Auburn Journal from Auburn, California • 14

PAGE B-4 AUBURN JOURNAL Sunday December 27 1987 all-hawking Browns claim Central NFL Leaders NFC SCORING AFC SCORING By Pohla SmitL UPI Sports Writer PITTSBURGH The Cleveland Browns clinched their third straight AFC Central title with stubborness Saturday, hanging onto the ball for all but 21 seconds of the final quarter to earn a 19-13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The loss eliminated the Steelers, ft-7, from playoff contention. The Browns, 10-5, were most tenacious the last The Steelers, who also scored on Gary Anderson's 39- and 27-yard field goals, hurt themselves with 11 penalties for 90 yards. During the Browns final TD drive, rookie Delton Hall was penalized three times for a personal foul and unsportsmanlike conduct, giving the Browns 19 1-2 yards and earning an ejection. "Penalties and some of our own mistakes that caused them were problems for us," Pittsburgh Coach Chuck Noll said.

"But our football team played hard, gave it a hundred percent, and that's all you can ask." Noll and Schottenheimer both declined to talk about the disqualification, saying they could not see the several scuffles that ocurred on the field. As usual, Malone, who completed 11 of 18 passes with two interceptions for 126 yards, was booed by the home crowd, and numerous banners called for his replacement. Noll said that contributed to the Steelers' loss. "When he comes out in pregame warmups and doesn't get any support that's a problem," Noll said. Coach Marty Scbottenheimer said.

"I told the squad afterwards I was really pleased with the way we laid it on the line today. "Offensively, at the end, I was just absolutely thrilled by the way we took the ball after the adversity of the previous possession, when they had returned the interception for the touchdown. We put hat on hat, man on man, ran the ball and kept the ball and that, in effect, sealed the victory." Kosar passed for 241 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown pass to Derek Tennell in the second quarter, and Earnest Byner capped the Browns' scoring with a 2-yard touchdown plunge 5:24 into the final quarter. Matt Bahr added 31- and 30-yard field goals in the first and third quarters. Defensive end Al Baker blocked a 42-yard field goal attempt by Gary Anderson, and Eddie Johnson stopped a Steelers' drive by intercepting a Mark Malone pass at the Cleveland 5.

"It was a very physical game," Johnson said. "A championship game. We had to put in a hard effort to win it." AFC 7:23 of the hard-fought game, marred by fights both on the field and in the stands of Three Rivers Stadium. After rookie Cornell Gowdy return a Bernie Kosar interception 45 yards for a touchdown that pulled Pittsburgh within 19-13, Cleveland held the ball for 15 plays to run out the clock. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy," Browns 21 1 1 f-Pi I 11 tit Bmro.

VY Carter. Min 7 I 7 I Ciar. Wash 7 I 7 I 42 Doner, Mji 7 5 I Ferrell. SU. 7 7 I I 42 GauJl.

Chi 7 0 7 I 42 Hukard. NO 7 1 0 42 Mandkv IX 7 I 7 I 42 Martin, SO 7 7 I 42 Smith. Si 7 0 7 42 fg-. lgpu Anaersen. SO 34-34 24-32 51 106 Ruzek.

Dal 23-23 22-5 19 Lansford. LA 3g 17-21 7 Butler. Chi 28-30 17-2 52 79 McFadden, Phi 34-34 15-25 49 79 Wersctung, SF 34-39 13-17 45 77 Murray. Det 1-U 17-3 53 69 Nelson, Minn 33-34 12-22 51 69 Ailere. NY 23-24 15-23 53 68 lgwebuike, TB 24-26 12-15 48 60 RUSHING att yds avg lg td White, LA 303 1279 4 2 58 11 Mayes.

