Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 17

PFESTExtra Point, 20-21Monev. 22 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 19ftfl LINCOLN, NE. JOURNAL 17 Playieg for real co horizon, that's abig benefit of NU- Kickoff is 1:30 p.m. Tom Osborne wanted Nebraska to have a game's worth of experience before taking on nationally ranked UCLA in Pasadena, Calif, Sept 10. UCLA also is a reason Osborne never considered asking Utah State to switch Saturday's game back to Sept 17 after Nebraska agreed to open its season starters hO 7 i j4 WIST Wt With VILA on ir By Mike Babcock Journal Sprite Writer Scrimmaging Just Isnt the same as actually playing a football game.

That's why Nebraska is playing Utah State this Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium instead of Sept 17, the date on which the Cornhuskers' home opener originally was scheduled. Probable NEBRASKA (14) No. Plover Ht 1 Morgan Gregory 62 BobSledst 5 Andy Keeler 59 Jeff Anderson 76 John Nelson 70 DouoGlaser 43 ToddMlllikan Steve Taylor 32 Ken Clark 6-0 6-2 6-3 64 6-1 6-7 6-3 ,64 '5-9 6-1 64 5-9 25 Sam Schmidt 21 Richard Bell 16 Chris Drennan Broderlck Thomas 84 Willie Griffin 74 Mike Murray 95 Paul Brungardt 42 Jeff Mills 40 Pat Tyrone 47 LeRoy Etlenne 8 Lorenzo Hicks 17 Reggie Cooper 4 Tim Jackson 10 i Charles Fryar 4 John Kroeker 6-3 6-3 5-10 6-7 6-3 6-2 6-1 64 6-3 64 5-10 5-11 OFFENSE Wt. Yr. Pos.

185 Jr. SE 270 Sr. LT 265 Sr. LG 270 Jr. 260 Sr.

RG 295 Jr. RT 235 Sr. TE 205 Sr. QB 200 Jr. IBHB 230 Jr.

FB 195 Jr. WBFL 180 Jr. DEFENSE 235 Sr. LOLBE 275 Sr. LT 240 Jr.

MG 255 So. RT 270 Jr. ROLB 230 SO.WLBILB48 230 Sr. SLBILB 195 Sr. LCB 200 So.

SS 190 Sr. FS 175 Sr. RCB 175 Sr. Utah State game Nebraska sacked Texas AIM quarterback Bucky Richardson once. Tackle Paul Brungardt a redshirted sophomore, threw him for a 7-yard loss.

And outside linebacker Broderlck Thomas was credited with hurrying Richardson five times In passing situations. We had good pressure," said Tony Samuel Thomas' position coach. But AIM'S offense was more option-oriented than the offense the Cornhuskers win face on Saturday. "They've got probably as good of a throwing team as weU see," McBride said. "A lot of people dont believe that, but they've got an ex-.

cellent quarterback and receiver and big linemen, good pass The receiver Is senior Kendal Smith. And the interior of Utah State's offensive line, which is comprised of three seniors and two juniors, averages nearly 270 pounds per man. Despite the eight sacks last year, "I thought they did a good job. We were Impressed with them. They were tough," said McBride.

The best pass rusher in Nebraska's defensive interior is probably tackle Willie Griffin, according to McBride. At least "he's the guy who has the most knowledge of it" McBride sail Backup middle guard Lawrence Pete, who didnt make the trip to the Kickoff Classic, "probably has the most ability rushing the passer out of all of them. He's got some quickness and strength," said McBride, who plans to alternate against Texas in the Kickoff Classic. The Cornhusker coach would rather have his team play than scrimmage a week before facing the Bruins. Utah State should be a good test for a Nebraska defense that will have to contend with Troy Altaian, UCLA's Heis- man Trophy candidate quarterback.

Like Alkman, Aggie quarterback crent Snyder is primarily a passer, which means the Cornhuskers will have to mount a rush to be successful. Undesirable things are likely to happen If we dont get to that quarterback (Snyder)," said Charlie McBride, Nebraska's defensive coordinator. The Cornhuskers sacked Snyder and bis backup eight times in last year's 56-12 victory at Memorial Stadium. "But that was with some pretty good people McBride said. Among those people were tackles Nell Smith, Tim Rother and Lee Jones, all of -whom are gone Smith and Rother to the National Football League.

