The Bismarck Tribune from Bismarck, North Dakota • 13

Gopher standout can wait for pro basketball -5B Honda State doesn't go for the victory 2B I '4 I daw. JJ 1 -i Down, not out: TV Nov.20.1994 Fl iffc 0- Slumping Vikes vv take on Bucs 3B OS THE BISMARCK TRIBUNE I VtatMj Vw LJ LJ bJ ill J. jjr UND has NDSU's number in '94 if I i 1 AiSOCIATEO PRESS Miami GcliTIS shot at Huskers MIAMI (AP) The Miami Hurricanes' top-ranked defense took care of Boston College, and now it may get a crack at the nation's No. 1 team. Fifth-ranked Miami forced four second-half turnovers Saturday night and rallied past Boston College '23-7, all but clinching a berth in the Orange Bowl on Jan.

1 against top-ranked Nebraska. The Hurricanes struggled offensively against the No. 25 Eagles and trailed 7-3 at halftime. Turnovers led to both touchdowns by Miami, which ranks first nationally in total defense and scoring defense. Boston College's Mark Hartsell threw three interceptions in the second half and lost a fumble that Corwin Francis recovered at Miami's 33.

With the victory, the Hurricanes theoretically remained in contention for the national championship, finishing the regular season 10-1 overall and 7-0 in the Big East Conference. Boston College, likely bound for the Aloha Bowl against Kansas State, fell to 6-4-1 and 3-3-1. The Eagles sacked Frank Costa six times, but he withstood the onslaught to throw touchdown passes of 8 yards to Trent Jones and 27 yards to Chris T. Jones. The scores, capping drives of 47 and 67 yards, followed Kenard Lang's interception of a tipped pass and the fumble recovery by Francis.

Chad Wilson and Carlos Jones also had interceptions for the Hurricanes, who allowed just 51 points in their seven Big East games. Miami quarterback Frank Costa (11) gets stopped by Boston College's Stephen Boyd. In the end, Boston College couldn't stop the Hurricanes. Boston College scored first, capitalizing on two penalties against Miami to mount a 54-yard drive capped by Hartsell's 6-yard touchdown pass to Pete Mitchell on third down. Miami stalled several times deep in Boston College territory, and Dane Prewitt kicked field goals of 27, 24 and 32 yards.

Prewitt has made 13 consecutive attempts this season, breaking Carlos Huerta's school record of 11 straight set in 1990. The Hurricanes' scoring threat on their first possession ended when a move by coach Dennis Erickson backfired. Facing second-and-goal at the 4, Erickson replaced Costa with scrambler Ryan Collins, who threw a weak pass into the end zone that Michael Reed intercepted. Collins later ran for a two-point conversion to give Miami a 20-7 lead. -f J' (- 1 V- i GRAND FORKS (AP) North Dakotans called it the game of the century for more than one reason.

Saturday's NCAA Division II quarterfinal matchup between archrivals North Dakota (10-2) and North Dakota State (9-3) was the 100th time the two teams had met and the 100th year of football for both schools. But the 14-7 Sioux victory was the first time the teams, which each won a portion of the North Central Conference title, had met in the playoffs. "It was a tough, hard-hitting game," said UND coach Roger Thomas, whose team has beaten NDSU twice this season and three times in the past 13 months. "It was a battle of two football teams banging away." The Sioux now advance to the semifinal round next Saturday and will face No. 1 ranked North Alabama at Florence, Ala.

UND running back Ross Almlie rushed for a game-high 128 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Clay Wagner threw for 102 yards and a touchdown. "Our hogs (offensive linemen) blocked well," Almlie said. "I told them in the huddle, 'Give me a crease and I'll run through NDSU coach Rocky Hager compared the game in front of a sold-out Memorial Stadium crowd to a well-matched heavyweight fight. "When you leave vour chin exposed you're probably going to get knocked out. We exposed our chin one time too many." Specifically, turnovers proved costly for the Bison.

