The Times-News from Twin Falls, Idaho • 9

Monday, January 2, 1989 Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Scores and stats B2 College bowl previews B3 PGA B4 1 Ills puisich oiat Houston, 17-10 for the big ones," said quarterback Jim Kelly, whose team twice failed on fourth-and-inches once from the 3, the other time just short of the goal line. "You don't want to settle for field goals." "Usually, we're pretty productive inside the five," center Kent Hull By DAVE GOLDBERG The Associated Press ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. The i "Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills spent most of Sunday trying to see I who could make more mistakes whan I they reached scoring position. The Oilers won that contest and the Bills won the AFC playoff game, beating the Oilers 17-10. The Bills are on the way to their first championship game in 22 years the AFC title contest next week in Cincinnati.

But it wasn't easy. "It's the playoffs, you ve got to go 'tK If) said. 'But we didn't play any pansies out there. They're a heck of a team." But the Bills, who managed to get a Scott Norwood field goal and two touchdowns on a 1-yard, second quarter run by Robb Riddick and an 11-yard third-quarter scamper by Thurman Thomas from seven trips inside the 20, were a lot better in the "red zone" than the Oilers. While the offense was doing its minimal best, the Bills' defense woke up in the second half.

Pressure from Cornelius Bennett and Bruce Smith and coverage by safeties Leonard Smith and Mark Kelso held Warren Moon without a completion on his first eight attempts after he had thrown for 145 yards in the first half. Leonard Smith also blocked a punt to set up Riddick's touchdown and Bruce Smith blocked a Tony Zendejas field-goal try. But Houston blew more opportunities, stalling when it got inside the 20. In addition to the blocked field goal, Zendejas shanked one under pressure and Moon misfired with Drew Hill wide open in the end zone. Then, in the second half, Houston lost two interceptions and fumbled a punt on its last chance to get the ball.

"The key to the game was that we gave up opportunities when we had them," said Houston center Jay Pen-nison. Offensive tackle Bruce Davis agreed. "We didn't do enough right at the critical situations," he said. Coach Jerry Glanville thought the turning point was the botched lateral, which came on Houston's first possession of the third quarter, with Houston trailing 7-3. "I think that was the turning point," Glanville said.

"It cost us a touchdown." "When you get down to the two and you don't get anything, that's got to haunt you," Penison added. Then, in the second half, Houston just self-destructed, losing two interceptions and fumblng a punt on its last chance to get the ball. "We played great defense and we played SUPER on special teams," said Bills coach Marv Levy, whose team will play for a trip to the Super Bowl next Sunday at Cincinnati, where the Bills lost 35-21 Nov. 27. Both are the NFL's only teams unbeaten at home at 9-0 i The victory was the first in the playoffs for the Bills since they beat the New York Jets in an AFC wildcard game in 1981.

It's the farthest Buffalo has advanced since it lost 31-7 to Kansas City in the 1966 AFL championship game 22 years ago. AP LMrphte 49er Roger Craig drags a Viking defender for a 1st down, 49ers whip Vikes 1 1 JU-- -SNor'" I 7 I jji vanced to the NFC title game; against the Chicago Bears next Sunday in Chicago as the 49ers defeated the Minnesota Vivings, Sunday before a crowd of 61,848 at' Candlestick Park in the conference! semifinal. Montana so delighted the fans: that he was given a standing ova-: tion with 7:36 left in the game; when he was replaced by backup Steve Young. A year ago, some of; these same supporters booed him out of the stadium and said that he' was washed up. "It's been an up and down season' for this team," said Montana, 32.

1 By MIKE PRESTON The Baltimore Sun SAN FRANCISCO Joe Montana and Jerry Rice recaptured some of those lost hearts in San Francisco Sunday. Long established as one of the National Football League's most feared pass-catch combinations, they still were criticized on local radio and television stations for not being able to come up with the big plays in the playoffs the last three seasons as the 49ers were eliminated in each of their first round games. But they redeemed themselves "Sunday. Montana wasn't great, but he completed 16 of 27 passes for 178 yards and three touchdowns. All three were to Rice of 2, 4 and 11 yards.

Rice finished with five receptions for 61 yards. Along the way San Francisco ad "Our goal, was to get to the play- offsy therr win the first game. We did that and hopefully this will give us a spark in the next one. believe me, it's been frustrating the last three seasons. Maybe they had aT right to boo." See 49ERS on Page B4 APLaserphoto Bills QB Jim Kelly reacts to his completed pass to Thurman Thomas in the first quarter Miami coach Johnson figures Orange Bowl is for it all and intentions in bringing this up," he said.

