The Daily Spectrum from Saint George, Utah • 6

Page A6The Spectrum Wednesday, December 28, 1994 Bd(D Bieeds fffemise? Utes won Fireedtocii out -ft SOlVll WBfiEl By The Associated Press 1 A ft defense the entire game, scrambled to his right and just got off the pass to Dyson while being dragged down by Chuck Osborne. Dyson, with three Arizona defenders around him, caught the pass and then danced the length of the end zone. "I wanted to sit in the end zone the rest of my life," Dyson said. Beck and McCoy staged similar heroics in Utah's regular-season finale, a 34-31 victory over Brigham Young. In that game, Beck returned a 67-yard kick and McCoy followed up with a 20-yard touchdown pass to win.

"Mike has done it all the time," McBride said. 'We caused a fumble and picked it up, ran it in and the game is over. It is almost identical to the BYU game." Arizona (8-4) got the ball back, but Dan White's arm was hit as he faded to pass and Henry Kaufusi recovered for the Utes, who ran out the clock. "It's going to take me a long time to get over this," Arizona wide receiver Richard Dice said. 'The plays were there on offense, we just didn't make them." McCoy's scramble made up for an otherwise shaky performance.

He was 1 l-of-25 for 69 yards and two interceptions. The game-winning TD extended his streak of passing for at least one touchdown to 19 games dating to October 1993. The Utes managed just 75 yards after coming into the game averaging 448 yards and 37 points with one of the nation's highest-scoring offenses. In a game plagued by ii.ictal.es, the Wildcats committed two costly errors midway through the fourth quarter. ANAHEIM, Calif.

Utah's football program established a national identity and made school history on Mike McCoy's desperate pass. McCoy, struggling through his worst performance of the season, tossed a 5-yard touchdown pass to freshman Kevin Dyson with 3:34 remaining to lift No. 15 Utah over 1 4th-ranked Freedom Bowl Arizona 16-13 in the Freedom Bowl Tuesday night. The Utes finished the season with a school-record 10 victories against two losses, and boosted their chances to move into the Top Ten for the first time since their football program began in 1892. "Any time you beat Arizona, you have to feel fantastic about the people who are playing for your team," said Utah coach Ron McBride, who won his first bowl game in three tries.

'That's the thing about this team, they keep playing and playing and something will happen." With Arizona leading 13-7, punter Matt Peyton stepped out of the end zone to give Utah a safety with 4: 1 1 to play. The strategy backfired when Cal Beck returned the free kick 72 yards, giving Utah a first down inside the Wildcats 10. But McCoy threw three straight incomplete passes. "The whole season came down to this one play," said Beck, a freshman who saw Utah lose to Southern Cal at Anaheim Stadium last year. "I had faith that Mike would come through, and he did." On fourth down, McCoy, har-rassed by Arizona's "Desert Swarm" I V--" iVM Freedom Bowl in got the last laugh game.

He finished 13-of-27 for 139 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Ontiwaun Carter led Arizona's rushing with 19 carries for 44 yards. Charlie Brown matched him with 44 yards on 16 carries for Utah. Utah almost went home a loser PROBABLE Southern Utah Univ. (4-4) Player, Avg.

Sean Allen, 6-8, 16.0 ppg. Donnie McDade, 6-7, 11.6 Jim Faulkner, 6-5, 7.0 Keith Berard, 5-11, 15.5 Reggie Ingram, 6-2, 7.4 Jffu Utah quarterback Mike McCoy is sacked by Arizona's Chuck Osborne during the first quarter of the BYU's Walsh tries to focus on game, not NFL i AP photo Arizona's Charles Myles is tackled by Utah's Bronzell Miller (left) during the Freedom Bowl Tuesday. Arizona led 10-7 and was threatening to put the game away when White had two sure touchdown passes dropped in the end zone. First, the ball slipped through Tim Thomas' hands with no defender within 5 yards, then wide-open Lamar Lovett mishandled a pass on the other side of the end zone. Along with the miscues, the Wildcats were penalized 17 yards in the series.

Instead of leading by 10 points, Arizona settled for Steve McLaughlin's 20-yard field goal for a 13-7 lead with 8:05 remaining. His 44-yard field goal had put Arizona up 10-7 to start the final "Once I got the whole story, 1 guess it was all speculation and nothing in it that I said," he said. Walsh added that he was both surprised and angry, and insisted, "What I told the media from the get-go is that I'm not going to think about it until after the bowl game and I haven't." He said after the bowl game he'll discuss it at home with his family, then decide. Edwards said Walsh has handled season-long distractions concerning the NFL well. "John's extremely happy at BYU.

