The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 11

I SbturJgy, November 27, 1970 Thn Lincoln Star 11 fey Mis to lafetas, Sooiaers Success idpis Play tJrm ne-SSv duff, TL jftw wj fm By HAL BROWN Star Sports Editor While seniors must naturally form the nucleus and supply the leadership for any successful football team and Nebraska has 16 of them playing before a home crowd for the final time this afternoon both Oklahoma and Nebraska, who will battle at 1:30 at Memorial Stadium, owe much of their success this year to several sophomores, who supply the youthful enthusiasm also necessary for success. Oklahoma can count 11 rookies in its starting lineups and Nebraska has half a dozen, who have started most games in this unbeaten season. And much of the fireworks this afternoon could be supplied by those sophomores for both teams. Three-fourths of the Sooner backfield carries sophomore status with the lone exception being quarterback Jack Mildren, a junior. Nebraska, meanwhile, has only one soph in Us starting backfield quartet but he's super sophomore Johnny Rodgers, who has sent a buzz of excitement through the NU crowd even while waiting for a punt.

Rodgers is among the best. in the Big Eight in pass catching, punt returning, kickoff returning and scoring. In all forms of ball carrying, he has gained 1,396 yards in handling the ball 90 times with 10 touchdowns for 60 points. Rodgers has rushed 32 times for 200 yards and two TDs, caught 30 passes for 565 yards and six touchdowns, returned 23 punts for 319 yards and two scores and hauled back 15 kickoffs 312 yards, meaning each time he has handled the ball, he's picked up an average of 15.5 yards and one out of every nine limes he's had the ball, Rodgers has scored. Other sophomore starters, who have played key roles WILLIE HARPER JOHN ADKINS DOUG DUMLER JOE BLA1IAK JERRY LIST JOHNNY RODGERS 119 carries for a 6.3 per play average.

He also has caught one pass for a 38-yard touchdown, one of 10 TDs he's scored and has returned five kickoffs for 107 yards, a 21.4 per return average. Wylie also docs the Sooner punting, booting them for a 39.7 average. Teaming with Wylie in the sophomore backfield are Leon Crosswhite and Greg Pruitt. Crosswhite is the No. 2 Sooner rusher with 89 carries for 444 yards and Pruitt has carried the ball 31 times for 100 yards.

Pruitt is Oklahoma's top pass receiver, grabbing 15 for 217 yards and two touchdowns and also leads the team in kickoff returns with 13 for 255 yards. He's also the No. 2 scorer on the team with 32 points on five touchdowns and one two-point conversion. played one of his finest games in covering Missouri sprinter Mel Gray in the NU win over the Tigers. List, called "a fine blocker'" by Husker coaches, has caught 15 passes for 188 yards from his tight end position, many of them coming on crucial third down plays this season.

Dumler has moved in and filled the center gap left by the graduation of Glenn Patterson and turned what was supposed to be one of the Husker problem areas into no problem at all. The Sooners' super sophomore cast is led by running back Joe Wylie, one of a trio of rookies, who has made the Wishbone-T attack go since coach Chuck Fairbanks made the switch before the Texas game. Wylie is the Sooners leading rusher with 754 yards in in the Husker success story, have been defensive ends John Adkins and Willie Harper, cornerback Joe Blahak, tight end Jerry List and center Doug Dumler. Harper has been sidelined for today's contest by a hip pointer and his spot will be filled by another sophomore, Doug Johnson. Harper has been in on 50 tackles for the Husker Black Shirts, half of them of the unassisted variety, and he leads the team in throwing opposing ball carriers for losses, nailing them nine times for losses totaling 73 yards.

Adkins has contributed 28 tackles from the other end post and has gotten to three ball carriers behind the line scrimmage for losses of 10 yards. Blahak tied a Husker record with three interceptions of Kansas State quarterback Lynn Dickey passes last week and r. Sooners Wylie Kuns Like Girl, But before that three hours, he spends an hour and a half with the Bible. "I figure if God's going to be No. 1.

then I should use that time first," he figures. 5 Letlermen everyone's interview list during this fall's Big Eight Skywriter stopover in Norman, he was almost apologetic to writers. "When I learned this morning that I was going to have to talk to you people, I was anxious about it," he told writers as he stood before a group of nearly two dozen of them and showed the poise of a Pro. "But I thought to myself there are a lot of guys on the squad you should be talking to before me." "I don't know," he says, "I've just had some big holes and made long plays out of them, I guess. If the line can break me clear, then it's just a guessing game between me and the defensive backs.

