The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 33

35-7 Gophers, Big-Play Cornhuskers Sto their 34-7 win over Oregon, they quickly established themselves as the dominant force in the first quarter. Continued on Page 3D Ground Gopher Time NU MU Left First Quarter "mm Rodgers, 25 pass from 7:38 Tagge to split end Woody Cox, then sent Kenney steaming around the two. Kiinney then leaped over left guard Dick Rupert for the touchdown to cap the drive. For all practical purpooses the game was over. The Cornhuskers regrouped defensively at halftime and elected to stress the aerial game when on the attack.

When the regulars departed after three quarters the 35-7 margin had been convincingly established. Minnesota bent the No. 2 defense, but failed to crack it early in the fourth quarter and from that point on neither team made a serious threat. Although the Cornhuskers were not quite as sharp as in Cornhuskers took possession at their own 20 with just 2:12 left in the half. It looked for a moment like Nebraska might be content to run out the clock as Jeff Kinney slammed over right tackle for three yards on the first then Tagge, who has had spectacular success in three games against the Gophers, hit tight end Jerry List for a 22-yard gain to the Nebraska 45.

After an incomplete pass, he hooked up with Kinney for 13 yards and the Gophers corralled the big I-back by pulling on his face mask. That put the ball on the Minnesota 28 with 1:06 to play. Tagge threw a 17-yard strike 10th in a row against a Big Ten opponent under Bob Devaney, was not a cut and dried affair from the start. It started that way, as the Cornhuskers captured a 14-0 first quarter lead, but there were some 13 minutes of anxiety to endure in the second quarter as the Gophers made their one big push. Marching 79 yards in 13 plays through the heart of the Cornirusker defense, the Gophers pulled to within 14-7.

Then the Nebraska attack lost the machine-like effectiveness it had displayed for five quarters this season. That, coming on the heels of the defensive letdown, spelled big trouble for the Cornhuskers. Any Minnesota hopes of halting Nebraska's 20-game unbeaten string were snuffed out just before halftime, however. Bill Light's recovery of an errant Tagge pitchout at the Nebraska 39 gave the Gophers a chance to pull even. Six plays and ai Nebraska piling penalty later, the Gophers were first and goal at the Nebraska 10.

Big John Dutton, sophomore tackle guilty of piling on the previous play, started the change of fortunes when he stopped quarterback Craig Curry for a two-yard loss. Linebacker Bruce Hauge stepped up to stop Curry for another loss and the Minnesota quarterback failed on a third MU NU First downs 21 24 Rushing yardage 48-195 Passing yardage 157 226 Return yardage 106 69 Tasscs 17-36-2 15-25-0 Punts 7-40 7-36 Fumbles lost 2 1 -I Yards penalized 49 37 By DON FORSYTHE Hie big play is back! Nebraska, which killed 4 Oregon with hammer-like 3 ground thrusts last week, turned to the sword to dispose of Minnesota Saturday, i Jery Tagge's record-breaking I three touchdown tosses to John- ny Rodgers were the blades 1 which sliced up the Gophers, 35-7, before a record Memorial Stadium throng of 68,137. I The triumph, seventh in a row against the Gophers and 0:34 6 0 7 0 13 0 14 0 14 6 14 7 20 7 21 7 Sanger, kick Kinney, 2 run Sanger, kick Second Quarter Henry, 6 run Anderson, kick 9:08 Section LINCOLN, NEB. SEPT. 19, 1971 Page 1 and 13 pass.

that point GophercoachMurray Warmath called Mel Anderson in for a 30-yard field goal attempt. His boot sailed just outside the right upright and the 27 7 Kinney, 2 run Sanger, kick Third Quarter Rodgers, 20 pass from Tagge 6:50 Sanger, kick Rodgers, 37 pass from 28 34 Tagge 3:23 35 7 Sanger, kick TZTlZ ri i II if! I b6 v-- II I l- I 1, Vi a.j. -fiUaio S'i 1 X-j. i 1 Li i "lr Tagge: Rodgers Tops By HAL BROWN Johnny Rodgers would like to think that there's not a defensive back in the country who can stay with him one-on-one on pass patterns. Jerry Tagge says he has yet to see anyone who could.

The Nebraska quarterback and wingback teamed Saturday for six passes and 126 yards, three of them good for touchdowns in a 35-7 victory over Minnesota. "I don't like to think that there's anyone that can cover me alone," Rodgers says. "He hasn't run into anyone yet that could stay with him, Tagge pointed out. Single coverage just can't stop him." The Huskers had to pull out a few tricks to get single coverage on Rodgers Saturday with Minnesota generally trying to get help for the defensive halfback from the free safety. "We had to split them up," Rodgers explained.