NO 225 864 3 8 38 4 Rigs. All 188 811 4 3 44 2 Oaig, SF 200 759 38 25 2 Walker. Dal 184 754 4 1 60 5 Mitchell, StL 181 690 3 8 42 3 Anderson, Chi 129 586 4 5 38 3 Nelson, Minn 117 569 4 9 72 2 Rogers, Wash 153 562 3 7 29 6 Moms, NY 167 526 3.1 34 3 FerreU, StL 113 512 4.5 35 7 HUliard, NO 112 466 4 2 30 6 Cunningham, Phi 66 459 7.0 45 3 Dorsett, Dal 130 456 3 5 24 1 Payton. Chi 126 451 3.6 17 4 Wilder, TB 99 443 4 5 21 0 Toney.Ptu 112 425 3 8 36 4 Bry ant, Wash 73 399 5.5 28 1 Davis, GB 98 381 3.9 39 3 mm mm Mm Vikings Williams rallies 'Skins to OT win VAT lw i i.J MINNEAPOLIS (UPI) Jay Schroeder proved better at calling plays than executing them Saturday. Schroeder was removed in favor of Doug Williams in the third quarter and the backup Washington quarterback PASSING att cmp pet 389 260 66.8 yds td int 2947 29 13 NFC 60.4 58.8 59.5 57.8 546 409 247 243 143 210 125 275 159 271 148 Montana, SF Lomax.

StL Simms. NYG McMahon, Chi DeBerg, TB Hebert, NO Cunningham Phi Wilson, Minn Schroeder, Was D.White, Dal Everett, LA Long. Det Campbell, AU Wright, GB 3073 23 1966 15 1639 12 1891 14 1959 14 2609 22 1900 14 1793 12 2617 12 2064 10 2441 11 1728 11 1507 6 (Ricky) Sanders in overtime." Gibbs was refering to a 22-yard strike from Williams to Sanders in the overtime drive. "I've been doing it all year, that's my role," Williams said. "I took what they gave me.

We felt they were playing off because they were afraid of getting beat. We didn't go for the home run, but they gave it to us." Schroeder said he may have lost his starting job when Washington opens the playoffs Jan. 9 or 10. "What we have to do is worry about is winning football games. Right now I feel the job is his (Williams)," he said.

The Vikings could have clinched a wild-card berth if they had defeated the Redskins. "I'm not optimistic, I'm disappointed," said Minnesota Coach Jerry Burns. "I thought we would win the game, and I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow (in the Dallas-St. Louis game)." Haji-Sheikh had missed a 33-yard attempt with 49 seconds left that could have given Washington the victory in UPI photo 385 207 53 8 237 126 53.2 250 120 48.0 362 215 59 4 302 162 53.6 392 221 56.4 260 136 52.3 247 132 53.4 TwWmi i4 rua rw pu Hector. NY 10 10 araer.

Sea 10 2 6 tu Btot.O 1 7 16 Ridaict. Bjff i 3 Beiuiev. Lid 2 0 VS Duper. Ma 6 0 8 0 Kinnebre. Cm 8 8 0 0 Clarion.

Mi 7 7 0 42 Johnson. Den 7 0 7 8 42 Largera.Sea 7 0 7 0 42 Slaughter. Oe 0 7 0 42 Stradford. M-a 7 6 1 0 42 kicking ep-a fg-a lg pu Breecn. Cm 23-25 2j-2S 46 92 Biasucci.

Ind 21-2! 23-26 50 Zendejas. Hou 230 20-25 52 KarUs, Den J4-i4 17-23 51 85 Leahy, NY 30-30 18-21 42 84 Bahr. LA 27-28 18-26 47 81 G.Anderson. Pit 20-20 20-24 52 80 N.Johnson. Sea 34-38 13-17 77 Franklin.

NE 34-35 14-25 50 76 Jaeger. Cle 33-32 14-22 48 75 RUSHING att yds ayg Ig td Dickrsn, Ram-lnd 250 1092 4 4 57 4 Warner, Sea 219 900 4.1 57 8 Rozier, Hou 209 854 4 1 41 3 Mack, Cle 183 698 3 8 22 5 Alien, LA 182 679 3.7 44 5 Jackson, Pit 174 668 3.8 39 1 Bentley. Ind 138 621 4.5 17 6 Okoye. KC H5 597 4 1 43 3 Stradford, Mia 136 592 4 4 51 6 Kinnebrew, Cm 145 570 3 9 52 8 Jackson, LA 81 554 6 8 91 4 McNeil, NY 121 530 4.4 30 0 Pollard, Pitt 117 494 4.2 33 3 Harmon. Buf 112 470 4 2 21 2 Williams, Sea 103 460 4.5 48 1 Abrcrombie.

