Rutland Daily Herald from Rutland, Vermont • 12

HERALD SPORTS VERMONT REGIONAL SCOREBOARD NATIONAL 12 RUTUND DAILY HERALD. TUESDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER 16, 1980 Oilers Defeat Browns, 16-7 Stabler proved again his mastery at mixing plays and hit on 23-of-28 passes for 167 yards. Cleveland's Brian Sipe was ll-of-25 for 106 yards. The Browns opened the scoring early in the second quarter with Sipe taking his club on an eight-play, 57-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard pass to veteran running back Calvin Hill.

Don Cockrofts extra point made it 7-0. Cleveland's much maligned defense kept Stabler and the Oilers bottled in their end much of the first half, and Houston could only muster a 25-yard field goal by Fritsch with CLEVELAND (UPI) Tom Fritsch kicked three field goals and Tim Wilson ran for one touchdown Monday night to back a rugged Houston defense that carried the Oilers to a 16-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns. The Oilers featured a ferocious defense that stymied the Browns throughout the second half and an offense that ate up the clock on three time-consuming drives. Fritsch sealed it with a 17-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter after the Browns had staged a goal-line stand. Houston quarterback Ken 4:35 left in the half.

The kick came after a 15-play. 56-yard drive by the Oilers. The first half ended with Cleveland leading 7-3. The Oilers started to uke command in the third quarter, however, when Earl Campbell almost single-handedly got Houstons running game back in gear. The Oilers took the seond half kickoff and marched 67 yards in 10 plays, scoring on a 1-yard plunge by running back Tim Wilson with 9:08 left in the third quarter.

Fritschs quick gave the Oilers' a 10-7 lead. The Houston defense, meanwhile, held the Browns to a paltry nine yards total offense in the third quarter. The Oilers widened the lead early In the fourth quarter on a penalty-aided. 15 play, 53-yard drive that set up another field goal from Fritsch this time from 29 yards. In a game between two AFC Central clubs.

Houston evened its record at 1-1 and the Browns dropped to 0-2. Heisman Trophy winner Charles White from USC had his second straight lackluster game for the Browns, carrying four times for 16 yards. Alabama Replaces No. 1 Ohio State NEW YORK (UPI) Alabama, the defending national champion, bolted ahead of Ohio State and into the No. 1 ranking following Mondays balloting by UPI's Board of Coaches.

The Crimson Tide, idle last week, moved ahead of Ohio State, which had to rally from a 21-3 deficit before posting a 31-21 triumph over stubborn Syracuse, on the basis of total points. Although the Buckeyes received 21 first-place votes to 19 for Alabama, Coach Bear Bryants team garnered 598 points to outdistance Ohio State, which had 585 points LA, Astros Lose; Stay Tied ATLANTA (UPI) Los Angeles manager Tom Lasorda had been concerned that the Dodgers might suffer a letdown after sweeping a weekend series in Cincinnati and it turned out he had good cause for that concern. "We played bad. No, make that terrible," moaned Lasorda Monday night after the Atlanta Braves routed the Dodgers, 9-0, on the five-hit pitching of Tommy Boggs and the nitt ting of drove in three runs each and Chambliss two. Two of Horners RBI came on his 33rd home run in the first inning.

"We got behind early and that changed the whole complexion of the ball game," said Lasorda, whose club has lost nine of 15 to the Braves this season. "We played one like this last week in Houston. It was just a bad ball game for us. For Boggs, 10-9, it was his second straight shutout against the Dodgers, having blanked them 2-0 on Mat- Bob Horner, Gary thews and Chris Chambliss. Horner and Matthews Cincy Weighs Bench Request CINCINNATI (UPI) -Cincinnati Reds President Dick Wagner had a mixed reaction Monday to Johnny Bench's request that he catch only two games a week next season.

We respect that request and we will do our best to abide by that, Wagner said. But he added, "We feel he has much to contribute to this team and we hope he will want to catch more than two games. Wagner met Monday with Bench to discuss the veteran catchers future with the club. Following the meeting, Wagner issued this statement: Johnny told us at our earlier meeting that he did not want to catch more than two games per week next season. I told him today that we respect that request and we will do our best to abide by that.

At the same time, I told him that we feel he has much to contribute to this team and we hope he will want to catch more than two games. "Johnny had also said he would like to play 120 to 130 games. I told him that we could not promise that. He will have a chance to pinch hit and play where required by the manager. But a manager has to have the freedom to decide each day what he believes will be his best lineup.

"It wouldnt be fair to John McNamara to tie his hands with an agreement that a player has to play a certain number of games at different positions. I also told Johnny that however long he decides to play baseball I hope that he will want to play in a Reds uniform and after he retires, we hope to work out a means to keep him in the Cincinnati organization." Also attending Mondays meeting were Reuven Katz, Benchs attorney, and Sheldon "Chief" Bender, vice president of player personnel for the Reds. of their last 36. They have the best record in all the majors in the last six weeks. Padres Dump Houston HOUSTON (UPI) Gene Richards hit a two-run double to key a fourth-inning rally Monday night and the San Diego Padres fought from behind to score a 6-3 victory over Houston, ending the Astros' five-game winning streak.