McBride isn't certain how this year's tackles win compare as pass rushers. He does know, however, that "they've got a long way to go on their pass rushing. It's experience, just getting in there and doing it You can work on it a lot in practice and get the minor points down," said McBride. "But when they get in the game, they seem to be afraid to do the things they do in practice. They've got to out of their shell, keep going." 1 UTAH STATE (04) No.

Plover 9 Kendal Smith 5-10 72 DanHIII 6-7 79 Jerry Brown 6-5 52 Sld Roberts 6-3 75 David Walker 6-2 54 John Stephens t4 5 Keith Robertson 6-2 12 Brent Snyder 40 Brett Payne 64 38 TlmoTagaloa 64 3 Patrick Newman 6-1 4 Russ Moody 5-10 93 Todd Thornton 6-3 86 JeffHunsaker 6-5 74 RobVonDePol 6-3 95 Drew McConndlesi 64 89 Rob Miller 64 Kevin Bouwmon 6-1 49 DelLyles 6-2 22 Scott Munson 5-10 25 Toby Tyler 6-1 15 Travis Clark 6-3 46 Dexter Pointer M0 19 Louie Agular 6-3 Stadium. Pete with Mike Murray and Junior Monarrez against Utah State. The outside linebackers may have a "But a nose (guard) is a lot less likely better opportunity than either the mid-to get to the passer because he's got two guys blocking him. A tackle probably See HUSKERS on page 18 Radio: Lincoln KFpR (1240 AM), Omaha KFAB (1100 AM), Lincoln KRNU (90.3 FM). Rosters in Extra Point, pages 20 and 21 They ran like they Air East rallies for opening win V.I Wt.

Yr. 182 Sr. 280 Jr. 280 Sr. 266 Sr.

267 Sr. 255 Jr. 224 Jr. 218 Sr. 190 Jr.

222 Sr. 195 Jr. 156 Jr. 223 Sr. 250 Jr.

245 Fr. 240 So. 230 Jr. 225 So. 215 Fr.

175 So. 188 Fr. 195 SO. 165 Fr. 210 Sr.

again for a 29-yard gain and then caught a 6-yard touchdown pass on a' slant over the middle for a 21-6 East lead. The Spartans had scored 14 points in 45 seconds. "We looked better in the second half after being In a hole the entire second quarter," said Zentic. "At halftime, we just said let's go out and execute and do a better job of playing. After Widmeyer blocked another punt late in the third quarter, an interception ended the East threat But Kurk Bardsley caused a Viking fumble two plays later, East recovered, and Eubanks capped that drive with a 19-yard scoring pass to Kechely.

"Widmeyer is a tough kid two blocked punts and a fumble recovery," Zentic said. "I think the trademark of this team will be that the kids are ited and emotional, especially the offense tonight They were nervous and wanted to play better. We had some bright spots in our running game, but we have to get that going better. And the passing game should help us do The Spartans rushed for 76 yards on 24 carries. Rick Shlpman led the attack with 52 yards on 12 carries.

Eubanks passed for 124 yards, completing 9-of-20 with three interceptions for the Spethman caught four for 71 and Kechely caught four for 58. North Coach Herman Colvin said the East passing game finally took advantage of his team's youth. "Eubanks is a good quarterback and Spethman is a super receiver," said Colvin. "And I think Eubanks didnt Jhrow as well as usual But we held them to 30 or 40 yards in the first half and that's pretty good. But we had a sophomore cornerback, and after our defensive ends got hurt, we had two sophomores there.

I 7 "This is a young group mostly freshmen, sophomores and juniors. We only have 12 seniors on the squad. We took a thumping tonight, but well get better." a 1 By Ryly Jane Hambleton Journal Sport Writer Once Lincoln East found the right patterns, the Spartans' passing game shifted into high gear. East roared back after a mistake? prone first half with 118 passing yards and three third-quarter touchdowns to post a 28-12 season-opening victory Thursday over Omaha North at Sea-crest Field. "After looking at what happened in the first half, we thought we could pick on the back side," said East Coach Lee Zentic.

