The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 66

a Che Atlanta ionmal AM) (flNSTITlTlON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1987. rjr i 1 et wcu 1 OS wcu tackle Tyrone Hull still am. I've still got a lot to people miss him, and he made "I really don't know if we've By Susan Howard Staff Writ First downs 22 18 Rushes-yards 54-358 39-13 Passing 88 298 Return Yards 13 0 Cornp-AtMnt 4-5-0 22-354 Punts 3-53 6-37 Fumbies-Lost 4-3 1-0 Penalties-Yards 6-58 7-45 Time of Possession 27:38 32:22 Georgia Southern 7 7 2017 W. Carolina HI 7-11 The Eagles began on Western's 46 but couldn't get in. They moved to the Catamounts' 3, keyed by Gross' 11-yard run and 20-yard pass to Darren Chandler.

But Gross fumbled on a play from the three, and it was recovered by Catamounts' linebacker Calvin Gist on the 16. The Eagles seized a 14-0 lead as Ross ran 33 yards for a TD with 56 seconds left in the first half. Western cut it to 14-3 on Roach's 55-yard kick on the last play of the half. In the third period, Roach kicked a 35-yarder to cut the lead to 14-6. Tim Foley's 32-yard field goal for the Eagles made it 17-6, and Roach came back with a 54-yarder to make it 17-9 with 1:04 left in the third.

some big plays," Russell said of Gross. "Our quarterback has more things to be responsible for than any other quarterback. We put a burden on him perhaps we shouldn't do that but Gross' ability to make big plays is good for Georgia Southern. He's our quarterback." Gross credited the defense for making up for his early mistakes and for giving him confidence. "Our motto for the week was, 'Make the Gross said.

"That's what the defense did, and the offense had to follow up on it "Every week I'm learning more and more, and I just have to take it one step at a time. I still have a lot to learn, but I just hope I can keep improving every week. The fellows are telling me that I'm not a freshman anymore, but I learn." The Eagles held the Catamounts to 311 yards total offense and one touchdown, late in the fourth quarter, while Southern's offense totaled 446 total yards. Western Carolina's freshman quarterback, Mark Smith, was sacked seven times for losses of 57 yards. The Catamounts' offensive thrust was Kirk Roach's three field goals 55, 35 and 54 yards.

On the Eagles', first possession of the game, they made only eight yards. But after Western punted from its end zone, the next drive started at the Catamounts' 38. Gross faked a pass to fullback Joe Ross and sprinted 37 yards, and Georgia Southern had a 7-0 lead. Western was set back by 25 yards in losses on two penalties and a quarterback sack by Eagles got a good chance of making it into the playoffs, because 8-3 is so far removed from 5-3. There will be some 8-3 teams in the playoffs, and it's possible for us to be 8-3, but that's three big games away." Russell is counting heavily on freshman quarterback Raymond Gross, the Eagles' starter the rest of the way, barring the unforeseen.

Gross earned that job Saturday in bis second start of the season, offsetting his three fumbles by leading the game's rushers with 115 yards on 14 carries and scoring three touchdowns. Gross also passed for 88 yards, showing he is becoming more adept at running the option and easing critical comparisons to former quarterback Tracy Ham, leader of the two championship teams. "He's got quick feet, he makes CULLOWHEE, N.C. Georgia Southern took the fun out of Western Carolina's homecoming Saturday, but more important for the Eagles, they kept their Division I-AA playoff hopes alive by defeating the Catamounts 37-16 at J. Whitmire Stadium.

The upset of the No.9-ranked Catamounts (4-3) by the No. 20 Eagles (5-3) was a must for Georgia Southern's chance to defend its back-to-back national championships. But the pressure remains on the Eagles to win their last three games for a playoff invitation, according to coach Erk Russell. "This game showed our team what we can do," Russell said. "This is the first time we've had everything together in one game.

GaS-Gross 37 run (Foley kick) GaS-Ross 33 run (Foley kick) WCU-FG Roach 55 WCU-FG Roach 35 GaS-FG Foley 32 WCU-FG Roach 54 GaS-Gross 22 run (kick failed) Gas-Thompson 4 run (Foley kick) WCU-Jackson 2 run (Roach kick) GaS-Gross 20 run (Foley kick) INDIVIDUAL 8TATI8TIC8 RUSHING Georgia Southern, Gross 15-115. Thompson 11-91. Ross, 15-76. Miller 8-63. W.

Carolina, Terry 9-42. PASSING Georgia Southern, Gross 4-50-88. W. Carolina, Smith 21-34-0-264. RECEIVING Georgia Southern, Chandler 2-33, Betser 1-39.

Thompson 1-14. 8 I Blazers roll with Cottle at throttle Fort Valley 'respectable' in 23-8 loss By Eameet Reete Staff Writer By Earnest Reese Staff Writer turned the interception 26 yards to the Braves' 1-yard line, and Cottle scored on a quarterback sneak. "I thought that interception by Fitzgerald was the turning point of the game. It really took the wind Out of their sails," coach Mike Cavan said. "They came out in the second half and they were flat." In the second half, Barker was intercepted four more timesAnd Cottle and company seized control.

