Tyrone Daily Herald from Tyrone, Pennsylvania • Page 4

Pigs 4 TH8 BA11Y MBRALO, tytolK, PA, Wednesday, November 5,1997 Bulldogs Sacked! Berwick Out of PIAA Playoffs; Will Forfeit All 10 '97 Games By ALAN ROBINSON AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) Berwick began the football season with a 40-game winning streak. It may end the season with a 10-game losing streak. The District 2 football committee on Tuesday dropped the three-time defending PIAA Class AAA champion Bulldogs from its playoffs and ordered them to forfeit their eight victories for using an apparently ineligible player. The ruling was made after the committee learned all-state tackle Gus Felder, a Berwick senior, began attending a Philadelphia high school in 1992 and thus was not eligible to play. The committee ruled earlier that Felder could play this season, despite sitting out one year to attend a Job Corps program.

But the decision was based on Berwick's claim that Felder be- an high school in 1993, not in 992. PIAA rules grant an athlete eligibility in only eight semesters, though they need not always be consecutive. This would be Felder's ninth semester, even if the two semesters in the Job Corps program are not counted. Berwick coach George Curry and principal Richard Walton immediately requested a hearing today before the five-member PIAA Board of Appeals, arguing the school should not be penalized for the committee's reversal. "This is a real bad situation that has become a real mess," Walton said.

"I think because of the failure of another high school to remove another high school player from their (enrollment) rolls, it is not a reason that 60 high school players should suffer." Berwick plans to argue today that Felder dropped out of Si- mon Gratz at midterm one year and is therefore only in his eighth semester. Berwick (8-2) had been seeded first for the District 2 playoffs that begin Friday, but North Pocono will now take the Bulldogs' place. Wyoming Area becomes the No. 1 seed and plays host to North Pocono, which becomes No. 4.

No. 2 Dallas now will meet No. 3 Lehighton. "The District 2 committee is concerned about the disruption, but they are also concerned about what is right," PIAA executive secretary Brad Cashman said. "And what is right is Berwick had an ineligible player and must forfeit the games.

Questions regarding Felder's eligibility were raised when Simon Gratz coach Rich Kozlowski told the Philadelphia Daily News that Felder's original class graduated in June 1996 or two years before Felder would graduate at Berwick. GUS FELDER player Felder spent two years at Simon Gratz from 1993-95. "I told him (Berwick coach George Curry), 'How can he be Kozlowski, relating a 1996 conversation, told the Daily News. "He said it wouldn't be a problem. A few weeks ago, I saw a football magazine with Gus on the cover.

I thought, 'He's still Felder, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound tackle who has committed to Penn State, attended Dobbins Vo-Tech in Philadelphia during the 1992-93 school year, then transferred to Simon Gratz that fall. A 1993 Simon Gratz game program lists Felder as a sophomore lineman. Felder was still enrolled at Simon Gratz for 1994-95, then spent 1995-96 at the Red Rock Job Corps Center in Lopez, Columbia County, before transferring to Berwick. District 2 officials determined that Felder was not enrolled in secondary classes at Red Rock, but instead took shop classes as he temporarily worked on a GED. Berwick superintendent David Force said the school has never been involved in such an eligibility case before.

"Never. Never has this happened," Force said. "In Berwick we have a tradition of good football. It'shows we have good football players living here." Age is not a factor in Felder's eligibility because he turned 19 after July 1, the PIAA cutoff date. Berwick, which began the season nationally ranked before losing to Cleveland St.

Ignatius 37-6, was trying to become the first school to win four consecutive championships since the PIAA playoffs began in 1988. The Bulldogs have won five championships. Michigan Showdown Ahead Paierno Fed Up With Mental Mistakes, Promises Changes STATE COLLEGE Penn State coach Joe Paterno is fed up with the fumbles and interceptions and penalties and sacks, and he is considering some substantial changes in personnel. What changes? He won't say. "We've had sacks because people are careless," Paterno said Tuesday.

"We've had holding penalties four holding penalties in one game (Saturday against Northwestern). We've gone five, six games without Four holding penalties." Last Saturday in Evanston, 111., the second-ranked Nittany Lions held a 30-13 lead late in the fourth quarter before Northwestern rally made it 30-27 with 28 seconds left. Penn State recovered an onside kick to preserve the victory. The week before, at home against Minnesota, Penn State needed 13 fourth-quarter points to edge the Golden Gophers. That win dropped them from No.

1 to No. 2 in the Associated Press poll. Going back to the 31-27 win over No. 7 Ohio State on Oct. 11, Penn State has now won three consecutive games by four points or less for the first time in its 111-year history.