"Matt Spethman faked in and when the defender took the fake, he went to the back side. That's what worked for the first touchdown, and it was the same play to set up the next score." East held a 7-6 lead at halftime, and its passing game had netted just six yards and one Interception by a young Viking squad. The Spartans' touchdown came when Eddie Widmeyer blocked a punt on the last play of the first quarter, scooped up the ball and raced 15 yards to score. Penalties kept East pinned in its territory in the second quarter, and the Vikings finally capitalized with 10 seconds left in the half when quarterback Steve Humphrey connected with Sonny Schiotfeld on a 38-yard play-action pass. The two-point run attempt failed, but North had the momentum, particularly when Lamont Gilchrist intercepted a Chris Eubanks pass with 9:39 left in the third quarter.

The momentum didnt last long, though. East's Mike Gruber recovered a fumble on North's first play after the interception and Eubanks went to work. After a holding penalty, Eubanks hit Jamie Kechely with a 14-yard pass and Spethman with a 5-yard gainer. Eubanks got a first down on a quarterback sneak and then hit Spethman on the backside fake for a 31-yard touchdown. The Spartans were able to add fuel to the fire when Widmeyer recovered a short kickoff that North failed to cover.

Spethman ran the backside fake By McKeever Journal Sport Writer FIRTH Cinderella is still waiting for someone to return her slipper. In all likelihood, Blair's Jodl Kruse still has it The 5-foot-8 junior setter refused to let Norris' season-opening volleyball match turn Into a ball, as she guided the Class top-ranked Bears to a 14-16, 15-5, 15-5 victory before an estimated 500 spectators at the Norris Middle School Gymnasium Thursday. Kruse ran Blair's 5-1 attack to near-perfection, accounting for 29 set assists with just three errors. "Jodl has some skills beyond this level," Blair Coach Laurel Deny said. Conners Powerful it By Ryly Jane Hambleton Journal Sporo) Writer Shane Wichtendahl of Lincoln High came down from the mountains to the valley to pull ahead.

Fremont's Kelly Mendenhall had something to prove to herself. The two runners captured individual honors Thursday in the Nebraska Wes-leyan Invitational cross country meet at Pioneers Park. But solid team efforts earned Lincoln Southeast both team championships in the opening meet of the season. Wichtendahl said his training at a cross country camp in Oregon helped him in the season-opening race. "The camp was in the mountains and I think the altitude helped my lungs," he said.

"I know my lungs won't give out on me." He said he wanted to lead his team through the first 3,000 meters of the course before holding off a charge by Southeast's Rolando Sanchez and Sean Shaeffer. "I figured a couple of runners would go out too fast so I had to be careful of that," he said. "But TJ. (Hubbard) and Joel (Johnson) were doing well for the team, and then Shaeffer and Rolando came up on me, so I opened up the lead in the valley around 3,000 meters into the race. "I like that so I dont have to kill myself on the hill (later in the course)." Sanchez finished second and Shaeffer fourth to lead the Knights to the victory with 33 points.

All five of LSE's scoring runners earned medals, with Pat Trainor finishing sixth, Greg Leuenber-ger ninth and Jason Coyle 12th. Lincoln High was second in the team race with 65 points, followed by Fremont with 108. "I thought we would be real deep and this shows it" said Southeast Coach Ted Larson. "You have to be patient in cross country you cant go out and win it in the first 2,000 or 3,000 meters. "That's what is especially pleasing about Rolando.

He had to learn that When WicUtendahl took off with 2,000 left Shaeffer was trying to battle it out him and kind of got left behind. was real patient and ran his own race." Mendenhall said that although she finished in the top 10 in most races last year, she wasn't quite in with the top runners. "The Tussings (Amy and Angy of Lincoln High) and Nancy (DeVoogd of Southeast) were always up ahead I was never with them," she said. "So I wanted to stay with Nancy. She came up on me and I went stride for stride with her, which is tough because her stride is longer than mine.

"After that I had to stretch it out because I knew if I gave up too easy or too early that she would pull away." Mendenhall said an increased workout program this summer helped her make the improvement "I ran four miles a day, went through a swim workout and lifted weights," she said. "I was outside a lot since I was a lifeguard and I ate a lot of healthy foods. "Once I got used to the routine, it was easy to stay with it" Devoogd finished second to lead the Southeast girls' victory. Sophomore Kristl Anderson was third, Lee Klechel was fifth and Jenny Hyde was seventh as the Knights scored 39 points. Hastings was second at 68, Fremont third with 80 and Lincoln High fourth at 98.

