The Ithaca Journal from Ithaca, New York • 12

4B Monday, October 16, 2006 1 THE ITHACA JOURNAL Sports Sports Editor: Christopher Feaver 1 274-9214 1 cfeaverithacajournal.com THE HOT CORNER Barber propels Giants past Falcons happen today." Barber did much of the damage, breaking off nine runs of at least 12 yards against a defense that was allowing just 693 yards per game, the second-best figure in the league. New York scored the final 24 points of the game, shredding a banged-up defense that had given up only one touchdown all "They just ran it down our throats," Dunn said, who rushed for 146 yards. The Giants' defense pounded Michael Vick, who was slow to get up from several huge licks, threw an interception and fumbled four times (though he lost only one). The quarterback did break off a spectacular 22-yard touchdown run capped off with a somersault into the By Paul Newberry The Associated Press ATLANTA Tiki Barber and the New York Giants did a pretty good impression of the Atlanta Falcons. Beating the Falcons at their own game, Barber rushed for 185 yards, Jeremy Shockey caught a couple of touchdown passes and the Giants overpowered Atlanta in the second half for a 27-14 victory Sunday.

The Giants (3-2) fell behind 14-3 when Warrick Dunn broke off a 90-yard touchdown on Atlanta's first offensive play of the third quarter the longest run in team history. But New York dominated the Falcons (3-2) the rest of the way, going ahead with touchdown drives of 84 and 91 yards. "The good thing is we did- INSIDE Jets hold off Dolphins PAGE 6B n't get away from our running game despite being down by 11 points," Barber said. "We did what we do best, and that is running the football." After Dunn's touchdown, New York scored on its next four possessions, piling up 240 yards while holding the ball more than 18 minutes. The Falcons went three-and-out on their next three possessions, doing nothing to help out their beleaguered, banged-up defense.

"The offense kept the defense out there way too long," tight end Alge Crumpler said. "We pride ourselves on taking care of the football and controlling the clock. That didn't NEW YORK Ohio State, USC and Michigan top first BCS poll Ohio State, Southern California and Michigan topped the first Bowl Championship Series standings released Sunday, putting the Big Ten powers and the Trojans in control of the national title race. The fu st-place Buckeyes and third-place Wolverines play in Columbus on Nov. 18.

If they can avoid a major upset before then, the winner of that game is all but assured of a spot in the BCS title game. Second-place USC has the toughest part of its schedule ahead of it, but if the Trojans remain unbeaten they'll most likely play in a third straight championship game. The top two teams in the final BCS standings will meet Jan. 8 in the title game at the new stadium in Glendale, that will also be the site of the Fiesta Bowl. For the first time, the BCS title game will played about a week after the four major bowls the Rose, Orange, Fiesta and Sugar.

The Buckeyes have a commanding lead in the coaches' poll and the Harris poll, which count for two-thirds of a BCS average. Ohio State (7-0) comes in third behind USC (6-0) and Michigan (7-0) in the computer rankings used to come up with the other third of the BCS average. CORAL GABLES, FLA. The Associated Press New York Giants running back Tiki Barber, 21, gains a first down despite heavy pressure from Atlanta Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking, 56, during the Giants' 27-14 victory Sunday in Atlanta. See GIANTS Page 6B Barber ran for 185 yards, and New York improved to 3-2 on the year.

wietww 111 rare Lions top Bills for first win of year By Larry Lage The Associated Press I 1 DETROIT Roy Williams and Kevin Jones ended Rod Marinelli's long wait for a win. Williams had 10 receptions for 161 yards both career highs and scored a touchdown while Jones ran for a season-high 127 yards and a score to lead the Detroit Lions toa20-17winovertheBuffalo Bills on Sunday. "I'm glad we got this because the coaching staff has really been under the micro 1 scope and thev don't deserve if that." Tones Vrt I TV" jf said. zi Instead of Cornell snaps losing streak against rival Colgate By Christopher Feaver cfeaver.aithacajournal.com Journal Staff ITHACA Cornell entered Saturday's Homecoming contest against Colgate badly in need of a win. The last thing the Big Red wanted to do was start the season 1-4.

