The Star Press from Muncie, Indiana • Page 15

Sunday, November 4, 2001 TheStarPress a5m Scorecard 2 Contact: Phil Beebe Phone: 213-5810 To report scores: 747-5730; fax: 213-5883 e-mail: sportsthestarpress.com Page designer: Rob Borders, 213-5807 Side Line Cardinals finish ahead in high-scoring thriller 1 kv i 1 mem HEADLINES IU trustee flew May, father to Texas Tech 4 A i WHAT WENT RIGHT After scoring just 10 points a week ago, Ball State was forced to match Central Michigan's fast-paced offense. It responded by getting 38 points and 492 total yards. WHAT WENT WRONG The Cardinals were stymied on several drives by their inability to convert on third down. They turned only two of their 13 third-down plays into first downs. downs, on the way to a 38-34 victory in Ball State Stadium.

Ball State (4-4, 3-0 MidAmerican Conference West), a winner of four straight games, also threw another half-dozen passes down the field that were incomplete. The change in philosophy caught the Chippewas (2-6, 0-3 MAC West) off guard. "It did surprise me a little bit," Central Michigan coach Mike DeBord admitted. "I've got to give credit to Ball State coach Bill Lynch). When it got to be crunch time, sometimes you get a lump in your throat and you don't want to call the long By DOUG ZALESKI The Star Press MUNC1E Ball State didn't show much of a vertical passing attack during its first seven games of the football season.

The Cardinals completed only 10 passes for 20 yards or more in those games as they relied mostly on short- and medium-range throws. That changed dramatically Saturday when the Cardinals played Central Michigan. Ball State quarterback Talmadge Hill completed six passes for 20 yards or more, including two for touch BSU 38 CMU 34 Ball State (4-4, 3-0 MAC West) is at home Saturday against Kent State. More inside College football roundup. Page 6C.

ball. He called it, and they executed it. That hurt us." See CARDINALS, Page 6C John Frye The Star Press GOOD GRAB: Ball State's Sean Schembra (83) makes a diving catch Saturday at Ball State. Central Michigan's Rodrico Epps trails the play in the Cardinals' victory. HOMETOWN CHAMPIONS Two East Central Indiana volleyball teams win state championships Saturday at legendary Hinkle Fieldhouse Cowan can't capitalize on early lead in semifinal loss State finals Volleyball 2001 Class A Semifinals 7-15-15 Cowan 15-8-11 Class 2A Semifinals 15-15 Triton 2-10 Championship Burris 15-15 Mitchell 3-3 Class 3A Semifinals Delta 15-15 4-5 Championship Delta 15-15 Fort Wayne Luers 5-5 Class 4A semifinals Franklin 16-15 New Castle 14-12 More inside Burris outlasts stingy Triton in the semifinal.

Page 4C. New Castle bows out in semifinals with loss to Franklin. Page 5C. Delta buries Frankfort in semifinal action. Page 5C.

Owls end Mitchell's unbeaten mark in 2 A final By PHIL BEEBE The Star Press INDIANAPOLIS Saturday's Class 2A volleyball championship match ruined Mitchell's day, if not its previously unbeaten season. And there wasn't a moment when the fans might have been on the edge of their seats. But it was still completely satisfying for Burris coach Steve Shondell and his Owls. The Owls defeated Mitchell 15-3, 15-3 at Hinkle Fieldhouse, winning their fifth straight 2A state title and 13th state title overall. "I just told the girls In the locker room that this may have been the finest championship match any Burris team has ever played," Shondell said after the 30-minute title match ensured that the tight schedule Saturday stayed on course.

"I'm really happy for this team. I thought Mitchell was the best 2A team we've ever played, and we just had every player on the roster play their best matches." See OWLS, Page 4C By ANDREW THORPE The Star Press INDIANAPOLIS Cowan got early momentum but couldn't hold onto it as the Blackhawks fell to Michigan City Marquette in three games in the semifinals of the Class A volleyball state finals. The Blackhawks cruised to a 15-7 victory in game one thanks to solid blocking and the ability to find the hole in the Blazer defense. "We were able to get some things off their defense early in the match," Cowan coach Mary Goth said. They did a good job of sealing those things up." Cowan got numerous early points from Marquette's poor tip coverage and passing from the back row.

Blackhawk hitters were able to float the ball over the tall Marquette block and to the floor. Those holes quickly closed In the second game and with it went the momentum as Marquette jumped out to quick 5-0 and 9-3 leads. Cowan was able to get as close as 14-8 before falling In game two. In game three, the Blackhawks again got early points and momentum as they built 4-0 and 7-4 leads, but again they couldn't hold the momentum in what turned into an epic game three. -Both teams struggled to get points and sustained several long rallies before the Blazer hitters got hot late in the game.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS INDIANAPOLIS Before Sean May announced his decision to attend North Carolina, he took a trip to Texas Tech so he could meet with former Indiana coach Bob Knight. May's trip came courtesy of Indiana University trustee Stephen Ferguson, who flew May and his father, Scott May, to Lubbock, Texas, on his seven-seat private jet. The Indianapolis Star reported Saturday. Ferguson told the newspaper the trip to Lubbock was a chance for him to visit with Knight, a longtime friend, and see his new home. But the fact that Ferguson has done past legal work for Knight and remains a friend raises the question of whether the trip constituted an NCAA violation or a conflict of interest with his role as a member of the IU board of trustees.

