The Jackson Sun from Jackson, Tennessee • 26

Page 4CThe Jackson Sun Wfllfl Division S3, lamfjuih 13 SundayDec. 10, 1995' 9 Eagles get physical education SATURDAY'S GAME STATISTICS Findlav 14 14 21 14 63 It would only get worse after 0 6 7 13 Lambuth TEAM STATISTICS 0 FINDLAY Rushing 62-367 Passing yards 40 Tctal yards CZ Punts (avg.) Fumbles-lost 1-1 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Bigger, stronger Findlay dominates Lambuth, forcing eight turnovers. By JOHN DENTON The Jackson Sun Lambuth senior defensive back David Boyd had seen all the game films and knew Find-lay University was a talented football team. But never did he expect Find-lay to dominate the Eagles in the manner it did in the frigid playing conditions Saturday at L.L. Fonville Field.

Helped by eight turnovers, Findlay totally controlled the line of scrimmage and rushed for 367 yards in churning past Lambuth, 63-13, in the semifinals of the NAIA Division II playoffs. "They're just a lot more physical than anybody we've seen all year," said Boyd, who had a busy afternoon from his safety position, making six tackles. "They're so big and strong and used to playing in weather conditions like this." Lambuth's defensive line was no match for the much bigger and stronger Findlay line Saturday. Findlay often blew the Eagles off the ball, allowing halftime as the Oilers scored on their first five possessions of the second half. There was no trickery to the Oilers' scheme they did not attempt a pass during the five drives just hard-nosed running from the Wishbone set Lambuth had been yielding 200.8 yards per game on the ground, but gave up a season-high 373 yards Saturday.

Findlay used nine backs to average six yards a rush. Troy Pearson, who was voted the game's most valuable offensive player, led the ground game with 117 yards and two TDs on 21 carries. "They were down blocking on the tackles and their fullback (Pearson) is such a hard runner," said Rizo, who had five total tackles. "It's hard to stop somebody when they're getting four yards every time they touch the football." Despite Saturday's poor showing, defensive coordinator Tim Johnson tried to remain upbeat He said he's already looking forward to next season, when the Eagles return eight defensive starters. "I feel worthless as a coach right now, and I'm sure a lot of our players feel worthless as players, too.

But there's going to be a tomorrow," Johnson said. 'n-rratff ii i i SHOUN HIUThe Jackson Sun Lambuth's Brandon Duncan tries to fight off the block of Cal Dietz of Findlay in Saturday's game. FINDLAY LAMBUTH RUSHING Carries Yards RUSHING Carries Yards Pearson 21 'X 7 '117 Peterson ,8 Sherton 10 75 Bechard 4 4 iHuriey "T551; Hui T.r Yeager 39 Burton 3 9 4 Wortas 4 30 Bruning 1 -5 Booth 4 10 Johnson 1 3 RECEIVING Catches Yards 'I "0 Miller, 5 74 Allen 5 69 RECEIVING Catches Yards Wis 2 26 Bernard 3 18 Pearson 2 1 4 Wright J- I 2 I 2 Peterson 1 16 PASSING Com-Att. Yards PASSING Com-Att. Yards Carruthers 0-4 0 Scoring drives of 69, 17 and 39 yards gave Findlay a stunning 21-0 lead with 10:31 to play in the first half.

"On the first defensive series we stopped them and I thought we were going to be all right," Boyd said. "But the offense couldn't get anything going and we couldn't force any turnovers. They were holding the ball really well. We were going for the strip, but they held on." i ii at 1i I Businesslike Findlay takes care of Lambuth LAMBUTH 19--18 2fi4S-4" 222 i .4,, 5-4 ferent backs Saturday and need- ed only nine passes to tie its highest scoring total of the sea- son. The Oilers were able to keep the ball away from the Eagles in the first half, nearly doubling the number of snaps Lambuth had in the first two quarters (43- 24).

"Our goal was to keep control of the ball because we knew they were explosive and could put up points in a hurry," said fullback Troy Pearson, who was voted the game's offensive MVP after rushing for 117 yards and two scores. "But once we got up big, I think they sort of quit" Findlay got on the scoreboard first behind a methodical 14-play drive that took more than 10 minutes off the clock in the first quarter. Then, the Oilers' vaunted defense took over. That unit had given up just four touchdowns prior to Saturday and was just as tough against the Eagles. Up 7-0, defensive tackle Chad Moxley recovered a Cory Hill fumble at the 17-yard line.

