The Daily News Leader du lieu suivant : Staunton, Virginia • 12

B2 Sunday News Leader, September 29, 1991 PORT sivsiHaon's i b(Sifflti) El mini 14 V- pti tt VY a i t. ft 4 v.rv Mil 71 those would be the only Duke points. Later in the quarter, Virginia knotted the score at three when Michael Husted launched a 23-yard field goal after a Cavalier drive stalled at the Duke six-yard line. The next time the Cavaliers had the ball, they put together a 13-play, 75-yard drive that ended when Gary Steele sprinted around left end for the TD from the two with 8:57 left in the half. That set in motion four consecutive touchdown drives by the Cavs.

The next three all belonged to Blundin. With 6:15 left before intermission, he hooked up with Terry Kirby on a 55-yard touchdown reception. Kirby took the Blundin aerial at the Duke 30, sidestepped a defender, and took off for the end zone. Husted's placement made it 17-3. On the very next play, a Duke pass was intercepted by Eugene Rodgers at the Blue Devil 37.

Six plays later, Blundin found Tyrone Davis on a 15-yard TD reception, and it was 24-3 Virginia with 3:15 left before halftime. Duke, attempting to get back in the game, then drove from its 21 to a fourth down at the Virginia nine with five seconds left in the half. But Dave Brown's pass was intercepted by Greg McClellan in the end zone. McClellan took off down the right sideline, broke into the open, and appeared off on a 103-yard interception return. But at the Duke 45, he fumbled the ball attempting to change hands, and Virginia was denied another 6-pointer.

To open the second half, Blundin continued his touchdown streak. This time it was a 40-yard aerial to Larry Holmes to cap a 72-yard, 5-play drive. Later in the period, Husted added a 37-yard field goal to close out the game's scoring. Duke coach Barry Wilson was not too happy about his team's effort. "I have a bad temper, but it doesn't do any good to throw a temper tantrum," he said.

"I have to stifle my reaction and wait to look at the film. Then those who deserve to be chewed out will be while the coaches will have to help those who played their hearts out, but didn't get the job done." By KEN BOSSERMAN Sports Writer CHARLOTTESVILLE Matt Blundin returned to the Virginia lineup as quarterback Saturday afternoon at Scott Stadium, and produced immediate results as his three touchdown passes led the Cavaliers to an easy 34-3 win over the Duke Blue Devils before a near capacity crowd of 43,400. Both Blundin, who has been sidelined with an infected elbow, and Bobby Goodman, his replacement the last two games were announced as possible starters minutes before game time. But Virginia coach George Welsh had made the decision much earlier. "We pretty much decided that by Thursday," he said after the game.

"Goodman was still sore (from the Georgia Tech game). But he was going in if anything happened to Blundin." For Welsh, it turned out to be a good choice. Blundin was razor sharp, completing 17 of 21 passes for 238 yards. At one time, he had 14 completions in a row, just missing the Virginia record of 15 set by Shawn Moore. "I wasn't surprised that he was that sharp," Welsh added.

"He had a whole week of practice, probably more because Goodman missed a couple of days. But any time a quarterback completes 14 in a row it surprises me. You don't do that in practice." The Virginia quarterback, better known for his four years of play for the basketball Cavaliers, took his performance in stride. "That's my first win as a starting quarterback, and it feels good," he said. "Sometimes you get lucky, and that's when you feel you are in the groove." For a while, it looked as if luck would be all with the Blue Devils.

On the first play of the game, Le-roy Gallman broke through the Cavalier defensive line at the Duke 12, and nearly went the distance, only to be hauled down at the Virginia 12 after a 76-yard romp. Virginia's defense stiffened, and the Blue Devils had to settle for a 20-yard field goal by Randy Gardner at the 12:34 mark. As it turned out, NORMAN, Okla. (AP) Cale Gundy threw for one touchdown, ran for another and set a school passing record Saturday in leading sixth-ranked Oklahoma to a 27-17 victory over Virginia Tech. Gundy's 3-yard run late in the third quarter gave the Sooners (3-0) a 27-10 lead, and Oklahoma then held off a late rally by the Hokies (1-3).

Virginia Tech, after recovering a fumble at the Oklahoma 27, scored on a 5-yard pass from Will Furrer to John Rivers midway through the final quarter. Then the Hokies drove to the Oklahoma 22 with less than four minutes left, but an interception' in the end zone by Darnell Walker ended the threat. Gundy's 18 completions broke the record of 15 set by Jack Mildren against Nebraska in 1969. His 31 attempts tied the school record, which has stood since 1938. Gundy's 235 yards were 11 short of the school record.

He completed nine straight passes during one stretch, two short of the school mark. Oklahoma had only 145 yards rushing, 205 below its average. The last time the Sooners had more yards passing than rushing was last season against Colorado, when they threw for 221 and ran for 174. Oklahoma led only 13-10 at half-time and missed a 50-yard field goal on its first possession of the third quarter. But the defense came up with a big play when linebacker Joe Bowden grabbed a deflected pass and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown.

