Dayton Daily News from Dayton, Ohio • 16

vwns Spot Flaw, 'TV s- Si Burick Bt I Then Belt Bengals i Don't Look at Stats To Fiiicl Out Who Won I'll give you the statistics; you name the winner. One team in this big game had 77 plays from Dayton Daily News Sports World scrimmage; the other, 61. Page 16 Monday, November 24, 1975 One gained 248 yards on the ground, the other, 124. One team gained 113 yards in the air with 8 completions; the other, 84 yards on 7 completions. One team averaged 4.7 yards a play; the other, 3.4.

In normal circumstances, the team that excelled in all these vital statistics should have won. Right? Right. But at Ann Arbor By MARTY WILLIAMS Dally Newt Sports Writer CLEVELAND Mike Fhipps is only 28 years old, but his brown hair is al-' ready streaked with gray. When you're the worst quarterback in the National Football league and your team has an 0-9 record, you don't get much of a chance to grow old gracefully. But Pbipps sent his aging process in reverse Sunday by completing 23 of 36 passes for 298 yards and two touchdowns as the Cleveland Browns saddled Cincinnati with a stunning 35-23 defeat.

The loss dropped the 8-2 Bengals into second place in the Central division of the American Football conference and that was only half of the bad news. Quarterback Kenny Anderson was forced to leave the game with a bruised chest after producing a 23-12 lead early in the second half. X-rays this morning showed a severe contusion in Anderson's upper chest. It will be "day to day," according to the Bengals, as to whether he plays Sunday against Houston. If Anderson has to sit out this Sunday's game with Houston in Riverfront stadium, the Bengals can all but kiss their playoff hopes goodby.

The 7-2 Oilers can force the division into a three-way tie by whipping 8-1 Pittsburgh In the Astrodome tonight. Before taking the field against Cincinnati, Phipps was ranked 30th and last among NFL quarterbacks who had thrown often enough to make the weekly statistical sheet. His most glaring weakness was his 0 to 13 ratio of touchdown passes to interceptions. BUT STATISTICS don't mean much when you have your favorite team trapped In your favorite snake pit. "I enjoy playing against Cincinnati," grinned the man who drew a 50-50 chorus of boos and cheers during pre-game Introductions.

"Sometimes a quarterback has a lot of success against a particular team and Cincinnati Just seems to be my team, especially when we play In Cleveland. They've only won frift 1 k- -1 4 tame deceptive stats sheet) could destroy what was supposed to be the AFC's No. 2 pass defense. "Well," Phipps explained, "we learned some things about the Bengals when we met in the opener (the Browns lost that one, 24-17), and we noticed in studying films that they seemed to be vulnerable to crossing patterns. Plus, I think our offense was long overdue in putting things together." But as super as Phipps was on the best day of his six-year career, he had to drape part of the hero's mantle over the little shoulders of running back Greg Pruitt.

THE SHIFTY 190-pounder scored twice and hiked his way to a rare daily double 121 yards as a runner and 106 yards as a receiver. It was Pruitt who helped produce a 9-0 lead before the first quarter was half over. In fact, his first TD came on the first offensive play of the game. But Billy LeFear played a somewhat vital role in that two-yard mlnl-drlve by returning the opening klckoff 92 yards. That play will be LeFear's last contribution to the Browns this year, however, because he suffered a broken leg on the runback.

After the Bengals failed to move on their first possession, Pruitt worked a UPI TetoPhoto Pruitl Crashes Through Bengal Line for 5 Gems Win Fight, Salvage Tie deflecting in a Bragnalo shot. The Gems next play at home to Port Huron Wednesday, but will probably be without at least one player, defenseman Brian Andersen, who injured his left leg Saturday. Jonathan should be ready for that game. little long distance magic of his own with a 50-yard run that set up Don Cockcroft's 27-yard field goal. But then Anderson, looking every bit as sharp as be had when he threw for 447 yards against Buffalo last Monday, brought the Bengals back in a hurry.

