Pensacola News Journal from Pensacola, Florida • 3

a Spirits Sunday, November 4, 1973 nr Buckeye, Sooners EXPECTED: r0' Right Aong I Georgia, Kenf ucky Score SEC Upsets UNEXPECTED: affney Leads Underdog Gators Past Auburn THE YARDSTICK Florida IS 0-238 70 7 4-10-0 7-44 43 4-34 Auburn 12 43 54 65 40 6-21-0 10-41 71 O-O First downs Rushes-yards Passing yards Return yards Passes Pun Is Fumbles-lost Penalties-yards David Starkey, John Lacer and David Hitchcock and linebackers Ralph Ortega, Glenn Cameron and Sammy Green. This hounding showed a minus 67 yards. It was Florida's defense that started the action when Brown forced a bad pitch to Mitzi Jackson and then recovered the ball at the Auburn 42. Gaffney led his mates to the 12 and on a fourth down play, John Williams was called on but his field goal attempt sailed wide. Florida again threatened late in the first period, driving from the Gator 36 to the Auburn 30 before Gaffney fumbled and Torn (o struggling the last month, having lost four straight with the latest a much-talked about 13-10 decision to Mississippi two weeks ago.

The Gators apparently had the game won but the Rebels scored on a twice-tipped pass late in the game. Florida appeared headed back but quarterback David Bowdcn intentionally tossed a fourth down pass out of bounds stopping the clock saddling the Gators with the defeat. 'jf This contest gave Coach Doug Dickey and his staff second thoughts on Florida's offense with the passing Bowden the starter and with an open date this past week, Dickey switched quarterbacks, giving the job to Gaffney with junior college transfer Robbie Davis being theoiackup. "With the loss of Nat Moore and Glenn Sever (both out with injuries) I felt we needed a quarterback with quickness instead of a passer. We needed someone who could sprintout and Gaffney and Davis fit into this system," Dickey said after the game.

Davis didn't get into the game, however, as Gaffney went the route. The slender Jacksonville sophomore kept the Auburn defense off balance most of the day and this allowed the other Gator back to get yardage up the middle. For the record, Florida outgained Auburn 238-54 yards rushing with Kendrick leading the way with 119 yards. So much did the Gators dominate the game that one of the interesting statistics was that in three rushes by Walls, his longest gain was a minus six yards. For the day, Auburn's two quarterbacks Chris Vacaralla and Walls were sacked seven times by the hounding defense led by ends Rickey Browne and Preston Kendrick, tackles Clint Griffith, record to 5-3 for the year and 1-3 in the SEC.

Also, the Gators have been jinxed at Auburn, having never won in Cliff-Hare Stadium losing 12 times and tying once. However, the stadium's named was changed prior to the start of the 1973 season to Jordan-Hare Stadium in honor of Coach Ralph (Shug) Jordan. The last time Florida has won at Auburn was in 1927 when the Gators spoiled the Tigers' homecoming, 33-6. However, that victory came on Drake Field, which is now a parking lot. While some Florida followers had hopes of ending the jinx one day, few thought it would happen this year.

Auburn, just one week ago, enjoyed one of its Hnest victories of the year when they shutout nationally-ranked Houston, 7-0. On the other hand, Florida had been The Gators defense dominated the contest and a revived group of offenders, led by sophomore quarterback Don Gaff-ney, got just enough going for the win. Auburn didn't score until the final play of the game and this was setup when Gaff-ney fumbled at the Gator 11 with only 43 seconds to play. Florida touchdowns came on a 22-yard scoring pass from Gaffney to Joel Parker in the second period and a five-yard run by Vince Kendrick on the final play of the third quarter. The Tigers' TD came on a one-yard pass from Randy Walls to Thomas Gossom on the last play of the game.

Florida, in the Southeastern Conference bassement coming into the game, is now 3-4 overall and 1-4 in the league. The setback dropped Aiburn's By RONNIE JOYCE Executive Sports Editor AUBURN, Ala. The University of Florida jinx remains at Cliff Hare Stadium. But Florida has never lost to Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Before a jammed-packed corwd of 63,429, the underdog Gators proved without a doubt who was the best team on this pleasant autumn afternoon.