Maybe 111 catch them moving in the wrong direction." OU backfield coach Barry Switzer claims, "Joe Js the best broken-field runner we have and maybe the best we'll have here in a long time." When Wylie, a highly-sought prep athlete, was on TALENTED L- Lead HSU Title Hopes By TOM HENDERSON Star Sports Writer (One Of A Series) Jerry Venable is gone and so is Cotton Fitzsimmons, but five lettcrmen return including two Husher-Sooner Lineups Offense NEBRASKA (9-0-1) OKLAHOMA (6-3) And the 6-1, 180-pounder from Henderson, claims he didn't even realize he was one of the most highly-sought prep stars during his senior year. "I didn't even know what recruiting was until Christmas," he recalled. "I didn't feel any pressure and I didn't feel hfghly-sought although the papers kept saying I was." Among coaches visiting him were Darrell Royal of Texas and Frank Broyles of Arkansas. And visits from those two and other famous collegiate coaches was more exciting to one of his little sisters than it was to Wylie himself. "One of my little sisters thought it was great having people such as Darrell Royal and Frank Broyles coming around," Joe recalls.

"She gathered all their autographs and took them to school one day to show her little friends. "She came home that evening and was crying. She said, 'My friends don't even know who these people The pleasant young man's one weakness in the classroom is art. "I got a once in art in about the seventh grade," he points out. That's the only grade he's ever received below an A.

"I've always trusted my instructors." he says of his class work. "I've found that if I listen to what they want, then get it done, I'll come out about right every time." "Helping him come out right every time in the classroom is three hours of study daily. But of the Big Eight's outstanding By HAL BROWN Star Sports Editor His running style has been compared to that of a frightened girl running in a tight skirt. His classroom work from kindergarten through one year of college has been straight-A with one exception. It has been said that he talks like an educated Gomer Pyle.

And Nebraska freshman coach Jim Ross, who scouted Oklahoma in last week's win over Kansas, says the first Nebraska Black Shirt, who tries to tackle him, will miss him. Plenty of tacklcrs have missed Sooner sophomore Joe Wylie this season while the Texas native has been rushing for 754 yards in 119 carries for 10 touchdowns. "His speed is deceptive," says Ross. "I'd be willing to bet that our defensive players will misjudge his speed and the first guy that tries to tackle him will miss him." 1 i speed was documented when as a high school senior, he had the fastest time in the nation in the 330-yard intermediate hurdles, a 37.0 clocking with a 14.0 best in the 120-yard high hurdles. But the modest young man, who is a daily Bible reader, figures his running can stand some improvement.

"I don't run straight ahead and hard enough," he claims. "I have a tendency to use too many fakes and try to pick my way through traffic." Then how does he account for his success in his rookie year with the Oklahoma varsity? Name No. List 85 Pos. CI. TE So.

Wt. 210 248 216 230 255 248 160 215 196 171 222 Ht. 6-0 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-4 5- 9 6- 2 6-0 5- 10 6- 2 ci. So. So.

Sr. So. So. Sr. Jr.

Jr. So; So. So. Ht. 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-5 6-2 6-0 6-1 5- 9 6- 2 Wt.

221 234 225 218 224 237 195 196 180 177 194 No. 82 60 52 54 72 76 80 11 22 30 17 Name Chandler Unruh LaRosa Brahaney Jones Watson Franklin Mildren Wylie Pruitt Crosswhite 74 77 54 70 67 88 14 31 20 22 Newton Rupert Dumler McGhee Winter Ingles Tagge Orduna Rodgers Schneiss LT LG RG RT SE QB HB HB FB Sr. Jr. So. Sr.

Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. So.