"But if I hadn't taken that approach, people would' ve said, 'There are a couple of 11-0 teams, let 'em play it "But you have to look at more than the records. There are other factors, like who you play," he said. Kickoff time is 6 p.m. NBC, channels 7 and 38 in the Magic Valley, will televise it live. Notre Dame and No.

3 West Virginia meet in a match of unbeatens in the Fiesta Bowl preceding Monday night's Orange Bowl. Miami is 10-1 and Nebraska is 11-1. Johnson said he probably won't watch much of that preliminary, what with his team's pregame meal and preparation and all. Canes need big win to have shot By BEN WALKER The Associated Press MIAMI Pity the poor Fiesta Bowl. The way Jimmy Johnson tells it, the Orange Bowl is going to decide college football's best team.

"If Nebraska beats us decisively, I will vote them No. 1," the Miami coach promised Sunday. Ahead of top-ranked Notre Dame, win or lose? "Now, I didn't bring up Notre Dame," Johnson said with a who-me? shrug. "I think Notre Dame's got a great team. But there are a half-dozen great teams." Johnson is making the No.

1 controversy his personal crusade, deliberately spending as much time talking about the issue as coaching the defending national champions. And he can sling it, about second-ranked Miami, about his team's one-point loss to Notre Dame and the whole rating system. "A lot of people have questioned my motives "I'm not saying vote for us," he said, implying exactly that. "I'm just saying vote for the best team." Nebraska coach Tom Osborne, chose to avoid the whole issue. Even though Johnson said he could envision the Corn-i huskers as No.

1, Osborne doesn't see his sixth-! ranked team rising to the top. Also in the way are No. 4 Florida State and No. 5 Southern; California. i "Maybe if there was a tie in the Fiesta Bowli and maybe I don't know.

It'd be a long- shot," he said. "I'm not going to enter the argument about! whether Miami is No. 1," Osborne said. "But sometimes being No. 1 doesn't mean you're the! best team.

I think there are some very legiti-! mate claims by Coach Johnson that they are the best team in the nation." Osborne's month-long buildup for the Orange; Bowl was slightly interrupted this week when! about a dozen Nebraska players were suspend-! ed Saturday for curfew violations. By STEVEN WINE The Associated Press MIAMI The second-ranked Miami Hur- ricanes know that a lopsided victory over No. 6 Nebraska in Monday night's Orange Bowl game could help their slim chances of winning a second straight national championship. "We gotta hope we can beat 'em and try to beat 'em bad," tackle Jimmie Jones said. Monday afternoon's Fiesta Bowl between No.

1 Notre Dame and No. 3 West Virginia, both 11-0, is billed as the national championship game. But Coach Jimmy Johnson has said repeatedly that his Hurricanes deserve the title if they and West Virginia win and he believes poll voters might agree. His hope is that West Virginia wins in sloppy, unimpressive fashion while Miami rolls up a big score. But the latter contingency is somewhat unlikely against a team that has given up more than two touchdowns only twice in 12 games.

Sun Valley Sun Valley reported partly cloudy skies and mild temperatures Sunday, with 59 inches of snow on the top of Bald Mountain. All lifts and runs are open. Hours today: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pomerelle Pomerelle reported clear skies and mild temperatures on Sunday, with 65 inches of snow at the lodge and 92 inches at the top of the mountain.

The access road has been plowed and sanded, but snow tires or chains are required. Bus service will run from Jerome and Twin Falls today, leaving Lincoln Plaza in Jerome at 7:10 a.m., Kmart in Twin Falls at 7:30, the Burley Inn at 8:30, Market in Rupert at 8:45 and the Declo service station at 9. Hours today: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Soldier Mountain Soldier reported partly cloudy skies and Irish hope to end 1 ranking speculation By HERSCHEL NISSENSON The Associated Press TEMPE, Ariz.

West Virginia coach Don Nehlen celebrated his 53rd birthday Sunday. The Fiesta Bowl presented him with a cake featuring a chocolate football and asked him to make a wish. "That would be a tough one, wouldn't it?" Nehlen said with a smile after blowing out a few candles. The best gift would be college football's championship, to be determined by the Associated Press poll after today's bowl games. When it comes to age, Nehlen has the years and Notre Dame's Lou Holtz, who won't turn 52 until Friday, has a slight edge in youth.

Something like ibe Fiesta Bowl between youthful No. 1 Notre Damt and senior-laden No. 3 West Virginia, both 11-0 arid the only unbeaten major-college teams. Kickoff time is 2:30 p.m. NBC, channels 7 and 38 in the Magic Valley, will televise it live.