The defeat left the Astros tied for first in the National League West with Los Angeles, 9-0 losers to Atlanta Monday night. Seaver: Three-Hitter CINCINNATI (UPI) -Tom Seaver tossed a three-hitter and Ray Knight slammed a two-run homer Monday night, helping the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-2 victory over San Francisco and handing the Giants their sixth straight loss. Seaver, 9-7, struck out eight and walked four in winning for the fifth straight time. The only hits off the 35-year-old righthander were a leadoff single by Bill North in the first, a leadoff home run by Darrell Evans in the ninth and a two-out single by Rennie Stennett in the ninth. New Soccer Franchise Picks arsh as Coach Track Team Tours Orient INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) -A 33-member U.S.

track and field team has left for a tour of the Orient, the Athletics Congress announced Monday. The team will compete in the Eight Nations Meet in Tokyo on Sept. 20-21, and the Beijing International Meet in Beijing, China, Sept. 26-27. The team was selected from a pool of American performers who were among the top placers at the Athletics Congress championships in Walnut, and the U.S.

Olympic team trials in Eugene, both in June. Nineteen members of the team were also part of the U.S. Olympic squad. Perretta a Giant EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (UPI) The New York Giants signed two layers Monday, including ve-year veteran center Ralph Perretta, and placed two other players on the injured reserve list.

In addition to Perretta, who played five seasons with the San Diego Chargers before being released by the club Sept. 2, the Giants also signed defensive tackle George Small, who was cut by New York following the preseason. Placed on injured reserve were starting defensive tackle Mike McCoy, who injured his thigh in the second quarter of Sundays 23-21 loss to the Washington Red-skins, and reserve linebacker Whip Walton. Coach Claims RecruitingArm Acted Legally CHAMPAIGN, 111. (UPI) Illinois Coach Mike White, wanting to set the record straight," said Monday quarterback Dave Wilson was legitimately recruited from a California junior college.

"It is important that it is said there was no hanky panky with any transcripts," White said at his weekly press luncheon. Wilson has directed the Illini to two victories this season, but the possibility exists that should the Big Ten eventually win its case, any games in which Wilson played would have to be forfeited. White talked for about 15 minutes about his quarterback who is fighting the Big Ten for the right to play this season. Wilson, a transfer from Fullerton Junior College, is playing under a temporary court order. However, Champaign County Judge Harry Clem, a of I alumnus who issued the injunction Sept.

2, has scheduled another hearing Wednesday morning to allow Big Ten attorneys to introduce new evidence in the case. The new information includes high school transcripts forwarded to the University of Illinois from Fullerton for a different David Wilson. "The wrong transcripts have no bearing on the situation, White said. There have been no efforts by anyone to deceive anyone or to get Dave Wilson anything more than he deserves. Instead, White said, the Big Ten's actions in the Wilson case are a backlash of what has happened in the Pacific 10 Conference, where several teams have been put on probation for academic irregularities.

White also said it does not appear the Big Ten Conference or its faculty representatives have the best interests of member schools or student-athletes at heart. I see no effort on the part of the Big Ten to help one of its member institutions or its student-athletes," White said. Wilsons problems began in 1977 when he entered Fullerton and broke his hand when taking his first snap from center in the opening game of the season. He dropped out of school for a year, but returned in 1978 and played the next two seasons before White recruited him last winter. The confusion centers over whether Wilson should be considered a junior or a senior at Illinois.

As a senior, the Big Ten has ruled Wilson has insufficient academic credit to compete in athletics this year. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (UPI) Rodney Marsh, star of the Tampa, soccer team before ending his playing career last year, Monday was named coach of the Carolina Lightnin, the new American Soccer League franchise. Marsh, a star performer in England before coming to the United States 4-14 years ago, coached the New York United franchise in the ASL until July when he resigned because of "kind of a disagreement with the general manager over interference." Marsh, 36, was introduced at a news conference after a brief film on his antics as a player. Those days are behind me, playing days, he said.

The balloting is done by 42 head coaches, six from each section of the country. Alabama, riding the nations longest winning streak at 23 games, defeated Georgia Tech 26-3 two weeks ago and is preparing to play at Mississippi this weekend. Upon learning of Alabamas elevation to the top spot, Bryant wished the news had come later in the season. Well, Id rather have just woke up from dreaming and it was Jan. 2 and you had told me we were No.

1, said the 66-year-old Bryant. "Ive always felt like the defending champion should be first until they get beat. I don't mean just us. I felt that way about Southern Cal, Texas, Oklahoma and others that have been champions." The Buckeyes held the No. 2 position, followed by No.