Sr. Defense sophomores last season as Kansas State bids for a repeat basketball championship under new coach Jack Hartman. Venable was the Wildcats' top scorer and second-leading re-bounder as Kansas State rolled to a 10-4 conference record, 20-8 overall, and the league title. Hartman, who compiled a 144-64 record in eight years as head coach at Southern Illinois, replaces Fitzsimmons at the Wildcat helm with Cotton moving into the professional ranks a coach of the NBA's Phoenix Suns. Quality veterans return, however, in center David Hall, forward Bob Zender and guard Terry Snider.

Zender and Hall rated as the best of the Big Eight's first-year Name No. Adkins 57 CI. So. Sr. aaybc one: of twet most exciting runnetrs ever TO PLAY AT OKLAUCVVIA IS UALFBACK ODE WYtlE AJWC? OWNS SUPITR.

SPEED AMD MCNES WE" ALSO BOOMS PUNTS WITH "TUE BEST Wt. 230 239 240 210 205 210 201 Ht. 6-1 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-1 6 2 6-3 6-0 No. 06 75 97 55 49 43 44 26 Name Hamilton Grady Moore Mason Milstead Aycock Casteel Roach Ht. 63 6-6 5- 9 6- 2 6-4 6-3 6-2 5-10 5- 10 6- 0 6-0 Wt.

222 247 201 238 210 212 208 199 175 180 175 CI. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr.

So. Sr. Jr. Sr. So.

Jr. Jr. Pos. LE LT MG RT RE LB LB LB HB II Jacobson Periard Walline 0. Johnson Murtaugh Terrio Morock Blahak Anderson Kosch ID 56 76 64 42 45 43 27 13 24 So.

Sr. So. Jr. Sr. So.

Jr. Jr. Sr. 183 GU SPORTS NFOCMATU3N MN twet country O'Shaughnessy 5-11 180 Shelley 6-0 190 Johnson 6-1 194 18 33 25 men last year wun nan com Kickoff 1:30 p.m., Memorial Stadium. Broadcasls-WOW (590), KFAB (1110), KFOR (1240), KLIN (1400).

ing on particularly strong in the NCAA regionals. For the season Seniors Fill Class All-State Sports Menu he averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds per game. Zender, one wire service's choice for all-Big Eight, had a 12.4 scoring average, second only to Venable on the K-State squad. Hartman also has two top-notch sophomores 6-5 guard Ernie Kusnycr who scored at a 24.6 pace for the freshmen, and center Steve Mitchell who at 6-10, averaged 23.4 and over 12 rebounds while on the yearling club. "This team should be Saturday FOOTBALL Big Eight: By VIRGIL PARKER Prep Sports Writer Headed by a returning 6-2, 225-pound fullback, called by several opposing coaches as "the best high school football player regardless of class," the 1970 Class all-state team is an all-senior aggregation this at Nebraska.

Memorial 1:30 p.m.; Iowa State at Oklahoma Stadium, Oklahoma Kansas State; Kansas at Missouri; Florida State; Colorado at State at Air Force. Sunday HOCKEY Tulsa at Omaha, Coliseum, 7 p.m. physically stronger than last his explosive play as a defensive linebacker drew special praise from opposing coaches. Finney, who averaged 5.6 yards every time he carried the ball, was credited with 121 tackles while the 'Bolts faced some of the toughest Class A competition in the state. The most prolific scorer on the Class all-state team was Grand Island Central Catholic's Gary Schmidt, who because of his versatility was moved to end.

All five backs easily out-polled the other all-star contenders, thus demanding that a place be found on the team for each. Schmidt had the best credentials to make the switch. A top basketball and baseball player as well. Schmidt set year. Tom Kropp, Aurora's blockbusting runner, is the repeater who made the mythical eleven as a junior.

