El Paso Times from El Paso, Texas • 53

Section if 1 I .1 I Sunday, December 28, 1980 Page 1-D 'Hiiskers hammer Bulldogs as expected Abracadabra tactics lead to 31-17 win By VINCE LANGFORD Times staff writer It was as if Nebraska was at a magic convention and wanted to put all their abracadabra on display for a post-Christmas very-thing-must-go" sale. "We pulled out all the stops today," said a happy Tim McCrady, the Cornhusker wing-back who conspired with quarterback Jeff Quinn to inflict perhaps the two biggest wounds in Mississippi State which the Bulldogs didn't inflict themselves. "There were a lot of things that happened today, some surprises, that I think will help everyone understand why we had to close practice this week," Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne said. "There was really no way we could work on those things with open practices. It would be easy for these things to get out to the public in advance." About the only thing the Corn-huskers didn't unleash was the "swinging gate" play, the one Houston was tipped off to before last season's Cotton Bowl, resulting in Osborne barring the non-Nebraska media from practices this week.

But get a load of what else Nebraska pulled from its bag of tricks in Saturday's 31-17 Sun Bowl magic act which probably will make Mississippi State disappear from the Top 20: A reverse pitchout to split end Todd Brown which clicked for 23 yards and Nebraska's first touchdown. (Please see Nebraska, Page 7D) Nebraska rips MSU in Sun Bowl By JOHN LAIRD Times sports editor After upholding its reputations for extravagant hospitality, high scores, capacity crowds and perfect football weather, the Sun Bowl can now add another motto: Truth In Advertising. Eight-ranked Nebraska made wizards out of prognosticators by matching the two-touchdown favorite's role and outclassed turnover-plagued Mississippi State 31-17 in the 46th renewal of the Sun Bowl classic Saturday. A record crowd of 31,723 basked in ideal conditions, including light winds and temperatures to 76, a local record high for Dec. 27.

"It was a great tribute to our players' ability to perform well after a very disappointing loss to Oklahoma," said Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne, obviously still smarting from a 21-17 upset loss to the Sooners that diverted Nebraska from the Orange Bowl to the Sun. "I was very worried about a letdown in this game and that didn't happen. We played hard and the intensity was very evident on the field." While the record book will say the Cornhuskers and 17th-ranked Bulldogs accurately answered pre-game scoring predictions, a peek further into the statistics reveals that this game was anything but typical for both squads. Nebraska, especially, took unique approach in constructing its 10th victory against two losses. The nation's No.

1 rushing attack elected to rely more heavily on its air force. The result was a sub-200 yard rushing attack, a first in 1980, by an infantry that was averaging 378.3. And, for the first time this year, Nebraska's passing yardage exactly matched its rushing steps 159 yards eaclr-way. Really, surprises were everywhere. Much ballyhooed Jarvis Redwine, who brought a 124.3 yard-per-game average into the Sun Bowl, gained only 42 yards.

More significantly, Nebraska's three I-backs (Redwine, Roger Craig and Craig Johnson), who had a combined per-game average of 232.1, collaborated for a mere 58 yards against MSU. (Please see Sun Bowl, Page 7D) Nebraska 11, Mist. St. 17 M.M Jl I M-17 NMWM 7 10 Ml Neb 6'0n 2j run (SeiOe! kici(i Net -Fmn I IroT Qinr. i Scibel kicni WSU-FG Mowe Neo F'ankliP i run SeiM icl MSU -Bono 1 run NB -Wf.

CrdOf 52 tro.r 3umn kick; MSU-HadtM 11 patttrom Sonc (Moore kitt: I 0 tsW Vol ifefw -TTrtHMr; v. 'umr (Times uall tholoi oy I Hcisiles) NEBRASKA'S ANDRA FRANKLIN BREAKS THROUGH LINE BEHIND DETERMINED TEAMMATES DURING 31-17 VICTORY State defenders Ricky George (72), Curtis Stowers (52) find trenchwork tough Turnovers prove costly Looking directly at the Sun; No eye strain, either, Page 8D Detailed statistics, scoring sums, locker room quotes Page 9D By MARK LEIBSON Times staff writer Quarterback John Bond figures Mississippi State should have beaten Nebraska 17-7 Saturday in the 46th annual Sun Bowl Classic instead of losing 31-17. That's barring, of course, four lost fumbles, two interceptions and a muffed punt. "It just wasn't in the cards," Bond said. "We were due for a bad game.

