The Tampa Times from Tampa, Florida • 6

THE TAMPA TIMES, Saturday. October 7. 1961 Clearwater O'Donnell Reaches Grid Age 1 ti I is Mr Andy Pilney, it will be talked about up and down Canal Street today and it came out of football antiquity. The Idea was old but the wrinkle was new and the play acting perfect. In 'the end it was worth eight points, because of the two-point conversion that followed, and assured the victory this Florida team needs so very much.

The scene will be laid but the principals will describe the action. Florida was leading 6-3 and the outcome was far from certain. As the fourth quarter opened Florida had a first down on the Tulane 44 but sustained a five-yard delaying penalty. Dodd replaced Larry Libcrtore at quarterback and handed off to Llndy Infante who rammed five yards to put the ball back on the 44. "On that play," said Junior right end Sam Holland, "which went to the right, I went down and cut to the far left (in the direction of the Florida bench).

I didn't try to block anybody. I took my time coming back and as the Gators moved back into huddle, I ran up there with my hand up (as if substituting), yelling and screaming. No substitution was made but O'Donnell broke out of the huddle and headed toward the Florida bench; O'Donnell picks up the scenario. "I ran as if-out of the game," O'Donnell said, "but stopped just In bounds, I didn't leave the field. When the ball was snapped, I ran hard as I could straight down the field." Dodd picks it up.

"When I took the snap and moved back," the scholarly quarterback recalled, "I watched the secondary to see if they saw Jim. They didn't so I led him a little and threw." That's when the lights got in O'Donnell's eyes but very quickly he had the ball and the whole world in his hands. "Both Goodman and I had practiced the play," O'Donnell said, cocking his hat on the back of his head and leaving a mighty excited Gator dressing room to celebrate on a hamburger diet The play, Coach Ray Graves confided, was contrived "in the conference room two weeks ago. Pepper Rodgcrs and Gene Ellenson (coaches), they brought it in. "It's Just one of those plays you have around, like the Sally Rand.

We started to use it against FSU last week bu( the second down situation was never Just right," Graves said matter of factly. "Yes, Goodman and O'Donnell both practiced with it O'Donnell was in there at the time and you play with who you have. That boy certainly grew up tonight." O'Donnell played four minutes of defense against FSU, none in the Clemson opener. Last night he started the second half after the gallant Goodman was Injured as he hammered into tack-lert very near the Tulane goal line for four yards on the second play of the third quarter, his first offensive rush ever, lie was not to touch it again until his race into destiny. "I didn't even know I'd ever carried before," he said frankly.

"I was just ao excited, I guess." Neither Rodgers nor Ellenson would acknowledge that he had a part in the play's conception. That waited for Graves to make the statement and then Rodgers who was a playing hero of two Georgia Tech Sugar Bowl games on this same field, said, "I've had a lot of experience in this game, but let me tell you that was the most wonderful thing I ever saw in my life." Dodd's mother, Mrs. Bobby Dodd was among the spectators. After the game she ruffled her son's hair a bit and answered the question. "No he wasn't Just great tonight.

He's always great to me." By TOM McEWEN Timet Sports Editor NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 7 "I couldn't lee It for the lighta for a couple of mlnutea. "Then, all of a sudden, it was there and I Just reached up and grabbed it. "I was awfully scared and I was awfully lucky. "Bobby Dodd laid it on the button." That's how 19-ycar-old Jim O'Donnell, a former Clearwater High star fullback, said it felt as he was racing along the east sidelines of tho Sugar Bowl last night into the Florida history of great plays.

The Clearwater sophomore felt the football In his hands for the second time in his varsity career when he shifted Into overdrive to catch quarterback Dodd's pass at the Tulane 13 and run on into the end zone without a Greenie within shouting distance. It came In the fourth quarter, it put the game in deep freeze and it came on a play called "sneaky" by Tulane partisans, "high school" by others and the "biggest thrill of my life" by O'Donnell, subbing for a hospitalized Don Goodman. Its legality was challenged by Tulane Coach BOBBY DODO JR. DRAGONS ARE ators Young Top SEC Scorer Infante On Move Panthers Up, Rap Jefferson 21 to 0 Executioners By JAN VAN DUSER Times Sports Writer The Panthers were up and the Dragons were down. a lO $jf-f Staff Photo by Vernon Barchard HOORAY FOR JOHN! Plant Head Football Coach John Burgess gets the victory ride at Dads Stadium last night after his Panthers blanked Jefferson, 21-0.