Anderson completed 10 of his first 12 passes for 215 yards, including touchdown connections of 35 and 30 yards to tight end Bob Trumpy and wide receiver Isaac Curtis. THE BENGAL quarterback's 15th and once (in six tries) up here, you know." Someone asked Phipps how the AFC's worst pass offense (according to that IHL S'endlngs SOUTH PIS. 11 5 24 20 DAYTON Toledo Fori Wayne Columbus 7 5 a 9 3 13 NORTH Special It TN Daiv Newi TOLEDO The Dayton Gems lost 1-0 and 2-1 leads and settled for a 2-2 International Hockey league tie with Toledo's Goaldiggers here Sunday evening. The game was spiced by the ejection of Toledo Coach Ted Garvin, the second opposing coach in a row ejected coaching against the Gems. Saturday, Saginaw's Don Perry was ejected in a 5-1 Dayton victory.

This tie was marred also by a fight between Toledo's Ian MacPhee and Dayton's Stan Jonathan in the second period. Jonathan put MacPhee down in that one, but had to leave the ice for repairs and didn't return. The extent of his injuries is not known. The tied kept the Gems four points ahead of Toledo in the Southern division and in first place. MEANWHILE, MacPhee was around to score the tying goal at 19:11 of the second period with a shot from deep in the right corner.

Rick Bragnalo put the Gems up, 1-0, in the first period, deflecting a Brian Kinsella shot, and Kinsella scored in the second period to put the Gems up, 2-1, 10 15 PIS. 20 II II II 7 7 Pruilt Makes Phipps Perfect In-Prophecy Port Huron Muskegon Saginaw 1 Flint Kalamazoo Saturday, these weren't normal Baschnagel circumstances. Michigan won all these stats, but Ohio State won the ball game, 21-14, in one of the notable Buckeye comebacks of history. Now Ohio will sniff the sweet smell of Roses at Fasadena on New Year's Day; Michigan will have Oranges on New Year's night, and they will taste bitter. From the aesthetic point of view, an orange is pretty and tasty and juicy, but a rose, which can't be consumed, only looked at, wins the beauty contest every time.

So the aesthetic and athletic ganged up for the Buckeyes against the Wolverines. The Rose Bowl was first prize Saturday; the Orange Bowl, nice in ordinary circumstances, offered scant consolation for Bo Schembechler and Michigan. Not that a winter trip to Miami is all bad. Radio Shut Out, It was, as noted in Sunday's reports, a strange contest in many respects. This time, the behavior on the sidelines of both coaches was, to say the least, exemplary.

Woody Hayes did not act morbid when he was behind. Nor did he over-exult when, in the waning moments, victory came his way. And Bo accepted defeat, tough to take as it must have been, with rare grace. The only untoward post-game incident came to my attention in a second-hand way. After dinner on the road Saturday night, Hal McCoy and driving home, turned on the radio and tuned in Detroit station WJR's late sports report.

The announcer reviewed the game at Ann Arbor. He had an interview with Woody; none with Bo. "In an astonishing lack of class," the announcer said, "Bo Schembechler refused to talk with the electronic media." So now you know, Bo. You win 'em and you lose 'em; or sometimes, you lose 'em and you lose 'em. Anyway, the game was played in the best tradition of college football.

I never saw a cleaner contest. The only major penalty a clip on a kick return cost Michigan 15 yards. It probably was an accident. Ohio's penalties were two for illegal procedure. Friendship All Around No wonder Ohio senior Brian Baschnagel said after the game, "There have been no nicer people to play against in my four Ohio years than Michigan." Brian told of "wolfman" Don Dufek, whose dad I recall both as a Michigan player and coach, coming up to congratulate him warmly.

Then there was Gordon Bell, the young man from Troy, who had a 124-yard day on the field and threw a touchdown pass. On this day, Gordon individually outshone Ohio's Heisman winner, Archie Griffin. But he made it a point to congratulate Archie on winning the game and insisted on playing down their personal duel, if any. And all over the field Buckeyes and Wolverines chatted In friendly fashion when the war was over. If you think it's corny of me to recognize this nice phase, so be it.