We played five tremendous games in a row, both offensively and defensively. It just wasn't meant to be against Nebraska." Bond was the first to admit that too many Bulldog mistakes enabled Nebraska to cash in on easy scoring opportunities. Maybe Mardye McDole's fumble of Nebraska's first punt on the MSU 23 was an early indication of the type of afternoon Mississippi State would have. The Cornhuskers needed just ono play following McDole's fumble to find the end zone for their first touchdown. Before Mississippi State's offensive unit took the field, the Bulldogs were looking down the Net 16 Sl'il barrel of a 7-0 deficit.

"Breaks in the first half went Nebraska's way," Bond said. "We showed in the second half that we can move the football. We felt we could come back after trailing 17-0 at half but we still made mistakes in the second half which hurt." "I don't think Nebraska's defense was any tougher than Alabama's because we moved the ball easier today than we did against Alabama," Bond said. Bond was little help to MSU's offensive attack in the first half, missing on all eight of his pass attempts. On at least two occasions, Bond had receivers wide open down the middle of the field but passed other directions.

"It wasn't that I was nervous. I was going out there looking at one receiver. I didn't notice anything different in Nebraska's defense and the pass plays we called, the receiver should have been open. It wasn't until after I threw the ball that I noticed we had other receivers open." Without a first-half passing attack, MSU had to rely on its fumbling running game which was held to only 63 yards through the first two quarters. It was no fault of MSU's offensive line.

(Please see MSU, Page 7D) MS'J 51 151 Hi minus 3 7 510 54 iHS First oowns Passing yaras Return yard Passes P'jnts Ambles lost Penalties yards 1 1) if, I I 4 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS RJSHINJ Miss SI King 2) M. MadOm Nebrai.a. Franklin 17 47 Redwine 13-4', PASSING Mus. St Bono nu- 102 Nebraska. Ci'iinn, 19 1 -15? RECEIVING Witt WcOtMt ttf.

Neorasti WuVMy 2 107 A TOUGH DAY FOR THE ROOKIE QUARTERBACK John Bond meets 'Husker Dan Lindstrom (98) iiww.iiiiw iwtfwmu iii-iiiniiimininimin mm 1 1 i i iiurr mtr i inir i i iniai rwnn wmn iwiiii mu3mwxt Dallas, Houston take first playoff step Tipoff Sun basketball title on line The San Diego Super Chicken will appear at both games both nights of the Sun Bowl Basketball Tournament Plenty of tickets remain for both games and can be purchased at the gate. Eagles while the Vikings will head into Falcon territory. In the AFC, Oakland will play at Cleveland if it beats Houston and San Diego will host Buffalo in the second round. If the Oilers win, they'll head out to San Diego and Buffalo will meet the Browns in Cleveland. Only one wild-card team, the 1975 Dallas Cowboys, have made it as far as the Super Bowl (interestingly, they knocked off Minnesota and Los Angeles along the way).

They were beaten by Pittsburgh, the second of the four Super Bowl games won by the Steelers. It's taken a long time to get to this multi-tiered level. A long time ago, it was just one step. In the early 1960s, the two division winners met for the NFL title (while two other division winners met for the championship of "other" league, the still-young American Football League. Back then, there was no Super Bowl.

It wasn't until Jan. 15, 1967, following the 1966 seasons, that just winning a league title wasn't enough. That became the preliminary to the NFL-AFL championship (they didn't call it the Super Bowl until a couple of years later). In 1967 and for the succeeding two years, while the AFL remained a two-division (Eastern and Western) league, the NFL split into four divisions within Eastern and Western conferences. NFL trivia buffs will remember the Capitol, Cen-(Please see Playoffs, Page 4D) The Associated Press While six teams figuratively sit on sidelines, the National Football Conference's Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys and the American Conference's Houston Oilers and Oakland Raiders meet Sunday to determine who shall take the next big step on the road to Super Bowl V.

