The Montgomery Advertiser from Montgomery, Alabama • 19

Carver wins B-G title 5B Chiefs topple Raiders 8B Mike Handley's Outdoors 11B SundiAIcxitgMTierj'AtKertiser DECEMBER 29. 1991 TTBdle Inreirose Jim Johnston Advertiser enndls Sports 'Editor 0 no Dim lb r-i ft Ibeati 0 oyv yv" '-ff- 1 Alabama concludes its most-successful season since 1979 By JIM JOHNSTON Sports Editor MIAMI After watching the defense do its best to bludgeon Colorado for 30 minutes, the Alabama offense awakened after a five-week slumber on Saturday night. The Crimson Tide offense scored three second-half touchdowns en route to a 30-25 victory over the Buffaloes in the Blockbuster Bowl at Joe Robbie Stadium. A crowd of 46,123 saw Alabama's largest scoring output since a 62-0 homecoming win over Tulane on Oct. 12.

The Crimson Tide improved to 11-1 its most successful season since Paul "Bear" Bryant and Alabama won the national championship with a 12-0 record in 1979. The Buffaloes dropped to 8-3-1. Alabama struck first after intermission, driving 90 yards in 10 plays on the performance of tailback Siran Stacy. The senior rushed five times for 55 yards and caught the touchdown pass on the march. Stacy took a sideline toss from quarterback Jay Barker and scored from 13 yards away with 10:45 left in the third quarter.

Freshman David Palmer lined up at quarterback, tried a draw and failed on the two-point con- Pleas I SLUMBER, 9B Falcons smack Saints Michael Haynes catches two second-half touchdown passes to lead Atlanta By AUSTIN WILSON Associated Press Writer NEW ORLEANS Michael Haynes doomed his hometown team to another postseason of frustration. Haynes caught two second-half touchdowns Saturday, including the winner on a 61-yard pass and run play late in the fourth quarter, leading the Atlanta Falcons to a 27-20 playoff victory over the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans has been to the playoffs three times in the past five years, but has yet to win a game. The Saints won their first division title ever, taking the NFC West with an 11-5 re- Pleax lee FALCONS, 7B i Auoclattd Praw off on a 52-yard TD run as Greg Alabama's David Palmer (2) takes Aoobiu Lindsey misses a tackle UJTG Dim to baStDe E)ir Peppec SiraaD the game and held the Colonels without a field goal for eight minutes. It was 18-2 before Eastern Kentucky could get a conventional basket.

The Tigers coasted the rest of the first half behind Wesley Person's 16 points. He finished with 29 for the game. Auburn led 48-27 at the half, but it changed in the sec- Plaata aaa AUBURN, 9B Alaska-Anchorage. "I think you saw how good this team can be, and I think you saw how inconsistent this team can be," Eagles said. "We let it completely get it away from us in the second half.

But this is the trademark of a young team inconsistency." The first half was a thing of the beauty for the Tigers. Auburn scored the first seven points of team. Auburn tossed away a 25-point lead, then had to sweat a little at the end to hold off Eastern Kentucky 104-92 in the first round of the Dr Pepper Classic here Saturday afternoon. With the win. Auburn, 6-3, moves to the tournament final against host Tennessee-Chattanooga today at 2:30 p.m.

The Mocs advanced with a 92-68 victory over The Tigers advanced Saturday with a 104-92 win over Eastern Kentucky Staff Report CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. Tommy Joe Eagles saw the good, the bad and the inconsistency in his Auburn basketball Turner turns 'four-oh' in Blockbuster MIAMI The list of Kevin Turner's career highlights nearly stretches from Joe Robbie Stadium back to Tuscaloosa. A two-touchdown performance against Temple in 1988 stands out because the fullback did it as a redshirt freshman at Alabama. He caught 10 passes for 126 yards in a memorable 61-27 comeback victory over Ole Miss in '89 on the road to a Southeastern Conference championship for the Crimson Tide. In '90, although his role was diminished on offense and he caught 20 less passes than he did the preceding year, he never complained.