With the score tied at seven and a 1 :38 to go in the half, UND's David Hillesheim recovered a fumble by Bison quarterback Rob Hyland at the NDSU 14-yard line. The Sioux gained the lead four plays later, when Wagner connected on a 1-yard pass to Ryan Leingang. NDSU's sole touchdown came with 4:24 to go in the first quarter on a 1-yard run by Hyland. But UND later pulled even on Almlie's 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Hyland said ne was surprised the half time score held up.

"I thought it would take a couple more touchdowns for either team to win the game," he said. "But they just tightened up when we got close to the end zone. It's a credit to their defense, I think." Both defenses rose up in the second half, causing a total of three interceptions. NDSU's Tim Jacobsen intercepted a Wagner pass to stall a UND drive, while UND's James Cheatham and Robb Berthiume each picked off Hyland. "The defense played well in every game this year," Thomas said ofhis team.

"The coaches gave our players a good idea of what they would see in the second half. "We're thrilled to be in the final four again, and it's certainly going to be a challenge. Summary, Page 4B. Southern Cal rallies to tie Notre Dame A550CIATEB PRESS Mandan product Ryan Leingang (93) celebrates what proved to be the game-winning touchdown with UND teammates Ross Almlie, right, and Jason Schwab. Leingang has been a real pain for Bison He.

a Dakota is, we were playing in it," Leingang said, an hour after the game. "It was exciting and it's good for our program to get that exposure." We know we 11 be facing another good team," UND workhorse runnine Powlus put the Irish up 17-10 on a 1-yard quarterback sneak 9:05 into the third quarter, ending a 65-yard march that included a 31-yard run by Becton. Moments earlier, Ford kicked a 23-yard field goal for USC. The Trojans had second-and-goal at the 7, but Rob Johnson threw two incom-pletions and Ford came on. Ford missed a 37-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining in the first half, enabling the Irish to hang onto their 10-7 lead.

Rob Johnson had moved USC from its own 19 with less than a minute left before halftime. After the Trojans went in front 7-3 with 4:49 left in the second quarter, the Irish came right back with a touchdown of their own. Powlus marched Notre Dame 80 yards, capping the drive with a 11-yard scoring throw to fullback Ray Zellars, who slipped out of the backfield and caught the throw just inside the left flag at the goal line. The Trojans went ahead on Rob Johnson's 5-yard pass to Johnny Mc Williams with 4:49 left in the second quarter. On third-and-goal, McWilliams came open over the middle, caught Johnson's throw at the goal line and fell backward into the end zone.

Representatives from the Sugar, Cotton, Sun and Fiesta bowls were at the game. LOS ANGELES (AP) Southern Cal, which hasn't defeated Notre Dame since 1982, scored a late touchdown after blocking a field goal to salvage a 17-17 tie Saturday against the Irish. Notre Dame's 11-game winning streak in the rivalry thus became a 12-game unbeaten streak. Both the Trojans (7-3-1) and the Irish (6-4-1) are probably bowl-bound, but Notre Dame fell one victory short of guaranteeing itself a spot in a coalition bowl. With the Irish threatening to build a 10-point lead midway through the final quarter, Israel Ifeanyi blocked a 37-yard field goal by Notre Dame's Stefan Schroffner, and USC's Sammy Knight picked up the ball and returned it 56 yards to the Notre Dame 16.

Four plays later, Shawn Walters scored on a 1-yard run with 4:53 remaining and Cole Ford kicked the PAT to knot the game at 17-17. Lee Becton rushed for 156 yards on 26 carries for Notre Dame, and Ron Powlus threw for one touchdown and ran for another. Powlus completed 13-of-22 for 115 yards. Rob Johnson threw for 187 yards for the Trojans, competing 15-of-29, with one TD and one interception. Keyshawn Johnson had six catches for 114 yards, his seventh consecutive game over 100 yards.