He's done extremely well, he's done a great thing for us in there," Edwards said. "So if he chooses to go, we wish him the very best. I don't think that decision will be made until some time after the bowl." Meanwhile, Walsh said the speculation hasn't distracted his or his team's Copper Bowl preparations. "We know what we've got to do, and we're not going to let anything bother us," he said. He also said how he performs against Oklahoma would have no bearing on his decision.

AP photo Indianapolis Colts running back Marshall Faulk was named offensive Rookie of the Year Tuesday. Antonio Langham of Cleveland, who had 28 votes, and another tackle, Bryant Young of San Francisco, who got 21. Miami set a team record and ranked sixth in the NFL by allowing just 89.4 yards rushing per game. The league's top running back, Barry Sanders, managed just 52 yards Sunday vs. Miami.

The Dolphins are division champions for just the second time since 1985. During that span, their downfall has often been run defense. The 317-pound Bowens plugged the hole. "We drafted him with the hope he would come in and help us, give us some size and strength up there," coach Don Shula said. "He's done all of those things.

We've been much stronger" 7f a r.J i COACHES: SUU's Bill Evans (SUU); NAU's Ben Howland (Weber St.) WHEN: Tonight at 7:30 in the Centrum. RADIO: The game will be broadcast live on KBRE-FM (94.9) with Art Challis doing the play-by-play. NOTES: T-Birds have lost 4 of last 5 T-Birds are 3-1 at home NAU is 1-2 on road and 3-8 last year on road SUU and NAU split series last year with SUU winning 81-73 at home and losing 96-91 (2 OT) in Arizona SUU has been outrebounded in last three games (The T-Birds lost all three of those games. is averaging 2,311 fans per game. leads series 8-7.

teams played Southwest Texas State this year with SUU winning 83-49 in Cedar City and NAU losing 54-43 in San Marcos, Texas. ft I Utah makes it a daily double with hoops win over Fullerton AP photo Whether or not BYU quarterback John Walsh will go pro after this season is a hot topic in Tucson. AP photo Anaheim, Tuesday. McCoy with a TD pass late in the game. in its second straight Freedom Bowl appearance as McCoy, who was sacked six times, struggled and the Utes racked up 94 yards in penalties.

Last year, Utah spotted Southern Cal a 28-0 halftime lead before losing 28-21. This time, mistakes kept both teams from scoring much. STARTERS Northern Arizona Univ. (3-5) Player, Avg. Brad Snyder, 6-6, 14.9 Brent Bowden, 6-7, 6.6 Makeul Williams, 6-6, 7.0 1 John Rondeno, 6-0, 10.6 Jerome Riley, 6-0, 5.1 their seventh straight game overall and fourth straight at home.

St. Clair led Fullerton with 14 points, while Dade had 11. The Titans, with just one player over 6-foot-7, were' outre-bounded 42-26 by the taller Utes. Van Horn and Jessie grabbed eight rebounds each and Melmeth had seven. Utah opened the game with an 8-0 lead, but Fullerton stayed close until Van Horn led Utah on a 9-3 run.

With Utah leading 33-26 and 4:39 until halftime, the 6-9 sophomore hit a 3-pointer and two free throws followed by two dunks. Utah led 42-29 with 2:21 left before intermission. Utah followed with an 8-3 streak, with Jessie scoring five points, and led 50-32 at the half. Bowl is tonight point favorites over the Frogs (7-4). The good news for TCU fans is that premier running back Andre Davis is also ready to play after arriving late Sunday, triggering the wrath of coach Pat Sullivan.

"He may have to run to the stadium but he's going to play," Sullivan joked. Davis, an All-SWC selection, led the Frogs in both rushing and receiving. In pregame high humor, both teams confessed that they tuned up for the nationally televised contest in the glittering gambling boats hugging the banks of the Red River. Asked at Tuesday's news conference if he'd won heavily. Welsh replied: "I haven't, but some of our players have done some good." quarter.

'The los r-ally makes us feel like vc had a losing season," McLaughlin said. "We must remember how this feels so we don't let it happen next season." Playing for a team known for its nationally ranked defense, White easily outplayed McCoy most of the How he's performed this year and throughout his BYU career has led some pro scouts to label him the top NFL quarterback prospect. This season, he completed 284 of 463 passes (61. .3 percent) for 3,712 yards and 29 touchdowns while throwing 14 interceptions. Last season, he threw 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while completing 244 of 391 passes (62.4 percent) for 3,727 yards.