Those other six are the division winners, the teams which earned a first-round bye in what has now become a four-story climb to the National Football League championship. The Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons know they'll be hosting the second round. If the Cowboys win Sunday's game, they'll be in Atlanta and Minnesota, the third NFC division champ, will go to Philly. But if the Rams win, they'll visit the MUI Ilniirn Mwmm ww mm. Report By BILL KNIGHT Times staff writer That orange and brown court in the midst of the 12,220 seats in the Special Events Center will be no place for the faint of heart the next two nights.

Four teams, four aggressive, physical teams, will try to bang each other into submission Sunday and Monday nights. The participants: UTEP, Miami of Ohio, Villanova and San Francisco. The goal: the 20th Annual Sun Bowl Basketball Championship trophy. UTEP will get nose-to-nose with Miami of Ohio in the 7 p.m. opener.

San Fnncisco will get shoulder-to-shoulder, hip-to-hip with Villanova in the 9 p.m. second game. In the first matchup, UTEP will take a 7-2 record onto that brightly colored court against Miami's 4-3 mark. The Miners have a pair of impressive wins, taking a 67-52 decision over a strong Colorado team and a 85-77 road win over a very good Nevada-Las Vegas club. The Redskins have won four of their last five, a thrashing at the hands of Duquesne in the opener of the Golden Gate Tournament in San Francisco last week being the only recent blemish.

Miami defeated Cincinnati 91-87 in overtime and Xavier 74-73 before losing to Du-guesne 97-59 in what Redskin ob- servers term one of their worst performances ever. Coach Darrell Hedric's team bounced back the following night, however, to knock off California-Irvine 109-99. The Redskins' chief threat comes in their quick guards. Al Watkins and Craig Tubbs lead the team in scoring. The Miners, who are known for their inside play, will have a challenge for starting guards Virgil Kennedy and Julius Wayne.

Inside, Anthony Burns has been very, very consistent this season. Roshern Amie has shown signs of big scoring lately, hitting 18, 23 and 20 in three of the last four games. Fred Reynolds, who injured a finger and missed the Louisiana College game, is back and may start. If he does not start, Terry White will and White is averaging in double figures. UTEP Coach Den Raskins said.

"Paul Cunningham has been making good progress and I think Tim Crenshaw has finally reached his playing weight." (Please see Cagers, Page 5D) Basketball 7 p.m., College, Sun Bowl Invitational, First Round: UTEP vs. Miami (Ohio), KHEY-AM 690. Cable 20. The times cannot mure accuracy of toorft pro grsmmtng information obtained from the broa-icss ters ft you hate aues'itvw regarding sports progam mint, call the taton Playoff. Houston Oilers vs.

Oakland Raiders, Channel 9. Soccer 10:45 a.m.. Futbol-Soccer, Cable Basketball 6 m. 4 10 p.m., College, Arkansas vs. Kansas State.

Cable 20. Auto Racing 6:30 p.m.. Auto Racing, Cable Boxing 1:30 p.m., Boxeo Desde Mexico (Boxing from Mexico), Cable 19. General 24 hour sports programming, Sports on TV Football 10:30 a.m.. Tom Landry, Channel 11 i.m., The NFL Today, Channel 4.

11:30 i.m., NFL. NFC Wild Card Playoff, Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams, Channel 4. 2 p.m., Blood, Sweat and Cheers, highlights the Rose Bowl's history. Channel I.

2:30 p.m.. NFL '80, Channel f. i p.m.. NFL, AFC Wild Card Sports on Tap Basketball College, Sun Bowl Invitational, First Round: UTEP vs. Miami (Ohioi, 7 p.m., San Francisco vs.

Villanova, I p.m, Special Events Center. Greyhound Racing Juarez Race Track, 8 p.m. Sports on Radio Football 11:30 a.m., NFL, NFC Wild Card Playoff. Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams, KTSM-AM 13S0.

3 p.m., NFL. AFC Wild Card Playoff. Houston Oilers vs. Oakland Raiders. KTSM-AM 1380.

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