The Manhattan Mercury from Manhattan, Kansas • 9

The Manhattan Mercury Sunday, October 20, 1991 Bl Wildcats take Hmskeirs to the Mai. gum MarkJanssen Sports Editor I1 LINCOLN, Neb. Don "Fox" Bryant has been covering Nebraska football as a reporter or sports information director for the past 37 years. He's seen a couple hundred Red wins, championships BigEightandnational. He's seen NU-OU games, NU-Alabama, of them.

Yet, late Saturday afternoon, he said, "That's one of the greatest games I've ever seen. Watching it, I thought about the 1971 game with Oklahoma (The Game of the Century NU 35, OU 31). It had so much drama and was just never over. This was just a helluva college football game." No question about it: No. 9 Nebraska 38, Kansas State 31.

In this one, the Big Red Fat Lady was oozing over the edge of her Memorial Stadium bleacher seat far too restless to even hum until the final buzzer sounded. Down by seven, K-State moved the ball from its 27 to the NU 11-yard line with under one minute to go. Curtis Madden gained four yards to the 7 and then Paul Watson threw an incomplete pass. 1 That was followed by a pair of timeouts, with one of those charged because Watson could not see the 25-second clock because a coat had been layed over the clock. On 3rd and 6 from the 7, an on-the-run Watson threw incomplete to a diving Michael Smith in the end zone.

Then on 4th and 6 and 42 seconds remaining, Watson scrambled right and zipped a pass toward tight end Russ "It was an under-route," said the KSU tight end. "It was in the basket (his hands); I'm not sure what happened. The film will tell." "Someone came up loose and I was forced to flush," said Watson, who enjoyed the seventh high total offensive day in KSU history with 359 yards 19 rushing and 340 passing. "I saw Russ coming across, so I tried to hit him and hope he could lean in." Instead, linebacker Trev Alberts jarred the ball loose from Campbell. When the play ended, 36 seconds remained.

Only then did Nebraska have its 23rd straight win over the Wildcats. And by just seven 27 under the bettor's line. Afterward, a dejected KSU coach Bill Snyder offered, "I'm tremendously disappointed with the loss. I thought our kids played well, played with great effort, and played with a lot of heart We just made enough mistakes not to win against a great team like Nebraska." "They are legitimate. I think they're capable of winning against anybody in the league," said Tom Osborne, coach of the "Huskers and 19-0 against Kansas State.

"They could have done it (pulled the upset). I think they're (v us. Snyder admitted, the miss was a big play. "I don't question the call because from where I stand I can't see that You have to be looking dead-away. I just hope for a lot of peoples' that it wasn't good." Instead of a 10-point KSU lead, NU tied the game on the next series.

Setting up the score was a scrambling Keithen McCant 41-yard pass to Johnny Mitchell putting the ball at the KSU 3. "I saw Johnny break and I threw it for all I could and he caught it," said McCant, who rushed for 100 yards and passed for 107. "The big plays broke us mentally," said KSU nose guard Evan Simpson. "Last week we found a way to win late, this week they found a way to win late. It's kind of ironic.

Last week we found a way to win with a broken play and this week they won with a broken play." Brown would score on the next play with 6:49 remaining to tie the game at 31-31. K-State could net only one 1st down on their next series before a Sean Snyder 50-yard punt gave NU the ball at its own 40. Six plays later, Brown, who rushed for 145 yards on 28 carries, dove in. "We had the game in our hands, See No. 1, Page B4 So very, very close Kansas State 7 10 14 031 Nebraska 14 3 7 1438 First Quarter Kansas State 7, Nebraska 0 7:17 KSU's Michael Smith, 7-yard pass from Paul Watson.

After stopping NU's initial drive. KSU moves 76 yards in 12 plays. Watson was good on 6-of-8 passes for 67 yards. Smith caught two passes includinga 34yarderon 3rd and lOthattookthe ball to the NU 5-yard line. PAT: Tate Wright, kick.