"We're getting better physically, but we're not getting any better intellectually, I'm afraid," Strickland Gets NBA Assist; Fortson Nets 22 DENVER (AP) Juwan Howard had 29 points and 13 rebounds and Rod Strickland added 13 points and reached the 5,000 career assists mark with as the Washington Wizards routed the winless Denver Nuggets 120-96 Tuesday night. Tracy Murray had 20 points for the Wizards, who had lost five straight and nine of their last 10 gairies in Denver before Tuesday. The Wizards hadn't won in Denver since Dec. 21, 1991. Eric Williams scored 26 points and Danny Fortson 22 for the Nuggets, losers of their first three games.

Denver has lost seven straight home games, dating back to last season. Patemo said. "I'm worried about this. We really in many ways played fine football against Northwestern. We just don't seem to have the intensity for 60 minutes that you really have to have.

And we are making dumb plays." Make mistakes like that against Michigan this Saturday, he said, and the team is in ror a long day. For the season, Penn State has fumbled and been intercepted four times more than it has forced turnovers. Michigan is plus-6 and often capitalizes on opponents' mistakes. And with Charles Woodson roaming the backfield for the Wolverines, tiny mistakes can become big problems very quickly. "Unless we can eliminate those things, I don't think we can think of ourselves as being a really big football team," Paterno said.

Now, he said, it's rime to consider some concrete changes. "If you can't fix them (the mistakes), you gotta get rid of the people that are making them," Paterno said. "We're doing the same things over and over again. We're emphasizing the same things. Ana if some people don't have it, then obviously they're not the kind of players you can win big with or win with." Paterno declined to discuss specific player moves, saying he would review performances during practice this week.

The players had a short workout without pads on Monday. "If I don't see some people paying a little more attention to details, eliminating some of the mistakes they've oeen making, then obviously we're going to make a few switches," Paterno said. NFL Individual Stats Leaders (Through Week 10) Quarterbacks AH Com TD Int Ceorgc.Oak. 287165240320 5 Bledsoe.N.E. 319 186 2360 20 10 Clway.Dcn.

274 157 1985 15 7 278 158 1772 13 3 Brunclljac. 211 121 1401 10 4 Kaufman.Oak. Kushera Att Yds Avg LG TD 236 1169 5.0 50 9 218 1023 4.7 34 3 167 912 5.5 83 6 198 895 4.5 70 3 201 860 4.3 29 5 T.Brown,Oak. Smithjac. Rced.Buf.

No Yds Avg, 59 912 15.5 48 660 13.8 48 654 13.6 47 642 13.7 43 659 15.3 LG TD 59 41 55 43 77 S.Young,S.F. Pilfcr.T.B. Chandler.AII. Favrc.C.B. Sandcrs.Oct.

R.Harris,Chi. R.Smilh,Min. Quarterbacks All Com Yds TD Inl 187 125 1633 13 4 232 135 1598 15 6 173 96 1332 11 5 317 195 2227 16 8 302 176 2107 19 9 Rushers Alt Yds Av(j LC TD 186 998 5.4 82 3 186 787 4.2 68 7 140 775 5.5 78 4 169 755 4.5 39 2 161 722 4.5 51 3 JQE PATERNQ -fed up with mistakes No Avg LC TD 66 854 12.9 79 4 56 11.9 43 8 R.Moore,Ariz $1 814 16.0 47 4 40 7 4 Sandeis.Ariz 47 SM 10.9 42 1 Grid Menu (Dist. 5-64 Sub-Region Playoffs) -FRIDAY- Class A Semifinals Belhvood-Antis at Southern H-don Class AA Semifinals Forest Hills at Tyrone Class AAA Semifinals Bald Eagle Area at Huntingdon Class AAAA Semifinals DuBois at Altoona Class A Semifinals Bishop Guilfoyle at West Branch Class AA Semifinals Westmont-Hilltop at Bedford Class AAA Semifinals Indian Valley at Central Cambria Class AAAA Semifinals State College at Clearfield (All Games at 7 p.m.) Tiger Woods Claims Persistent Death Threats NEW YORK (AP) Tiger Woods says he has gotten persistent death threats since joining the PGA Tour. On Tuesday, during a conference call to promote the Skins Game later this month at La Quinta, Woods said, "People are taking offense to the things I'm doing and saying and trying to accomplish in golf.

That's just the way it is." Woods, 21, indicated in September 1996 that he received death threats, and Jack Nicklaus said earlier this year that such threats were an occasional problem for him as far back as the 1973 British Open. In the conference call, Woods said the threats weren't limited to his pro career, which started more than a year ago. Woods said the threats were a disappointment in a season that included a Tour-high four wins and more than $2 million in earnings. He was Rookie of the Year last year and is expected to be voted Player of the Year by his fellow golfers this year. Woods, who has special security at every event, wouldn't say specifically how many threats he has had.