The score read Florida 12, Auburn 8, but it was no where that close. Florida Auburn Fia-Porker 22 failed! 0 6 1 0-12 0 0 0 8- pass from Goffney (kick Flo-Kendrick 5 run (pass failed) Walls (Gos- "uu-wuum i pass trom som pass trom Walls) A 43.429. When Bills, Saints Vie No Bourbon, Just Juice 181111 Fred Brown News-Journal Sports Editor lil Vs Gators Half Frustrations By RONNIE JOYCE Eiccutivt Sports Editor AUBURN, Ala. "Oh, Mercy Oh, Mercy what a funny game." So said elated Gator Coach Doug Dickey following Florida's 12-8 upset, victory over Auburn Saturday. Not only was it a surprise win, but it broke a long string of frustations for Gator followers because their team had never won on this turf now known as Jordan-Hare Stadium, but for years named Cliff Hare Stadium.

"You bet I'm happy. But gentlemen, not as much for myself as I am for these kids. "They have hung in there all the way. It hasn't been easy for them especially after losing four in a row. But they never stopped trying and working and they never gave up.

Maybe a lot of people gave up on them we (the coaches) and those young men never gave up," Dickey said. Not only did he praise his players, but he said his coaching staff did a great job with the game plan. "And you could say the odds were also on our side," a smiling Dickey said referring to the 13 trips to this stadium and never going home a winner. "We approached this game from the stand point that you will not beat Auburn on any field if you make critical errors or fail to get in the fight with them physically. "We didn't make the mistakes that will beat you and we most certainly got in the fight.

I thougt a lot of credit goes to the offensive line moved Auburn off the ball and controlled the line of scrimmage when they needed to. "Also, our defense played it plenty tough. We got great Turn to 7D NEW ORLEANS In the specialists world of professional football, Orenthal James Simpson is a sonnet of fluidity, an orchestration of running and scoring touchdowns that is breaking down the barriers of a game becoming somnolent in nature. The man they call "Juice" in Buffalo, N.Y., is a throwback to the era when men tucked the football underneath a hairy arm and set off on a purpose of singular satisfaction the overwhelming desire to be the best who ever dashed to glory. He is a Pegasus unreined and his poetry is washing up on the shores along the American Football Conference coastlines.

O.J., as he is also affectionately known, is narrowing the gap of greatness with each passing game. The 6-2, 214-pound wonder runner of that football factory USC, is bearing down on Jim Brown's single season NFL rushing record of 1,863 Last Monday, the Juice poured for 157 yards in the Bills' upset of the Kansas City Chiefs and became the first running back in NFL history to run for 1,000 yards in only seven games. He is averaging nearly six yards a carry and has picked up 1,025 and scored eight touchdowns in lifting the once helpless Bills to a 5-2 record. Fountain of Juice Sunday, in Tulane Stadium, the New Orleans Saints, an early NFC doormat, but lately giant slayers, have the opportunity of sponging the spilling Juice. Gametime is 1:05 p.m.

(CST). "There's no question about Simpson being a superb athlete and running back," said Saints Coach John North. "But we can't really afford to overlook any of their many other fine players or we'll be in trouble in a hurry. "Coach Lou Saban has put together a strong team that's capable of battling any opponent on even terms. We'll just have to be ready for everything the Bills throw at us with a bit of extra attention being devoted to O.J." Indeed, Lou Saban has been the resurrection, so to speak, of Orenthal James Simpson.

Less than two seasons ago, O.J. was blurring from view under Bills coach John Rauch. And he was being criticized for not living up to the glory road that had been predicted for him. Buffalo won four games his first year, three the next, and one the next. He gained 697, 488 and 742 yards during those respective seasons of gloom.

And in 1971 he was thinking of quitting the game within two more years. Then came Saban. He molded the team like clay around the feet of O.J. and since 1972 things have been a melody of stringed music. "Offensive and defensive teams have to tie themselves around certain players.

They have to have a hub and then one by one the other players become Saban has been quoted as saying. The hub for Buffalo has been the fountain of Juice. The Saints meanwhile are 3-4 on the year. All three vie- AUBURN'S CHRIS LINDERMAN LOOSES BALL as he's hit from behind by Glenn Camerson (Pensacola News-Journal-AP Wirephoto) Turn to 7D Jackson Faces Surgery? Monticello's Long Streak Skids to Halt at Chipley in By TOM ROBINSON News-Journal Sports Writer AUBURN, Ala. While Auburn Coach Ralph (Shug) Jordan quickly admitted Florida "took us to the woodshed in good Davs, 1SU Rip Ole Miss, 51-14 fashion" after the Gators' 12-8 win Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium, there was also talk tailback Mitzi Jackson (Auburn) might undergo surgery on his left knee.