"I was a little nervous, and I was mostly worried about making mistakes," Cottle said. "But cSach Cavan told me don't' worry atout mistakes. Just go out and do my best." Cottle completed 13 of 17 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown, land he did not turn the ball over. "I thought he played extremely well for his first start," Cavan said. "We thought he was our quarterback of the future when we recruited him, and he played up to that expectation today." i Cottle was not without an -outstanding supporting cast.

With Dace and five other demoted players sidelined, tailback Donnie Harrell and fullback Eric Clark carried the rushing load. Harrell had 110 yards on 19 carries, and Clark managed 74 yards and a touchdown on 13 tries. i VALDOSTA In a duel of freshman quarterbacks, Tye Cottle of Valdosta State was the one left standing with the smoking gun Saturday afternoon as he helped the Blazers beat Dave Barker and West Georgia 49-14 before a homecoming crowd of 6,100 at Cleveland Field. Cottle, who, less than a year ago, was the quarterback at Tift County High 47 miles away, started the Gulf South Conference game in lace of senior Mark Dace, who had een demoted earlier in the week for breaking team rules. With Dace pacing the sidelines, Cottle led the Blazers on first-period scoring drives of 75 and 92 yards for a 14-0 advantage.

After Barker brought the Braves back to tie the game in the second period, Cottle ran for his second and third touchdowns to regain the lead for Valdosta Statethen threw a 23- K-d scoring strike to wide receiver ndy Fisher in the fourth period. Valdosta State (5-1, 4-1), which dropped from No, 7 to unranked in the NCAA Division II poll after its first loss, has won all five meetings with West Georgia (1-6, 0-4). Barker, Who had been expected to miss the rest of the season after being diagnosed as suffering from mononucleosis three weeks ago, was impressive before Valdosta State pulled away. In the first half, Barker completed 8 of 13 passes for 140 yards. His touchdown passes of 35 yards to wide receiver Nick Neal and 9 yards to tailback Stevie Young allowed West Georgia to pull even 14-14 with 6:41 left in the half.

But an interception of a Barker pass gave the Blazers a chance to regain the lead before halftlme. Free safety Fitzgerald Williams re '1 I ''d f)s v'v 0 14 0-14 14 7 14 14-49 Weal Georgia Valdoila Slate WARNER ROBINS Before his team took on Central State, the NAIA's top-ranked team, Fort Valley State coach Doug Porter spoke not of victory, but of playing a "respectable game." If respectable meant staying within three touchdowns of Central State (6-0-1), Fort Valley achieved it but little else in the third annual International City Classic. A crowd of about 8,000 saw the Wildcats put up a fight defensively, but in the end wilt 23-8 against a Central State team that was big, fast and hard-hitting. Porter knew victory would be beyond reach against the Marauders, who won one game this season 80-13 and beat Division I-AA notables Grambling and Tennessee State. "Our kids fought 'em all night.

They never gave up, and I'm proud of them for that," said Porter. "We had so many young people out there against them until I didn't know some of them. But the way some of them played Indicated to me that if we can stay in a ball game with that team, we can play with anybody else we face." Central State only scored three field goals in the first then moved out to a 23-0 lead with $wo third-quarter touchdowns. Fort Valley, able to do little offensively most of the night, managed to put together a 62-yard scoring drive early in the fourth period to avoid being shut out. Freshman fullback Zachery Reynolds scored a touchdown on a four-yard run, and quarterback Chris Hill ran for two points for the Wildcats, now 3-3 heading into next weekend's Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference showdown against Tuskegee on the road.

Defense kept Fort Valley in the game in the first half, which ended with the Marauders leading 9-0 on field goals of 27, 31 and 25 yards by sophomore Reza Khalaj. Central State, which had been averaging 33 points a game, got the ball at Fort Valley's 32 midway through the second period but had to settle for Khalaj's 31-yard field goal. On their next possession, the Marauders moved from their 46 to a first-and-goal, but were forced to settle for another three-pointer. However, while Fort Valley's defense held its own, the offense could manage but 43 yards to Central State's 195. After intermission, Central State went up 16-0 on an 18-yard scoring run by Antoine Harris.