"We have to keep In mind that Fremont and Lincoln High have been there (at or near the top) before and know what to do," said Larson. "There is a lot of time left In this season, but we did look real good today." planned East's Rick Shlpman eludes Omaha North's Marzeo Badgett school football game at Seacrest Field. Blair Kruses to win in volleyball opener Bears going was defensive backup and tipping, which Kruse also ted in with five. Norris, which had five blocks for points in the first set, got none the rest of the match. "They started tipping, hitting down the line and cross and we got shook a bit," Norris Coach Ann Schroeder said.

"But I'm proud of the kids. They're scrappers and kept hustling. It's great to open up with Blair." Norris, despite winning just nine games In the last two years, has taken Blair to three sets in each of the teams' last three meetings. The latest according to Schroeder, came against Blair's IAN DOREMUS LINCOLN JOURNAL during Thursday's night's high do is play ban. They (Aman and Benson) were a little timid at first but after they got a few hits and realized they could play varsity baE, they did OK.

"We had a good team camp (during summer) so I knew we had the abilities. (The opener) was nerves and Norris has a good ball team. They're real scrappy and play with a lot of motivation." Senior Bev Wedding paced Norris with nine kills and two blocks, while Chris OeDing and Heather Wubbels each had eight set assists. See VOLLEYBALL on page 19 with Becker In England before Wimble-doa "He gave me a little bit of a stink, I chose (Pat) Cash to win Wimbledon, and he (Becker) said that I wasn't that good a player. "I was very keyed up to play this match.

I wanted to win very badly." Mark Woodforde, ranked 36th, took care of four-time Open champion McEnroe 7-5, 44, 6-7 (3-7), 64, 6-L McEnroe, who lost to Woodforde at the Canadian Open last month, looked very ordinary. See OPEN on page 19 "That may be negative in her cause because people (referees) dont always look for that, but I thought they did a good job tonight and Jodl played very we!" Deny, whose team finished runner-up to champion Grand Island Central Catholic in 1987, has switched the Bears' offensive formation from a 6-2 to a 5-1 primarily to better utilize Kruse. "Jodl is really an excellent setter," Deny said. "Why take the ball out of her bands?" Kruse spread the ball around to seven different hitters to help Blair to a 42-19 advantage on attacks. What got the advances ment this way," said Noah, who has tendinitis in both knees.

"This is very, very disappointing considering the amount of work I put in. "I think I've tried everything but an operation. My season is finished. If I'm going to have an operation, it would have to be now." Connors, a five-time Open champion, Is the oldest man in the tournament Tve been here so long it's a natural to be here on my birthday," he sail "I've never thought about something else." i best team. "You have to give them credit They are the No.

1 team in the state," she said. "They're better than last year. They're Class A (caliber)." That's mainly because the Bears have four returning starters from 1987 but the two newcomers didnt fare badly Thursday. Junior outside hitter Carrie Aman led Blah- with eight kills, while senior middle hitter Tammy Benson had four. "Just getting them to jell is going to take some time," Deny said.

"Early in the season, we've had problems, but why get upset? At this point, all we want to White tt-aC 7-5, Maleeva downed Laxml Poruri 6-1, 6-1, and Hanika ousted Ann Grossman 6-2, 6-2. Cm Thursday, Boris Becker and John McEnroe were ousted from the tournament by a pair of Australians. Darren CahUL ranked 33rd in the world, and sore feet did in Becker. The fifth seed from West Germany, who has-nt won a Grand Slam title since Wimbledon In 1986, never was in the match, losing 64, 6-J, 6-1 "Anyone could see that he was pretty Injured," said CahilL who had words iii U.S. Open; Noah quits Asked if he will be at the Open when he's 50, Connors "If I am, IH have a hotdog and drink and go sit up in row 60 with my kids and watch.

Then in say one of two things -'Boy, they can or 'Maybe I can come back at Four women's seeds won their second-round matches in straight sets No. 7 Helena Sukova, No. 12 Barbara Potter, No. 14 Katerina Maleeva and No. 15 Sylvia Hanika.

Sukova beat Dlanne Balestrat of Australia 6-2, 64, Potter defeated Robin NEW YORK (AP) Jimmy Connors celebrated his 36th birthday today by moving into the third round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, while painful knees forced Yannick Noah to quit in his match against Australian Jason Stol-tenberg. Connors, the sixth seed, beat Gilad Bloom of Israel at the National Tennis Center. Noah, seeded seventh, was trailing Stoltenberg 6-2, 6-7 (9-11), 5-1 when he retired. "It's difficult to go of a tourna-.