Pitt 118 458 3 9 28 2 Collins, NE 144 458 3.2 19 2 Hector, NY 95 389 4 1 20 10 Byner, Cle 93 364 4 1 21 7 PASSING att cmp pet yds td int Kosar.Cle 353 220 62.3 2792 21 8 Marino, Mia 407 242 59.5 3002 25 11 Wilson, LA 240 139 57 9 1931 12 7 Kelly, Buf 380 230 60 5 2644 18 9 Kneg.Sea 262 161 61.5 1929 21 15 Elway.Den 390 217 55.6 3100 19 11 O'Brien, NY 359 215 59.9 2511 13 8 Kenney, KC 238 131 55.0 1787 12 9 Esiason, Cin 402 221 55.0 3051 15 17 Moon, Hou 343 170 49.6 2526 20 16 Trudeau, Ind 202 111 55.0 134 1 6 6 Fouts, SD 364 206 56.6 2517 10 15 Malone, Pit 318 145 45.6 1770 6 17 PASS RECEIVING ReceptioDS no yds avg td Toon, NY 65 941 14.5 5 Largent.Sea 52 817 15.7 7 Burkett, Buf 52 715 13.8 4 Reed, Buf 52 706 13.6 4 Carson, KC 51 924 18.1 6 Givins, Hou 49 840 17.1 6 Byner, Clev 49 533 10.9 2 Winslow, SD 47 475 10.1 3 Harmon, Buff 47 442 9.4 2 Brooks, Ind 46 671 14.6 3 Stradford, Mia 46 448 9.7 1 Allen, LA 45 388 8.6 0 G.Anderson, SD 44 496 11.3 2 D. Hill, Hou 43 880 20.5 6 Clayton, Mia 43 754 17.5 7 Slaughter, Cle 43 741 17.2 7 Chnstensen, LA 43 609 14.2 2 V.Johnson, Den 42 684 16.3 7 EBrown.Cin 42 586 14 0 3 Brennan, Cle 41 595 14 5 6 James, SD 41 593 14.5 3 Shuler, NY 41 419 10.2 3 Yards yds do avg td Toon, NY 941 65 14.5 5 924 51 18.1 6 D.Hill, Hou 880 43 20.5 6 Givins, Hou 840 49 17.1 6 Largent.Sea 817 52 15.7 7 Lofton, LA 817 38 21.5 5 Clayton, Mia 754 4 3 1 7.5 7 Slaughter, Cle 741 43 17.2 7 Burkett, Buf 715 52 13.8 4 Reed, Buf 706 52 13.6 4 V.Johnson, Den 684 42 16.3 7 Morgan, NE 672 40 16.8 3 Brooks, Ind 671 46 14.6 3 Chandler, SD 617 39 15.8 2 Christensen, LA 609 43 14.2 2 Nattiel.Den 606 29 20.9 2 Paige, KC 597 35 17.1 3 Brennan, Cle 595 41 14.5 6 James, SD 593 41 14 5 3 E. Brown, Cin 586 42 14.0 3 INTERCEPTIONS no yds lg td Kelso, Buff 6 25 12 0 Bostic, Hou 6 -14 7 0 Woodruff, Pitt 5 91 33 1 Prior, Ind 5 57 38 0 Wright, Cle 4 152 68 1 Bryant, Hou 4 75 29 0 Easley, Sea 4 47 22 0 Minnifield, Cle 4 24 27 0 Donaldson, Hou 4 16 9 0 Ricky Sanders scores a touchdown while Minnesota's Jesse Solomon arrives to late to do anything about it. rallied the Redskins to a 27-24 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings. It was the second time in two seasons the Redskins have defeated the Vikings in overtime.

