The Daily Journal from Vineland, New Jersey • 17

Hflfflig PORT Dan Lopriore, Sports Editor Call 563-5261 SECTION December 8, 1997 la.Miw.Mimnr 1 HrTZrT 2 Set i 'AST i sTlf Millville falls short Toms River North defeats Bolts 30-27 for Group IV title rv wm ill II Top bowl teams are miles apart Perfect, it ain't. Not with Michigan playing in a bowl on one coast and Nebraska in a bowl on the other. The only two unbeatens left in college football are separated by 3,000 miles, corporate bureaucracy and bad timing. If this were 1998, the world would look far better. The Wolverines and the Cornhuskers would be together under the new the game with 24 minutes remaining.

The resurgent Bolts scored twice in the wind-aided third quarter to take a 21-20 lead before O'Rourke nailed the long field goal that gave the Mariners a 23-21 lead back with 6:51 remaining in the game. "I tried not to think about it too much when we went out there," said O'Rourke, whose previous best was from 34 yards. "It felt good when it left my foot and it was a good snap and a good hold." The game Thunderbolts lost more ground when Toms River (9-3) extended the lead to 30-21 with less that three minutes remaining. But Millville showed the poise that has exemplified its 1997 season, when quarterback Jim Rhubart led the team back on an 80-yard scoring drive that the signal caller capped with a SeeVilleonC3 By DAN LOPRIORE Sports Editor TOMS RIVER The answer my friend, came blowin' in the wind. Millville's quest for a South Jersey Group IV football championship ended on a sunny, windy and courageous Saturday afternoon when Toms River North's husky field goal kicker Garrett O'Rourke used a blustery tailwind to lift his 47-yard field goal through the uprights.

O'Rourke's kick didn't end the scoring, but it gave the host Mariners a lead that eventually led to a 30-27 victory on a day when all but 12 points of the combined 57 points were scored by the offense with the wind. Millville, which finished its season with an 8-3 record, mounted a gutsy comeback after being down 20-7 at halftime and appearing to be out of -Cr" vl super Alliance rules the Big 10 and Pa-cific-10. Alas, we are a calendar behind. No. 1 is headed thisaway Staff photoCharles J.

Olson h-'X 1 Millville running back Terrence Williams gains yardage for the Bolts in the third quarter of Saturday's Group IV championship game at Toms River North. Williams gained 140 yards and scored on a 50-yard touchdown run. MIKE LOPRESTI Gannett News Service Nebraska is headed Beauty contestants and No. 2 thataway. nt headache never to share the same stage.

But actually, with the bowl skies clearing after the Alliance chose up sides Sunday, now is not turning out so bad. The consolation prize, in most cases, is worthy. If Michigan can't play Nebraska, it can at least play Washington State in the Rose Bowl. A sumptuous contrast between the defense of the ages and a flashy quarterback with his own entourage of speedy, capable receivers. Seats will not go wanting.

Washington State recently asked for ticket requests, and 350,000 came in. I once doubted there were 350,000 Americans who knew where Washington State was. Michigan, no Pasadena terror, is 3-9 in its last 12 Rose Bowls. But the last Washington State Rose Bowl win came with Woodrow Wilson in the White Five turnovers help doom Eagles, 31-21 By Ernie Palladino Gannett News Service PHILADELPHIA First Jim Fassel challenged Danny Kanell. Then the defense challenged the Eagles ad their young gun Bobby Hoying.

In a dual success yesterday, the Giants beat the Eagles 31-21 in hostile Veterans Stadium and placed their division title hopes firmly in their hands. Danny Kanell became the first Giants quarterback to throw three touchdowns passes in a game since Phil Simms in 1993. And the defense, embarrassed by their own play, in last week's loss to Tampa Bay, played perhaps its best game of the season. Best of all, they put themselves in a position to seal their first division title since 1990 next Saturday, where a win or tie against would render the season-finale against Dallas meaningless. At 5-0-1 in the division, the Giants hold an overwhelming advantage in the tiebreaker picture.

And having disposed of 6-7-1 Philadelphia in their first sweep of the Eagles since 1994, the prospects of postseason play have grown bright: "We made a statement (today)," linebacker Jessie Armstead said after nabbing two of the Giants' three interceptions, the first of which came back 57 yards for their first score. "But now it's about time we won a division championship at home. We haven't done that in a longtime." Kanell, who finished 14-of-27 for 153 with an interception and three touchdowns, took a huge breath after a week where Fassel threatened a benching. It never happened, even after a third-quarter AP Laserphoto New York Giants Michael Strahanl92) recovers a fumble by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Bobby Hoying after Hoying was sacked by Giants Bernard Holsey (79) at Veterans Stadium Sunday in the Giants 31-21 victory. House, against Brown.