Jackson, a 190-pound sophomore from DeFuniak Springs Walton, reinjured his knee with 10:10 left in the first half of the Southeastern Conference game. "They might have to operate on Jackson," said Jordan in his dressing room office. "We don't knot for sure, the operation is pending. We will know something Monday." Jackson, who hurt his knee early in the season, came into the game Auburn's top rusher with 237 yards and a 5.4 average. When he left the game in the first half Jackson was held to 14 yards in six carries as the Gator defense left a sour taste only a week after Auburn's upset over Houston.

"It was the same knee and the same injury," said Jackson, as a trainer rolled his entire left leg in gauze and tape. "I don't know too much about what is needed," he said when asked about nossible sureerv. "I was trvinrr to cut against the train, had mv I 4 THE YARDSTICK MITZI JACKSON panhandle product Top 20 Report LSU Miss. 18 1 52-290 42 111 180 231 29 16 8-17 0 20-32 0 5 43 6-32 0 0 5 5 5-49 3 15 First downs Rushes-yards Passing yards Return yards Posses Punts Fumbles-lost Penalties-yards own, however, when defender Roger Swindle recovered a Monticello fumble in the endzone. John Morris then began a one-man war on the visitors and proceeded to score 11 points himself to tuck away the outcome.

After kicking the extra-point following Swindle's heroics, the junior halfback picked off an eight-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dilly Webb in the opening moments of the second period, kicked another extra-point and then booted a 35-yard field goal on Chipley's next possession. Monticello did not fold, despite the tenacious Tiger defense, but it was too little, too late when Garrett Proctor swept 55 yards down the sdieline for the final score of the game. When Elmer Coker met Hcnders at mid-field following the final gun, he congragulated the victorious coach on one of his most successful nights and complimented his team. "Coach Coker was. very gracious," remembered Hcnders, who has been somewhat embarrassed for the past few weeks because his Tigers have not been listed in the Class AA top ten an unusual situation.

"He said we played a fine game and deserved to win, but he was dejected it pretty well finished things for them. But I know how he felt. It happened to me last year except we were in the playoffs and it was a lot closer." Blountstown has two games left and is a heavy favorite to win both games. Before Chipley turned the trick, Monticello has amassed 64 points in the playoff race as compared to 54 for Freeman's club. It would have been a safe bet to say that up until last Friday night, Blountstown would have been hard-pressed to make the state trip later this winter.

It was a night of mild suprises at Blount-stown and Chipley Friday two towns about 75 miles apart but connected by Florida Class AA football ties. As a matter of fact, three coaches involved were touched intimately by the turn of events a pair of them to their great satisfaction and the other to his regret. At Chipley, Coach Walter Hendcrs' Tigers upset Coach Elmer Coker's Monticello team, 17-12, and up the pike at Blountstown Coach Tom Freeman's band rolled to an easy 60-0 thrashing of Wewahitchka. That latter score, however, probably didn't register on Freeman's brain as heavily as the former because Chipley's win all but sewed up the Second District Championship for Blountstown. But it was also more than that.

In the course of events Hcnders and his Tigers got the vengeance they had hungered for since 1972 when Monticello knocked them out of the Florida Class AA playoffs with a 21-20 shading. Chipley was removed from the 1973 running two games ago (ironically, by Port St. Joe, the 1971 State Champ whose lom win streak was ruined by the Tigers last season and who beat Chipley In turn, 12-7, October 19) but Monticello appeared to be on another true course coming into this latest contest. Coker and his youngsters were on an amazing 23-gamc winning streak the longest living record of any team in the state in any class and this was what the Tigers were after. Monticello still appeared to have things well In hand from their opening possession when running back Butch Barnes returned a Chipley punt 55-yards for a touchdown and a 64) lead.