There's so much evil that it seems nice things should be mentioned occasionally. As for the strangeness of the game: Would you believe, for instance, that Ohio went through one stage of approximately 35 minutes without a single first down? Less than half of the final period remained when Ohio started its tying touchdown drive. Before that in the second, third and fourth quarters, the Buckeyes had 8 possessions, no first downs. DAYTON 1 1 0-? Toledo 0 2 0-2 FIRST PERIOD Scoring: I. (O) Bragnalo (Ban-ralvne, Kinsella), 19:40.

Penaltlei: Malinotkl (T), Duncan (T), Toledo bench, two minors and Coach Ted Garvin, game misconduct, 18:07. SECOND PERIOD Scaring: 2. (T) McCabe (MacPhee, Bales), 3. (D) Kinsella (Self, Bragnalo), 4. (T) MacPhee (Brunei, McCabe), 19:11.

Ponalh: Jonathan (D) and MacPhee (T), lighting, Kinsella (D), Malinoski (T), 16:11. THIRD PERIOD Scoring: None. Penalties: Bolonchuk (D), 0:31. Shots en teal: Carr (D), 10-14-1 32; Chagnon (T), M0-10-29. Referee: Sam Slsco.

Linesmen Anoelo D'Amico, Bob Henry. Attendance: 3,939. SundaVi Results jH DAYTON 2, Toledo 2, Tit 'ftfiisi Flint 3, Columbus 0 Kalamazoo Kori nuron -s- -j Saginaw Muskegon 2 Saturday's Results Toledo 3, Fori WavN 3, lil i Port Huron 2, Columbus 0 i ft Kalamazoo 3, Muskegon lit 4 By MARTY WILLIAMS Daily News Sports Writer CLEVELANDThe Cleveland Browns were trying to overcome an eight-point Cincinnati lead late in the third quarter Bengal Si als CM. 17- 402 21-74 371 17-31-1 5-350 5-50 3-2 Cle. 74 439 33-16 273 23-36-0 5-314 10-109 5-2 First downs Total yards Rushing Net passing Pastes Punts Penalties Fumbies-losl Sunday when running back Greg Pruitt threw away a probable touchdown by fumbling on the Bengal five.

As the dejected Pruitt left the field, quarterback Mike Phipps put an arm around his shoulders and rr Sz wJSi luiiafrii iKfr iii nr 1 INDIVIDUAL STATS RUSHING: Ctnclnnttt Elliott 13-35; Click 6-15; Andffson 1-1; Williams 4-11; Reaves 1-1. Cleveland Pruitt 17-121; Prilchelt 13-40; Phipps 2-7; Miller 1-2. PASSING: Cincinnati Anderson I3-20-0-7V2, 3 sacks for minus 31 yards; Reaves 4-11-1-68, 1 sack for minus I yard. Cleveland Phipps 2 sarks lor minus 25 yards. RECEIVING: Cincinnati Joiner 7-200, Curtis 2-77; Trumoy 2-44; Clark t-7; Elliot! 3-21; Coslel 1-2; Williams 1-9.

Clevaland-Rucker 6-64; Pruilt 7-106; Holden 5-93; Prilch-ell 2-10, Roan 3-25. 1 Wjr. -i VAsm 'fill 1 I vZfcttsw-' Prultt 0-23 20-35 Cincinnati Cleveland CM. Cle. FIRST QUARTER Hi an.

1 lit 4 I fell Pi 16th scoring passes of the year bracketed a four-yard plunge by Stan Fritts. The rookie's dive into the end zone capped an 86-yard thrust that included three Anderson completions that totaled 70 yards. But then disaster struck on the seventh play of the second half. Anderson read a blitz perfectly and dumped a 41-yard pass to Charlie Joiner in the vacant middle of the Cleveland secondary. But forgot to block defensive tackle Jerry Sherk and he creamed Anderson Just as the ball was released.