After the Hokies went on a 15-play drive that ended with a missed field goal, Gundy led the Sooners 80 yards in 13 plays for the final touchdown. He completed four of five passes during the drive before capping it with his 3-yard option keeper. The Sooners stumbled throughout the first quarter, gaining just 58 yards and allowing the Hokies their first touchdown. It came at the 9:28 mark when tailback Mike Gaddis couldn't handle a high pitch from Gundy. The ball was knocked into the end zone where linebacker P.J.

Preston fell bri it. 1 1 ENTANGLEMENT University of Virginia de- of the Duke-Virginia Atlantic Coast Confer- fensive back Buddy Omohundro (46) pulls In ence college football game at Scott Stadium an interception from Duke University tight end in Charlottesville Saturday. Virginia won, John Farquhar (82) during second half action 34-3. (AP Laserphoto) toes SQiFSocr fiMM wm odd dwj BGuDuU0)ft tween defending champion Earnhardt and Ricky Rudd for the $1 million Winston Cup title. Earnhardt, who finished third last week, leads Rudd by 59 points with five races remaining, including Sunday's 400-lapper oh the five-eighths-mile North Wilkesboro Speedway oval.

But neither Earnhardt nor Rudd are upset that Gant has taken the spotlight off their tight battle. "It's been a little less pressure on us to race along for the championship," Earnhardt said. "The media is paying a lot of attention to Harry. Maybe after Charlotte or Rocking could come Sunday if Gant does wins again. The Unocal 76 Challenge, a bonus of $7,600 per event for a driver winning both the pole and the race, has climbed to $144,400, meaning a victory by Gant Sunday would be worth more than $200,000.

Wallace, a former Winston Cup champion, nearly ended Gant's current run when he tried to get past and spun Gant out late in the race last week at Martinsville, Va. But Gant came back from eighth place for his 16th career victory. "It's virtually impossible in Winston Cup racing to do what he is do JEV2U shocks 4 vtcfwpap.fs. hw1! ing," Wallace said. Davey Allison, who will start alongside Gant in the front row of the 33-car field, said, "It's not that (Harry's) any better or doing anything different or has more horsepower than anyone else.

Harry's just in the right place at the right time." "I'm going to tuck in as close as I can right behind him and see what he's doing right," Allison said. Gant leads all drivers with five wins this year, while Allison and series points leader Dale Earnhardt have three each. Almost lost in the excitement over Gant's streak is the battle be emerging on the national level is spring football, which is played on the high school level. Add all these factors together and the three Florida universities have a big advantage in recruiting. Oh, yes, we must not forget Pete Rose's latest pitch on television to get his name added to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

I have mixed emotions on that one. Rose didn't admit his gambling habit until he was forced to by an investigation. He would have never volunteered this information freely. On the other hand, he has paid his debt to society by spending time in the slammer. Or take the flap over leaving Isiah Thomas off the U.S.

Olympic basketball team. Is it fair? Or would the friction between Michael Jordan and Thomas upset the chemistry of a team trying to win in the Olympics? If Thomas' addition to the team would cause a rift, then leave him off. On the other hand, should he be denied a place in U.S. Olympic history? I haven't been convinced that Rose should be in the Hall of Fame or that the chemistry of the U.S. team be threatened by the addition ofThomas.

Before either situation is settled, like the rest of the sports world, have a chance to change my mind. ham (both in October), they'll look back and decide they'd better pay a little more attention to the championship." Rudd said, "Because Harry's had such an incredible streak the past four weeks, all the attention is focused on him. I think it's helped our team. We haven't been in a championship battle." "Normally, this time of year, all anybody talks about is points, points, points," Rudd said. "It doesn't matter if you win a race.

Usually, nobody cares. From our standpoint, I like it. I like the low-key environment, and it helps take some of the pfessure off the crew." trailed 28-21: William Mary (2-2) could not move the ball in the final quarter, giving up field position with each possession. With 2:01 remaining, James Madison took over on its 45. Williams completed three passes to take the ball to the Indians 30.

With 31 seconds left he zipped a scoring pass to David McLeod. Trailing 28-27, Williams dropped back to pass on the conversion, saw his receivers covered, scrambled up the middle and leapt over the pile for the score. Spiders 6-yarder with five minutes remaining in the first quarter, made the score 14-7. Council also had a 19-yard run late in the first half to give the Keydets a 28-17 halftime lead. Each team scored 10 points in the second half.

Marcus Mines scored a fourth-quarter touchdown for the Keydets on a 2-yard run after Mike Henderson scored for the Spiders on a 1-yard plunge. VMI, which entered the game averaging 405 yards per game on the ground, had 563 total yards. The Keydets had not beaten Richmond since 1982 but hold a 39-29-5 edge in the series. NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (AP) Who will stop Harry Gant? "I don't know if or when we can stop Harry," said Rusty Wallace, who has seen Gant's hot streak up close and personal.

