON (AP) Nolan Ryan got the record he wanted, even though he really didn't expect it ever would come. The 34-year-old fire-balling right-handed pitcher of the Houston Astros became the first man to throw five career no-hitters when he shut down the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-0 Saturday, surrendering just three walks. It has been six years since Ryan's last no-hitter, the last of four he pitched for the California Angels. "It's hard to believe I got the no-hitter," said Ryan, who struck out 11. "It's the one thing I wanted.

I've had a shot at it for a long time. At my age, I thought I wouldn't get it. I don't have the stamina I used to have. I didn't challenge guys in the later innings. "I really didn't feel like I had good velocity today, but I got ahead on my curve balls." Ryan, 10-5, leads the National League with a 1.74 earned run average.

He struck out 11. "The key was my curve ball," he said. "You can't win with one pitch. It doesn't matter how fast you can throw, but with a curve they had to think about the breaking ball." Ryan was tied with Sandy Koufax for the most no-hitters in a career. In 1973, while with the Angels, he no-hit Kansas City 3-0 on May 15 and De-' troit 6-0 on July 15.

The next year he no-hit Minnesota 4-0 on Sept. 28, and recorded the last of his four no-hitters with the Angels on June 1, 1975 against Baltimore, winning 1-0. Ryan also has thrown seven one-hitters. A crowd of 32,115 cheered with Ryan's every pitch as he approached the historic achievement of his fifth no-hitter. In the final inning, Ryan fanned pinch-hitter Reggie Smith on three pitches for his 11th strikeout.

Ken Landreaux grounded out to Denny Walling at first base, then Ryan completed the masterpiece by getting Dusty Baker to ground out to Art Howe at third base. "I know there were several times I'd have a no-hitter in the late innings and I didn't have the stamina to get the rest of the hitters out," said Ryan. "But today I felt stronger in the late innings than I have in some "I really didn't think about the no-hitter. I knew I had one going. When the catcher hit the ball and it was caught, I thought I might have a shot at it.

"I'm excited it's finally over with. I'm the only one since Koufax who has had a shot at the record. I really don't compare myself to him. I thought it was a great honor when I broke his strikeout record and I've got that same feeling now. "This is by far the most important of my no-hitters.

I went into the game feeling like I had to do a good job and (Please see RYAN, page 6F) from quarterback John Bond and dashed 10 yards unmolested for a touchdown exactly 3 minutes into the game. Bulldog kicker Bob Morgan missed the extra point, his first miss after 36 straight conversions. With Florida amassing all but 10 of its 84 yards in penalties in the first half, the Bulldogs pushed the score to 14-0 with eight minutes to go in the second quarter. Led by the slashing running of fullback Donald Ray King, who picked up 77 yards in 23 carries, the Bulldogs went 45 yards on 11 plays, with Haddix getting his second touchdown on a 4-yard run. Bond's pass to Jerry Price was good for two points.

Florida then mounted its only scoring drive of the game, marching 80 yards in 12 plays. Peace hit Spencer Jackson with a lob from the 7, and Brian Clark added the extra point, making the score 14-7. Then the omens truly started piling up. On the ensuing kickoff, Glen Young fielded the ball 2 yards in the end zone, cut left, cut back to the middle and outdistanced the Florida defenders for an apparent touchdown. It was called back on a clipping penalty.

Two plays later, Danny Knight, again attempting the reverse, was trapped. Attempting to get away, he ran back to about the 10 before being hit by Florida's Roy Harris and fumbling. At least four Gators had a shot at the loose ball. None claimed it, eventually letting it roll out of bounds, allowing MSU to retain possession at the 4-yard line. Somebody should have turned out the lights then.

Instead, the spirit of Christmas raised its head again. A back-and-forth third quarter had whittled itself down to about five minutes when MSU punter Dana Moore pinned Florida at its own 2 with a 48-yard kick. Jones hit the line twice for a total of 5 yards. On third down, Peace hit Tyrone Young with a strike at the 15. Young, who caught only one pass, dropped the ball.

"I should have caught it," said Young. "We made a lot of mistakes today; that was one of mine." Things got worse. With Joe Borajk-iewicz punting from the end zone, MSU's Young, who entered the game as the nation's leading punt returner with 31 yards per return, fielded the ball at the Florida 49. He was hit twice, then broke free: touchdown Mississippi State. With Florida getting no farther (Please see GATORS, page 5F) By GERALD ENSLEY Dwmcrat sportawrtttr JACKSON, Miss.