"The coaches know what's best for the team," he said at the time. Turner had no problem deciding what to do for an encore in '91. He ran for 432 yards a career best and enjoyed a 143-yard rushing performance in Alabama's 20-17 victory over Louisiana State. Against Auburn, he caught a 68-yard pass off a busted play to help the Crimson Tide gain a 13-7 win. And two weeks ago, Turner celebrated the completion of his coursework toward a degree in corporate finance.

So, what is the native of Pratt-ville most proud of? "Four-oh," the 6-foot, 220-pound senior said with a smile. "The streak." It began on Oct. 29, 1988, at Scott Field in Starkville, and it came to an end with Saturday night's Blockbuster Bowl against Colorado. For the 40th consecutive game, the young man head coach Gene Stallings calls "Hollywood handsome" lined up at fullback for the Crimson Tide. "I'm just proud of it," he said.

"Consistency and reliability are personal goals of mine. To finish up this way is very special to me. Beat finger injury "Some things could have happened to stop it. I've been fortunate." For a time, it looked as though Turner might not play college football at all. In the summer of '88, while attempting to bulk up for his first active season at Alabama, he dropped a weight on his right hand.

The weight severed the tip of a finger and it had to be surgically re-attached. "It was a tough time for me," Turner said. "It gave me a lot of trouble." Once his injury healed, Turner worked his way into the playing rotation until his weakened finger was broken in a 28-20 victory over Tennessee. He missed Alabama's next game against Penn State, but got into the starting lineup the next week against the Bulldogs. 1 He hasn't been out since.

The reason? Turner is resilient and versatile. He can carry the ball, he can catch, and he can block. In fact, he likes to block. "I take a lot of pleasure in it 'when Siran (Stacy) breaks a big run after I make a block," Turner said. "I feel like most people can do some receiving and some 1 running.

Not everybody can block. "I like it. I like it most when i we win." I Part of 36 wins Turner's had a smile on his face most of the time. During his career, Alabama compiled a 36-1 1 record and went to four bowls. While the victories have been important, Turner believes something even more essential has been accomplished since he's been in Tuscaloosa: Stability has returned to the Crimson Tide football program.

After the controversy that ensued over Bill Curry's hiring and then his exit, Turner won- dered if Alabama's tradition of excellence in the sport would continue. He's proud to say it has and proud he's worked in the reclamation effort. 'I think I've been here at a pivotal time at Alabama," he said. "Things had been going downhill some and I think we've moved back up in the national picture. We've beaten Auburn twice in a row and that's important.

Things have turned around. "I'd like to think I had some small part in that." For 40 straight games, 22-year-old Kevin Turner has done much more than that. sj 'II Report: Parcells accepts fl The Chicago Tribune said he will take the Tampa Bay job on Monday Associated Press Report TAMPA, Fla. Bill Parcells, rumored to be leaving NBC for the Tampa Bay Bucs, apparently isn't going anywhere just yet. The Bucs refused to comment on a newspaper report that a Parcells-Tampa Bay deal had been signed, and another NFL source told The Associated Press that an agreement hadn't yet been reached.

NBC, for whom Parcells is a color commentator, said it couldn't confirm the various reports, but said the former New York Giants coach would be asked for comment during the network's NFL pregame show on Sunday. Parcells, unavailable for comment on Saturday, had earlier in the week denied reports that he had received an offer from the Bucs. The Chicago Tribune, quoting unidentified NFL sources, said Parcells has decided to take the PerEiins tio coacEhi acjanira The former Alabama coach will head the Arkansas State program Associated Press Report JONESBORO, Ark. Ray Perkins, the former coach of the New York Giants, Alabama and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, agreed Saturday to become head coach at Arkansas State. Perkins, 50, replaces Al Kin-caid, who was fired after a 1-10 season and a 4-17-1 two-year record.