NAVY SHOCKS HURRICANES Hardin Says Club I Eyed Win in Bowl MIAMI, Oct. 7 (IP) "What can you do without your quarterback and your line backers?" Miami's Coach Andy Gustafson moaned today after his heavily-favored Hurricanes had been trampled by a fired-up Navy football team, 17-6. The Middies, two touchdown underdogs, scored on a per Florida halfback Lindy Infante, top scorer In the Southeastern Conference, above as he skips through a hole opened up in the Greenie line. Tulane end Joe make the stop. CALLS IT ILLEGAL Tul Pilney and his aides had jumped all over Field Judge Jack Griffith as soon as Jim O'Donnell crossed the Greenie goal line with Bobby Dodd's surprise toss that put the game out of reach of Tulane.

Griffith dismissed them quickly, but when time finally ran out for Tulane, Pilney made straight for referee James Artley. The former Notre Dame great told Artley he still believed the surprise maneuver by Florida was I i i 1 i -sJf f- l-Tf'f-ff 4'fe- wttmiy tX ane DOWN Miami's most aggressive de fensive linemen, Jim uwia- honey. Halfback Jim Stewart put Maw nn thi road to victory when he took a pass from Klem- irir at tho srrimmaee line ana raced 83 yards for the initial score, with Greg Mather converting. Miami scored in the third nti art or nn nn fifl-Vflrd march climaxed by Jim Vo'llenweider's four-yard smasn. nut lampas Charles I.ivineston missed the extra point kick and Navy re mained in front t-o.

While the Middies were killing the Miami attack with three fumble recoveries and two pass interceptions, they added to their margin with a 36-yard field goal by Mather and a four-yard touchdown run by John Sai. Th Miami defeat was a shocker to 53,182 fans after the Hurricanes 25-8 win last week over Penn State, a team that had beaten Navy 20-iu. Losers King Coach Martin Carl- ton, whose Lions were de feated by Brandon last night: "We played the best game of our career on defense, and hope that the addition of two regulars next week will help our offensive punch. Salty Burns, reflecting on the loss absorbed by his Jefferson Dragons: "There was just too much Plant out there." Coach Jack 1 1 whose Jesuit Tigers lost to the Dunedin Falcons, 13-7. "Those fumbles and that pass did it.

We couldn't keep a drive going because of the fumbles (5 lost)." Play By TOM McEWEN Times Sports Editor NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 7 Three 19-year-olds executed two plays perfectly as Florida beat Tulane 14-3 here last night in the only manner in which Coach Ray Graves says his Gators can win at all this season by the unpredictable and thoroughly exciting home run. "That's the kind of team we are," he said, re-affirming a pre-season prediction. "This is not a great football team." The Gators weren't even the better team in the Sugar Bowl until half way through the third quarter. It was then they pulled off one of the two big ones Graves cherishes so to shake a plague of "mistakes" that began in the first quarter of last week's 3-3 tie with FSU.

Though they pushed Tulane everywhere over the greenery except into the end zone in the first two quarters, they trailed 3-0 just as they had against FSU. They trailed because Tulane sophomore Charles Connell had place-kicked a 30-yard first "-period field goal and the Gators were fumbling, throwing inter- ceptable passes and commiting acts punishable by loss of yards gained. Dodd Tapped But In the third quarter, with the pain in first string quarterback Larry Libertore's bum right hand leaving him without strength to manipulate the ball or even hold onto it under duress, Graves called on Dodd. The youngster, the first of the 19-year-olds, started hisa campaign at the Florida 40. He handed off to halfback Lindy Infante on an 11-yard gain, car i rled for short ones himself twice and threw a swing pass to halfback Bob Hoover at the Tulano 35.

This pass was part of a buildup to the payoff. Dodd threw to Hoover at the 29 but a mixup on a swing to the other side to Infante lost 10. Dodd threw the same flat pass to Ron Stoner on the other side and with fourth down and eight at the Tulane 33, he was ready for the "big play." Infante rolled flat to the left again and held up his hands for a reception. Meanwhile sophomore Russ Brown, the second 19-year-old in the drama, broke deep down the left sidelines. "I faked to Infante," Dodd said, "saw there was a Tulane fellow with Brown but just behind him so I lofted it over their heads." He did just that and Brown brought it in clutching it to his bosom as he skittered along the sidelines to the two before the momentum of his first direction took over and he stepped out of bounds at the two.

It did n't matter. Infante busted to the one-foot line and Dodd stepped over on the next play. Usually reliable Billy Cash missed that extra point try as he did two field goal attempts, another cause for worry for Graves along with mounting injuries, a continuing inability of the line to operate well offensively and the Rice Owls, next week's more difficult opponent. It was 6-3 and Florida was In control although not out of danger Tulane hadn't yet managed a first down against an increasingly impressive Gator defensive line play Clearwater Star The third 19-year-old in the two-play night was Clearwater sophomore Jim O'Donnell. He was on the receiving and scoring end of a 44-yard passing combination with Dodd that gave the Gators their can't lose touchdown in the fourth Actually Dodd threw another fine pass.