Both sides went through final tuneups Sunday in Arizona State University's Sun Devil Stadium, where tickets reportedly are being scalped legal nuld temperatures on Sunday, with 67 inches of snow at the top in Arizona for $1,000 apiece. Arizona State coach Larry Marmie said the grass field, used by the NFL's Phoenix Cardinals as well as the college team, was "not in very good shape." But neither Holtz nor Nehlen seemed especially concerned. "There's not a lot of grass in the middle," Holtz said. "It's a very fine grass on the side and around both 20s. It's a very, very fast field." Nehlen called it "a fast track.

In the middle it's a little dug-up, but if it doesn't rain it'll be fine." Holtz was more concerned with the sun. The See FIESTA on Page B4 of the mountain and 56 at the lodge. The access road has been Good morning. It's Mon- day, Jan. 2.

Sunday's scores plowed and sanded, but snow I tires or chains are advised. Bus service will run from Twin Falls I and Jerome today, leaving Blue Lakes Mall in Twin Falls at 8:30 a.m., Lincoln Plaza in Jerome at Dooley ends Georgia career with Gator Bowl win 1 8, Market in Wendell at NFL playoffs San Francisco 34, Minnesota 9 Buffalo 17, Houston 10 Gator Bowl Georgia 34, Michigan State 27 8:20 and Gooding Jumor High School at 8:30.. Hours today: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 5E? Magic Mountain Magic re- ported clear skies and mild tem 11 a.m.

Channels 7, 36, College foot peratures on Sunday, with 66 I inches of snow at the top of the I mountain and 60 inches at the By BRENT KALLESTAD The Associated Press JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Wayne Johnson threw three touchdown passes and Rodney Hampton ran for 109 yards and scored three times as Georgia gave Coach Vince Dooley a 34-27 Gator Bowl victory over Michigan State in his final game Sunday night. The Georgia victory spoiled a record-setting performance by Michigan State's Andre Rison, who caught nine passes for 252 yards, breaking the former Gator Bowl mark of 192 lodge. The access road has been receiving yards by Florida State's Fred Biletnikoff in 1965. Rison caught scoring passes from Bobby McAllister on plays covering 4, 55 and 50 yards and he also caught a 51 -yard pass to set up Blake Ezor's 3-yard touchdown run to bring Michigan State within 27-20 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

But the Big Ten Spartans couldn't overcome an early 17-0 deficit Johnson, a senior who passed for just 945 yards and four touchdowns during the season, connected with Hampton on first-half scoring passes covering 6 and 30 yards and Steve Crumley kicked one of his two field goals as Georgia took a 1 7-7 lead. Georgia finished its year with a 9-3 record while Michigan State, which came into the Gator Bowl with a six-game winning streak, fell to 6-5-1. In 25 seasons at Georgia, Dooley coached the Bulldogs to 201 victories including Sunday's win over Michigan State in the first meeting between the universities. No. 19 Georgia took a 17-0 lead, scoring on its third successive offensive series, when Johnson threw for 66 yards on a five-play, 74-yard scoring march culminated by a 30-yard TD pass to Hampton, who also caught a 22-yard pass on the drive.

Hampton caught a 6-yard scoring pass as Georgia grabbed a 7-0 lead in the final second of the first quarter. Johnson's 21-yard pass to Sean Hummings on a first and 15 from midfield was the key play on the opening scoring drive. On its next offensive series, Georgia took advantage of a short punt and grabbed a 10-0 lead on Crumley's 39-yard field goal. Crumley also kicked a 36-yard field goal that gave the Bulldogs a 27-13 lead after the third period. plowed and sanded, but snow It tires or chains are advised.

Bus ball: Hall of Fame Bowl, Syracuse vs. Louisiana State. 11 :30 a.m. Channels 11. 12, College football: Cotton Bowl, UCLA vs.

Arkansas. 1 1 :30 a.m. Channel 6, College football: Florida Citrus Bowl, Oklahoma vs. Clemaon. 2:30 p.m.

Channels 7, 38, College football: Fiesta Bowl, Notre Dame vs. West Virginia. 3 p.m. Channel 6, College football: Rose Bowl, Michigan vs. Southern Cal.

6 p.m. Channels 7, 38, College football: Orange Bowl, Nebraska vs. Miami. 6:30 p.m. Channel 6, College football: -Sugar Bowl, Florida State vs.

Auburn. service will run from Twin Falls today, leaving Pro-Fit Sports at a.m., Kimberly at 8:30 and Daw's Market in Hansen at 8:45. Hours today: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m..