The Miami News from Miami, Florida • 9

Whummer and a beaut flarftoj Sports Section Monday, September 18, 1972 A gift-wrapped opener, 20-10 By AL LEVINE Miami Ntwi Rtportar KANSAS CITY If the Ghost of Christmas Past was at Arrowhead Stadium yesterday, it probably was being held in one of the two jail cells of the ultra-complete facility. The Chiefs said they certainly had no visions of the marathon playoff loss to the Dolphins last Christmas. "Once the water passes under the bridge, you can't re-route it back up the river and let it run by again," said Bobby Bell, the linebacker. And the Dolphins said they certainly had no reason to re-call the Longest Game. "There was nothing to be squared," said Larry Csonka.

"Kansas City played an excellent game on Christmas and it was just a toss of the coin which way fate went that day. I don't think we proved we were a better team by winning that game. We just lucked out" And so yesterday's Miami-Kansas City rematch became just another ironically-sched-u 1 National Football League opener. "There's no way the schedule-makers pulled this one out of the hat," said Len Dawson, the K.C. quarterback.

The Dolphins ruined the Arrowhead dedication with a stunning 20-10 victory before 79,829. The same team (practically) that had to scuffle from behind four times to stay with the Chiefs last Christmas, gained control of this one with surprising swiftness 1 and ease. Marlin Briscoe caught a 3 Oc frN 1 nm' srP 5 A i A iii.i-.ii. ifv. PASSES BY Dolphin quarterback Bob Griese twice were caught in the end zone yestderday but one of those was by a Kansas City Chief.

In both cases, Griese (who had an 8-for-15 day in the air and a beautiful day with his play selection) was on target, but the one in the above picture wound up as an interception. On the first play of the second quarter, Paul War-field (42) took Griese's pass at the goal line, just in bounds, but was hit by the Chiefs' Mike Sensibaugh (20) as he caught it. The ball went straight up and came down in a startled Sensi-baugh's hands as he rolled out of the end zone. The Chiefs, behind by 7-0 at the time, were unable to capitalize on this break. Miami News Staff Photos by JOE RIMKUS JOHN CRITTENDEN Sports Editor NOW THIS was more like it Marlin Briscoe (86) wraps his arms around a first-quarter Bob Griese pass for the Dolphins' first touchdown midway in the first quarter.

The play covered 14 yards and was one of three receptions for Briscoe. Bob Matheson gets his own defense Fans didn't boo, Scorching heat is no sweat to the Dolphins use a three-man line and blitz their strong-side linebacker. This is paramount to that. "Only in this defense, Matheson had had experience at defensive end, so in certain situations he'll act as a defensive end, his responsibilities will be the same as a defensive end. We still have four people pressuring the quarterback and we can play all of our coverages.

If we want to blitz, we can put as many as six people on the rush." Shula said it is not a defense that requires a lead to be effective, although it requires a unique individual. any in better shape than team we play." n-y a a touendown pass from Bob Griese and then a 47-yard field goal and a 2-yard touchdown run by Larry Csonka set up by a Jake Scott interception within a span of 37 seconds gave the Dolphins a 17-zip lead by half. By then the Chiefs could not cope with the Dolphin defense. "Everytime we got something going, we dropped the ball, had a penalty, fumbled, something," said Hank Stram, the Chiefs coach. "I don't think Miami had to drive more than 50 yards for any score they got.

When you allow a good football team to play on 50 yards of the field you're in trouble." The sudden 10-point outburst late in the second quarter allowed the Dolphins to utilize their possession game in the second half. "If we had had to throw on every down, the Kansas City defense would have won the game," said Don Shula. Christmas would only be mentioned in a few signs around Arrowhead yesterday and by Shula during preparations for the game. "We used it as a reminder of how Kansas City would be fired up with remembrances and how they'd want to open the new stadium," said Shula. Stram, at least, did not have the Christmas spirit.

He was a little unkind. "I don't think either team played with much enthusiasm," he said. "I thought it was a lackluster game. Maybe it was the heat. It was kind of a listless game throughout." Shula was "happy with our enthusiasm." "It was the said middle linebacker Nick Buon- they just left There is a real feeling sympathy in South Florida for (he plight in which the University of Miami's football team has become involved.