"I had smacked him real good earlier in the game," Sherk said matter of factly, "but I didn't know he was hurt the second time until he came up to take the snap on the next play. He looked kind of lame." Joiner bad reached the Cleveland five, but two running plays netted only two yards and Anderson's third down pass In the right flat to Trumpy was badly underthrown. "That's when we really knew something was wrong," Sherk said. "Anderson looked like he had trouble getting his arm up and he couldn't put anything on the throw." THE BENGALS did manage to salvage a Dave Green field goal, but reserve quarterback John Reaves was unable to put a point on the board the rest of the way. Phipps, of course, was not having that kind of trouble.

After Anderson left the the Browns took the lead by scoring on three of their next four possessions. And the exception reached Cincinnati's five-yard line before Pruitt fumbled. Phipps got both of his TD passes In the fourth quarter and he was the first to admit that he got a lot of help. The first was a flve-yarder to Oscar Roan that the rookie tight end alley-ooped In the end zone, batting it up with one hand and then catching It before falling backward. The throw to Roan narrowed Clncy'i lead to one and that advantage evaporated on the next Cleveland series as Phipps threw to Pruitt for 13 yards.

Pruitt broke three tackles and scored standing up. But as bad as the Bengals were playing, they still trailed by only six points (29-23) and had a chance to stage another miracle finish when Reaves hit Joiner for 51 yards and a first down at the Browns' 16. The catch gave Joiner 200 yards for the day, a Cincinnati record. BUT REAVES misfired three times. Coach Paul Brown, who had already watched Green miss one field goal and an extra point, then ordered another pass on fourth and 10, but that also fell Incomplete.

The Bengals had one more shot at It following Cockcroft's only punt of the second half. Joiner beat double cover age for what could have been the go ahead TD with three minutes left, but Reaves' underthrown pass waa picked off by safety Jim Hill and returned 58 yards for a touchdown. Forrest Gregg was happy to bask in the glow of his first victory as a head coach. "This has been a long dry spell," he said, "and I'm just happy it's over. Cincinnati was the first team to beat us and all week we talked about how the streak was going to end where It started.

And It did, thank God." sttuvn n. -7- Sr fc.a 1- I Tilt nttnm 1 1 ItLf. tJaltkeaia I I I .1 1 ifa ittiijffr I 6 TO Pruitt 2 run (Cockcroft kick failed). lo go. Drive 2 yards In one play.

Key play LeFear's 92-yard klckoff return. 0 9 Brawns' FG Ceckcrttt 27. 7 to go. Drive 72 yards in 7 plavs to Bengal 10. Key plavs Phipps pass of 15 yards to Rucker, 50-yard Pruitt run.

1 Bentel TD Trumpy IS pass Irom Andersen (Green kick). Drive 52 yards in 3 plays. Kay plays 39-yard klckoff relurn by Jackson, Anderson passes of 6 and 11 yards to Elliott and Joiner. 13 9 Bengal TD Fritts 4 run (Green kick Nocked). 0 00 lo go.

Drive 6 yards in I plays. Key plavs Casanova's fumble forcing lackle on Holden followed by Riley's recovery end 13-vard relurn, Anderson panes of 21, 9 and 40 yards lo Joiner, Trumpy and EHioM, 9-yard Ellioll run. SECOND OUARTER 20 9 Rental TO Curtis 30 pass tram Andersen (Green kick). 10:10 lo go, Drive 51 yards In 2 plays. Key plavs 13-vard Elliott run followed by 15-yard per-sonel foul penalty on Scott 20 II Browns' FG Cockered 32.

000 lo go. Drive 65 yards In 13 Plays to Bengal 15. Key plavl Phipps passes of 15, 16, 14 and 6 yards lo Rucker, Holden, Pruitl and Rucker, U-vard Pruilt run. THIRD OUARTER 23 12 Bentel FG Green 21. 11:11 lo go.

