The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 41

TT- THE TAMPA TRIBUNE Sunday, September 16, 1990 Section Gatorball rally bles TMe Blocked punt lifts UF, 17-131 rrrr iff By CHRIS HARRY Tribune Staff Writer TUSCALOOSA, Ala. Something had to give with the Florida Gators' offense during Saturday's Southeastern Conference clash with Alabama. Their defense wasn't about to. Trailing by 10 points and going nowhere offensively, Florida rediscovered its Gatorball ways and rallied for a 17-13 victory over the Crimson Tide before a sellout crowd of 70,123 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Quarterback Shane Matthews passed for 267 yards and one touchdown, while Florida's defense forced four Alabama turnovers including three interceptions by free safety Will White in keeping the Crimson Tide's high-powered offense in check.

UFs Jimmy Spencer helped provide the final victory margin early in the final quarter when he blocked an Alabama punt that teammate Richard Fain fell on in the end zone for the winning touchdown. "We were behind on the road against a big-time conference opponent and we were able to come away with a victory," Florida coach Steve Spurrier said. "That re-' ally made it a very special win, not just for me and the team, but for all Gators. This is one we'll remember and hopefully help us 't down the stretch." "I think we've got something special here," fullback Dexter McNabb said. "It's tough to say, but I don't think we'd haye pulled this one out last year." The Gators (2-0, 1-0) scored 17 points over an eight-minute span of the third and fourth quarters to spoil the on-campuS coaching debut of Alabama's Gene and hand the Crimson Tide (0-2, 0-1) a- i fourth consecutive loss for the first timerj since 1956.

7tJ "We improved over last week, but the 4 bottom line is we lost," said Stallings, whose team was upset last week by Southern sissippi. "Football is a game of plays and a couple of times we didn't make them." For a while, the Gators weren't making them either. Florida blew a trio of scoring opportunities in the first half, twice denied on fourth-and-one running plays Alabama territory. Matthews, was ineffective at the outset of his first" road game and threw for only 65 yards tn the first half. Spurrier shouldered the blame.

i See GATORS, Page lfD Seminoles streak to 48-6 win mi 4 Associated Press photograph (21) breaks free for yardage with the LI t- if Florida running back Dexter McNabb Alabama defense in pursuit Erickson lifts UM past Cal By TIM LIOTTA of The Associated Press BERKELEY, Calif. Even on Craig Erickson's best day, Miami bounced back only so high. Erickson threw for 467 yards, one shy of the school record, and four touchdowns and ran for another score as the No. 10 Hurricanes rebounded from a season-opening loss to Brigham Young with a sloppy 52-24 victory over California on Saturday. Miami (1-1), No.

1 in The Associated Press' preseason poll, rebounded from last Saturday's 28-21 loss to BYU despite losing four fumbles, having a field goal blocked and allowing a kickoff return for a touchdown. "You get ridiculed a lot after losing like that, so you've got a lot of emotion going into the game," Miami coach Dennis Erickson said. "We just executed well and gave Craig time to throw it. "We have a long way to go. We are not where we want to be.

We're not consistent enough, especially on defense. Our kickoff returns were terrible. We didn't play well on special teams." In spite of the miscues, UM piled up 599 yards in total offense and set a team record for passing yards behind Erickson's performance. "We moved the football and we controlled the line of scrimmage," Erickson said. "Last week's loss will be treated like yesterday's newspaper.

I don't want yesterday's newspaper. I want today's news." Cal, still within a touchdown with less than a quarter to play, was not overawed with the defending national champs. "They're not No. 1 in the nation," said Cal quarterback Mike J-. See MIAMI, Page 11D i Miami receiver Player Gino Craig Bemie Craig Steve The Morning After Tom McEwen With Spurrier, Gators gamble then ramble TUSCALOOSA, Ala.

So what do you do if your first two gambles don't pay off? You keep on gambling if you're Steve Spurrier. Saturday, that bravado returned all the riches in Florida's 17-13 victory over Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium. With Alabama leading 7-0 in the first half, Spurrier his team at the Alabama 20, then at the Tide 27 disdained field-goal tries and tried in vain for a yard on fourth down. He would then see Alabama take a 10-0 lead in the third quarter as his offense under young quarterback Shane Matthews continued to sputter. But he stayed with Matthews and grew bolder with his passing game, uncertain as it had been.