"We did it by putting everyone else on the other side of the field, flooding it's called, and that meant the safety had to go over to that side to help out." The first touchdown pass to Rodgers was called by Tagge at the line of scrimmage. "We were going to run an option," the receiver recalled, "but Jerry changed the call." "I saw that they were In man-to-man coverage when we came up to the ball," Tagge explained, "and I figured Johnny could get open." Rodgers added, "Getting open isn't too difficult because our patterns are designed to get the receivers open. I was wide open on all three touchdowns." Tagge, who went for the deep passes more against Minnesota than he had a week ago against Oregon, joked, "I was doing that to get our receivers in condition." But a more serious reason for the increased number of passes was the Minnesota defense. "Minnesota defensed the run well," Tagge pointed out. "The Continued on Page 3D SUNDAY JOURNAL AND STAR COLORPHOTO BY RANDY HAMPTON Nebraska's Jerry Tagge (14) to Johnny Rodgers (20) passing combination ruined Minnesota Saturday as the pair combined for six completions, three of which went for touchdowns.

Lineman Doug Jamail (50), Keith Wortman and Carl Johnson provide protection for Tagge at the left while Rodgers cuts in front of Gopher linebacker Ron King. Tagge and Rodgers each matched Nebraska records in the three touchdown effort. 'Farther Ahead Than We Were Last Year' Game Pleases Devaney going the length of the field to score in two minutes were two very important situations," he figured. Admitting that his Huskers made a few more mistakes against the Gophers than a week ago against Oregon, the Husker coach pointed out, "Many of those were caused by a very aggressive Minnesota defense. "They hit real tough and they didn't give us the opportunity to run the ball." While calling quarterback play as well in those first two games as we have in the first two this year.

"We played a good game to-day and we're pleased with the decision. We did some fine things both on offense and on defense." Two things he thought were particularly fine was the defense stopping Minnesota deep in Husker territory just before the first half ended, then the offense taking over and driving for a touchdown. "Stopping Minnesota, then By HAL BROWN A year ago after two games the Nebraska record stood at one win and one tie. Today it stands at two wins. And head coach Bob Devaney figures his Huskers are in better shape in other ways also after Saturday's win over Minnesota.

farther ahead this year than we were last year after two games," he allowed. "We didn't play very well against Wake Forest last year and although we played well against Southern Cal, we didn't STANDINGS I ft 4-; 'Hf American East 90 GB Pcf. .612 .575 .516 .513 .399 .389 Baltimore Detroit Boston New York Washinqton Cleveland 5 14 14' i 31V, 34'. a 79 78 59 57 West Pittsburgh Clinches Tie; Giants, Dodgers Lose .636 .536 .477 .467 .463 .424 Oakland 96 55 Kansas City 81 70 Chicaqo 72 79 California 71 81 Minnesota 69 80 Milwaukee 64 87 Results 15 2 26 32 Jerry Tagge's performance "good," Devaney wasn't ready to label it "great," and in fact, admitted that he had given thought to replacing him with Van Brownson until that two-minute touchdown drive just before the first half ended. "Jerry hit some long passes that were great," Devaney observed, "But he missed some short ones that he normally completes.

His long ones to Johnny Rodgers were certainly great and Johnny made a great catch on one of them." Tagge indicated the thought had crossed his mind that he might be replaced by Brownson after making a bad pitch to fullback Maury Damkroger that gave Minnesota the ball in the second quarter. Devaney said he didn't have the same thought about that play. "That's one of those things that can happen," he said. "I wouldn't have taken him out because of that. "But if it hadn't been for that march the length of the field just before the half ended, we might have gone with Brownson in the second half.

"Jerry hadn't been as accurate with his passing as usual early in the game and the team wasn't moving like it should have been." That drive late in the first half obviously was the game's big turning point. "If they could have kept the game close, Minnesota might have been more effective on offense," Devaney pointed out. He added he was glad Minnesota didn't do more running from a three-back offense, but figures the Huskers will see plenty of it next week when Texas A invades Memorial Stadium. "We weren't able to stop Minnesota's three-back offense," he noted, "and I'm happy they didn't stay with it, but Texas A runs that type of offense and I'm sure we'll see plenty of it next week." Detroit 2, Baltimore 1 Washington 6, Boston 1 New York 9, Cleveland Chicaqo 5, California 1 Kansas City 4, Minnesota 2 Oakland 4, Milwaukee 2 SUNDAY'S GAMES Kansas City (Splittorff 8-7 and Montgomery 1-0) at Minnesota (Blyleven 13-15 and Hamm 2-2), 2 Oakland (Segui 9-7) at Milwaukee (Parsons 13-15) California (Messersmith 17-13) at Chi. caqo (Wood 20-12) Baltimore (Cuellar 13-9) at Detroit (Coleman 18-8) Boston (Moret 20) at Washington (Bro-berg 5-7) Cleveland (Dunning 8-13) at New York 1 v- INtiiiifini mi i tightened the dizzy West scramble, the Pittsburgh Pirates just about locked up the East with a 4-0 triumph over the New York Mets.

The vie-tory, coupled with the second-place St. Louis Cardinals' 4-2 loss to Montreal, clinched a tie for the Pirates. The Detroit Tigers tightened the race in the American League East by tripping the Baltimore Orioles 2-1. Detroit's victory propelled the Tigers within five games of the Eastern Division-leading Orioles. The Philadelphia Phillies trimmed the Chicago Cubs 4-3 in 12 innings and the Cincinnati By The Associated Press The charging Atlanta Braves continued to pressure the leaders in the i 1 National League West race, knocking off the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-6 Saturday while front-running San Francisco lost to San Diego 2-1.