"We believe Ray Perkins brings a recognition and a wealth of experience that will benefit our program tremendously," Arkansas State president Eugene Smith said. "He brings a great deal of stature to the job. He's Perkins well known nationally and is an excellent recruiter. He's very well respected, and we believe that he will be very good at attracting fine, young players to our football program." Perkins, a surprising choice, was interested in becoming coach of the the University of Minnesota, which hired Jim Wacker on Friday. Arkansas State will be moving from Division I-AA to Division I-A next season.

"The idea of getting back into football and working with young people is so appealing," Perkins said Saturday from Tuscaloosa. "I'm chomping at the bit to get started, and I really appreciate this opportunity and the faith the university has placed in me. "I really like the university, the town and the overall setting there in the Jonesboro area. The challenge of taking a program into Division I-A also has a lot of appeal to me." Smith said Perkins accepted a three-year contract at $65,000 a yearlus fringe benefits. By JAY SAILORSStaff Lee honorees Spence McCrackin and Frederick Beasley Lg cOiuio GuocIgOs 6 A Mettiro team Associated Prist; Tampa-bound Bill Parcells? Bucs job and is expected to hire former Bears general manager Jerry Vainisi to help turn around the struggling franchise.

I The paper said Tampa Bay would reveal details on Monday, i "We are not going to comment on the Chicago Tribune said Bucs director of public rela-i tions Rick Odioso, adding that the team has not scheduled any' announcements regarding the i coaching situation. The reported offer would pay at least S6.5 million over five years and also give Parcells com plete control of Tampa Bay's Pleas aaa PARCELLS, 7B in the second quarter. It was decided to send Thomas to St. Luke's Hospital. Moore said by the time Thomas left the stadium, his heartbeat was normal "and he never was in a life-threatening situation." A nursing supervisor at St.

Luke Hospital said late Saturday night that Thomas was under observation and was in satisfactory condition. Moore added it was likely Thomas would be able to plav in Payoff game at or Penver. Before he left, Thomas had one sack of Raiders quarterback Todd Mari-novich, causing a fumble. The Chiefs finished the same with 10 injured players Thomas leaves game with heart problem ley and the rest of the state were believers in the offense. The Generals captured their ninth state championship with a 14-7 victory over Central-Tuscaloosa and Beasley captured all state honors by leading his team in rushing and scoring.

Beasley, who didn't play organized football until the sixth grade and wasn't a starter until the following year, finished with 1,556 yards and 18 touchdowns on 242 carries, along with six receptions for 98 yards. For his efforts, he was named The Montgomery Advertiser's 6A Metro Player of the Year. It was an honor coaches from the neighboring 6A schools were hesitant to bestow upon a sophomore. And while Lee coach Spence McCracken named the 6A Plaaaa aaa GENERALS, 6B fl Frederick Beasley is Player of the Year and Spence McCracken is Coach of the Year By TIM GAYLE Staft Writer Frederick Beasley remembers the first day he was introduced to Robert E. Lee's new wing-T offense.

Beasley, an incoming sophomore, wasn't fond of the idea of playing in the misdirection offense. "All my junior high years (at Georgia Washington), I was playing tailback and when I came here, they changed me to fullback," he recalled, "and I'm thinking this isn't going to work because I'm not that good of a power blocker. But once I knew how the offense works and what the fullback's duties were, I thought I could do it and I gave it my best." Fourteen games later, Beas The former Alabama star's situation was 'never life-threatening' Associated Press Report KANSAS CITY, Mo. All-Pro linebacker Derrick Thomas was removed from Kansas City's injury-wracked 10-6 victory over the Los Angeles Raiders with an accelerated heartbeat and was expected to be hospitalized overnight. "It's not believed serious.

He should play next week," team spokesman Bob Moore said. Moore said trainer Dave Kendall notified coach Marty Schot-tenheimr of Thomas' problem.