Ali Haji-Sheikh connected on a 26-yard field goal 2:09 into the extra session, allowing the NFC East champion Redskins end the regular season at 11-4. Minnesota, 8-7, can reach the playoffs on a wild-card berth if Dallas defeats the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday. "We wanted to go with Doug just to see if we could get something going," said Washington Coach Joe Gibbs. "Jay (Schroeder) was just great on the sidelines.

As a matter of fact, he gave me fhe suggestion of the big play to avg td 12.7 7 7.6 15.9 12 7 1.7 1 RECEIVING no yds 80 1015 64 487 62 988 57 710 57 665 51 1013 49 775 49 75f 47 4t7 Sheikh's field goal. Washington sent the game into overtime when Williams hit Sanders on a 51-yard TD pass with 1:46 remaining. Cornerback Barry Wilburn returned an interception 100 yards for a TD, Williams connected with Sanders on a 46-yard TD pass and Haji-Sheikh kicked a 37-yard field goal to account for the Redskins scoring. regulation. Sanders, who caught two touchdown passes, started the winning drive when he took the overtime kickoff 36 yards to the Washington 47.

Williams then hit Sanders for the 22-yard completion to the Minnesota 31 and three plays later found him again for a 10-yard gain. George Rogers ran 11 yards to the Minnesota 9, setting the stage for Haji- 15.8 15.5 9.9 17.5 11 772 44 649 14.8 4 8.5 2 17.9 7 12.5 11.3 Miners hope to lock up West and home field 43 367 42 753 42 526 39 140 39 321 38 586 38 483 36 875 36 619 yds no 1015 80 15.4 12.7 24.3 17.2 PASS Receptions JSmith, StL Craig, SF Rice, SF Mandley, Det H.Walker, Dal Clark, Wash EUard.LA Bavaro, NY Anderson, Chi Quick, Phi Renfro, Dal Mitchell, StL Martin, NO Await, StL Bryant, Wash Wilder, TB GCarter, TB Monk, Wash Carter, Min Green, StL Yards JSmith, StL Clark, Wash Rice, SF Carter, Min EUard, LA Quick, Phi Bavaro, NYG Martin, NO Mandley, Det Gault, Chi H.Walker, Dal Renfro, Dal Green, StL Carter, TB Stanley, GB Manuel, NYG Await, StL Matthews, Atl Dixon, Atl Brown, LA avg td 12.7 7 19.9 7 16.9 20 24.3 7 15.8 3 17.5 11 15.5 7 17.9 7 12.5 7 209 7 11.7 1 1013 988 B75 775 772 758 753 710 668 665 649 619 586 563 545 526 516 513 499 51 62 36 49 44 49 42 57 32 57 44 36 38 34 30 42 31 32 24 Along the offensive line, the 49ers rebuilt unit has come together and is playing well. Last week, Atlanta got to the quarterback just once. The Los Angeles defense has been tough since the players strike was settled. But cornerback LeRoy Irwin, rumored to be on the trading block, will have his hands full with Rice.

Linebacker Jim Collins is the club's leading tackier wth 66. The 49ers defense, meanwhile, will face a patched up Rams unit. Like San Francisco, the Rams come into the contest with a backup at quarterback. Starter Jim Everett was injured in Monday's loss to Dallas forcing coach John Robinson to start Steve Dils. Dils has completed 51 of 97 passes for 596 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions this season including the strike games.

"I'm looking forward to starting, but I'm not happy with the circumstances," Dils said. Walsh says he's not about to underrate Dils' passing touch. By William D. Murray UPI Sports Writer SAN FRANCISCO The Los Angeles Rams defense faces the difficult task today of stopping San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice when the two teams clash today in a showdown for the NFC West title (ESPN, Channel 2, 5 p.m.). The 49ers, 12-2, can clinch their fifth division title since 1980 with a victory over the Rams.