Pa. Scholastic Football Rankings Pennsylvania high school football rankings from the Patriot-News of Harrisburg for the week of Tuesday, November 4, with school's district in parentheses, record, and last week's ranking. NR means not ranked. Honorable mention teams listed alphabetically. CLASS AAAA 1.

Centra! Bucks West (1) 10-0 1 2. Downingtown (1) 9-0 2 3. Altoona (6) 10-0 3 4. Wyoming Valley West (2) 10-0 4 5. McDowell (10) 8-1 5 fi.

Glen Mills (1) 7-2 6 7. North Allegheny (7) 9-1 7 8. Conncllsvillc (7) 9-0 8 9. Upper St. Clair (7) 8-1 9 10.

Pox Chapel (7) 8-1 10 HONORABLE MENTIONS: Abington Heights (2) 10-0, Cedar Crest (3) 9-1, Central Dauphin (3) 8-2, Chester (1) 7-2, Cumberland Valley (3) 7-3, Mount Lebanon (7) 9-1, Plymoulh-Whitemarsh (1) 9-1, Schenley (8) 9-1, Seneca Valley (7) 7-2, Upper Darby (1) 8-1, Wilson (3) 9-1. CLASS AAA 1. Allcnlown Central Catholic (11) 10-0 1 2. Berwick (2) 8-2 2 3. Strath Haven (1) 10-0 3 4.

Perry (8) 10-0 4 5. Wyoming Area (2) 10-0 5 6. Danville (4) 10-0 6 7. Lansdale Catholic (1) 9-1 7 8. North Catholic (7) 9-0 8 9.

Greenville (10) 10-0 9 10. Steel Valley (7) 9-0 10 HONORABLE MENTIONS! Bangor (11) 9-1, Belle Vemon (7) 8-1, Blackhawk (7) 8-2, Brownsville (7) 8-1, Cocalico (3) 9-1, Conestoga Valley (3) 8-2, Dalian (2) 9-1, Donegal (3) 9-1, Ellwood City (7) 8-1, Manheim Central (3) 8-2, Thomas Jefferson (7) 8-2, Upper Perkiomen (1) 9-1, West Allegheny (7) 9-1. Uenvick's forfeiture of all games due to the use of an ineligible player is currently uniler appeal to fhe PIAA. Bewick's record is 8-2 If Ihe npjirnl tt)'helil, 0-10 ileninl. CLASS AA 1.

Wilmington (10) 10-0 1 2. Tyrone (6) 2 3. Mount Carmel (4) 9-1 3 4. Bishop McDcvitt (3) 8-2 4 5. Bedford (S) 10-0 5 6.

South Williamsport (4) 6 7. Sharon (10) 8-2 7 8. Shady Side Academy (7) 9-0 8 9. Milton Hcrshcy (3) 10-0 10 10. Northwestern (10) 9-1 9 HONORABLE MENTIONS: Forest (6) 8-2, Kams City (9) 9-0, Laurel (7) 8-2, Littlestown (3) 9-1, Marian Catholic (11) 7-3, North Schuylkill (11) 7-3, Penns Valley (6) 8-2, South Park (7) 9-1, West York (3) 9-1, Wcstmonl-Hilllop (6) 8-2.

CLASS A 1. Shenandoah Valley (11) 10-0 2 2. Riverside (2) 9-1 3 3. South Side (7) 9-0 4 4. Southern Columbia (4) 9-1 1 5.

Sharpsvillc (1(1) 9-1 6 6. Smcthpnrt (9) 10-0 5 7. Slccllon-Highspirc (3) 8-2 7 a Minersvillc (11) 8-2 8 9. Clairton (7) 8-1 9 10. Charticrs- Houston (7) 9-0 10 HONORABLE MENTIONS: Bcllwoud- Anlis (6) 8-2, Bishop O'Reilly (2) 9-1, California (7) 7-2, Cambridge Springs (10) 9-1, Canton (4) 9-1, Farrcll (7) 7-3, Moshaonon Valley (6) 8-2, Muncy (4) 8-2, Pius (11) 9-1, Riverview (7) 7-3, Southern Huntingdon (6) 9-1, Tri-Villcy (11) 9-1, West Branch (6) 9-1.

Pitt Freshman Has Surgery PITTSBURGH (AP) University of Pittsburgh freshman basketball player Kevin Leslie (6-8), who averaged 14 ppg and 14 at Theodore Roosevelt H.S. in Washington, D.C. last year, is expected to be out four to six weeks after undergoing surgery Tuesday. Tyrone High Postseason Football Playoff History (Listing Includes only playoff appearances since the PIAA and District 6 formally instituted a postseason playoff system in 1985 and, thereby, do not include a mythical East vs. West state championship game between Tyrone and Shenandoah that ended in a 0-0 tie in 1940) I98S CLASS AAA Dist.