In the end, that passing game, and a cooperating Gator defense that produced a blocked punt for seven points, led to the first Florida win here since senior linebacker Jerry Odom's daddy, Gerald Odom, played for the Gators in 1963. Big plays open door The major Gatorball gambles that paid off: Trailing 10-0 in the third quarter and that Spurrier-Matthews offense in neutral with a second-and-10 at the Gator 33, Spurrier called on Shane to throw across the middle to wide receiver Alonzo Sullivan from Largo. Perfect throw, perfect catch, in traffic, for 19 yards. Biggest gain of the game. The Gators drove to a score, the points coming on a Matthews pass to Terence Barber.

With Alabama then leading 10-7, Gator safety Will White intercepted an Alabama pass at the Florida 2, ending that threat. On the first play after the interception, Matthews dropped back into the end zone, saw Ernie Mills clear the safety and lofted the ball some 45 yards in the air. Mills took it and made a 70-yard gain for a first down at the Alabama 28. The Gators were out of a hole and on their way to a tying field goal by Arden Czyzewski. Minutes later, Jimmy Spencer blocked an Alabama punt for a touchdown and the 17-10 lead.

The 70-yard pass from a danger zone stirred the crowd and sparked the Gators to produce 10 points. "Aw, it was almost like a punt," said Spurrier, of the daring pass from his own end zone. "Heck, even if they intercepted it, it'd be all right. Shane really put it up, didn't he? And ol' Ernie really got behind the guy, didn't he?" Florida was leading 17-13, had a second-and-10 at its own 42, 1:45 left in the game, and Alabama had taken a timeout. Florida needed a first down to run out the clock.

Spurrier called on Matthews to throw a pass in that sensitive situation to fellow sophomore Tre Everett. He did, to the left side, for an 11-yard gain and a first down. Only thing was, Everett ran out of bounds to stop the clock. But, the Gators ran out the clock anyway and preserved the victory. Offense sputtered early "The pass then? Oh, I told Shane to be real careful," Spurrier said, "and he was.

He stuck it in a little hole there. I ran out and jumped on Tre for running out of bounds, then I remembered and said, 'but this is the first time you've been involved in running out the clock, Tre looked at me and said, 'Coach, this is the first time I've been involved in a lot of Everett caught his first pass as a collegian a week ago in the Gators' 50-7 victory over Oklahoma State. "Oh," said Spurrier, after talking about how important the win was to everyone, "it was my fault," the offense in the first half. "Worst half of play-calling for me in a long time. I looked down and said, 'Heck, here are some ball plays I haven't even run yet.

So in the second half we started going down the field more and we were getting better protection, too, in part because Alabama was tiring, and it worked." He said he never considered substituting Matthews, that "he's my quarterback and that's that." Matthews in the first half was 9-for-19 for 65 yards, fumbling once. In the final two quarters, Matthews had 12 of 18 passes caught for 201 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted once, with Florida ahead 17-10 and driving. It was a big-play game and Florida, a bit bolder than Alabama, had more big plays. But the Alabama defense, and according to Spurrier his own decisions, checked the Gators without points until the third quarter and only 10 overall, produced by the offense.

Indeed, the Florida running game gained only 66 yards to 142 by Alabama. The Tide had the ball five minutes more By JIM HENRY Tribune Staff Writer TALLAHASSEE Now, back on the football field Third-ranked Florida State, the newest member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, dis- played the old GLAD HANDS form its fans FSU-ACC shake on are accus- deal to bring tomed to Sat- Seminoles into urday night in league play1 5D an over-whelming 48-6 win over Division I-AA Georgia Southern. A crowd of 62,111 at Doak Campbell Stadium watched FSU (2-0) erupt for 24 fourth-quarter points to shake the Eagles and extend its nation-best win streak to 12 games. It was supposed to be easy and the Seminoles played their roles perfectly. Heroes taking bows included reserve freshman running back Sean Jackson, who stepped in for 112 rushing yards on a mere seven carries.

His 51-yard fourth-quarter run was the Seminoles' longest from scrimmage in two years. Then there was take a guess cornerback Terrell Buckley, who returned a fourth-quarter punt 67 yards for a touchdown to go with a 61-yard effort last week against East Carolina. He's the first FSU player to accomplish that feat in consecutive games. And let's not forget the Seminole defense, pushed around for 299 yards in the 45-24 victory over the Pirates. FSU limited the option-attack Eagles to 161 total yards, 10 first downs and two of 13 third-down conversions.

GSU fumbled nine times, losing four. The loss was the Eagles' worst since restarting their football pro-See FSU, Page 15D TOP 25 1. Notre Dame beat Michigan, 28-24. Page 10. 2.

Auburn beat 24-10. Page 10D. Iississippi 3. FSU beat Georgia Southern 48-6, Page 1D. 4.