His 66 career touchdowns rank him third at BYU behind Robbie Bosco and Jim McMahon. Others from the BYU quarterback mill included Virgil Carter, Gifford Nielsen, Marc Wilson, Steve Young and Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer. Edwards said Walsh ranks among BYU's elite signal-callers. "If he were to come back his senior year, he would be in the same category with all of them," he said. Edwards said a lot of guys have good arms, but the difference is in how they do in tough situations.

Baseball union files case with Labor Board By The Associated Press NEW YORK Now it's up to the federal government and the federal courts to decide if baseball's salary cap stays or goes. Players began their legal attempt to overturn the cap on Tuesday, fil- Baseball Strike ing an unfair labor practice charge against own ers with the National Labor Relations Board. Players claimed owners began negotiations with the intention of forcing a cap. Owners, 0-2 at the NLRB this month, filed a charge against the union, claiming players refused to bargain. "We'll talk to the parties about the need for relief and begin the investigative process immediately, which means within a day or two," said Daniel Silverman, the NLRB's New York regional director.

"Most cases are investigated within four to six weeks. We'll try to stick to that timetable." If Silverman finds merit to either charge, he would ask Fred Feinstein, the NLRB's general counsel in Washington, to issue a complaint. Faulk, Bowens win rookie of year awards By The Associated Press TUCSON, Ariz. Brigham Young quarterback John Walsh insists he hasn't decided whether Thursday's Copper Bowl game against Oklahoma will be his finale before turning pro, but a S1'P the tongue ijj4pr may keeP the 5r777W speculation TiSSSBk going. On Christmas night, ESPN broadcast a report that Walsh, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound junior, will face the Sooners (6-5) in his last game for the No.

22 Cougars (9-3). Other media reports followed. "It's just the source that it came from. I'm not really sure who spilled the who said that stuff," Walsh said Tuesday. Walsh, of Torrance, is the latest in a line of outstanding pro prospects to handle the complex passing game favored by BYU coach LaVell Edwards.

Walsh said he heard about the ESPN report Monday on returning to Tucson from celebrating the holiday with his family. what I've tried to say all along, that I can play this game regardless of what level I play on. "Coming out of college, there was a lot of speculation that I played in the WAC and I hadn't faced enough teams like Florida State, the tough ones like Nebraska. There were those who said I couldn't play, but that didn't mean anything to me. I knew that there are guys from a lesser conference who can come out and play this game on a high level.

"I knew what I was capable of doing. I didn't know what type of situation I was coming into. I just came in with an open mind, wanting to accept whatever was going to happen. I was ready to perform in whatever role the coaches saw for me." A longtime weakness for the Miami Dolphins is now a strength, thanks to the 1994 Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year. Bowens, a tackle, bolstered the Dolphins run defense to help them win the AFC East and earned the award by collecting 41 votes in balloting by a nationwide panel of 98 sports writers and broadcasters.

Bowens beat cornerback By The Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY Keith Van Horn scored 24 points to lead Utah over Cal State-Fullerton 84-63 Tuesday night. Fullerton (3-5) pulled within 59-48 on con- C0LLEGE Basketball secutive 3-pointers by Chris St. Clair and Chris Dade, but the Utes then put the game away with an 18-2 run highlighted by five fastbreak dunks and layups. Utah enjoyed its largest lead, 77-50, when Michael Doleac made a layup with 3:20 remaining. Brandon Jessie scored 19 points and Ben Melmuth added 12 for the Utes (8-2), which won Independence By The Associated Press SHREVEPORT, La.

No. 18 Virginia and unranked Texas Christian slip away from the flashy riverboat casinos tonight to face each other in the 19th Independence BowL The Cavaliers put the nation's top rushing defense against a TCU attack that features the leading rusher and passer in the Southwest Conference. Injuries and other disruptions cast only a faint shadow over the first meeting ever between the Cavs of the Atlantic Coast Conference and the SWC co-champion TCU. "We're ready to line up and go," said Virginia coach George Welsh, whose Cavaliers (8-3) rule as 10- By The Associated Press NEW YORK Just as he did on the field, Marshall Faulk ran away from the competition in voting for the 1994 Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year. Faulk, the No.

2 selection in the draft, rushed for 1,282 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Indianapolis Colts. Those numbers and his marvelous moves and speed impressed 96 of the 98 members of a nationwide panel of sports writers and brodcasters. Miami's Tim Bowens was named defensive Rookie of the Year. From his debut against Houston, when he rushed for 143 yards and scored three touchdowns, right through Colts' 8-8 season, Faulk was a star. He finished third in AFC rushing despite being virtually the only Indianapolis threat on offense.

The recognition means a lot," said Faulk, a three-time All-America at San Diego State who set 19 NCAA records in his three-year college career. "It just states.