He's joined in an explosive backfield by Laurel quarterback Steve Erwin, and halfbacks Lynn Finney of Lincoln Pius and Ashland's Rich Lutton. An all-stater in both football and basketball last year as a junior, Kropp was the Huskies leading ball carrier and defensive player this fall. While gaining over 1,000 yards, Kropp punted, kicked off and booted extra points, was the deep safety on punts and kickoffs and was the team's leading tackier from his year's," Hartman says, "but probably not quite a quick as the title-winning unit. "Bob Zender, David Hall and sophomore Steve Mitchell should NU's Blahak Joins All-American List ORDUNA DRAWS PRAISE Kansas City MP) Iowa State's Otto Stowe and Nebraska's Joe Blahak were added to District 5 players being considered for the All-American football team. The district selection board also kept singing the praises of three backs nominated earlier, Joe Orduna of Nebraka, John Riggins of Kansas and Joe Wylie of Oklahoma.

Stowe is a spectacular split end for the Cyclones. His coach, Johnny Majors, has descirbed Stowe as the "best pass receiver I have ever seen." Nebraska coach Bob Devaney asserts that "Stowe is a great one. He's Ail-American if I ever saw one." Stowe leads the Big Eight Conference in pass receiving, having snared 46 passes for 676 yards and four touchdowns. He is regarded as a player who can get the ball anywhere; the passer doesn't have to pitch it right in his arms. Against third ranked Nebraska two weeks ago, Stowe caught eight passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for a two-point conversion.

Bob Hentzen, sports editor of the Topeka Caital-Journal, Topeka, and a member of the District 5 selection board, said Blahak, a sophomore defensive halfback, "bad a terrific game" in Nebraska's 51-13 victory over Kansas State last Saturday. Hentzen said of Orduna: "I've never seen a guy come back from a knee operation and perform like Orduna does." Blahak broke the Kansas State game open with three pass interceptions and ran them back 116 yards. Orduna made four touchdowns. Riggins was nominated for the fourth week in a row and for the sixth time this season for Big Eight back of the week after his performance in Kansas' 28-24 loss to Oklahoma, against the Sooners, Riggins gathered 178 yards and scored touchdowns on runs of 65 and 22 yards. Wylie, Oklahoma's super sophomore, collected 132 yards oh 19 carries and scored touchdowns on runs of 16 and eight yards.

He also threw a block which wiped out two defenders and permitted Greg Pruitt to score the winning touchdown. provide a solid front line and Terry Snider, a letterman reserve last year, and Ernie Kent, who was called on one ballot "an excellent offensive blocker and a defensive terror." Ord's Bob Peterson and Greg Hirsch of Gothenburg team up at the guard positions. Peterson, a 6-1, 196-pounder was the key to an Ord defense that allowed just 113 total yards per game throughout the season. Hirsch was also cited for defensive work. Gothenburg coach Larry Frost says that "despite being double-teamed most of the time, he was still our leading tackier." The Class all-state team's biggest performer is tackle Randy Adams of Lexington at 230 pounds.

He's paired with 200-pound Kim Thomas of Pierce. Adams not only had 76 unassisted tackles for the year but was praised by several coaches for his offensive blocking abilities. Thomas, despite his size, covers the 40 yards in five seconds flat, and qualified for the state meet in the 440-yard dash as a sophomore and junior. A three-year starter on offense and defense he compiled a career total of 326 tackles, 140 during his senior season, snared 28 aerials for an average Kusnver should provide guard Class Alt-State Football Team Pos. Player School Ht.

Wt. Yr. E-Mike Heeney, Central City 6-1 175 12 Gary Schmidt, Grand Island CC 6-0 175 12 T-Kim Thomas, Pierce 6-2 200 12 Randy Adams, Lexington 6-2 230 12 G-Greg Hirsch, Gothenburg 5-10 170 12 G-Bob Peterson, Ord 6-1 196 12 C-Kurt Kent, Auburn 5-7 165 12 QB-Steve Erwin, Laurel 6-6 200 12 HB-Lynn Finney, Lincoln Pius 6-0 175 12 HB-Rich Lutton, Ashland 5-10 170 12 FB-Tom Kropp, Aurora 6-2 225 12 Honor Roll strength." school records this fall in the gridiron sport by gaining 1,684 yards and scoring 151 points. While Kropp would do the extra point and field goal kicking, linebacking spot. Erwin, while quarterbaeking Laurel to an unbeaten season, ran for nearly 500 yards and Schmidt would handle the punt If there is a weakness on the Wildcat club it is at guard where Eddie Smith is the only proven performer from the back-up ranks last year.