Everybody is happy for the Dolphins, tut there are many who don't want to give the impression hat they have turned thef backs on the collegians in the jush to get on the pro bandwagon. I The great majority of trie sporting public including the polphins wish the Hurricanes well. Fran Curci is an extremely popular fellow. The people who are his superiors in Ihe Miami athletic department seem to be trying hard to get (ootball back on its feet. And everybody wants to help.

i I Typical, perhaps, was the local television announcer a man wo normally does not deal In sporting goods, but interviews politicians and such, and is expert at it who wanted to help the football team get off to a good start in its opening game. In a Friday night editorial, the announcer urged his listeners to get out and see Miami play Florida State. The an-fiouncer said that Art Laskey, Miami's business manager for Athletics, had told him the Hurricanes had a quarterback who was good enough to be playing in the pros right now, and that Miami 'ad more good running backs than the Dolphins. Alas, Laskey sighed a Tew hours later, the announcer had misinterpeted him. What he had said, Laskey explained, was that Florida State's quarterback, Gary Huff, was good enough to be playing in the pros.

And that Miami had as many run-tiing backs as the Dolphins, not better ones. 4 "Oh, well," shrugged Laskey, "anything for the cause. The guy was trying to help us. I can't grumble about it." By AL LEVINE Miami Newt Reporter KANSAS CITY Bob Matheson grinned. "I knew they would find a position for me sooner or later," he said.

Actually, the Dolphins have found a defense for him. It's called 53, as in Mathe-son's uniform number, and it has opposing offensive linemen guessing whether Bob's coming or going. The defense the Dolphins threw at the Chiefs in yesterday's 20-10 season-opening victory featured Matheson lining up as a fourth linebacker in some instances and as a rushing lineman in others. Len Dawson, the Kansas City quarterback, admitted it caused problems for the Chiefs. "They started doing it in the second quarter," he said.

"With a three-man rush, they had eight people back on pass defense. The most receivers you send out is five, so they're doubled up on most everybody out there." Someone asked Dawson if Matheson was the main culprit in his four sacks. "I didn't stop to get anybody's name and number," he said. Dolphins develop a new weapon The Dolphins apparently have found an added defensive weapon out of a crisis situation. Early in the exhibition season, Matheson, regularly a linebacker, took a turn at defensive end because of injuries to Jim Riley and Bob Heinz.

Now he can play both places and it's up to offensive linemen to figure out what he's playing on a given play. "It's not a new concept," said coach Don Shula. "What's new these days? Teams will KANSAS CITY It was hot as hell at Arrowhead Stadium yesterday, which made the Dolphins happy as the devil. "We feel that when things get real hot and tough we have an advantage," said coach Don Shula. It was 91 degrees at kick-off and a thermometer placed on Arrowhead's Tartan Turf playing field registered 120, exhibition-game conditions in the Orange Bowl.

"We were dying at the half so you know how they must have felt," said Mercury Morris. "We feel that we're More Dolphin ttoriei and pholot, Paget 8C, 9C, 10C. Matheson handles dual responsibilities "You have to have a guy who is able to drop off and know linebacker responsibilities," Shula said. "You put a defensive end out there and ask him to drop off in the coverage and he'd be lost. If you put a linebacker out there and ask him to act like a defensive end, in all probability, he'd be lost.

But Matheson has the background; he made Cleveland's team a couple years ago as a defensive end." The defense also allows extra help in the backfield. 'Tim Foley (the cornerback) was a linebacker in one instance against Kansas City and we brought in Lloyd Mumphord (another corner) as an extra deep back." The defensive call, by coordinator Bill Arnsparger, determines if Matheson goes forward or in reverse. "We overshift our line with the odd-spacing that comes from the stack type of defense and it's been effective," said Shula. Kansas City's Hank Stram did not want to steal the thunder of Miami's new toy. But he said, "It's just an Oklahoma defense that Continued on 10C, Col.

4 Continued on IOC, Col. I Wk 1 1 tumtn As if to emphasize the point, 265-pound Larry Little sprinted downfield at the quarter as the officials shuf-fled slowly to change the po-sition of the ball. "That was the sweetest sight," said Shula. Tackle Norm Evans said, MI think that sort of thing has a lot to do with demoralizing a team on a hot day." The Chiefs were having enough problems. "Occasionally there would be water or perspiration on the ball and I'd have a tough time trying to find the laces and a grip on the ball," said Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson.

"It was as hot in Kansas City as it's ever been in Miami," said cornerback Tim Foley. "With that type of rug, every time you cut you could feel the heat in your feet. Several of the guys had blisters on their feet." Nick Buoniconti said, "It was actually brutal. I'm more tired now than after the playoff game. I'm totally exhausted." "Ain't no getting around it, it was hot," said Bobby Bell, the Chiefs linebacker.

