The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 49

Sports TV highlights NFL: Bills-Patriots 1 p.m., Ck 4 Tennis: ATP Championshi 8:30 p.m, ESPN NHL: Bruins-Islanders 7p.m., NESN Racing C20 Scoreboard C21 0 THE BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE NOVEMBER 28, 1999 41' roduee i Minutemen create win in overtime By Joe Burris GLOBE STAFF irmTTTl GREENVILLE, we did it again." 7 Rmm ff 'V. t. Yesterday, University of Massachusetts linebacker Kole Ayi watched a Furman fourth-down pass fall incomplete, and then he uttered those words. Surely they resonated in the mind of every Minuteman player and coach as they dashed onto the field in a wild celebration, elated that one of the most suspense-ful and dramatic games in school history had ended in victory. But UMass's season marches on.

Ayi was right UMass has done it again. After playing Furman to a 23-23 regulation tie, the defending Division 1-AA national champions scored on a Marcel Shipp 1-yard run, then stopped Furman on four downs for a 30-23 overtime triumph in the first round of the playoffs. UMass, seeded 10th, improved to 9-3 and will meet second seed Georgia Southern Saturday in Statesboro, in a rematch of last year's 1-AA title game. Georgia Southern routed 15th-seeded Northern Arizona, 72-29, yesterday. Furman finished 9-3.

"It was a tremendous football game, maybe the best football game we've been in in two years," said UMass coach Mark Whipple, who took over the program in 1998 following its worst season this century and led it to unprecedented heights. UMass has won five consecutive postseason gamluur GLOBE STAFF PHOTO JOHN BOHN UMass tight end Sean Higgins hugs defensive coordinator Don Brown after the Minutemen teamed up to beat Funnan. frtTt "Vi-' ii 1 He could be whipping up another little miracle a rrr, put Wh mm tsm ft jar; ws a. v2sf i 4 vi On college football In peak form Since losing to Hofstra, 27-14, on Oct 2 to drop to 1-3, the University of Massachusetts has run off eight straight victories to advance to the quarterfinals of the Division 1-AA playoffs. A look at UMass's -dominance in the winning streak: overtime in the Division 1-AA playoffs, which will continue next week for the Minutemen in Statesboro, against mighty Georgia Southern.

You are tempted to say this was as good as it gets for UMass. But then you must remember that a year ago it was even better, when the Minutemen went from worst to first and won a national championship in Whipple's first season in Amherst Now another journey is under way and Whipple is leading the Minutemen, with their three regular-season losses, on another Southern Exposure reality tour. Take a good look at Whipple, UMass fans. Appreciate what you have. The man can flat-out coach, and yesterday he and ON COLLEGE FOOTBALL, Page C16 UMass 40.2 Opp.

14.3 Points GREENVILLE, S.C. So it has begun again for the University of Massachusetts. Another season, really, with higher stakes. Which is the way Mark Whipple likes it. Make that loves it.

"This is really special," said the UMass coach in a locker room filled with who believed the gospel he had preached all season and repeated yesterday on a postcard Southern afternoon. "Enjoy it Keep the faith. Just a great, great win." So it was. UMass 30, Furman 23, in i Yards rushing 218.1 102.6 Yds, per carry 4.5 2.9 Yards passing 259.8 153.1 Completion pet 67 45 Total yards 478.0 255.7 Turnover avg. 1.87 3.12 GLOBE STAFF PHOTO JOHN BOHN UMass tight end Sean Higgins dives for the end zone on a 31-yard score in the third quarter, as Furman's Josh Cooper tries in vain to defend.

The touchdown put the Minutemen ahead, 23-20. Believe it or not, Celtics falter again Accountable Bill Hard-working Antowain Smith has his priorities in order By Shira Springer GLOBE STAFF By Kevin Paul Dupont GLOBE STAFF Inside Plugging away Defensive replacement Brandon Smith has worked his way back into the NHL with the Bruins. C3 BC men tumble Perm State hands the feagles an ugly 85-57 loss in basketball. C17 Features Edes on baseball, C2 Dupont on hockey, C4 May on basketball, C7 Borges on football, C13 1 1 WW Mil ATLANTA A look of disbelief mixed with frustration UFFALO Antowain Smith's job here is pushing the pile, tracking behind his fullback usually former Patriot Sam Gash and power-slamrning into a wall of flesh, muscle, and all the assorted plastic-and-fabric protection that 7- VV makes up the NFLs p- of another fourth-quarter collapse and could not respond. The result was a devastating 94-84 loss that extended the Celtics' losing streak to three and pushed them back to .500.

The threat of an early season tail-spin looms. The Celtics squandered a respectable 14-point, third-quarter lead, watching their opponent draw even 2:40 into the fourth quarter. They were outrebounded, 16-6, in the final frame as they slipped farther and farther behind the Hawks. The game at sparkling new Phil-hps Arena before 13,736 fans was deja vu for the Celtics with the memory of Friday's 21-point collapse against Milwaukee still fresh. CELTICS, Page C8 At Buffalo big-man Sunday haberdashery.

"There's nothing too tricky about it," says Jonathan Linton, Smith's fellow Bills running back, explaining what it's like to work crossed the face of every Boston player as the final minutes elapsed in their contest against Atlanta. During stoppages in play, they stared blankly at each other, hands on hips. The Celtics were left to face a numbing reality. Once again, they put themselves in position for another disappointing loss. Once again, the played nearly three quarters of solid basketball only to watch then-lead disappear in agonizing fashion.

For the second night in a row, Boston was faced with the possibility 1 p.m., Ch. 4 Smith has filled the gaps In Buffalo's running game as Thurman Thomas's replacement. in a two-back formation. "You just keep your head down, follow your fullback, and run to where you see less feet" Not so long ago, the 27-year-old Smith was pushing a vastly SMITH, Page C12 For updated scores and news: Glob Online at httpVwww.boston.cofii. Keyword: gkbmporls..