Kansas State 7, Nebraska 7 54 NU's Derek Brown, 1-yard run. After the KSU score, NU goes 77 yards on seven plays. on the ground. The key run in the drive was a 38-yarder by Scott City native and NU fullback Lance Lewis. Brown had five rushes for 23 yards.

PAT: Byron Bennett, kick. Nebraska 14, Kansas State 7 1:07 NU's Keithen McCant, 32-yard run. The Comhuskers take it 79 yards on eight plays, with seven of those being rushes. Brown had four rushes for 34 yards. PAT: Bennett, kick.

Second Quarter Nebraska 14, Kansas State 10 11:42 KSU's Tate Wright, 26-yard field goal. Penalties marred KSU's 11-plaly, 69-yard scoring drive as they moved the ball to the NU-4 before being flagged for illegal procedure and holding penalties. Watson was good on 3 of 6 passes for 36 yards, plus had one rush for 19 yards on a 3rd and 17 play. Kansas State 17, Nebraska 14 6:27 KSU's Michael Smith, 11-yard pass from Watson A pass interception by J. Masters set up the three-play, 24-yard drive.

Watson hit all three passes in the drive. PAT: Wright, kick. Kansas State 17, Nebraska 17 NU's Byron Bennett, 33-yard field goal A 46-yard kickoff return by Tyrone Hughes set up the NU scoring drive. Third Quarter Kansas State 24, Nebraska 17 9:15 KSU's CJ. Masters, 40-yard ramble recovery.

During a three-yard run by Lance Lewis, Masters stripped the ball and returned it 40 yards for the score. PAT: Wright, kick. Kansas State 24, Nebraska 24 3:40 NU's Johnny Mitchell, 4-yard pass from McCant Nebraska moves the ball 67 yards in nine plays. Twice McCant hit Jon Bostick for gains of 13 and 25 yards in the drive. PAT: Bennett, kick.

Kansas State 31, Nebraska 24 2:42 KSU's Paul Watson, 3-yard run After NU tied the game, KSU marched 79 yards in eight plays. The key play in the drive was a 34-yard strike to Smith on a 3rd and 12 play. PAT: Wright, kick. Fourth Quarter Kansas State 31, Nebraska 31 6:49 NU's Brown, 3-yard run After KSU's Tate Wright missed on a 32-yard field goal, NU moves 80 yards in seven plays. The key play was a 41-yard pass to Micthell to the KSU 3.

PAT: Bennett, kick. Nebraska 38, Kansas State 31 2:47 NU's Brown, 1-yard ran NU moves the ball 60yards in six plays for the winning score. Highlighting the drive were runs of 19 and 25 yards, respectively, by McCant and Lewis. PAT: Bennett, kick. Watson totals 359 Team Statistics Kansas State Nebraska 26 1st Downs 22 34-112 Rushes-Yards 55-363 26-46-340 Passes-Yards 8-13-107 452 Total Yards 470 4-49 Punts-Avg 2-21 1-0 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 6-45 Penalties-Yards 5-52 33:33 Time of Possession 26:27 Individual Statistics Rushing KSU: Gallon 13-47; Coleman 1-23; Watson 16-19; Madden 3-12; Smith 1-11.

NU: Brown 28-145; McCant 13-100; Lewis 6-79; Jones 6-46; Turner 2-C-7). Passing KSU: Watson 2646340. NU: McCant 8-13-1-107. Receiving KSU: Smith 10-172; Gallon 6-82; Campbell 3-34; Hernandez 4-30; Benton 2-13; Coleman 1-9. NU: Bostick 3-46; Mitchell 2-45; Hughes 1-9; Brown 2-7.