1 back Ross Almlie I said, "but we're on a yfi True enough at -jjT least if eight straight When Ryan Leingang is handed his diploma Dec. 21 on his 23rd birthday, don't be surprised if the applause is by a delegation from the North Dakota State football team. Leingang, the senior tight end from Mandan, has terrorized the Bison three times in the last 13 months in helping the University of North Dakota end a dozen years of futility against NDSU. It seems to have happened so quickly, this three-game UND winning streak capped by Saturday's 14-7 decision in the snow and wind at Grand Forks. The quarterfinal success sends UND into the semifinals for the second straight year.

But it means a trip out of the friendly confines of UND's Memorial Stadium. Now the Sioux travel to Florence, to play top-ranked North Alabama, the defending national champion. "Today's game was great. It was cold, windy, snow everything that North 'Today's game was great. It was cold, windy, snow everything that North Dakota Is Ryan Leingang Abe Winter wins after a 2-2 start can be considered a roll.

If so, give Leingang a share of the credit. He's an extraordinary blocker and sure-handed receiver. In Saturday's game you could spot Leingang all over the field throwing blocks at the line of scrimmage or downfield against star defensive back Joe (More on WINTER, Page 4B) ON THE AIR irl FesgyBires 2 kinds sEsattes CUB Figure skater Erickstad takes on extra challenge of playing hockey for Patriots "Not really," she said. "I pretty TV TODAY 3 NFL football: KFYR Dolphins at Jets, noon. KXMB Buccaneers at vikings, noon.

KFYR Bengals at Broncos, 3 p.m. KXMB Giants at Redskins, 3 p.m. ESPN Patriots at Colts, 7 p.m. Golf: KBMY PGA Skins Game, noon. Tonnls: ESPN ATP World Doubles Championship finals, noon.

College men's basketball: ESPN Bradley at St. Louis, 2 p.m. IHL hockey: MSC Minnesota at Houston, 6 p.m. CBA basketball: MSC Mexico at Chicago, 9 p.m. 'The guys have been really good Jessica Erickstad better and hopefully be able to help the team a little more." At 5-foot-4 and 120 pounds, Jessica isn't an imposing figure.

But size or lack of it hasn't been a factor yet and she's already thinking of her senior year. "If I like it this year, I'll go out again next year," she said. But not with hopes of making the varsity and playing alongside next year's senior class that will include John Dwyer, Tanner Catalano, Brad Miller, Tim Meyer and Ryan Pederson. "No, I'm not thinking varsity," she said. "I don't think that's realistic." By ABE WINTER, Tribune Sports Editor Jessica Erickstad is donning blades of a different sort this year.

A figure skater who has reached the advanced level after starting in fifth grade, Jessica has added hockey to her Sst of extracurricular activities. She's playing on the Bismarck Century junior varsity hockey team. "I'm doing both right now," said the CHS junior, who played last Tuesday in Century's 11-0 victory over the Hazen JV. Why the sudden interest in hockey, which doesn't allow figure skates? much started this summer." She hasn't set any lofty goals. "It's going pretty good.

I'm not as good as the guys are, but I think I'm getting better. I've learned a lot this year." Her new teammates also have provided support. "The guys have been really good about it," she said. "They've been understanding and I appreciate that." How about the opponents? Did they know they were skating against a girl in Hazen? "I'm not sure if they knew if I was a girl or not," she said. "I didn't play very much at Hazen, just a few shifts.

I just want to keep getting I Jessica Erickstad says she has been a longtime hockey fan, and thought why not try playing the game? "I love watching it and I thought it would be fun to play. So I decided to try it," she said. Jessica got serious while attending an all-girls summer hockey school at Detroit Lakes, this year. But hadn't she at least practiced at the game before going to hockey school? RADIO TODAY IM-' 1 1 NFL football: KLXX Buccaneers at Vikings, noon. (Sports pages compiled by Rob Lein) .1.