"I think everybody suffered. Everybody lost a lot of weight today." Kansas City coach Hank Stram had called it a "lackluster" and "listless" game with no enthusiasm on either side. The players preferred to blame the heat "Hank Stram wasn't on the field as far as I'm concerned," said Larry Csonka. "Both teams showed some enthusiasm. We played under extreme heat conditions.

That had a lot to do with it. It got to you right away; it was hot in pregame warmup. But it was a good hitting game and Hank didn't take many bruises." AL LEVTNl Oakland moves five ahead in West Indians hold the key in AL East 1 Fans of gome aren't hostile The fans at the Orange Bowl Saturday evening were not hostile at all. There were 35,421 of them, more than I had expected, far more than the average 1971 turnout. Unfortunately, the llurricanes were unable to produce the kind of show which rlight have encouraged them to come back.

Behind 17-7 at halftime, the Hurricanes were pretty much out of it When Florida State continued to increase its lead, there weren't many boos people just started to get up and walk quietly out. Florida State is on its way to a season's end Top 10 ranking and a place in a Jan. 1 bowl. FSU quarterback Gary Huff is a cinch to be some pro team's No. 1 draft pick.

For the good of the University of Miami's football program, this has to be so. If FSU is a juggernaut, then Miami may come back to make a run at a break-even season. But if FSU turns out to be just above-average, then Miami is bad. Saturday's 37-14 loss to Florida State was a jolting step down for the University of Miami's football reconstruction. Not only did Miami's offense seem little-improved over the one which produced only four touchdowns in the last five gamePof the 1971 season, 111 losses, but Huff destroyed the defense.

"The defense," said Cuijci, "was a joke." Miami's hope for some kind of face-saving performance Saturday night at Texas is based on the expectation that the Hurricanes can defend against the run-oriented wishbone offense more successfully than they could deal with FSU's passes. Teams which run the wishbone as successfully as Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama don't pass much in the normal count of things. Throw out three games, in which Texas was trying to come from behind, and the Longhorns passed only eight times per game in 1971. Moreover, Darrell Royal has a new quarterback, Alan Lowry, a converted defensive back, Continued on 3C, Col. 2 beat by a pretty good pitcher and they kicked the hell out of us.

"It isn't like you could point to any one thing and say, 'Well, if this or that had happened, things would have been Perry was nicked for an unearned run in the first inning and Andy Kosco hit a pinch homer in the seventh for Boston. Frank Duffy, Buddy Bell and Chris Cham, bliss, meanwhile, were doing their thing for Cleveland. hit run-scoring doubles in the second inning, Bell hit his eighth homer in the third, then Duffy doubled to trigger a two-run fourth, one of the runs coming on a single by Chambliss. A hit batsman, singles by Alex Johnsom and Chambliss and a sacrifice fly added two runs in the sixth. Tigers 6, Brewers 2: "I'm a little surprised we've done this well," Dick McAuliffe said that the Tigers ran their winning streak to five games, their longest of the season.

McAuliffe was the major tront-runners while keeping Baltimore 14 back. In the West Division, things loosened up a bit more as Oakland defeated Texas to open a five-game lead over second-place Chicago, which lost to California. "I don't consider ourselves spoilers," said Cleveland manager Ken Aspromonte. "We're just trying to do the best possible job we can." The job Perry and the Indians did on Boston prompted Red Sox manager Eddie Kasco to comment: "We got Tin Auocitte: Prtn Remember the Cleveland Indians? Detroit Baltimore and New York will and Boston certainly does. The Indians, it seems control the destiny of the American League East and that means the Tigers, Orioles, Yankees and Red Sox.

Cleveland, wallowing in fifth place, 14 games off the frantic pace, closes out its less-than-successful season with two games against Detroit, followed by four apiece with Baltimore and New York. v. But Boston was the team on hand yesterday and the Indians did a good bit of scalping as Gaylord Perry, with solid support from the rest of the Tribe, scattered seven Red Sox hits en route to a 9-2 romp that nailed down his 21st victory of the season. That, coupled with Detroit's victory over Milwaukee, shaved the Red Sox' lead over the Tigers to one percentage point. The Yankees, meanwhile, kept their hopes alive by nipping the Orioles, moving within 2'i games of the 11C, Col.

I Craig Netjies and Duffy Continued on.