Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania • 17

Stingers close with win Page C-3 Cigar smokes the field Page C-4 Penguins outgun Devils Page C-5 i ne inaiana, ka oazene Sunday, October 29, 1995 I IUP gives away its playoff hopes at 'Boro Turnovers costlv I sT llS 7 The Indiana, PA Gazette Sunday, October 29, 1995 Turnovers costly in 35-18 setback mWM; Rick WW Weaver was moving up to get our QB. I just turned around and waited for the ball. It was thrown a little behind me but there was no way I wasn't going to make the catch in my senior year against IUP." That Loss was the last in a number of strong plays executed by Hart. A long-time reserve behind standout Jody Dickerson, Hart led the Scots early by hitting 9 of 12 aerials in the first half. His play fakes froze the Indian defense several times, including a fake reverse that saw him hit star split end Gilbert Grantlin on a 57-yard TD strike early in the second period.

"There aren't too many Edinboro quarterbacks that can say they beat IUP," said Hart, a junior who was also heavily recruited by the Indians coming out of Allison Park. Grantlin's score snapped a 7-7 tie and the Scots would never surrender the lead from there. The guests did get off the mat as backup quarterback Steve Russell shook off a pair of sacks on the ensuing series and guided IUP to the 'Boro 35. Kicker Jon Ruff then used a brisk wind to his advantage and booted a school-record 52-yard field goal with room to spare. Ken Ferguson, who experienced a miserable day in connecting on only 7 of 26 passes with two interceptions, came on during the next possession and hit tight end Jeremy Weaver for 29 yards to put IUP in business again.

After a 14-yard pass to tailback Vaughn Mosely took the Indians to the 'Boro 23, Ferguson fired a pass to Weaver into the end zone for an apparent score to give IUP the lead. But a holding call negated the points and the Indians eventually turned the ball over on downs. Continued on Page C-3 By BILL 6ALINT Gazette Sport Writer EDINBORO II wouldn't, have been such a big surprise had Edin-boro taken IUP's hopes of remaining in the playoff hunt. However, it is shocking that the Indians simply gave them away. A combination of turnovers, penalties and numerous breakdowns gave a very talented Edinboro team more than enough extra ammunition as the 12lh-ranked Scots (7-1 took a 35-18 triumph.

The Scots scored oq an interception return on three drives set up by Indian turnovers. An IUP touchdown was nullified by a holding penalty. The loss left seventh-ranked IUP at 6-3. "Their skill players made the plays and ours didn't," said IUP coach Frank Cignetti. whose 33-game Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West unbeaten streak came to an end.

"It always comes down to that." The Scots made more than enough plays to win. The most crucial was a fumble caused by All-American defensive end Pat Schuster on IUP tailback James Suber with 7:29 left in the contest. The Indians had just pulled to within 21-18 on Suber's 32-yard touchdown run and had gotten the bait back when linebacker Omar Stewart recovered a fumble at the Indian 27. Seven plavs after Suber's second fumble of the day, all-conference tight end Todd Henne hauled in a ft-yard pass from quarterback Chris Hart to seal the victory with 3:47 remaining. Reserve tailback Tony Brinson added an insurance score in the final moments to set the final.

"I blocked down on the defensive tackle and then peeled to the flag," said Henne. "1 saw that their corner Atlanta deserves respect Look on the bright side: At least we won't be hearing commentators whining over how the Atlanta Braves never won a World Series despite their high-powered pitching staff. The Braves 1-0 victory Saturday over the Cleveland Indians wrapped up the team's first World Championship since 1957. when the franchise was based in Milwaukee. It is also the first world title for Atlanta since the Braves moved there in 1966.

If you ignore the self-promotion of Ted Turner and the moronic drones of the tomahawk chant, you've got to admit the Braves have done a terrific job building themselves as a pennant contender the last few years. They haven't always been that good, you know. It goes beyond the big-money acquisition of Greg Maddux and the trade that sprang Fred McGriff from San Diego. If Chipper Jones does not impress you as a ball player, you must not have watched much baseball lately. Everybody knows about their starting rotation: Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Steve Avery.

And they have some truly outstanding role players, like Mark Lemke, Rafael Belliard and Luis Folonia. If this collection of players represented the Pirates, you would love them to death. My congratulations go the Atlanta Braves, baseball newest World Champions. Hopefully, not for long. Roses and Razzberries Roses: To the Blairsville and Marion Center cross country teams.