Three plays later, Findlay was in the end zone again and the rout was oa "Our assistant coaches worked so hard this week, and I really think they had every move Lam- buth was going to make pegged," Strahm said. "Lambuth has got a great team, but we were ready to play today. "I've been on that other side before. Today, everything we did was right and everything they did was wrong. It was just one of those good days for us." CW.ftr?ptMoIQMfQrwntMU.

CW Rumw pm Iimi WW Kmnm CW Ka 1 ivn (GotM Dot), fourth Ouvw CW Hy I run F(1u MM). A -1100. Mar CW 4142 MA Ruthvt-yintt 42 4M nMurnyinli teo 1M0-J J7-4M M2 140 fun 44 PinHtr'n Ul NU8HSM Hay, ChM ton, Wato HJ. Cm 11, Mw 1). Oared WHHnttnv CMMm t14, KM 1-7, RoMhrtf Ma.

law 1-U Ham; 44, faumto 14, Rumw 4 "I PMSM0 Ian, Cm 1HW CtnN WahMov MM 2M4-1 411, feuTto 44-1 41. Mr. CMrd WMhftglM, Numm t-igo, Htndrmon 44s, Mod 4-n, ChfMvi M4, Woodard M0, Murrn 1-1J, Hot M14 How they scored Findlay Bo Hurley 2 run (Tom Sellers kick). Findlay Hurley 1 run (Sellers kick). Findlay Bill Yeager 1 run (Sellers kick).

Findlay Ben Oils 10 pass from Hurley (Sellers kick). Findlay Troy Pearson 2 run (Sellers kick). Lambuth Chris Miller 16 pass from Cory Hill (kick failed). Findlay Hurley 14 run (Sellers kick). Findlay Pearson 6 run (Sellers kick).

Findlay Contrell Johnson 2 run (Sellers kick). Lambuth Jeff Peterson 2 run (Jason Lang kick). Findlay Elron Henry 44 run (Sellers kick). Oilers dominated play on both sides of the ball Saturday. Findlay scored at least two touchdowns in all four quarters and netted 407 yards of total offense.

Meanwhile, Lambuth struggled in the freezing conditions and never solved Findlay's swarming defense. The Eagles netted minus-18 yards rushing and just 204 yards total, while turning the ball over eight times. "The cold weather didn't beat us today," Lambuth tight end Johnny Allen said. "The better team did." Running behind an offensive line that averages 266 pounds per man, Findlay was nearly unstoppable on the ground. The Oilers gave the ball to nine dif their backs to pick and choose their holes.

"We expected them to be very physical; we just didn't play our game," Lambuth junior defensive tackle Abel Rizo said. "We got off to a bad start and never could get going again." Lambuth actually stopped the Oilers on the first possession of the game. But then disaster hit for Lambuth as Findlay scored on its next three possessions. ii i i in i ft By the time the noon kickoff arrived, the wind-chill factor was minus 1, according to the National Weather Service in Memphis. But fans from both Lambuth and Findlay kept tucked under sleeping bags and blankets, ready to watch the two teams square off.

Jeff Manis and his two children, 6-year-old Ashley and 2-year-old Jason, huddled near the front row on Lambuth's side. Manis, a Jackson resident, said he got into an argument with his wife over bringing the kids to the game. "I won for now, 'til I get home," he said. Lambuth 83, Bethany, Kan. 28 Mary, N.D.

42, Sioux Fall 17 SHOUN HIUTTw Jackson Sun Findlay free safety Bret Macy breaks up a pass intended for Johnny Allen of Lambuth. Allen said the cold did not beat Lambuth, the better team did. Oilers advance to NAIA Division II title game Saturday against Central Washington. By JOHN DENTON The Jackson Sun Minutes before his Oilers took L.L. Fonville Field Saturday, Findlay coach Dick Strahm looked into the eyes of many of his players and saw the look.