It was a bullet twd-pointer to end Tom Smith after the second touchdown. "This is a big conference wifi for us," Graves said. We just had to win it. I would like to say our defense played an outstanding game. They (Tulana) dropped some kev oassps hut uai.

iicuii to uur cie-fense. "I never expect to get more out of a team that is hurt as bad physically as this one he added. The Gators injury grew longer when workhorse fullback Don Goodman suffered a concussion after carrying the ball into the (Continued on Page 7, Col. it U'O milct rrlt.A Pilney Protests Sleeper Each coach admitted as much last night after Plant squashed Jefferson, 21-0, at Dads Stadium in a Dame just as important to the Western Conference race as to city supremacy. "We just weren't up for this game," sighed Jefferson Coach Salty Burns as fans and players carried Plant mentor John Burgess off the field on their shoulders.

"Our boys didn't play the game I know they're capable of. Burgess said his team looked better than last week, and that's what he said when the Panthers beat Clearwater after taking an opening loss from Robinson. So it looks like Plant is im proving all the time and could again be the team to beat in the Western Division of the West ern Conference. Last year, under Frank Lo renzo, the Panthers had a sim ilarly rocky beginning they even lost- to Jefferson but came through to win their di vision and then accomplish the biggest coup of the grid season: a win over unbeaten Hills-boroug. Didn't Have It Burgess isn't predicting any such thing yet, but it was evident last night that Jefferson just didn't have it against the charged-up Palma Ceians.

It didn't take long to establish the way the evening would go. Plant halfback Dick Whiteside returned the opening kickoff 17 yards, followed with a 38 yard sprint down the sidelines to the Dragons' 20, then a few plays later with less than four min utes gone, plowed over from the one-foot line for the first TD. Jefferson toughened up in the middle after the initial Plant score. In fact, the Dragons were solid on interior line play most of the game. But the Panthers came back with an onslaught of off-tackle and end-around plays that had the Jefferson defense reeling.

Whiteside, a tiny running package, was nevertheless the workhorse. He rolled up 100 yards on the ground, constantly getting the extra one or two yards from sheer drive. Whiteside's companion halfback Doyle Dudley, slowed by an ankle injury in the first quarter, broke into the open to snag a pass from quarterback Vernon Korhn for a 17-yard second quarter score. Korhn added the final touch with an 11-yard jaunt in the final period. All three of Bill Walker's conversion attempts were perfect.

Burns was not surprised by anything Plant showed him last night. "They played the way we ex pected." he said. "But we didn't." A fine Plant defensive secondary stopped one of Jefferson's biggest threats: the rifle arm of Quarterback Joe Castro. Castro connected with only four of 17 pass attempts. Halfback Glenn Lofley, the Dragons' big hope in their running attack, was also contained.

His occasional breaks through the Panther forward wall were brilliant but seldom. Burgess had special praise for his ends and linebackers. "Tink McNutt, Robin Roberts, (Continued on Page 7, Col. 3) Eaatera DiTlaioa All Garnet pet. I pet.

Chambrrlala Lakrland Manatrr Boca Citfa Hillsborough Roblmon Northeast Ill l.MIO SO l.INX) a itt 1.000 10 1.0"0 1 11 111 .500 11 tie lit .300 tit It I .000 It 9 .000 It Weitern Dlriiloa All Garnet RlTerricw I pet. I pet. Dixie Hotllnt Plant Clearwater Jeflertoo St. Petersburg Fort Mrert tee i.otio see 1.000 tee i.ooo tie .600 lie lie .500 1 1 .3:3 .533 .000 .000 1 1 1 1 i 000 one Sarasota 1 0 tan .000 LAST NIGHT'S RESCLTS Hillsborough Northeast 0 Plant 21. Jefferson 0 riearwatrr t.

St. Petersburg Msnatee IK. Roe a C'lrfa 1 Her West Fort Myers Lskrlsnd 35. Rlrerrlew Dixie Holllns Jo. Largo II NEXT WEEK St HEDl'LE Robinson at Bora Olera Largo at Fort Myers Northeast at Chamberlain Clearwater at Sarasota St.

