The Montgomery Advertiser from Montgomery, Alabama • 33

3Hontommj Advertiser Sunday Dec. 26, 1999 Ken Rogers Sports editor Phone (334)240-0190 Fax (334)261-1548 200 Washington Ave. Montgomery AL 36104 2C Fans Page Golf Weekly 5C 16C Outdoors "Rising area programs pack All-Metro team Postseason honors: Sidney Lanier, Robert E. Lee place six players each on 5-6A team; Tallassee dominates 1-4A squad By A.A. Moore Montgomery Advertiser Football in the tri-county area made a triumphant return in 1999 after somewhat disappointing 1998 season.

Autauga Academy avenged its loss in the 1998 Alabama Independent School Association's Class A title game with Academy; Lance Lieb, Robert E. Lee; Bret Eddins. Trinity; and J.P. Holly, Stanhope Elmore. Volleyball also was well represented in the tri-county area in 1999 as five teams Montgomery Academy, Catholic, St.

Jude, Hooper Academy and Calvary Christian all made the state finals in the AHSAA and AISA tournaments. But the player who stood out and earned player of the year honors was the Lady Eagles' Joi Anderson. Williams and Derrick Ansley, Tallassee; Keldrick Williams and Nigel Eldridge, Sidney Lanier; Hunter Royal, South Montgomery County Academy; Noah Hilyer and James Northington, Autauga Academy; Wesley Littlefield, Calvary Christian; Rick Taylor and NesSmith, New Life Christian; Jaime Kyser, Jay Wallace, Tee Owens and Kyle Dyer, Macon-East Montgomery; Logan Markham and Jeremy Ingle, St. James; Mar-ston Maddox, Montgomery in the selection of the Advertiser's 1999 All-Metro football teams. The return to prominance of the Sidney Lanier football program is highlighted by its six selections on the Class 5-6A first team, including Player of the Year Keldrick Williams.

That number is matched only by the team that beat the Poets to reach the 6A championship game cross-town rival Robert E. Lee. Tallassee dominated the Sportsline SCOREBOARD NFL Denver 17, Detroit 7 NBA Indiana 101, New York 90 LA. Lakers 99, San Antonio 93 COLLEGE FOOTBALL Blue-Gray Classic Gray 22, Blue 22 Aloha Bowl Wake Forest 23, Arizona St. 3 Oahu Bowl Hawaii 23, Oregon St.

17 BRIEFLY Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman dies PORTLAND, Ore. Bill Bowerman, the Oregon track coach who co-founded Nike and pressed foam rubber into his wife's waffle iron to create the modern running shoe, has died. He was 88. He died in his sleep Friday night or early Saturday in his home in Fossil, company Life Academy and the AISA Independent Schools Player of the Year Chris NesSmith that led the team. Four Eagles made the squad, but it was Macon-East Montgomery that had the most first-team members with seven.

Twenty players were repeat members of the team: Justin All-Metro teams 10-11C Class 1-4A team. Justin Williams was named 1-4A player of the year, and he was joined by six of his teammates. While Autauga Academy won its championship, it was the offensive exploits of New a win over Chambers Acaae-mv for the area's only cham pionship. But the teams on a whole improved, ana it snows BLUE-GRAY ALL-STAR FOOTBALL CLASSIC: GRAY 22, BLUE 22 1 spokesman fir erx -a fa Scott Reames said. Bowerman helped introduce jogging to the masses with his book on the subject in 1967.

He was also the U.S. track roach at the 'V Inconsistent kicking leads to deadlock in Blue-Gray Bowerman 14 f- terrorist- scarred 1972 Munich Olympics. He coached at Oregon from 1949-72, and his most famous runner there was Steve Pre-fontaine, the brash, mustachioed prodigy who inspired a generation of distance runners. "He was for so many of us a hero, leader and most of all teacher," Nike chairman Phil Knight said. "My sadness at his passing is beyond words." The comDanv announced in October that a silhouette of Bowerman in his old Tyro if- lean hat would aDDear on Nike rnnnine shoes, alone with a smaller "swoosh," the company's trademark sym bol.

XL Tulane receiver JaJuari Dawson caught four passes for 47 yards Saturday. By Tim Gayle Montgomery Advertiser The final 15 minutes of the 62nd annual Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic were more exciting than any of the first three quarters combined. But when Jake Arians' potential game-winning kick drifted wide right as time expired, it left the Cramton Bowl crowd exasperated as the Christmas Day classic was deadlocked for the first time in 30 years. An exciting finish to an otherwise disappointing football game had both teams putting together offensive drives in the final two minutes, only to come away empty, leaving the game tied at 22-22. "I couldn't really be disappointed at him," said Gray receiver Mareno Philyaw of Troy State.

"We've enjoyed each other's company all week, all the players. We felt he was going to hit it, but I guess it was more about the fellowship to me than winning the game." It was the first tie in the all-star series since moving to its traditional Christmas Day slot in 1979. The only other tie in the history of the game was a 6-6 effort in 1969. Much like that long-ago defensive struggle, there were few fireworks early. When the Blue's Scott Zimmerman tackled Murray State quarterback Justin Fuente in the end zone for a safety that gave the Blue a 16-7 lead with 6:02 left in the third quarter, it seemed more than enough to take care of the Southern all-stars.

