The Herald-Palladium from Benton Harbor, Michigan • 16

43 The Herald-Palladium, Benton Harbor-St. Joseph, Michigan Friday, November 29, 1991 Semiiioles Keep national title hopes SPORTS Digest I've told my players that now we will really" see what they are made of. I have challenged them to bounce back from that loss. I would -think that they would. There is still a.

heck of a lot at Bobby Bowden Florida State coach In action today, No. 19 Oklahoma played at No. 11 Nebraska. In games on Thursday, No. 6 Penn State defeated Pittsburgh 32-20 and No.

10 Texas beat Texas 31-14. No. 6 Penn State 32, Pittsburgh 20 At Pittsburgh, Tony Sacca led the Nittany lions on two TD drives in the opening 5W minutes and Craig Fayak kicked four field goals as Joe Paterno became the fourth-winningest coach with victory No. 239. Pitt (6-5) closed to 26-20 on Alex Van Pelt's 4-yard TD pass to Glenn Deveaux before Richie Anderson scored for Penn State (10-2) on a 29-yard run with 6:43.

left Van Pelt was intercepted five times. Paterno, probably coaching his last game at Pitt Stadium, scored his 239th victory at Penn State to that they would. There is still a-heck of a lot at stake." And for Florida, as well. Coach Steve Spurrier's team won the school's first official Southeastern Conference title and is headed" to the Sugar a victory over Florida State would mean just as much to a group of players who've never beaten the Seminoles. "We've been playing catch-up to those guys.

It's like we've been in the shadows all season," Gators offensive lineman Hesham Ismail said. "It's going to give us some incentive. We beat Florida State, and we're definitely going to get some recognition around the country." Florida State (10-1) has beaten Florida (9-1) four straight In other games Saturday, San Diego State visits No. 1 Miami; No. 8 Alabama plays Auburn at Bir- By The Associated Press The Florida State Seminoles have lost their No.

1 ranking, but not their national championship hopes. A longshot with their No. 3 ranking, the Seminoles can still win the national title if No. 1 Miami and No. 2 Washington both stumble.

And, of course, if Florida State beats No. 5 Florida on Saturday and Texas in the Cotton Bowl. First, Florida. "I've told my players that now we will really see what they are made of," said Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, whose team lost its No. 1 ranking in a 17-16 defeat against Miami two weeks ago.

"I have challenged them to bounce back from that loss. I would think 3v VA Cowboys flourish without Aikman move past Woody Hayes into fourth place on the all-time career coaching victories list He trails only Bear Bryant, Amos Alonzo Stagg and Pop Warner. No. 10 Texas 31, Texas 14 At College Station, Texas Kevin Smith returned a punt 73 yards to break open a defensive duel and lead the Cotton Bowl-bound Aggies over Texas. The Aggies, who clinched the SWC title with a 65-6 victory a week earlier against Southern Methodist improved to 10-1, including 8-0 in the Southwest Conference.

Texas defense, ranked first in the nation, held Texas (5-6, 4-4) in check in the first half and took a 10-7 lead. The Aggies extended it to 17-7 on the first drive of the third period on Greg Hill's-yard run, then Smith broke it opeji with his punt return. games. Those losses cost Dallas its first playoff berth since 1985. Johnson cut Laufenberg in training camp and traded for Beuerlein.

"Beuerlein did just a great job filling in," Johnson said. "He executed the 'game plan, didn't, make any turnovers, then hit the big play." Aikman sustained a knee injury against Washington last that will keep him out at least three weeks. Beuerlein came into that game and threw a touchdown pass to Irvin in a 24-21 victory. "This year, it doesn't matter whether we have Steve or Troy back there because they both can move the team," center Mark Step-noski The Cowboys (8-5) are in a favorable position in the wild-card race. The Steelers' (5-8) were virtually eliminated from contention in the AFC.

Irvin caught eight passes for 157 yards. Beuerlein hit 14 of 25 passes for 217 yards while O'Donnell had 17 of 36 for 167. IRVING, Texas (AP) The Dallas Cowboys curled up and died after Troy Aikman was a year ago. This season, they are flourishing without their starter and making a wild-card playoff run thanks to a quarterback Al Davis didn't want: Steve Beuerlein, who started 15 games for Davis Los Angeles-Raiders and was 8-7, paid another dividend oh Dallas coach Jimmy Johnson's quarterback insurance policy. Beuerlein, obtained in August for a 1992 fourth-round draft pick, hit Michael Irvin with a 66-yard touchdown pass that keyed the Cowboys' 20-10 victory Thursday over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"Troy and Steve are both good quarterbacks," Irvin said. "Troy a stronger arm but look what a fantastic job -Steve did with just a short week. The more we work together the better we will get." The Cowboys wilted last year when Aikman was injured and backup Babe Laufenberg couldn't produce victories in the final two AP Lacarphoto ELUDES REACH: Dallas Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith (22) eludes reach of Pittsburgh Steel-ers cornerback Rod Woodson while running for big gain in game Thursday in Irving, Tex. Smith helped the Cowboys take a 20-10 victory. Three ex-Detroit Piston players on French teams Electronic (Happy Holidays CenterPolj20 off all I it nrirprl mprrhntiA'icj Nov.