Some have even suggested that Ferguson took May to visit Knight as a way to get back at IU president Myles Brand, the man who fired Knight on Sept. 10, 2000, after 29 years at IU. Ferguson dismisses that suggestion. "I can't think why anybody would think that would be in my self interest," he said. "This punishes me.

The fact that I'm not going to be there watching Sean May play every game at Assembly Hall hurts me a lot more than it would hurt Myles Brand." FAT STAT Chris Rix threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns in Florida State's 41-27 victory over Clemson. 300 GAME Robert Weaver Liberty Bowl Weaver, a member of the Chix and Hix League, rolled his game Friday. INSIDE Game 7 forced: The Diamondbacks won game six 15-2 Saturday to force a game seven with the Yankees. Coverage is on Page 3C e.isv,u.tji'. Clinching smile: Kevin Harvick finished fifth in the NASCAR Busch Series Sam's Club 200 on Saturday.

The finish secured the series championship for Harvick. Page 3C. TOMORROW BSU Football: When Ball State plays its next game against a MAC West opponent, it might be able to clinch the division title. I iV J'-'1 L. i.

1 L. Erin Lantrip The Star Press JUBILATION: Burris's Jill MacMillan (right) celebrates a winning point with her teammates Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in the Owls' victory over Mitchell for the Class 2A state championship. Burris won the match 15-3, 15-3. guides team past Fort Wayne Eagles defense By ANDREW THORPE The Star Press INDIANAPOLIS The Class 3A State Championship will stay in Delaware County for another season thanks to the Delta Eagles' 15-5, 15-5 drilling of Fort Wayne Luers. "It really hasn't sunk In," Delta coach Robb Painter said.

These girls have been with me since seventh grade, and they have worked extremely hard and they deserve this." Delta fell behind early in 'ffk" Erin Lantrip The Star Press VICTORY DANCE: The Delta seniors share a hug after winning the Class 3A state championship Saturday at Hinkle Fieldhouse. The Eagles beat Luers for the title. See COWAN, Page 4C Bishop Luers one person for them always playing at such a high level. "Assistant coach Mike Dalton," Delta senior Megan McGrane said. "He makes practice so intense, and he wants to make us better.

He is really the reason we play at that level." Delta used another long point spurt to put away the Knights and win the crown. The Eagles scored the final eight points of the match to win game two. See EAGLES, Page 4C More on NFL) Page 7C The Colts have lost some of their offensive power with the absence of Terrence Wilkins and Jerome Pathon. The 5-1 Pittsburgh Steelers could put the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens in danger of missing the playoffs with a victory today. Capsules preview all of today's action.

rolled off 10 straight points to seize control of the momentum and the match. They bave extremely good ball control," Luers coach Joyce Moss said. "When a team keeps digging up everything you hit, it really wears on you and is deflating to your hitters. They play at a very high level all the time, and we aren't used to playing at that level." The Eagles, who have already been runner-up in two state finals and are constantly ranked at or near the top of their class, pointed to another. Colts receivers have been dropping passes.

Manning already has thrown nine interceptions, six fewer than he had all of last year. And it hasn't helped that receiver Jerome Pathon has missed three games with a foot injury after a solid start. "We're not there yet. That's going to take time" said rookie Reggie Wayne, who's filling in for Pathon. "Sometimes when we're In position to make plays, we don't.

We've got to get it done." the match, but quickly found its legs. Trailing 4-1, the Eagle defense started denying the Knight hitters and the Delta block took away the lone Luers effective offensive option. "We were really keying on number 1 (Luers hitter Nicole Howell," Painter said. "We blocked a few of her shots, but more importantly, the kills she did get, she had to work for. After that, our back row just started getting after it." Delta trimmed the Knight advantage to 5-4 and then Kansas City, but the win didn't hide all of their blemishes.

Their defense, ranked among the worst in the league, has yet to hold an opponent under 23 points. And their offense, which could be without Pro Bowler Edgerrin James (knee), is having trouble capping scoring drives. "We're certainly capable of playing solid football every week," Manning said. "But we need to be a little sharper in our execution." It's been one thing after Manning, Colts seek better execution on offense 5 The Colts (3-3) aren't what they used to be, having lost much of their swagger as well as three of their last four games. Perhaps expectations of the Colts, who outscored their first two opponents by a combined margin of 97-50.

were raised too high. "Probably," said Colts coach Jim Mora. "But I don't know the answer to that." Then again, he's got bigger questions to tackle. The Colts might be coming off a 35-28 victory over By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.Peyton Manning left many convinced that the Indianapolis Colts had arrived the last time they faced the Buffalo Dills. It was a complete and dominating performance that raised eyebrows of how good the Colts could be following an explosive 42-26 victory.

How quickly perceptions have changed 6 weeks later as the two prepare for today's rematch. Colts (3-3) at Bills (1-5) Time: 1 p.m. TV: CBS Keys to the game: Bills QB Rob Johnson has completed 65.9 percent of his passes in the past four games against the Colts. Fast facts: Colts QB Peyton Manning passed for 421 yards and accounted for five touchdowns in a 42-26 Colts' victory against the Bills on Sept. 23.

He needs three TD tosses to reach 100 for his career..