If Nebraska can't play Michigan, it can at least play Tennessee in the Orange Bowl. Another defense vs. quarterback script, with the Cornhusker black shirts planning malice upon Peyton 1 1 Frustration is in the Nebraska forecast, as unwelcome as a cold front out of the mountains. The Cornhuskers could win by a hundred and it will not do any good if Michigan stays unbeaten. They might finish a spotless 13-0 with no title to show for it.

They could ask for sympathy at such foul fate. They might even get some. But not in State College, where Penn State went 12-0 in 1994,. broke 55 points five times and finished second behind Nebraska. If Florida State can't play for national title in the Orange IjBowl, it can at least play Ohio in the Sugar Bowl.

Two fallowed names, two teams soiled only by narrow defeats to high ranked opponents on the road. If the Fiesta can't get any of the heavyweights, it can at least get Kansas State against Syracuse, the former in only its sixth bowl in recorded history, and none so prestigious. If Florida can't repeat, it can at least play Penn State in the Citrus Bowl. Steve Spurrier vs. Joe Paterno.

That's like the Spice Girls going against the Benny Goodman orchestra.sound. Somewhere out there, Notre Dame. fumble recovery to ruin Philadelphia's next possession. Going straight for the jugular on first down, Kanell found rookie wide receiver David Patten streaking past cornerback Charles Dimry on a post pattern for a 40-yard touchdown pass to put the Giants up 21-7. The Giants defense kept a constant stream of pressure on Hoying during a 16-of-35, 209-yard day with a touchdown and five turnovers on three interceptions and two lost fumbles.See Eagles on C3 now it's in our own hands." Armstead's touchdown, the second of his career, got the Giants started at 12:19 of the first quarter.

A Scott Galyon sack on Hoying produced a second-quarter fumble that Keith Hamilton recovered at the Philadelphia 33 and resulted in Tiki Barber's first career touchdown reception and a 14-7 lead. But the centerpiece play came after Bernard Holsey and Michael Strahan combined on a sack and interception Brian Dawkins returned 64 yards for a touchdown. "I told him after that, you're finishing this game," Fassel said. "He matured a lot as a quarterback "I think I gained a little respect from my teammates because coach Fassel put some pressure on me," Kanell said. "He wanted to see how I'd react.

Fortunately, we were able to win the game. (First place) has been our goal all year long, and Pip 11 kWWjlWUfr- 11 Bridgeton is Title Town Bulldogs win South Jersey Group II title i 5" 8 i tarn mi Mike Lopresti covers sports for Gannett News Service. If you have an opinion about this or any other sports column in this newspaper, send a letter to 891 E. Oak Road, Vineland NJ 08360 or fax it to 691-6535, Attention: Daily Journal Forum. PS 1 INSIDE, Page C3 Fans emptied the stands and crowded onto the field in glee when the final seconds had ticked off the clock.

They hugged their newly-crowned champions and hoisted some on their shoulders. Senior quarterback Terrin Walker, who scored the bulldogs' second touchdown, was treated with a water bottle bath by the cheerleaders, who kindly offered a blanket to fend off the chills. It was a banner day for the seniors! Walker's biggest contributions were on the special teams, where, following a poor punt against the wind in the first quarter, he unleashed several thunderous punts with the wind that gave his team a distinct field advantage. One Walker punt left the Gloucester team on its own 1-yard line. Bridgeton coach Bob Bernardo made the appropriate adjustments for the weather.

"We knew exactly what they would do," Bernardo said. "We knew they would throw the ball, but for half the game you couldn't throw because of the wind. In fact, we were a little about running some of our plays." The break came for the Bulldogs when they took over after a windblown punt at the Lions' 29-yard line. See Bridge on C3 By ERIKCAGLE Correspondent BRIDGETON If Lamus Rhett never picks up a football again, he will still have fulfilled a dream precious few players realize. Glory.

In front of 2,500 fans fighting to stay warm at Jim Hursey Stadium, Rhett was the alpha and omega for the Bridgeton High School football team Saturday in the South Jersey Group II championship game against visiting Gloucester. Rhett returned a pair of fumbles for for 16-yard touchdowns, including the icebreaker that snapped a scoreless tie in the second quarter as the Bulldogs won their first Group II title with a 20-8 victory. The victory was the first sectional title for the school under the playoff format and first of any kind since 1947. Rhett, a senior who has experienced highs and lows this season, could do little wrong defensively in his last high school game. "Defense wins football games," Rhett said.

"We knew (Gloucester) had a good defense, we just had to show them we have a better defense. We were the better team (today)." i-'lX f( if i Staff photoPeter F. Picknally AP Laserphoto Philadelphia Terry Cum-mings knocks ball away from Knicks Chris Dudley Sunday. Bridgeton quarterback Terrin Walker (18) tosses a pass to receiver Lamus Rhett (29) in Saturday's 20-8 Group II championship game victory over Gloucester at Bridgeton..