Then Fort Valley's second bad snap from center gave the Marauders the ball at the Wildcats' 15, and halfback Terry NICK ARROYOStaff FROM BEHIND: Alabama QB Leonard Johnson is pulled down from behind by Royal Reed. Vald Cottle 3 run (Fulk kick) Vald-Blount 10 run (Fulk kick) West Qa Neal 35 pats from Barker (Cooper kick) West Ga Young 9 pass from Barker (Cooper kick) Vald Cottle 1 run (Fulk kick) Vald Cottle 1 run (Fulk kick) Vald-Clark 12 run (Fulk kick) Vald-Flsher 23 pass from Cottle (Fulk kick) Vald Jackson 35 run (Fulk kick) Morohouco holds on, tope Savannah 19-14 Morrow capped a short drive with a one-yard run. Morrow, a 5-foot-ll, 195-pound senior, finished the night with 241 yards on 29 rushing attempts to run his season total to 995. Most of his yardage Saturday was between the 20s. "Fort Valley just gave more than we prepared for," said Central State coach Billy Joe, a former running back with the Denver Broncos.

"We knew that this was not one of Coach Porter's good teams, plus we knew he had a lot of injuries. We thought it would be a little easier than this, but at half they had us scratching our heads." Nonetheless, Fort Valley could muster only five yards rushing and 84 passing. Central State romped for 345 on the ground and 37 passing. Central State I 14 0-23 Fort Valley Stefr 0 0 0 7-7 Central State Khalaj 27 FG Central State Khalaj 31 FG Central State Khalaj 25 FG Central State-Harris IS run (Khalaj kick) Central State-Morrow 1 run (Khalaj kick) Fort Valley-Reynolds 4 run (HHI run) By Evan Grant Staff Writer for an eight-yard score early in the third quarter after Savannah State fumbled at its 28. Morehouse, which lost 34-17 to Savannah State last year, opened the scoring with 10:37 to play in the first quarter.

After the Maroon Tigers got the ball on the Savannah State 44 following a poor punt, Burt ran 'fin three of the next four plays, finishing the quick drive with a 30- Jard scoring run on an outside andoff. Theron Smith kicked the extra point. Savannah State kept the ball for the next 6:28 but came away with nothing after moving from its 26 to the Morehouse 20. A holding penalty pushed the Tigers back to the 31, and kicker Ruben Bennett's field goal fell short. Savannah State (3-4) scored on its next possession after recovering an Anderson fumble at the Morehouse 43.

Robert Rentier's four-yard pass across the middle to Sharpe made it 7:6, but Bennett's kick failed. Savannah State lost two other scoring opportunities. After reaching the Morehouse 8, Ken-ner was pressured and fumbled at the 21. fv i Vlll k' WWW "ftvfft As Shannon Sharpe ran down the sideline on an 84-yard touchdown-pass play in the fourth quarter, Morehouse coach Maurice Hunt realized just how dangerous the Savannah State wide receiver could be. It was too late, though, for Sharpe to prevent a Morehouse victory Saturday afternoon at B.T.

Harvey Stadium. All his touchdown did was bring Savannah to within the final score of 19-14. "Ooh, when I saw that, I just wanted to get the ball back and control it," said Hunt, whose Maroon Tigers improved their record to 2-5 and 1-4 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) with the upset. "I knew he was quick, but I didn't know he was that quick." Only three plays earlier, Morehouse had taken what seemed like a safe 19-6 lead with 3:59 to play when running back Eddie Burt bulled his way over from two yards out. It was Burt who provided most of the Maroon Tigers' offense with 128 rushing yards on 26 carries.

"That's what we had to do," said Hunt. "I told Eddie he was going to have to get me more than 100 yards today." In addition, quarterback Jim-mle Davis, who leads the SIAC in passing yardage, completed 13 of 23 passes for 110 yards. Davis passed for one touchdown, hitting William Anderson Johnson, Alabama rip Uorrio Drown 34-1 6 From Staff and Wire Reports Leonard Johnson ran 39 yards for one touchdown and threw nine yards to Barry Wagner for another as Alabama defeated Morris Brown 34-16 in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football Saturday. Alabama 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the SIAC, also scored on TD runs of one yard by Mark Smith, 35 yards by James Barnes and three yards by Ryan Darden. Morris Brown (2-4-1, 2-4) scored on B.B.

Campbell's 30-yard field goal, John Morgan's 22-yard touchdown pass to Russell Cambridge and an 11-yard return of a blocked Dennis Middlebrooks punt. Albany State 21, Georgia Southwestern 20: Donald Parham scored from a yard out with 1:48 left and Clay Perkins kicked the decisive extra point as Albany State (4-3) came from behind to beat visiting Georgia Southwestern (1-3). Southwestern scored 20 points in the second quarter and led 20-7 at halftlme, but Albany State came back behind quarterback Stanley Williams, who threw for 246 yards. lain i 4 j- www N'' Savannah Slale 0101-14 7 001-19 Mr Morehouse Eddie Burl 30 run (Theron Smith kick) Savannah Shannon Sharpe. 2 past from Robert Kenner (kick failed) Morehouse William Anderson past from Jknmle Davis (kick blocked) Morehouse Burt 2 run (kick failed) Savannah Srvarpt 64 pass from Ronald Oay (Edwin Ford run) NICK ARROYOStaff WRZ8TLID DOWN: Morris Brown's Anthony Campbell (99) tackles Mark Smith..