Michigan lost to Notre Darned 28-24. Page 1D. 5. BYU beat Washington State- 50-36, Page 16D. 6.

Southern Cal beat Penn State 19-14, Page 16D. 7. Tennessee beat UTEP 56-0, Page 10D. 8. Nebraska did not play.

9. Colorado lost to Illinois 23-22. Page 16D. 10. Miami beat California 52-24, Page 1D.

11. Virginia beat Navy 56-14, Page 13D. 12. Texas beat SW Louisi-, ana 63-14, Page 16D. 13.

Pitt lost to Oklahoma 52-10, Page 16D. :) 14. Oklahoma beat Pitt 52-10, Page 16D. i 15. Arkansas beat Tulsa 28-3, Page 16D.

16. Clemson beat Maryland 18-17. Page 13D. 17. Ohio State beat Boston College 31-10, Page 16D.

18. Houston did not play. 19. Michigan State tied Syracuse 25-25. Page 160.

20. Arizona at New Mexico, late. 21. Illinois beat Colorado 23-22, Page 16D. 22.

Washington beat Purdue 20-14. Page 16D. 23. Texas did not play. 24.

Florida beat Alabama 17-13, Page 1D. 25. Arizona State vs. Colorado State, late. Who: Buccaneers vs.

Rams. When: Today at 1 p.m. Where: Tampa Stadium. TV: Blacked out locally. Radio: WRBQ (1380 AM).

BUCS, RAMS STATS 20 BUCS, RAMS DEPTH CHARTS 19D NFL GAME DAY 20D sack exchange? "When I was younger, I was looking for more of the glamour," he said. "Now I try to do my job. My position is not a glamour position. The outside linebackers are where Associated Press photograph quarterback Craig Erickson aims downfield for a against California. Opponent Year Cmp Att Yards Torretta San Jose St.

1989 32 49 468 Erickson California 1990 32 47 467 Kosar Boston College 1984 25 38 447 Erickson San Diego St. 1989 27 45 424 Walsh Notre Dame 1988 31 50 424 'BBBHBBHHBHBUHBBHmBr Buccaneers brace for more balanced attack from Rams Notre Dame rallies for win A Tribune Wire Report SOUTH BEND, Ind. Sophomore Rick Mirer, making his first start at Notre Dame, threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Adrian Jarrell with 1:40 remaining Saturday to give the top-ranked Fighting Irish a 28-24 victory over No. 4 Michigan. The loss spoiled the debut of Michigan coach Gary Moeller, who succeeded Bo Schembechler.

Notre Dame (1-0), which ascended to the top of the rankings last week when No. 1 Miami lost, led 14-3 before the Wolverines closed to 14-10 at halftime. Michigan (0-1) scored twice in the third quarter to take a 24-14 lead before the Irish rallied. Notre Dame marched 80 yards in 11 plays at the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth quarter. Rodney Culver scored on a 1-yard plunge to pull the Irish to 24-21.

The Wolverines had a chance to extend the lead on a drive that led to the Irish 11. But Notre Dame linebacker Michael Stone-breaker intercepted Elvis Grbac's first-down pass in the end zone. '-at -A" Tennis Manon Bollegraf, Meredith McGrath upset No. 2 seeds Robin White, Gigi Fernandez in Light N' Lively semifinals. Page 3D Baseball Pirates lose fourth straight; Mets slice lead in NL East to one-half game.

Page 4D f.Totorsports Daredevil Robbie Knievel makes successful jump at DeSoto Speedway. Page 8D Track and field American Mark Witherspoon tops Carl Lewis, Leroy Bur-rell again in 100 meters. Page 9D By NICK PUGLIESE Tribune Staff Writer TAMPA Bucs inside linebacker Ervin Randle knows the key to stopping the Los Angeles Rams in today's 1 p.m. game at Tampa Stadium. Randle said the defense cannot pay too much attention to quarterback Jim Everett and receivers Henry Ellard and Willie "Flipper" Anderson, and forget about the other part of the offense that churns out rushers the way Stephen King cranks out horror novels.

"In 1987, we went out to L.A. to play these guys and Charles White ran all over us (for 137 yards)," Randle said. "I think they're going to come in here and try to run the football. They have a great running back (Curt Warner) and a great offensive line. I don't think they are going to take a 50-50 chance of throwing it up and trying to catch it.

They're going to get the run going and then intermix it with the pass." Randle started the season with a flourish. His 2'i sacks in last week's victory over Detroit matched his career total. Is the six-year veteran from Baylor who led the team in tackles two of the last three seasons ready to become a member of the See GAMBLES, Page 14D BUCS, Page 19D.