Christmas came early for the Mississippi State Bulldogs Saturday, as the mistake-prone Florida Gators handed them a 28-7 victory. Playing Santa Claus before an appreciative crowd of 45,250, Florida threw five interceptions, lost one fumble and stymied itself repeatedly with penalties. Credit should probably be shared, but it appeared that the Florida offensive line was most in the spirit of giving, allowing six quarterback sacks and five tackles for losses. "We got whipped, an old-fashioned country whipping by a good team," said Florida coach Charley Pell. "Everything a coach could imagine being in a horror story or nightmare happened to us today.

"I would like to give credit to our. defensive unit; they held them to only two earned drives. "But as far as our offense, I'll make this comment: It was poor." Few in attendance on this muggy day would disagree. Nor would those who watched the ABC regional telecast of the game. Mississippi State, which is certain to improve upon its No.

12 national ranking, entered the contest averaging 350 yards total offense per game. Florida held the Bulldogs to 176 yards, not counting 180 yards on kick returns. Florida's defense caused six Bulldog fumbles, but claimed only two. Florida's trouble was on offense. Harassed all day by Bulldog defenders Johnie Cooks, Billy Jackson and Clay Peacher, Gator quarterbacks Bob Hewko and Wayne Peace coughed up five interceptions, one short of the Mississippi State record for an opponent.

Together, they were tackled in the backfield for 60 yards worth of losses, while connecting on 18 of 35 passes. Fullback James Jones, successful early on draw plays, rushed for 57 yards in 12 carries, as Florida wound up with minus-10 yards rushing. "It was a great overall performance and a critical win for us," said Mississippi State coach Emory Bel-lard, whose Bulldogs are 3-0. "Our defensive unit played the finest game of football you'll ever want to see." The omens began early. On Florida's first play from scrimmage, starter Hewko hit Steve Miller with a flare pass.

Miller turned upfield, was hit and fumbled, with Mississippi State's Curtis Stowers recovering the ball on the Florida 21. Five plays later, Michael Haddix took a pitchout A i I Nolan Ryan gets a ride from his Houston teammates after record-setting no-hitter Southern Cal rallies past Oklahoma 28-24 ern Cal's first two games, tied an NCAA record by going over 200 yards in three consecutive games. He carried 39 times against Oklahoma and scored twice, on a 27-yard dash in the first quarter and a 3-yard burst that brought the Trojans back from a 24-14 deficit to trail by. three points with 6:37 remaining. The Trojans, 3-0, were behind 17-14 at the intermission.

After a scoreless third quarter in which USC's Frank Jordan missed a pair of long field goals, the Sooners extended their advantage to 24-14 on a 7-yard run by Darrell Shepard early in the final quarter. But USC drove 74 yards to draw to within three points and won the game on a third-and-goal play in the final seconds. Mazur, a sophomore in his first year of collegiate "I think there's no doubt that the people here saw two great football teams and a great football game," said Oklahoma's Barry Switzer, who ranks first in winning percentage among active coaches with Robinson No. 2. "USC has to be complimented they're a great team and they're well-coached.

I hope they have a great year, and maybe even win the national championship. We just came up two seconds short." Mazur's dramatic pass to Cornwell was the only reception of the contest for the junior tight end and just his second ever for the Trojans. The play, with Mazur rolling left and finding Cornwell open in the end zone, capped a 78-yard march by USC in the final moments of a contest it had trailed in most of the way. Allen, a senior who had rushed for 484 yards in South From Democrat vtott LOS ANGELES After top-ranked Southern Cal's dramatic 28-24 victory over No. 2 Oklahoma Saturday, two Trojans questioned their claim to the No.

1 spot. "How can you say we're No. We've only played in three games," said USC quarterback John Mazur, who threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Fred Cornwell with two seconds remaining to give the Trojans the come-from-behind victory. "It's too early to assess if we're No. 1," said Southern Cal tailback Marcus Allen, who continued his early-season rushing rampage with 208 yards on 39 carries against a stubborn Sooner defense.