Tackles KSU: Price 12, Boone 7, Mendez 7, Patterson 6. NU: Legette 8, Petko 6, Carmer 6, Byrd 6. APlaserphoto Kansas State's William Price makes the tackle on Nebraska quarterback Keithen McCant in Saturday's 38-31 Wildcat loss. Not a win, but alot of respect for the 'Cats MarkJanssen Sports Editor because they are Kansas State." What they were Saturday was a Kansas State football team that played No. 9 ranked Nebraska to a 38-31 game in Lincoln after coming in a 35-point underdog.

"I'm sure we will catch a lot of flak this week about playing bad and being a bad football team. That's athletics," Osborne said. "It's emotion, preparation and everybody out there has a good football team. We haven't lost to a Kansas State team, or someone like that, for 55 straight games. Maybe people ought to say, 'Hey, that's kind of "Kansas State is a good football team," Osborne later said.

"I expect they will end up with a winning season." For sure, the game set a record for most fans in attendance at the end of a Kansas State Nebraska game. Snyder says he's sure some will say that Nebraska over-looked K-State, but, "I really don't think that they did. I think they prepared themselves as well as they could." Certainly showing their admiration were the Nebraska fans, who respectfully applauded the Wildcats as they left the field. Leading the cheers for K-State in the Comhuskers' lockerroom was defensive coordinator Charlie McBride. "This was a real football game," McBride said.

I mean this is what college football is supposed to be. "Kansas State has moved the ball on everybody and will continue to do so. (Paul) Watson is a fine quarterback and he knows the offense." Michael Smith also knows the offense. He See Np. 2, PageB4 LINCOLN, Neb.

Look, this is now. Today. Not history. None of those 18-orl 9-year-old kids care about, or know about, the past. Tom Osborne in Saturday's Lincoln paper Yes, Nebraska coach Tom Osborne tried to warn Red fans before kickoff that this was not the KSU team of old.

But it's doubtful many listened. Kansas State is Kansas State, they thought. But from p.m. Saturday, 76,209 mostly Red-clad fans saw for themselves that Purple football was again being played with Pride. "Bill Snyder got mad last week and I can understand why he got mad," said NU coach Tom Osborne.

"Nobody will give him credit Morris, Twins take opener from Braves, 5-2 capable of beating a very good football team this year." After playing to a 17-all tie at intermission, K-State never -trailed in the second half until the final 2:14 of the game. That's when Derek Brown scored his third TD of the game when he dove in from the 1. The momentum switched from Purple to Red at the 8:35 mark of the final period when a Tate Wright 32-yard field goal attempt was ruled wide to the left. "It was either good or close," said Wright, who kicked a 26-yarder in the first half. "It was either just inside or overthe pole.

I thought it was good." "I have to question that one a little. I thought it was good," said Watson, who held on the kick. "But I'm sure if you ask a Nebraska person, they would say it wasn't good. The referees didn't do a bad job today, but there was a little home field advantage. But that's football.

They didn't beat a powerful experience. Greg Gagne and Kent Hrbek showedwhy they call ittheHome-rdome and Jack Morris pitched seven strong innings, as the Twins took Game 1 of the 88th World Series Saturday night with a 5-2 victory. It was not a good day to be a Brave, at least not an Atlanta Brave. Outside the ballpark, demonstrators protested the club's alleged disrespect for American Indian culture. Inside, a noisy sellout crowd of 55,108 cheered the Twins to their eighth victory in nine postseason games at baseball's Monument to In the seventh, Hrbek led off with a double and Scott Leius followed with a single before Gagne launched a 380-foot shot to left that gave the Twins a four-run lead.

World Series Saturday, Oct. II Minnesota 5, Atlanta 2, Minnesota leads series 1-0 Sunday, Oct 20 Atlanta (Glavine 20-11) at Minnesota (Tapani 16-9), 7:40 p.m. Tuesday, Oct 22 Minnesota (Erickson 20-8) at Atlanta (Avery 18-6), 729 p.m. Wednesday, Oct 23 Minnesota at Atlanta, 726 p.m. Thursday, Oct 24 Minnesota at Atlanta, 726 p.m., if necessary Saturday, Oct 2 Atlanta at Minnesota, 726 p.m., if necessary Sunday, Oct 27 Atlanta at Minnesota, 7:40 p.m., if necessary Morris gave up two runs on five hits over seven-lus innings, leaving after he walked the first two batters in the eighth.