It was then, he said afterward, he knew his team was ready for Saturday's NAIA Division II semifinal game. "Our team in 1992 won the na-: tional championship and they were very focused," Strahm said. "We've talked a lot about having that kind of focus in the playoffs and I could tell this bunch had it right away today." Findlay proceeded to turn in its most dominating performance of the season, wiping out Lambuth, 63-13, and moving into position to win its second national championship in four seasons. "This team doesn't mess around much," Strahm said. "They just get out there and do what they have got to do." Findlay, which won national titles in 1979 and 1992, will now face Central Washington (10-3) Saturday at 3 p.m.

(CST) in Tacoma, Wash. The Oilers (10-1-1) have won 10 straight since opening with a loss to Trinity and tying Westminster College. Using its wishbone rushing game and physical defense, the week. But they said they weren't going to let the numbing cold turn them back. "I would have been here regardless," Smith said.

Dowling agreed. "But they could turn that heat around this way," he said, referring to the sideline heater Lambuth players were surrounding. Ken and Judy Roush, who have followed Findlay for about 20 years, said the weather was like their Toledo, Ohio, home. They didn't expect Jackson to be this cold. "We were hoping it would be warmer," said Judy Roush.

"This reminds us of home." urday at 1 p.m. In the Tacoma Dome. Findlay beat No. 3 Lambuth, 63-13, in the other semifinal. Kitna set NAIA Division II season total offense (4,642) and passing (4,330) yardage records.

Ahead 9-7 at the half, Kitna threw Kenny Russaw a 32-yard scoring pass 1:10 into the third quarter. He hit EJ. Henderson with a 42-yard TD pass 1:04 later. Nineteen seconds later, Henderson caught a 27-yard scoring pass from Kitna. Fans brave bitter cold conditions With the lopsided loss, the cold seemed to bother host Lambuth fans more.

By HENRY GOOLSBY The Jackson Sun The Lambuth University football faithful suffered a double shot Saturday at LL. Fonville Stadium. They had to sit through frigid conditions at the NAIA Division II Semifinals and watch their football team get iced 63-13 by Findlay of Ohio. On the other side, Findlay fans got warmer as the game wore on. Each time their team scored, it was like someone had built a campfire.

"Winning makes you warmer," said Suzanne Pighin, a Findlay fan. As halftime arrived, heat-seeking fans from both sides headed for their vehicles. They returned for the second half to witness more of the same: Findlay scoring touchdowns. Lambuth fans John Dowling and Donia Smith said they didn't know it would be below freezing when they purchased their tickets earlier in the DMW TARTWrht Jackson Sun Lambuth fans John Miller, Taylor, Chase and Greg Richards cheer on the Eagles In Saturday's game. Central Washington rolls by Mary, N.D.

NAIA DIVISION II PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND Saturday, Nov. 1 8 Findlay, Ohio, 21, Pacific Lutharan 14 Malona, Ohio 24, Qanava 23 Bethany, Kan. 30, Bonedictlna.Kan. 29 lambuth 49, Clinch Valley, Va. 0 Mary, O.

14, DlcWnaon O. 8 Hardln-Simmona 1 7, Howard Payne 6 C. Washington 28, W. Washington 21 QUARTERFINALS Saturday. Dae.

2 Findlay, Ohio IS. Malona, Ohio 7 Washington 40, Hardln-Simmona 20 SEMIFINALS Kitna's 80-yard touchdown throw to Russaw 5:00 after that to put Central up 36-7. Kitna ran 1 yard for Central's fifth touchdown of the third quarter. He completed 23 of 34 pass attempts for 413 yards against Mary and rushed for 75 yards in seven tries. t-w HI Cm Duamn Han MM lorn ItM May CM) lMre CW PO.

On! 10. CW NuMMv 42 paM IrorA KMrtt (OrttntM Weft), CW Handtnon 42 ptM from KNra (kioft Mocltid) The Associated Press PUYALLUP, Wash. Jon Kitna threw three touchdown passes in a span of 1:23 of the third quarter and added a fourth five minutes later as 14th-ranked Central Washington beat No. 9 Mary (N.D.), 48-7, in NAIA Division II semifinals Saturday. The victory will send the Wildcats (10-3) against No.

8 Findlay (Ohio) (10-1-1) for the national championship Sat Saturday, Dao. Findlay, Ohio 63, Umbuth 13 Gent. Washington 48, Mary O. 7 CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday, Dao. IS SHa and tima TSA Findlay, Ohio (10-1-1) vs.

Central Washington (10-3).