Manhandled and bottled up for three quarters, the Gray 1 Photos by Todd Van Ernst Staff Blue receiver Windrell Hayes of Southern California dives for the pylon during the first half of Saturday's Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic at Cramton Bowl. Hayes didn't score but went on to catch nine passes for 153 yards. Keaton, Davis show ALL STAR FOOTBALL CLASSIC THE BIG PLAY With a minute remaining in the game and the scored tied 22-22, Gray defender Evan Howell intercepted a Tim Lester pass deep in his own territory. The turnover gave the Gray a chance, but kicker Jake Arians missed a game-winning field goal attempt with no time on the clock. little guys can play The Associated Press Broncos receiver Eddie Blue team's MVP ran for 116 yards on 13 carries.

But before the game, he was most known for being the younger brother of New Orleans Saints running back Troy Davis, who had back-to-back seasons for the Cyclones in 1995 and '96. "Hopefully, when I get back to the hotel, I'll have a couple more phone calls," Davis said. By A.A. Moore Montgomery Advertiser Curtis Keaton and Darren Davis tried to make a name for themselves during college without much success. But at Saturday's Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic, both running backs grabbed the spotlight with performances that earned them most valuable player A 1 1 by Ryan Roques to jump-start a lifeless offense, erupting for 161 of its 270 total yards in the final 14:48.

"We just kind of struggled," Fuente said. "If it wasn't one thing, it was another. But their defense is pretty stout. 4 i Tmnni ikorwllla rmht haH fivp nf hk HUUU LUdUl lUllllliy I uuti vmi, McCaffrey leaps for a catch over the Lions' Dwayne Harper during Saturday's game. Broncos blast Lions' playoff hopes PONTIAC, Mich.

Not even Charlie Batch could save the Detroit Lions' sagging playoff hopes. Denver rookie Olandis Gary rushed for 185 yards, all but 11 in the second half, to lead the Broncos to a 17-7 win, extending Detroit's los awards. used a fumbled punt return Iowa State's Davis the Iowa State's Davis the Little Page 14C I igers on xne uioy I Jit A A ft Jl A ALOHA BOWL VS. MICHIGAN Bama can avenge H7i When: 7:30 p.m. Jan.

1 75 disappointment Where: Pro Player Stadi um, Miami On the air: TV WNCF ABC; Radio WHHY- FM 101.9 Records: Alabama (10-2), Michigan (9-2) Both Crimson Tide teams KS W'V Sankey lifts Wake past Arizona State HONOLULU During his four-year career at Wake Forest, Ben Sankey, a backup quarterback until this season, asked for a switch so he could get more playing time. Coach Jim Caldwell told Sankey to sit tight and good things would happen. It did in the Aloha Bowl on Saturday, when Sankey ended his collegiate career by guiding the Demon Deacons (7-5) to a 23-3 victory over Arizona State. Voted the game's outstanding player, Sankey passed for one touchdown and put his team in position for another TD and Matthew Burdick's ing streak to three games. The Lions (8-7) might still earn a wild-card spot in the weak NFC if they win their final game next week at Minnesota.

Batch, making his first start since fracturing his right thumb Nov. 7, looked rusty, completing 21 of 40 passes for 267 yards. Media line NFL FOOTBALL Jacksonville at Tennessee, WAKACBS, noon Minnesota at New York Giants, WCOVFOX, noon Green Bay at Tampa Bay, WCOVFOX. 3:15 p.m. Series: Tied 1-1 Coaches: Ala-b a a Mike DuBose, ORANGE BOWL Michigan Lloyd Carr were preparing for a big game.

They both faced a tough opponent with a storied tradition. They both played Jan 1. But time has created some differences. The 1999 Crimson Tide will take the field in the Orange Bowl at 7:30 p.m. New Year's night, exactly 25 years and 30 minutes later than the last time the team appeared in the bowl.

The game will be played some 30 miles up the road in Pro Player Stadium, instead of Orange Bowl Stadium in downtown Miami. A quick look at the events and people of the 1975 game shows traditions dominated the show as much then as it does today. The Crimson Tide came into the game 11-0 and faced a Similar situation: Tide goes into Jan. 1 game much like it did 25 years ago By Jason Mayfield Special to the Advertiser The 1974 and 1999 Alabama Crimson Tide football teams rolled out of bed Christmas Day with visions of oranges dancing in their heads. The difference was one group had to go to practice.

"Our gift was practice early in the morning," said Alabama strength coach Terry Jones, a freshman on that 1974 team. "Coach (Paul) Bryant took bowl games very seriously. We practiced for about an hour, had some time off in the middle of the day and met back later that night." Tickets: If you're interested in purchasing $75 or $90 tickets or a three-day package at the Mariott Marina, call Total Sports Travel at 1-888-367-8781 or locally at (334) 213-2000. Alabama's allotment of tickets at $75 and may be purchased via the Internet at tickettogo.com or by calling 1-800-218- 7761 The Associated Press three field goals. "I can't say enough about him," Caldwell said of Sankey.

"We are indebted to his commitment to the program. "He played behind someone for four years. He wanted to play another position wide receiver or safety. He's a tremendous individual." College fooball 4-6C The Associated Press Washington at San Francisco, ESPN, 7 p.m. COMING MONDAY The Jacksonville Jaguars battle the Tennessee Titans in a critical AFC Central matchup.

In the NFC, the Green Bay Packers head south to Tampa Bay for a meeting with the Buccaneers. The Advertiser recaps the NFL action. Wake Forest's Jimmy Caldwell, left, puts a move on Arizona State's Craig Koontz on a 56-yard touchdown play Saturday in the Aloha Bowl. The Demon Deacons defeated the Sun Devils, 23-3. Bama Page 14C.