"When Harry wins a pole, you know he has it going." Gant goes into Sunday's Tyson Holly Farms 400 with the chance to do something no Winston Cup driver has done since 1972: win five straight races. Gant, of nearby Taylorsville, N.C, is 6-for-6 in September, including two Busch Grand National victories, and his pole win Friday was his first in four years. Gant isn't impressed. "I don't think about anything else If this weekend isn't a dream for sports fans, I give up. Fans have hit a bonanza with something for just about everyone.

All three Florida universities played and won Saturday. NASCAR fans are waiting to see if Harry Gant can win his fifth straight today in the Holly Farms Grim Outlook By Hubert F. Grim Jr. 400 at the North Wilkesboro Speedway. He is having one of those victory runs drivers dream about, adding a pole start for today's race.

And if golf is your cup of tea, then there is Ryder Cup action with the Americans tied with the team from Europe. 1 Tennis, beach volleyball, boxing, bowling, regular volleyball, out- doors name the sport and there is something on for everyone, especially if you are lucky enough to own a dish. Minnesota is coasting to the I American League West divisional I title, something which astonished the experts. Most writers and broadcasters figured the Chicago White Sox and Oakland would fight it out for the title, but the Twins proved to be the team to beat. but racing," said Gant, who spent part of the past week working on a building project behind his restaurant in Taylorsville, doing media interviews on a cellular telephone.

"I didn't get a whole lot done for a while." But Gant, at 51 the oldest driver ever to win a Winston Cup race, as well as a pole, is enjoying the sudden attention for one reason. "I'm enjoying it, but the biggest kick I'm getting is the crew," he said. "I've had things like this happen before, but maybe it's the first run like this for any of them. They've worked hard and now it's paying off for them." The biggest payoff for Leo Jackson's entire Skoal Racing team Pittsburgh wrapped up the National League East by coasting to a 13-game romp over St. Louis.

In the American League East, Toronto has tried to give the pennant away but the Boston Red Sox haven't taken advantage of it. The race which is too close to call is the National League West where the Los Angeles Dodgers are a mere game ahead of the surprising Atlanta Braves as L.A. lost to San Francisco, 4-1, while Atlanta whipped Houston, 5-4 in Saturday's action. Dodger fans best beware if their team happens to end the season tied with the Braves as L.A. has only been successful once in five playoff games to determine the National League pennant.

The one that will be stamped on Dodgers fans' minds for all times is the misadventure in 1951 when Ralph Branca gave up the "home run heard round the world" in the closing scene of that special playoff game. At the time the Dodgers were known as the Brooklyn Dodgers before they fled west to Los Angeles' green pastures which proved to be one of the most profitable moves in modern professional sports. San Franciso inherited the Giants when the club moved out of New York and these Giants, who have been mired in mediocrity in holding down the lowly next-to-the-last place in the standings, could easily WILLIAMSBURG (AP) Eriq Williams threw for four touchdowns and ran for a two-point conversion with 31 seconds remaining Saturday as James Madison defeated William Mary 29-28. James Madison (3-1) trailed 28-13 going into the fourth quarter. James Madison's Pat Carey picked off a Chris Hakel pass at the James Madison 27 early in the quarter.

Five plays later Williams hit Dwayne Hayes with a 41-yard scoring pass. Fullback Joe Sparksman added the two-point conversion and the Dukes VMI drops RICHMOND (AP) Tony Scales ran for 204 yards Saturday as Virginia Military Institute rolled to a school-record 531 yards rushing in a 38-27 noncon-ference victory over Richmond. Scott Council ran for three touchdowns as the Keydets (3-1) piled up 364 yards rushing en route to a 28-17 halftime lead. Council finished with 191 yards on 18 carries. The Spiders (1-2) got off to a quick lead when Rod Boothes took the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown.

VMI scored on its first possession when Council went around left tackle for a 73-yard score. Council's second touchdown, a have a say whether the Dodgers win the pennant. The two teams have split on the year with seven wins apiece but the rub comes when the Dodgers visit Candlestick Park for the last three games of the season against the Giants. If they are tied with the Atlanta Braves at this point, history is against them as the Giants could once more rise up to haunt them. Florida is proving to be the hot spot for football recruiting these days as was evident Saturday as No.

1 Florida State soundly thrashed No. 3 Michigan, 51-31. Miami, No. 2, kept pace by whipping Tulsa, 34-10 and No. 14, Florida, rolling by Mississippi State, 29-7.

Florida State's win will keep it in Slace while Miami will easily remain fo. 2. Florida can rise in the poll if one of the first 13 falter. Teams from Florida are beginning to emerge as three of the top teams in the country and, with population explosion taking place in the state, more and more top-flight football players are emerging. This has sent other top teams headed to Gator-land, trying to induce players to leave the Sunshine State.

But let's face it. All three Florida teams are producing winners in football. Throw in the warm Florida weather, its beaches and the Orange Bowl and you have a mighty big recruiting club. One of the big reasons Florida is.