Mark Guthrie and Rick Aguilera did the rest, combining on two innings of one-hit relief to give Morris his third victory in three 1991 postseason starts. Braves starter Charlie Leibrandt did not fare so well. He gave up four runs on seven hits over four innings, three of them on a 380-foot home run by Gagne, the No. 9 hitter in the batting order. Hrbek added a 440-foot upper-deck shot off reliever Jim Clancy and the Twins never looked back.

1 99 1 The Baltimore Sun MINNEAPOLIS The Min-nesota Twins had appeared almost docile during the first two games of the American League playoffs, leaving room to wonder if the Metrodome had lost its magic. But the Atlanta Braves soon found out that nothing had changed since the last National League team passed through here in 1987. The dome-maniacs don't have quite the same lung power anymore, but the Twins have a way of joining together with the fans to make an evening at "The Hump" Kansas City hopes to extend lead over Denver in AFC West definite change in their offensive line. Albert Lewis, Kansas City's premier Associated Press Wildcats fall to Lady Buffs Kansas State's volleyball team lost in straight games to the University of Colorado Saturday night, 15-11, 15-5 and 15-2. Leading the Wildcats was Stephanie Liester with nine kills, while Rhonda Hughes and Angie McKee each had seven.

Liester also had 12 digs. Kansas State is now 9 13 on the year while Colorado improves to 17-6, which includes a 6-0 record in Big Eight play. The Wildcat will next play at Nebraska on Tuesday. Thursday, reporting to the team although he was given no substantive contract concessions. Humphrey immediately joined practice, and while coach Dan Reeves said he was pleased with Humphrey's condition, he's not ready to play.

He's also about 6 pounds overweight Expect Humphrey to make his first appearance of 1991 in next week's game at New England. Green, the beneficiary of Humphrey's holdout with 554 yards rushing this season, skipped Thursday's practice when his thigh muscle, injured two weeks ago against Houston, tightened. He's listed as questionable for the game. Rookie Greg Lewis, who's rushed for 45 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown, is the backup. cornerback, has missed five games this season with a knee injury.

He returned to practice this week, and coach Marty Schot-tenheimer said Lewis should get some playing time, including special teams. Lewis owns the Chiefs' record for blocked punts with 10. Last week during their bye week, the Broncos acquired Salem, an offensive tackle, and Sochia, a nose tackle, to shore up two positions. The coaching staff has hedged on their availability this week, but the Broncos figure to need both Salem to hold off the Chiefs' outside pass rush and Sochia to slow down the Chiefs' powerful ground attack. The Broncos already have made one Guard Sean Farrell will undergo shoulder surgery, and veteran Crawford Ker will start in his place.

Kansas City is 5-2 and situated atop the AFC West, having won four straight games including a 33-6 whipping of Buffalo and a 42-7 thrashing of'Miami the last two weeks. The Chiefs rushed for 239 and 221 yards their last two games, spearheaded by 260-pound Christian Okoye, who ranks second in the AFC in rushing with 664 yards and is tied for the NFL lead in scoring with seven touchdowns. "The thing the Chiefs have right now is three great runners that just keep coming See No. 1, Page B5 DENVER You'll need a scorecard for today's Kansas City-Denver game. No, Bobby Humphrey won't play.

Gaston Green might not either after pulling up lame with a strained thigh muscle in practice. Albert Lewis should see his first action in three weeks, but he probably won't start. And the playing status of two newly acquired players, Harvey Salem and Brian Sochia, remains unclear. Imagine the confusion on the part of both coaching staffs, wondering just what players will be available and how much contribution they might make. Humphrey, the Denver Broncos' two-time ended a 97-day holdout.