But to get that win, Cornell would have to do something it had not been able to do since 1992 beat the Raiders. But that is exactly what the Big Red did. On a chilly day with the wind howling from the west in front of a crowd of 9,142, Cornell dismantled Colgate, 38-14. Cornell capitalized on three Colgate first-half turnovers turning them all into touchdowns as the Big Red scored more points in the first half (24) than it had in any entire game previously this season. In doing so, the Big Red gave itself the lift it may need to have a strong second half of the season.

"Whenyou are going to build something, build a program, you have to win on Homecoming," Cornell coach Jim Knowles said. "It was a program win," he added. "Something we have been looking for. Cornell (had not beaten Colgate) for the past 10 outings. We really played start to finish the kind of football we want to play." Big Red sophomore quarterback Nathan Ford was sharp throughout, rushing for two touchdowns, throwing for two more and staying away from any mistakes that might light a Colgate fire.

And Cornell junior running BILL WARREN Journal Staff Cornell's Graham Rihn, followed by Colgate's David Morgan, makes a long run downfield after intercepting a Colgate pass in the first quarter Saturday at Schoellkopf Field. Colgate turned the ball over three times in the first half and the Big Red took advantage, winning 38-14. Coker: At least 8 Hurricanes suspended for role in brawl The fight is over. The fallout is only begmning. At least eight Miami players were suspended Sunday for their role in a sideline-clearing brawlagainst Florida International, the latest and perhaps worst on-field incident to plague the Hurricanes.

Five of those players were ejected, meaning they drew automatic sanctions from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the university. Miami coach Larry Coker punished three others after reviewing tape of the incident, which marred the Hurricanes' 35-0 win Saturday night over their neighboring rival. "Disgraceful," Coker said. Coker suspended safeties Anthony Reddick and Brandon Meriweather, along with H-back James Bryant. It was unknown how long any of the suspensions will last.

Reddick swung a helmet during the melee, Meriweather stomped on some FIU players during the fight and Bryant drew his suspension for excessively celebrating his touchdown just before the fracas began. INDIANAPOLIS Jackson says he was trying to protect teammates Indiana Pacers guard Stephen Jackson says he was just trying to protect three teammates when he fired a handgun and was hit by a car during a fight outside an Indianapolis strip club. The 28-year-old Jackson faces a pretrial hearing on a felony charge of criminal recklessness and misdemeanor counts of battery and disorderly conduct Nov. 1, the same day the Pacers open the season in Charlotte, N.C. His trial is scheduled to begin Jan.

8 in Marion Superior Court. From wire reports CORNELL FOOTBALL Saturday's result Cornell 38, Colgate 14 Record: 2-3 Next game: At Brown, 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 Of note: Cornell snapped a 10-game the late mistakes that have cost the Lions in four of five opening losses, they made clutch plays on both sides of the ball to give Marinelli victory No. 1 as an NFL head coach.

Marinelli had to bide his time for more than three decades to be a head coach at any level, and the Lions made him wait just a little longer for his first victory. When the former Tampa Bay defensive line coach saw the final seconds tick off the clock, he smiled and walked across the field to shake Dick Jauron's hand, the Buffalo coach, who ended last season as the interim coach in Detroit. "It's been a long time coming for him, but it's the first of many," Williams said. Marinelli wouldn't even acknowledge that he enjoyed the moment for a fleeting second. "It's the process," he said See BILLS Page 6B "Cornell did a great job," said Colgate coach Dick Biddle, who had never lost to Cornell previously in his 11 years as head coach.