Petersburg at Plant Lakeland at Hillsborough Rlrerrlew at Manatee Dixit Holllnt el Jflfertai .147 By FRANK KLEIN Times City Editor NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 7 For Tulane's Andy Pilney, a trip to a Saturday movie may take away some of the bitter, galling taste his latest trip to the Sugar Bowl left him with last night. At least, Andy hopes so. But officials in Florida's 14-3 win over the Green Wave say the game films will convince even Pilney that "that play" went strictly according to the rules. MAR AP Wlrephoto) shows Tulane why in photo Lasseigne (81) moves in to ANDY PILNEY Pilney Is 'Hanged After Gator Victory NEW ORLEANS, Oct.

7 (Special) Andy Pilney received a warning before last night's Florida-Tulane grid clash. And, immediately following the tussle, in which the Gators triumphed 11-3. the warning was fulfilled Pilney was hanged in effigy high above the campus. EBHZffl Conference All Garnet 1 I pet. wit pet Tarkef Creek East Bar Oulf High Pineerett Brandon Zephrrhllls Brssrtter Tech t0 1 MMI 10 0 10 0 1.IHNI i i toe a i .000 i tie see l.oiio MO i tie i .3:13 .500 .1100 RESCLTS LAST NIGHT Turkey Creek S.

Brewster Teen New Port Kirnr? (Gulf) II. Pine-crest 0 Itrandnn 7. Kln( South Humpter II, Zrphjrhllli 1 GAMES NEXT WEEK Plneerest at Itrandon Gull at Turks? reek Palmetto at East Bay nrooksvllle at Zephrrhlllt Brewster Tech at Punedin I III 4 fectly-executed 83-yara pass play in tne secona penuu 01 last night's game and never i i i i surrenaerea me ieau Kflw's Coach Wavne Hardin said he had been planning for this game since last Jan. 1 when Missouri defeated Navy, 21-14, in the Orange Bowl. In 1959, Navy lost to Miami, 23-8.

I "We had lost twice in the Orange Bowl and were not fcbout to lose again," Hardin said. "We didn't come here to beat Miami we came to win Jn the Orange Bowl, and we did." George Mira, the hard-passing Miami quarterback who has suffered for two weeks with bruised jibs, "couldn't lift his arm," Gustafson said. His duties were taken over by Bobby Weaver. 1 Third Injury And the Hurricanes, who had lost their first and second string line backers in injuries in previous games, saw No. 3, Ed Modzelewski, hurt early in the Navy game, along with one of Winners Hillsborough Coach Bernie Wilson, whose Terriers defeated Northeast last night: "We finally proved that our offense Is coming around growing op.

We think that our team got the boost in spirit It Coach John Burgess, whose Plant Panthers blanked Jefferson, 21-0: "We're improving every game. I'm happy with the way we moved on ffense." Coach Chuck Williams whose Dunedin Falcons whipped the Jesuit Tigers last night, 13-7. "Our defense played heads-up. They have been Improving each game, and they turned the trick for for ns tonight." illegal. Artley said he saw it all just as did Griffith.

With that, Pilney turned to Florida's Ray Graves with the comment. "Congratulations, Ray, nice game." It was some 20 minutes before Pilney came out of his office in the Tulane dressing room to offer his post game critique. Pilney, who had low-rated the 1960 club that whipped his boys 20-6 last year at Gainesville, still showed keen disappointment but acknowledged that maybe Florida is a good club this year "and should fare well in the conference." He said he was in no position on the sideline to make a comparison of Florida with Alabama, which last week defeated Tulane 9-0. "Florida is a different club than Alabama and that Liber-tore makes the difference. We concentrated on stopping Lib-ertore and feel we did a creditable job.

He is the Florida club, he made some good yardage despite all our efforts. Next week we'll have to concentrate on something else." Pilney's disappointment last night was all the keener since he felt his young sophomore loaded club had begun to jell but there was little comfort in the result. "Our offense leaves a lot to be desired," he said. "Somewhere along the line we have to come up with more offense. We hurt ourselves by dropping the ball.

If we had held onto it a couple times it would have made a big difference." Two of Pilney's stalwarts, tackle Ed Reynolds and guard Gus Gonzales, came out of the game feeling that Alabama Is a much' stronger team than Florida up front. "Florida is more like Stanford," said Reynolds. The Indians turned back Tulane 9-7 in the season opener. "But man, Florida has some good backs." Gonzales said the Gator front line was "good and quick but not up to Alabama. Start Fbota by Daa J.

Fager Tigers on the Prowl Early arrival of the Detroit Tiger Winter League, based here in Tampa, loosen up under the watchful eye of Tiger Manager Phil Cavaretta. Cavaretta will manage the Tiger Winter League team, making headquarters at Al Lopez Field. The Cincinnati Reds, spring hosts of Tampa, will have their Winter Loop team based in St. Petersburg..