Drive 02 yerds in 9 plavs to Browns' 1. Key plavs 24-vard pass Interference penally on Scoll, Anderson passes of 14 and 41 yards lo Joiner. 23 IS Brawns FG Cockered 44. 7:06 lo go. Drive 47 yards In 10 plavs to Bengal 26.

Key plays Phipps passes of 5, 6 and 17 yards lo Rucker and 11 yards lo Pruilt. FOURTH OUARTER 2) 22 Brawns' TD Rean I pass tram Phipps (Ceckcrett kick). 13:24 lo go. Drlvt50 yards hi 9 plavs. Key plays 14-vard Pruitt punt return, U)-yard Prilchelt run, Phipps passes of 14 and 14 yards lo Holden end Roan.

21 2 Bi awns' TD Pruitt 13 nasi from Phipps (Cockcroft kick). 9 46 lo 00. Drlvt 70 yards In plavs. Key plavs 7-vard Phipps run, Phipos pail of 49 yards It Pruitl. 21 15 Brawns TO HID Si Past Interception relurn (Cock crefl kick fried).

51 to go. AllenrfaiK. 59,246 (including 2,119 no-shows) said, "Forget it, Greg. You're going to wind up making the big play that wins this thing for us, I just know it." Phipps, who enjoyed the best day of his career with 23 completions in 36 attempts for 298 yards, was just as accurate with his predictions as he was with his passes as Pruitt played a major role in the 35-23 victory that snapped an 11-game losing streak. But there wasn't one big play, there was a montage of big plays.

All Pruitt did during the course of the day was rush 17 times for a career-high 121 yards, catch seven passes for a career-high 106 yards, return two punts for 41 yards and two kickoffs for 36 yards. In case that short-circuited your calculator, he totaled 304 yards for the day and averaged 10.9 per touch. MOVING RIGHT along, and what better way is there to describe Prultt's exploits, he scored the Browns' first touchdown on a two-yard run, set up one field goal with a 50-yard run, another with an 18-yard run and a 14-yard reception on consecutive plays and a third with an 11-yard catch, ignited one TD drive with a 14-yard punt return and put his team ahead to stay on a 13-yard pass from Phipps. There was only one Cleveland score all day that Pruitt didn't have a major hand or leg in. And there wasn't much he could do to help Jim Hill on his 56-yard interception runback.

Pruitt, who had seen teammate Steve Holden fumble only six yards from the Bengal goal earlier in the game, said his own turnover was more frustrating than shattering. "That kind of thing has been happening to us all year" said the third-year man from Oklahoma. "After a while you start to wonder why some-' thing always has to happen to keep you from scoring." Prultt's second touchdown should never have happened. Or at least that's what Coach Paul Brown will tell linebacker Jim LeClair, safety Tommy Casanova and cornerback Ken Riley when the Bengals look at the games films Tuesday. Ail three had a shot at Pruilt and missed.

Punting Helps Decide There was an ugly series of turnovers in the first half, either by fumble or interception. And there was that 37-yard place kick that Michigan junior Don Wood like so many Wolverines, he is an Ohioan from London blew on the last play of the half. Kicks always seem to play a vital part in the Woody and Bo Show rivalry. So I have to wonder how It would have affected the ultimate score if Michigan had gone in leading, 10-7. Sure, the old line would have it that Ohio would've won by 21-17 Instead of 21-14.

But I don't buy this. Three Michigan points there might have changed the second-half strategy for both sides. In truth, the most Important kicking phase was the punting. That was one statistic aside from the final score which Ohio dominated. With the wind or against it, Tom Skladany kept kicking the football out of sight.

He finished with a 44.6-yard average for his 8 Meanwhile, Michigan's John Anderson kept giving Ohio field position, his 6 averaging 29.5. Skladany's Ohio kicks turned out more important than Gordy Bell's brilliant runs for Michigan, It you'd like to own one of these signs, write Hnrb Fanning st the Lynchburg Hardware Store. Lynchburg. Tenn. 37352.

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