"Marcus Allen had the best game of any tailback we've ever had," said Trojan coach John Robinson. Texas clips Miami to stay unbeaten competition, completed 13 of 25 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns. The Sooners, 2-1, opened the scoring on their first possession when quarterback Kelly Phelps capped an 80-yard march with an 11-yard touchdown run eight minutes into the contest Allen's first scoring jaunt evened the count before the opening quarter ended. Oklahoma fullback Stanley Wilson, who gained 89 yards on 17 carries, made it 14-7 on a 1-yard burst in the second period, then Michael Keeling hit a 27-yard field goal to make it 17-7. Southern Cal cut the deficit to 17-14 before halftime as Mazur lofted a 2-yard scoring pass to John Kamana.

(Please see USC, page 6F) Allen sparks FSU JVs 28-6 Freshman Greg Allen ran for 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns Saturday night to lead Florida State's junior varsity football team to a 28-6 victory over Marion Institute. The Baby Seminoles rolled up 436 yards total offense, while limiting Marion to 144 yards. Allen gave FSU the lead on a 46-yard scoring jaunt late in the first quarter. Phillip Hall added the first of his four extra points. Junior Darrish Davis extended Florida State's lead to 14-0 with a 23-yard scoring run in the second quarter.

Allen got his second touchdown on a 1-yard run early in the third quarter, and John Globetti got the final score on a 17-yard pass from freshman quarterback Eric Thomas. Marion got it's only score early in the fourth quarter when quarterback Ron Shumate connected with Keith Gil-more for a 5-yard touchdown pass. Cornerback Quinton Reed led the Florida State defense with a pass interception and fumble recovery. Mike Kutto and Daryl Gray each had seven tackles for FSU. Marion's Lawrence Protho had eight tackles and recovered a fumble.

Florida State claimed four Marion turnovers, but the Baby Seminoles lost five fumbles and an interception. The Baby Seminoles, 1-0, next play Oct. 2 against Miami in Orlando. Marion is 0-2. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas quarterback Rick Mclvor lofted a 45-yard fourth-quarter scoring pass to wide receiver Donnie Little Texas' starting quarterback last year as the Longhorns defeated Miami, 14-7 Saturday night.

Texas' other wide receiver, sprinter Herkie Walls, caught a 58-yard pass from Mclvor to set up the first Longhorn touchdown, which came at the end of a 99-yard march. The victory extended No. 4 Texas' record to 3-0. The 14th-ranked Hurricanes lost their first game in three starts. Defenses and punting dominated a scoreless first half as Texas had only 96 yards total offense and Miami 106 at intermission.

Texas scored first, late in the third quarter, after cornerback Vance Bedford intercepted Miami quarterback Jim Kelly at the Texas 1-yard line. The 'Horns moved 99 yards for the touchdown with Mclvor passing from the end zone on a third down play to hit the 58-yarder to Walls. drove 80 yards to score on Kelly's passing. Kelly hit Robert Neal for 11, Mark Rush for 18, Neal again for 12 and then threw a perfect toss to Larry Brodsky for 32 yards and the touchdown. Texas' winning drive, on its next possession, also covered 80 yards.

On third and 3, Mclvor threw to Little at the Miami 25 and he cut to the left sidelines, sidestepping Marion at the 2 for the score. In the fourth quarter, after Walls streaked 18 yards on a reverse for a first down, Raul Allegre missed a 40-yard field goal attempt. Miami apparently had over a minute to come back but Lawrence Thompson fumbled a Texas punt at the Miami 25 and Jitter Fields recovered for Texas. The Longhorns ran the clock down to one second, and Kelly hit a 45-yard pass to Keith Cleveland on the final play of the game. In the scoreless first half, Miami's Danny Miller one of the nation's leading field goal kickers missed a 47-yarder that was wide to the right and a 61-yard try that was on target but short.

Kelly completed 16 of 29 passes for 257 yards as Miami piled up 319 yards total offense against the nation's No. 2 defensy. iL nJ 000- Domocrot photo bv Kolth Hodtov Marion Institute Florida Stat JV FSU G. Allen 46 run (Hall kick) FSU D. Davis 23 run (Hall kick) FSU 6.

Allen 1 run (Hall kick) Marlon Glmoro 5 pass from Shumate (kick failed) FSU Globetti 17 pass from Thomas (Hall kick) i A. J. "Jam" Jones scored from the 9, ripping through a big hole on the left side and dragging Miami safety Fred Marion into the end zone with him. Miami took the Texas kickoff and James Robinson reaches for interception as FSU's Tom Wheeler pursues.