"Basically, it is the lack of depth and the relative inexperience at guard," Hartman says. Both starting guards off last year's club, Jeff Webb and Wheeler Hughes, are gone and reserve performer Jack Thomas had knee surgery in September. The Wildcats, however, still shape up as one of the big guns in the conference race agafn this added another 1,380 by completing 81 of 175 passes with just four interceptions. Lutton's ball-packing statistics at Ashland nearly parallel Kropp's with 1,053 yards gained for a 6.9 per carry average. Kropp scored 110 points, Lutton 104, while Erwin was responsible for 120 counters.

The fourth member of the backfield, Lynn Finney of Lincoln Pius was not only a powerful runner on offense, but Ends Bob Decker, Holdrege; Dan McCabe, Pius Tom Anderson, Arlington; George Schrocder, Laurel; Duanc Spale, Schuyler; Fred Ivy, Falls City; Jim Horvatich, Logan View; J. D. Alexander, Wisner. Linemen Tim Burke, Grand Island NW: Larry Brauer, Seward; Mike Kelley, Blair; John Whelton, Omaha Cathedral; Harry LeDuc, Pius Brian Brooks, Ogallala; John Russell, Broken Bow; Steve Kamish, Wayne; Kurt Grosshans, Plattsmouth; John Chikos, Bridgeport. Backs Doug Nichols, Cozad; Dick Peetz, Sidney; Ray Burgess, Arlington; Tony Davis, Tecumseh; Mike Fox, Pius Brian Ditt-mann, Seward; Larry Honke, Columbus Scotus; Denny Guinn, Omaha Cathedral; Steve Mclntyre, Auburn; Randy Cole, Nebraska City; Steve Black, Aurora; Tom Sigel, Fairbury; Larry Wiederspan, Crete; John Roberts, Lexington; Calvin Paschold, Norris; Dean Ott, Logan View; Dennis Wortmann, Hartington CC.

ing chores. He averaged 45.8 per boot this fall. Central Citys Mike Heeney compiled the pass catching records to earn him the call at the other flank. Opposing coaches said the 6-1 split end was unstoppable against single coverage. Heeney snared 28a erials for an average gain of 22.4 yards per catch.

The center of the all-state line is anchored by Auburn's Kurt year. The Wildcat Roster Tom Farmer Ron Green David Hall Ernie Kusnyer Dennis Lull Steve Mitchell Eddie Smith Terry Snider Jack Thomas Lindbergh White Bob Zender 6- 1 175 Jr. Tribune, Kansas 6- I 'B0 So. Concordia, Kansas F-C 6- 6 190 Jr. Savannah, Georgia G-F 6- 5 190 So.

Akron, Ohio 6- 1 ISO Jr. Smith Center. Kansas 6-10 245 So. Oklahoma City. Oklahoma 6-4 180 Sr.

Pueblo, Colorado 6-3 H5 Sr. Pueblo. Colorado 6-3 210 Jr. St. Louis, Missouri 510 175 So.

Omaha. Nebraska 6- 7 210 Jr. Wyckoff, New Jersey I iiSi li Wtkl I indicates Varsity Letter The Schedule Mh eh tyi December 1: Texas Christian; 5- Indiana: 11: at Wichita Stat Wi Ma State; 14: at Vanderbilt; 18-19: at Kentucky Invite; 21: Washington, at Big tight Tourney. January 9: Nebraska; 11: at Oklahoma, 16: at Mssouri; 21: Houston; 25: Finnev Lutton Ashland Halfback Oklahoma; 30: at Colorado. February 1: at Kansas; 6: loa State.

8: Oklahoma Sidle, 13: at Iowa 20: Colorado; 22: Kansas; 27. at Oklahoma State. March 2: at Nebraska; 6: Missouri. Hirsch Gothenburg Guard Kent Auburn Center Erwin Laurel Quarterback Kropp Aurora Fullback Thomas Pierce Tackle Peterson Ord Guard Heeney Central City End Pius Halfback Adams Lexington Tackle Gary Schmidt Grand Island CC End 1.