29 and 30 YMCA to sponsor basketball league Registration is under way for the Benton Harbor-St Joseph YMCALakeshore Schools Boys' Basketball League. The program is open to all boys in 3rd through 9th grades. Leagues will be divided into 3rd-4th grades, 5th-6th grades and 7th-8th-9th grades. (7th through 9th graders are not eligible if playing on their school team). Games will be held Saturday mornings from Jan.

11 to Feb. 15. Practices are one. hour per week. f' Participants may register at the YMCA through Dec.

7. A players' clinic will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Lakeshore Junior High. The 3rd grade clinic is 9 a.m., 4th- grade 9:45, 5th grade 10:30 and 6th grade 11:15. Players may register 15 minutes prior to the clinic.

The 7th-9th grade clinic will be held Saturday, Dec. 14, at the YfcCA from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 Players may pre register or register 15 minutes prioF to the clinic. Coaches are needed for all teams. There will be a coaches' clinic held Monday, Dec 16, at Lakeshor.e High from p.m.

Anyone interested in coaching should contact Julie at the YMCA at 429-9727, Howard MVP for Michigan DETROIT (AP) Heisman Trophy hopeful Desmond How ard was named Michigan's, most valuable player in the Wolverines' annual awards ceremony. The Cleveland native's 23 touchdowns and 1,749 all-purpose yards led No.4 Michigan (10-1 overall, 8-0 Big Ten) to its 36th conference championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl. Other Wolverines honored for 1991 play were: Matt Elliott of Carmel, who won the Bob Ufer Award for spirit; Greg Skrepenak of Wilkes-Barre, the Hugh Rader Award for best offensive lineman; Dave Ritter of Hickory Hills, 111., the Don Robinson Award for best scholar-athlete; Erick Anderson of Glenview, 111, the Roger Zatkoff Award for top linebacker, Mike Evans of the Dick Catcher Award for best defensive lineman; and Briar) Townsend of Cincinnati, the Derek Howard Award for best, hustler. Trebelhorn joins Cub coaching staff CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Cubs have announced the signing of Tom Trebelhorn to the coaching staff. Trebelhorn, fired last month as Milwaukee Brewers manager, recently interviewed for the job of, Cubs manager.

But the job went to former Seattle manager Jim Lefebvre. Trebelhorn said that Lefebvre and general manager Larry Himes offered him, the third base coaching "so that's good enough for me." The Cubs said in a statement that Trebelhorn's coaching assignment has yet to be determined. Trebelhorn, 43, managed the Brewers1 from Sept. 1986 through the end of the 1991 season. He had an overall 422-397 record for a .515 winning average.

Football player's death was suicide CINCINNATI (AP) A The-Hamilton County coroner has ruled that University of Cincinnati football player Andre Sher-rod's death from a gunshot wound to the chest was a suicide. Sherrod, 23, shot himself in a dormitory room Sunday. He was pronounced dead at the university's medical center at 7:30 p.m, about one-half hour after he was brought to the' emergency room. Watts leads St Joe Aquatics ,1 Jennifer Watts of the St Joe Aquatics swim team placed second in the 50 breaststroke and qualified for the national top 16 with a time of 30.38 while competing in the South Bend Invitational last weekend at Notre Dame. She also was second in the 50 freestyle and sixth in the 100 butterfly.

Matt Straub placed second in the 50 freestyle; Kristi Strine placed seventh in the 50 breast-, stroke and eighth in the 100 backstroke and Steve Strine placed seventh in the 25 Only 455 Riverview Benton Harbor Phone 925-2190 Store Hours: Tues-Fri 10am-5pm, Thurs 10am-6pm, Sat 8am-5pm Closed Sundays and Mondays mingham, Vanderbilt is at No. 9 Tennessee; Duke meets No. 13 Clemson in Tokyo; No. 18 Notre Dame plays at Hawaii; No. 22 Tulsa visits Southern Methodist and No.

25 Georgia is at Georgia Tech. He was taken to Three Rivers Hospital by ambulance and then flown by helicopter to Borgess that same night, according to his wife, Thelma. Mrs. Dobberstein reported this morning that her husband "has suffered severe brain damage and is hot expected to recover." 55 OFF New Heater Cores I thru 12-31-91 2127 S. MM I AUTO PARTS 92S403S I FR1S CAQ VASI1 With any Gu PvkImu Fall Swvlc A Ml Unif OUR CAR WASHES USS FRESH WATER OPEN 24 HOURS Dan's Southtown Standard Nile A Napier, St.