6 Ist-round Ligonier Valley 21, Tyrone 0 1986 CLASS AAA Dist. 6 Semifinals Tyrone 14, Philipsburg-Osceola 7 Dist. 6 Championship Huntingdon 6, Tyrone 0 1987 CLASS AAA Dist. 6 Semifinals Tyrone 32, Heights 0 Dist. 6 Championship Tyrone 20, Huntingdon 19 United 52, Tyrone 13 1988 CLASS AA Dist.

6 Semifinals 1995 CLASS AA Dist. 6 Semifinals Tyrone 13, Bald Eagle-Nittany 9 Dist. 6 Championship Tyrone 13, Bishop McCort 7 West Region AA Quarterfinals Tyrone 32, Bedford 0 West Region AA Semifinals Tyrone 14, Wilmington 7 West Region Championship 34, Tyrone 14 1996 CLASS AA Dist. 5-6 Sub-Region Semi Tyrone 21, Westmont-Hilltop 6 Dist. 5-6 Sub-Region Finals Tyrone 32, Forest Hills 14 West Region Semi PIAA Quarterfinals Tyrone 14, Wilmington 10 West Region Championship PIAA Semifinal Tyrone 14, Aliquippa 13 FIAA Class AA Championship Mount Carmel 25, Tyrone 6 CLASS AA Dist.

5-6 Sub-Region Quarterfinals Tyrone 41, Chestnut Ridge 6 Phils' Rolen NL Rookie-of-Year PHILADELPHIA (AP) The elaborate mock tribute his Philadelphia Phillies teammates paid to third baseman Scott Rolen in spring training proved prophetic. Rolen, the unanimous choice as the National League Rookie of the Year, arrived several days after most veterans. He found a pathway fashioned out of bath mats leading to his locker, from which his minor-league cards hung. "Rookie of the Year," read one sign. Another proclaimed, "Camp Starts Whenever YOU Decide to Show was a point wen- learned," Rolen said Tuesday.

The Phillies were only readme to the buzz that accompanied Rolen's rapid rise from farm system phenom to the cornerstone of the Phillies' attempt to revive a franchise with only one winning season in the last 11. They got a taste of his aggressive base-running, superb neld- ing and potent bat wnen Rolen was called up to the majors Aug. 1, 1996 and immediately was handed the starting job at third base. Seven weeks later, Rolen's season ended when he was hit by a pitch from Steve Trachsel, breaking a bone near his right wrist. It was bad luck for the Phillies, but a good thing for Rolen.

At the time, he had 130 at-bats, the maximum allowed for him to be considered a rookie this season. Playing on a team that finished tied with the Chicago Cubs for the NL's worst record, Rolen, 22, led NL rookies in 11 offensive categories, including batting runs (92), RBIs (92), home runs (21) and doubles (35). "I thought maybe I could hit .280. was hoping to .275. I was hoping to hit 15 home runs, maybe.

I was hoping to get 75 RBIs, maybe," he said. "1 ffiink I exceeded anything 1 could have fathomed." But it was Rolen's hustle on the base paths, his range and strong arm at third and his consistency that impressed first-year manager Terry Francona, who stressea the importance of playing the game right when he took the job. Shortstop Kevin Stocker said Rolen's professional approach was a large part of the reason the Phillies, who were games out of first place on July 27, then went 44-33 after the All-Star break. "Just the way he plays so hard rubbed off on everybody," Stocker said. "It's going to make the guys around nim play the same way." "It wasn't difficult to go out and play hard," Rolen said.

"We won four games in June. That doesn't mean I'm just going to come in and say, 'We'll be better in two In July, August and September, we turned it around. Hopefully, we can go into spring training and take it from there. Rolen received all 28 first- place votes and 140 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Li van Hernandez, the Cuban defector who went 9-3 with a 3.18 ERA in 17 starts for the Florida Marlins, was tied for second with Matt Morris, who was 12-9 with a 3.19 ERA for the St.

Louis Cardinals. Each had 25 points. Rich Loiselle of the Pittsburgh Pirates was fourth with 22 points, followed by Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves with 15. Rolen, who made the minimum $150,000 last season, earned a $25,000 bonus for winning the award. He became tlie became the eighth unanimous NL rookie winner, joining Jackie Robinson (1947), Orlando Cepeda (1958), Willie McCovey (1959), Vince Coleman (1985), Benito Santiago (1987), Mike Piazza (1993) and Raul Mondesi (1994).

Combined with Nomar Car- ciaparra's unanimous election AL Rookie of the Year on Monday, it marked only the third time both rookie winners were unanimous choices. Eagles' Everitt Charged; Nov, 18 Hearing Scheduled MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. (AP) Philadelphia center Steven Everitt was charged with drunken driving, speeding and possession of drug paraphernalia after police stopped him and found a marijuana pipe in his car. Police gave Everitt a breath test but did not release the results. He was released on his own recognizance and faces a Nov.

18 hearing..