"I think they played very well today. I thought the running back (Siwula) was exceptional. "You can't turn the ball over three times like that. We are not that talented a team right now to make it up. We have to play it close to the vest and get into the fourth quarter." When the fourth quarter did arrive, the outcome had long since been decided, and many ofBig Red faithful had left, tired ofbeing pelted by the unrelenting west wind.

"I think it is huge (to win), not only because we beat a team we haven't beaten in so long but because it just proves again how strong we are at home," said Cornell junior cornerback Colin Nash, who snared his third interception of the season in the second quarter, setting up the Big Red's third touchdown. "We were kind of back against the wall Two-and-3 sounds so much better than 1-4. This was a must win." Cornell played with urgency and determination from the beginning, doniinating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. On Colgate's second series, safety Tim Bax knocked the ball out of Colgate receiver David Morgan's hands and straight into the arms of Cornell cornerback Matt Grant. It was the first lost fumble for Colgate all season.

Cornell needed just three play to convert a 33-yard drive. On third-and-one from the 24, Ford faked to Siwula, then came See CORNELL Page 8B losing streak to Colgate back Luke Siwula was his usual dominating self, plowing forward for 145 yards on 29 carries. On the Big Red's second series of the third quarter, Siwula's number was called 10 straight times. Behind the Big Red's senior-dominated offensive line, he rushed for 56 straight yards, before Ford capped the drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak, putting the game out of reach at 31-8. Tigers have week to prepare for World Series TOO LATE Game 5 of the National League Championship Series was not complete as of press time.

For results and more information, check out our Web site at www.theithacajournal.com At the same time, the stadium announcer neatly let everyone know the date of the Tigers' next home game: next Saturday, for the World Series opener against either the St. Louis Cardinals or New York Mets. The losingest team in baseball over the past 13 seasons, the club that suffered through 119 defeats only three years ago, will make its first Series appearance since 1984. Manager Jim Leyland and these Tigers will go in with a seven-game postseason winning streak suddenly they're looking a lot like the 2004 Boston Red Sox and 2005 Chicago White Sox, teams that got on a roll in October and stampeded to the championship. Catcher Ivan Rodriguez and pitcher Kenny Rogers are the only players on Detroit's roster with Series experience.

General manager Dave Dombrowski and make a city go a little crazy. Especially one that's been starved for a winner for 22 years. "Nobody could have expected this. It's unreal," said Tigers Hall of Famer Al Kaline, now working in the club's front office. The Tigers continued their re markable journey fromfarcetoforce by sweeping Oakland in the AL championship series, beating the Athletics 6-3 Saturday whenMagglio Ordonez hitathree-runhomerwith two outs in the ninth inning.

Ordonez raised one arm, then both after connecting for his second home run in Game 4. From all corners of the stadium and beyond, Tigers fans cheered a pennant that seemed impossible back in spring training. While the party was in progress on the field, Ordonez wandered around asking, "Where's my family? Where's my family?" By Ben Walker The Associated Press DETROIT It was past midnight when Curtis Granderson, his dad and several family members finished dinner at a popular Greektown restaurant and headed out to a celebration in full swing. "Sweet," the Detroit Tigers' lead-off man said. Horns honking and brooms poking through moon roofs, downtown was alive into early Sunday.

Spotlights swirled in the sky, people on the street slapped high-fives with strangers. When the sun rose above Woodward Avenue across the street from Comerica Park, it lit up the State Theatre's marquee "Let's Party Like It's 1984" in what might become the Motor City's new catch phrase. Going to the World Series will Leyland were together when the Florida Marlins won the 1997 crown. "This is an amazing moment. Not just for us, but for this whole city," Rodriguez said.

And with a week to rest up, the Tigers figure to be in good shape. Leyland can set up the rotation any Verlander.NateRobertsonor Jeremy Bonderman to pitch Game 1 The Associated Press Detroit Tigers' Magglio Ordonez celebrates his three-run home run Saturday that won Game 4 of the American League Championship Series in Detroit. The Tigers swept the A's. 0 4 4.