Joseph Dan's Citgo Main A Washington, Coloma Amoco Service Center 220 Main St. St. Joseph Limited Time Offer 1 1 bounds and scored 11 points, while Long was the -game's high scorer with 22 points after a scoreless first 17 minutes. Tripucka has had an inauspicious start with the league leader Limoges. He signed in time for the McDonald's Open last month against the Los Angeles Lakers.

However, he was ill the day of the game and did not play. The following day, Tripuka played the consolation game against the Yugoslavian team from Jplit that was depleted because of defections by Serbian players. Tripuka scored 25 points in his league debut, followed by double figures in the next two games. Since then, the former Notre Dame star has been out with a knee injury, and he is heading back to the United States where he is expected to stay at least through December. In the meanwhile, his signature has dried on a $700,000 contract, and a.

debate rages about when he-was hurt "I assure you that Tripucka wasn't injured when he came to Limoges," club director Xavier Popelier said. But it happened, it was the wrong time, Popelier said. "Just when we are finding a balanced squad that Kelly got hurt." PARIS (AP) The road to France has been running through Detroit lately. Three former Detroit Piston teammates are on French teams. John Long, Earl Cureton and Kelly Tripucka played together from 1983 to 1986 and have more than 30 years of combined experience in the NBA.

Long and Cureton now play together on Tours. Tripucka signed with the three-time French champions Limoges, but a knee injury has cut short his stay. Long's pro career began in 1978 when he drafted in the second round out of Detroit University. Before he ended his pro career, he played in 861 games and averaged 12.5 points a game. After Detroit, Long played for the Indiana Pacers and the Atlanta Hawks.

The 6-foot-10 Cureton had a 12-year, 663-game pro career with stops in Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles and Charlotte. He played in Milan for a year and averaged 18 points and 14 rebounds per game. Both Long and Cureton just got in under the wire for joining a team in the French First Division, and they did it by replacing two other Americans last Thursday. Tours is last in the French league, but in their debuts, Cureton and Long helped the team to its third victory of the season. Cureton pulled down eight re iMWMMMfc- -iiiti, I Dobberstein's condition critical Southwest Michigan's best news value just got better.

KALAMAZOO Former Lake Michigan College women's and Michigan Lutheran boys' basketball coach Elmer Dobberstein of Benton Harbor was listed in critical condition here this morning in the trauma unit of Borgess Hospital. Dobbertein, 78; a part-time! This Sunday, get The Herald-Palladium for less than half price of other Sunday newspapers when you make any purchase at a participating Pri-Mart-Buy gas. Fill your gas tank. Grab a coffee or pick up a loaf of bread and you pay just 55 cents for a comprehensive look at Sunday's world, national and local ne ws. So stop by Pri-Mart this Sunday, and pick up Southwest Michigan's best news value.

Offer ends December 1. John Daly has three Skins Game problems sports commentator for radio station WSJM, was stricken with an apparent heart attack while attending the Michigan Lutheran-Litchfield girls regional championship game at Mendon High School Wednesday night He was providing WSJM listeners with live quarter updates of the game that night usual, go-for-broke format as it is in more normal circumstances. "I only played this format once before, in South Africa," Daly said. "I like it It's good for me, because I make a lot of bogeys, but 1 make a lot of birdies, too. I just hope I can make a few birdies at the right time." And that is the key to success in Skins Game competition, where each hole is a tournament in itself.

Prize money is carried over until one player wins a hole outright "It rarely happens that the guy who is playing best overall wins the most money," said Jack Nick-laus, who has played in all eight previous Skins Game. And that's just fine with Daly. "I sure am glad they're not keeping score, 'cause I'm getting a little burned out," he said. "I'm not used to this many airplanes." Citgo 204 W. Monroe Bangor Cttgo 2080 Washington Ave.

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M-139 Benton Harbor Rd. Unocal 3831S.M-140 Watervliet Amoco 4297 Nile St. Joseph LA QUI NT Calif. (AP) John Daly has three little problems going into the Skins Game. First, he's suffering from burnout Second, he expects to be a little nervous.

And then they're going to put a microphone on him for the two-day event "I'm going to have to be careful with that said before a practice session for the four-man, 18-hole competition which begins Saturdays "I'm a country boy," the rookie' from Dardanelle, Ark. we say things that maybe we shouldn't" That sort of thing happens most often after, he's hit the, golf ball somewhere he shouldn't His tendency toward wildness won't be as big a factor in this un- Offer good at these Pri-Marts. Sundays only. November 10 December 1. A division of Pri Mar Petroleum, Inc..