While the Bobcats have generated most of the sporting interest through their play in football, Blairsville has also put together a truly outstanding boys cross country team. Most of the a tten tion, understandably, is focused on two-time District 6 champion Curtiss Houser. But guys like Lance Yuri, Gary isher, jett KemvicK, Justin Hutton, Jim Workman, Matt Hanna, Ken Kitner, Jason Gilmor, Justin Hanna have made Dan Cunkelman'ssquad another team in which Blairsville tans can take pride. And say this much about George Krivonick he always finds a way coach someone to states. His Marion Center teams might for a nice gain on a pass play touchdown that was called back on the last drive before halftimo.

because of a penalty. (Gazette photo by Willis Bechtel) Champions At Braves capture elusive Series title ID fT I vO" "V- ex. j- By BEN WALKER AP Baseball Writer ATLANTA Chokers no more, the Atlanta Braves are World Series champions at last. Five years of frustration ended Saturday night when Tom Glavine pitched one-bit ball for eight innings and David Justice homered, bringing the city of Atlanta its first major sports title with a 1-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians in Game 6 of the World Series. "This has been a long time coming," Glavine said.

"This organization and this group of guys has worked so hard to get here and we've come up short. bitterness of losing the World Series games is real fresh in everyone's mouth." Now. the sweet taste of champagne. ''We've been close before, but we finally got it," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "Our players, from day one, wanted to win this thing." Glavine and Mark Wohlers combined on the fifth one-hitler in Series history and first since Jim Lonborg for Boston in 1967, allowing only a soft single by Tony Pena starting the sixth "inning.

Glavine reprised his win in Game 2 by again using his changeups and breaking balls to fool the best-hitting team in the game, and was voted Series MVP. More than anything, that was the theme this October great pitching stopping great hitting. IUP's Jeremy Weaver takes off Weaver's next catch went for a Last David Justice accounted for homer in the sixth. The crowd was on its feet for the ninth inning, a lot with their tomahawks chopping. As soon as Marquis Grissom caught Carlos Baerga's fly ball to left-center, a few fans took to the field but they were quickly escorted by police as for good.

He scored again less than four minutes later, breaking tackles and juking defenders on a 36-yard run. lezzi's third TD of the day, on a 23-yard dash early in the second half, pretty much removed any remaining suspense. "Our defensive technique on him wasn't very good," Page admitted. "We didn't make the plays we needed to. Of course, he's a very good runner.

He's deceptive, and when he gets in the open he's fast." Speaking of fast, that describes Blairsville's scoring method. In order, their four "drives" required two plays and 1:31 of playing time; three plays and two plays and About the only negative on offense was the Bobcats' penchant for attracting yellow flags. Blairsville Continued on Page C-3 RrWX' "-IT i 9 at ft Steelers making changes By RICK WEAVER Gazette Sports Writer PITTSBURGH The "Toine!" sound you hear from the west is that of the men and women who make up the Pittsburgh Steelers" media relations department. The team's numerous lineup changes have these people pulling hair out of their heads. Look for plenty of new faces at unfamiliar positions when the Steelers welcome the Jacksonville Jaguars in another AFC Central Division battle today.

Injuries, ineffective play and Joel Steed's suspension has forced Bill Cowher to make nearly wholesale changes on offense and defense. Steed is expected to be replaced by rookie Oliver Gibson. Steed will miss the first of four games as part of his league-imposed suspension for using steroids. Gibson is not necessarily a lock to start at nose tackle, however. He broke his right hand while trying to shed a blocker during a practice last Monday and is listed as questionable.

Brentson Buckner, who played nose tackle in college, would fill the void in case Gibson cannot play. Kevin Henry, in turn, would fill in for Buckner opposite Ray ScaJs at defensive end. Carnell Lake, an All-Pro strong safety who played linebacker in college, gets the nod at cornerback in place of Alvoid Mays. Willie Williams wili remain at the other corner and Lake's safetv spot will be filled by Myron Bell. Mays was beaten on two touchdown passes in the Steelers 27-9 loss to Cincinnati last week.

He also figured in the Bengals' other touchdown when Tony McGee jumped over him near the goal line. Bell, a second-year pro from Michigan State, saw extensive playing time at strong safety during Lake's contract holdout. Jerry Olsavsky is ready to substitute at inside linebacker in case Chad Brown does not recover from a badly sprained ankle. Brown, who leads the Steelers with 5-5 sacks, missed over half the Cincinnati game and saw limited practice rime last week. Coaches and players, of course, like to emphasize how outcomes in football games are a team effort.

The offense has done its share to help the people who prepare press-box lineup cards run up a healthy bill on White-Out. Continued on Page C-6 Cleveland, which led the majors in batting, scoring and home runs, was held to a .179 average by Atlanta's aces. Justice, who had criticized Braves fans for being too quiet, gave them reason to cheer when he homered leading off the sixth against reliever Jim Poole. "I was really a nervous wreck coming in today because I'd been in this situation before, where you're up 3-2," Justice said. "I was never so nervous in my life.