The Tigers came back with a tally of their yards in the first half, scored the initial touchdown on a yard run and Rogers slashed over from the 10 in the third period, Rogers had set up another score with a 22-yard pass reception and a 34-yard run while Davis set up a score with a 52-yard dash. LSU also stunned the Rebels on a 73-yard touchdown pass on which Joe Fakier took a backwards pass and fired downfield to Norm Hodgins, who caught it alone on the Rebel 43 and outran the defenders to the end zone. Mike Milcy scored on a fiveyard run and hurled a 17-yard touchdown pacs to Brad for LSU. left foot planted and got hit on the knee from the side. I will just have to wait and see.

I felt pretty good last week and didn't even tape the knee. Usually I do." Florida, winning its first game in Auburn since 1927, left three other Auburn players licking wounds. Linebacker Carl dislocated a shoulder, linebacker Bill Newton bruised a shoulder and left tackle Dave Ostrowski pulled a calf muscle. "It was Florida's day anyway you look at it," said Jordan, who now must get his group together for Mississippi State here iiext week. "Coach Doug Dickey had the best prepared team on fine field today.

We got licked worse than the score indicated. We had an inept offense until we got a break in the last quarter." A Don Gaffney fumble with 43 seconds left in the game set the stage for Auburn's touchdown pass from quarterback Randy Walls to Thomas Gossom from a yard out. Pensacola's Dave Williams recovered the fumble. Walls replaced freshman Chris Vacarella with 10:10 left In the game his first appearance since the Tennessee game. It may put a new light on the quarterback situation.

"I wouldn't be able to say now," Jordan pointed out. "We will have to reevaluate and look at the films. We knew it was getting late in the onmo nnrl hnrl tnnni (Vin hull In fhn air Sn wrtiKwl JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -Explosive running by Brad Davis and Steve Rogers sparked seventh-ranked Louisiana State to a nationally televised 51-14 football triumph over Mississippi Saturday, ending a 39-ycar daylight victory drought in this series. It was the eighth straight victory for the unbeaten Bayou Bengals this season and their first daytime conquest of Ole Miss since a 14-10 triumph in Jackson in 1934.

The Tigers, hoping to impress scouts from the Cotton, Orange and Sugar Bowls, averaged 16 yards a play in a trio of long first-half scoring drives that built a 21-7 lead and extended it to 34-7 with two more touchdowns in the third quarter. Davis, who rambled for 94 1. Ohio Stale (7-00) defeated Illinois, 30 0. 2. Alabama (7-00) played Missis- X' llpal Stale at night.

3. Oklahoma (60-1) defeated Iowa State, 34 17. 4. Michigan (8-0-0) defeated In- dlnna, 49-14. S.

Notre Damt (7 0 0) defeated X' Navy, 44-7. 6. Penn Stale (100) defeated X' Maryland, 42 22 7. Louisiana State (B O) defeated X- Ole Miss, M-14. B.

Alrtona State (7-1-0) lost to X1 Utho, 36-31. 9. So. California (511) defeated California, 50-14. 10.

UCLA (610) defeated Washington, 67-13. X- II. Tennessee (6-1-0) lost, to Geor- glo, 35-31. 12. Missouri (7-100) defeated Kansas State, 31-7.

X- 13. Nebraska (6 1-1) defeated Colorado, 28-16. tit' Tulon, 4'''0, ,0 15. Texas Tech (7-1-0) defeoled Rice, 6. 16.

Miami, Ohio (800) defeated Western Michigan 24-V. U. Colorado, (5-3 0) lost to Nebraska, 28-16. 18. Houston (6-1-01 clayed Florida X' Statt at night.

Auburn (5-3 0) lost to Florida, W. Texas (5-2 0) defeated SMU, 42-14. Louisiana State 14 7 13 17-51 Mlsslsslpol 0 7 0 7-14 LSU-DavIs 13 run (Jackson kick) LSU Hodalns pass trom Fakier (Jackson kick) Miss Weese 1 run (Lavlnghoureklck) LSU-Bovd 17 pass from Mlley (Jack-ion kick) LSU Rooers 10 run (Jackson kick) LSU-Hlnton 1 run (Kick tolled) Mlss-Klmbrouoh 21 pass from Wees (Lavlnghouit kick) LSU-Mlley run (Jackson kick) LSU Jones i pass from Clayton (Jack, ion kick) LSU-FG Roca 48 Auburn had a costly turnover with 4:05 left In the first half when Chris Lindcrman fumbled at the Gator four yard line. "1 hate to see the win streak and here," said Jordan, who for Torn ta 71).