The results left the hot Braves in third place, 5V2 games behind San Francisco and with an outside shot at the division pennant. The Dodgers, beaten for the fourth game in a row, remained two games behind the Giants in second place with less than two weeks to go in the regular season. While Atlanta further iMine ii-ijj I-back Jeff Kinney (35) plunges two yards over left tackle for his second touchdown with only 34 seconds left in the first half. Porkers Hit OSU, 31-10 National GB 142 30'. East 93 83 78 78 67 62 West 84 The Razorbacks went ahead Reds topped the Houston Astros 3-2 in 11 in the day's other National League games.

In the American League, the New York Yankees bombed the Cleveland Indians 9-0; the Chicago White Sox topped the California Angels 5-1 and the Kansas City Royals turned back the Minnesota Twins 4-2 in day games. The Braves, winning their fifth straight and seventh in nine games, wiped out an early 5- 2 deficit and went ahead for good with a two-run sixth inning capped by Mike Lum's run-scoring sacrifice fly. San Diego's Clay Kirby pitched perfect ball through seven innings and wound up with a one-hitter Willie McCovey's eight-inning home run as San Francisco fell to its 12th loss in 14 games. Steve Blass pitched a two-hitter and Richie Zisk and Dave Cash each knocked in two runs for Pittsburgh. Mickey Lolich drove in both runs against Baltimore and notched his 25th triumph for Detroit.

Washington defeated Boston 6- 1 and Oakland whipped Milwaukee 4-2 in American League night games. Pet. .608 .513 .51) .447 .408 .553 .539 .487 .437 .382 Pittsburgh St Louis Chicaqo New York Montreal Philadelphia Francisco Los Anqeles Atlanta Cincinnati Houston San Dieqo Philadlphia 12 inninqs) Pittsburgh Montreal Atlanta ncinrwtl (11 inninqs) S'3 10 10 26 79 75 74 53 Results Sunday SPORTS SLATE 4, Chicago 4. New York 0 4, St Louis 2 9, Los Angelej 6 3, Houston 2 OSU ARK First downs 10 30 Rushing yardage 27-68 58-31 Passing yardage 103 256 Return yardage 23 39 Passes 9-26-2 22-35-1 Punts 4-39 Fumbles lost 0 1 Yards penalized 43 68 Little Rock, Ark. Joe Ferguson, Arkansas' passing whiz, surprised everyone with a 35-yard touchdown run against Oklahoma State and sparked sixth-ranked Razorbacks to a 31-10 victory over the Cowboys Saturday night.

Ferguson's dash, only the fourth touchdown run of his career, gave Arkansas a 14-point lead late in the third period. His touchdown came after tailbacks Jon Richardson and Dicky Morton burned the Cowboys several times by getting outside on the triple option. Richardson finished the game with 154 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns. Morton, a sophomore speedster, gained 74 yards on 12 tries and scored once on a 39-yard run. The Razorbacks' defense did not permit OSU past the Arkansas 40 in the second half until late in the fourth quarter.

Brent Blackman, a speedy sophomore quarterback, scrambled 13 yards to a second quarter touchdown that tied the score 10-10, but from then on OSU was unable to move. to stay 17-10 when Richardson zipped four yards for a score with five seconds left in the half. The touchdown completed an 80-yard drive in which Ferguson completed five of five passes for 57 yards. Ferguson completed 19 of 29 passes for 223 yards against the Cowboys. OSU 3 7 0 010 Arkansas 3 14 7 731 ARK McClara FG 34.

OSU-Pruss FG 45. ARK Richardson 7 run McClara kick. OSU Blackman 13 run Pruss kick. ARK Richardson 4 run, McClara kick. ARK Ferguson 35 run McClara kick.

ARK Morton 39 run McCia-n kick. A 54,176. 2, Francisco 1 San Diego SUNDAY'S GAME Football Notre Dame highlights, 10:30 a.m. (3); College. Football highlights, 1 p.m.

(7); Nebraska highlights, 6 p.m. (7-10); Oakland v. New England, noon (3); San Francisco v. Atlanta, noon (6-10); Kansas City Chiefs v. San Diego, 3 p.m.

(3). Bowling Leisure Lanes, noon (7); Best of Bowling, 3 p.m. (7). Baseball Minnesota v. Kansas City 1:10 p.m.

(KLIN). All events free unlets followed- Sunday Local Auto Racing Midwest championships, 8 p.m.. Monday Local Tennis Southeast at Lincoln High, 4:15 p.m. St. Louis (Carlton 18-9) at Montreal (McAnally 10-10) Chicago (Jenkins 21-13) at Philadelphia (Lersch 4-13) New York (Koosman 6-10) at Pittsburg) (Johnson 9-9) Cincinnati (Merrltt Ml) at Houton (Soinkj 1-0) Atlanta (Nlekro 14-12 and Reed 13-12) at Los Angeles (Downing 18-8 and Sutton 14-12), 2 San Dieqo (Roberts 13-15) at San Francisco (Carrilhers 4-3) 11.