"I really had a good feeling that it was our time. We had suffered enough. It was time for our club and time for our city." Series losers in 1991 and 1992 and NL playoff losers in 1993. Atlanta won its first title since moving from Milwaukee to open the 1966 season. The Braves also became-the first franchise to win the World Series in three cities, having done it as the so-called Miracle Braves in Boston in 1914 and in Milwaukee in 1957.

Fittingly, it was Glavine who ended the elusive quest. He'd been with the Braves longer than any Slayer on their postseason roster, eg inning his career in 1987 at the start of a four-year span in which Atlanta was the worst team in baseball, averaging 93 losses per season. Glavine struck out eight and walked three. Wohlers, filling the closer role that had been the Braves' biggest bug-a-boo in post-seasons pas.1, finished it out, retiring the side in order. 9-0 regular season.

The Rams (2-7) came in with momentum and a two-game winning streak, but they were no match for a Blairsville team that had an appointment with history. "We felt the opportunity was there, but we knew we'd have to play very good football and get some breaks." said Laurel Valley coach Jerry Page. "I'll tell you. they came out strong. They were ready and jumped on us quickly and we weren't able to recover." The most telling blows were delivered by Sam lezzi.

who rushed for more yards on his first four carries (138) than Laurel Valley did for the game (102). lezzi finished with an even 200 yards on only 11 attempts, boosting his area-leading season total to 1,271. lezzi's 50-yard touchdown burst with 3:51 gone put Blairsville ahead experience a down year or two. But they don't stav down very long. 1 Razzberries: To KDKA-TV's over-ballyhooed "Steelers Insider" 2 segments from Rod Woodson's restaurant.

Woodson smiles a lot, banters with Bob Pompeiani and says hardly anything. Kind of like a politician. Anyone who thinks Woodson will go on television and openly criticize the very people with whom he shares locker space is a world-class moron. If you're a viewer, you're entitled to moan. "What a waste! Either that or change the channel for something more substantial.

Like Stephanie Miller. Roses: To the Shannock Valley fe and Elderton girls volleyball teams, who see quarterfinal-round action ti, Monday at Elderton High School. The undefeated Spartans host Laurel at 6:30 p.m., the Bobcats following against Western Beaver in the nightcap. The Bobcats set the standard for excellence by winning three state titles in four seasons. And judging by the Spartans' success, only Dan 4 Spencer knows that better than Shannock coach Mark Risko.

Risko knows the road to states is just a jf short hop south. ft Whoever comes out of tomorrow's doubleheader figures to represent the area well. Razzberries: To the New York Islanders, who inexplicably did not acknowledge Mario Lemieux's 500th career goal during the Pittsburgh Penguins' 7-5 victory Thursday night, i Pittsburgh prides itself for being the city in which the great Gordie sg Howe scored his 700th goal, pi Public-address announcers in most (p NHL cities make an effort to prepare for possible milestones. I don't know if it was an Slf intentional slight. Your typical Pittsburgh fan, of course, will swear upand-downit was.

fc No matter. The bottom line is there is no excuse for such a glaring oversight. Rick Weaver is a sports writer for Ipi The Indiana Gazette. His column Sg appears regularly. Blairsville wraps up unbeaten season the game only run with his (aP pnotaf the rest of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium stood and cheered to the song "We are the Champions" by the group Queen.

Properly, perhaps, the Braves won by a 1-0 score. In 1991. in their Continued on Page C-4 1 Blairsville 27, Laurel Valley 0 Key stat: Blairsville's Sam lezzi rushed for 200 yards and three touchdowns on only 1 1 carries. Turning point: lezzi scored on his team's third and sixth plays from scrimmage, enabling the Bobcats to take control early. Team records: Blairsville 9-0, Laurel Valley 2-7.

Quotable: LV coach Jerry Page, discussing the Bobcats: "They came out strong. They were ready and jumped on us quickly and we weren't able to recover." By BOB FULTON Gazette Sports Correspondent NEW FLORENCE The Blairsville Bobcats didn't freeze up when facing the final obstacle to a perfect regular season. Coach Ab Dettorre, though, is another story altogether. When the final seconds ticking away in Blairsvillc's 274) victory over Laurel Valley Saturday, several Bobcats surreptitiously crept up to Dettorre and emptied a large container of ice water over his head. An electric chair might have provided a weaker jolt.

"It was like an instant chill," said Dettorre. "I think I knew it might happen, but I wasn't prepared." Fortunately, the Bobcats were. They scored on their third and sixth plays from scrimmage to erase any notions of an LV upset and wrap up a.