A win would also give San Francisco the home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Under Bill Walsh, the 49ers are 5-0 in playoff games at Candlestick Park. If the 49ers should lose and the New Orleans Saints win, then San Francisco would be the wild card and host the NFC wild card playoff game on Jan. 3. If the Saints, 11-3, lose, the 49ers automatically become division champs.

Los Angeles can only play for pride today after falling out of the playoff race with a 6-8 record. The Rams will have to stop Rice, a task NFL teams have found difficult this season. The gifted 14.8 17.2 15.4 16.6 18.2 12.5 16.6 16.0 20.8 receiver comes into the Los Angeles game riding a NFL record streak of 12 straight contests with at least one touchdown pass. He has scored 21 touchdowns this season, a league-record 20 through the air. "Jerry is a great player, he has developed the ability to get the ball in the end zone," said Walsh.

"He's certainly a great extention of our football team." Steve Young, who has thrown for six touchdowns and run for one more in the last two weeks, will likely start at quarterback again in place of the injured Joe Montana, who will be in uniform. "There is a likelihood he (Montana) will be available, but he will not start," Walsh said. "I think if Joe can fully avoid people on the pass rush, we might think about starting him." Roger Craig, who missed part of last week's game because of a recurring disc problem, and Tom Rathman will start in the backfield. Craig has rushed for 759 yards on 200 carries and has caught 64 passes for another 487. INTERCEPTIONS no yds lg td 8 35 22 0 163 70 123 29 Wilburn, Wash Kinard, NY Griffin, Det Waymer, NO R.Sutton, NO Curtis, StL Lott, SF Browner, Minn 78 35 68 26 65 31 62 34 52 23 Broncos seeking AFC West crown, best mark AUBURN JOURNAL SUNDAY nrnrnn nrnn I i.

I 1 DENVER (UPI) The Denver Broncos can clinch a division title and the AFC's best record Sunday, feats that just five weeks ago seemed possible for the San Diego Chargers. Denver, already assured of a playoff spot, needs a victory against the Chargers at home today (Channel 3, 1 p.m.) to clinch its second straight AFC West title. A victory also would guarantee the Broncos, 9-4-1, of spending the AFC playoffs at Mile High Stadium. "It's a big game for us," Denver Coach Dan Reeves said. "We can accomplish what we set out to do as far as winning the division, and also secure the home-field advantage for as long as we continue to win.

"We're the AFC champions until somebody takes it away from us," Reeves added. "And so far everybody's tried pretty hard." San Diego, in a five-game tailspin after a surprising 8-1 start, has only a small chance of making the playoffs. The Chargers, 8-6, need a victory over the Broncos and losses by Pittsburgh, Houston and Miami to gain a wild-card spot that seemed a virtual lock a few weeks ago. "They've been in some very close ballgames where they just haven't been able to make the one play that would mean the difference between winning and losing," Reeves said. "The important thing is to pick up our depressed feelings, regroup, and go into Denver with pride and play the best game that we can," San Diego Coach Al Saunders said.

Compounding an already gloomy situation for the Chargers, quarterback Dan Fouts has a partially torn rotator cuff and will not play against the Broncos. Seventh-year pro Mark Herrmann, who began his NFL career in Denver, will start in place of Fouts. 1 --j ft WMiilriitlOTW if We're investing in Auburn's future because we're Auburn's Bank! Auburn Bank of Commerce NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Member FDIC 823-1144 540 Wall St. Auburn As a tribute to our hometown of Auburn, and in celebration of its 100th birthday, The Auburn Journal Sunday Magazine will present a Centennial theme. Beginning January 3, 1988, and continuing for 20 weeks, the magazine will feature such historic events as WWI, Pearl Harbor, Education Sports events, and include interviews with local residents recalling these times.

Look for it in the Auburn Journal Sunday, Jan. 3. 39IF i3w fill ISEfiQJ SUBSCRIBE TODAY 885-2471 AuLutni ihutnuu.