3 Oklahoma, No. 4 Southern California and fifth-rated Texas. Rounding out the top 10 are No. 6 Nebraska, seventh-ranked Pittsburgh, No. 8 Notre Dame, No.

9 Georgia and lOth-rated Florida State. Texas and Pittsburgh each received a first-place vote. Georgia, on the strength of its recent 42-0 shellacking of previously ranked Texas made the biggest jump among Top 20 members, climbing from No. 15 to No. 9.

Pittsburgh, which turned the ball over nine times but held on for a 14-6 victory over Boston College last Saturday, fell three notches to No. 7. Southern California, a last-second 20-17 winner over Tennessee, moved up from No. 5 and Texas, idle last week, Nebraska and Florida State each jumped up one position. Houston, ranked ninth last week, lost to Arizona State 29-13 and plummeted to No.

19. Penn State heads the second 10, followed by No. 12 Michigan, No. 13 North Carolina, No. 14 Stanford and No.

15 Washington. Missouri is ranked 16th and UCLA, which walloped Colorado 56-14, entered the Top 20 for the first time as the 17th-ranked team. South Carolina is rated 18th, followed by Houston -and No. 20 Arkansas. Texas was the only team to fall from the ratings.

Aug. 13 with another five-hitter. "They have a lot of right-handed power and that's to advantage," said Boggs, a right-hander who depends more on finesse than speed. This game I felt more in control than I did in that other one. I had better control tonight.

The Braves, in fourth place and eight games behind the co-leading Dodgers and Houston Astros at the start of Monday's play, have now won four straight, 10 of their last 13, 20 of their last 26 and 27 Jersey Studies Jai Alai Bills TRENTON, N.J. (UPI) -Jai alai supporters told an Assembly committee Monday New Jersey would benefit greatly from at least one fronton while opponents said it would encourage compulsive gambling and hurt the horse racing industry. The Assembly State Government Committee heard testimony on two bills: one sponsored by Assembly Speaker Christopher Jackman, D-Hudson, which would set up jai alai frontons in Jersey City and Camden; and a similar one sponsored by Assemblyman Dennis Riley, D-Gloucester, which would permit the sport in certain municipalities. The act proposes that the money from jai alai be used to rejuvenate urban areas of the state and should, therefore, be located in such places. Assemblyman Richard Codey, D-Essex, chairman of the committee, said he would have to move very quickly on the bills if they are to get on the November ballot.

Voters would have to approve a referendum before jai alai could be established in New Jersey. David Milner, president of Metro Jai Alai, a firm begun about a year ago aimed at getting proposed jai alai legislation passed, said his company would be immediately prepared to build a fronton in Jersey City if the referendum were passed. The proposed fronton, at an estimated cost of $25 million, would be the largest fronton in the country. We will have a young team, an aggressive team, a team that wants to win every game, he said. Marsh said he had already contacted two associates about playing for the Charlotte franchise and said he hopes to have some players signed before training camp opens next year.

But he jokingly said franchise president Bob Benson said the team would have three priorities in the offseason: "Selling season tickets, selling season tickets and selling season tickets." Benson said the franchise is committed for three years and can break even with an average attendance of 5,000. Rich Melvin, executive vice president of the franchise, said signing Marsh as the coach was the best thing possible for a new franchise. "Ive known the image of Rodney Marsh, he said. Next to Pele, he is the most widely known soccer player in America. Marsh, most valuable player for the Tampa Bay Rowdies for three years, said he made $75,000 as a player in England and came to the United States for an increase but didnt say how much he was paid to play in Tampa.

However, he said he had taken a sizeable salary cut as a coach. This isnt my greatest source of income," said Marsh, currently featured in a national beer Senior League Shelves Designated Hitter Plan Rangers Zero As ARLINGTON, Texas (UPI)-Al Olivers career hit snapped a scoreless tie in the sixth inning Monday night and sparked the Texas Rangers to a 2-0 triumph over the Oakland As. The victory snapped the Rangers' five-game losing streak. Rookie Beats Cubs CHICAGO (UPI) Andy Rincon pitched a five-hitter in his major league debut and drove in a run in a four-run sixth inning to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs Monday.

Seattle Rips ChiSox SEATTLE (UPI) Rod Craig hit a two-run home run and Danny Meyer and Mario Mendoza stroked two-run doubles to a key a nine-run third inning Monday night, powering Seattle to a 12-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox that ended the Mariners four-game losing streak. "I will be judged on my coaching and not as a player and thats as it should be. "I know I should be judged on how many games we win," said Marsh, who signed a two-year contract with the new franchise with an option on a third year. The team will begin its first season next spring but Marsh said he has high hopes. The first year well be an expansion team.

I expect to play .500 or better, he said. The second year I want to win (division title). The third year who knows where we can go. The team will be patterned after Marshs style who, when asked if he was a dirty player, responded with a smile and said. "Aggressive if you like.

I was hard and fair. NEW YORK (UPI) -The National League has apparently shelved plans to adopt the designated hitter rule once again. National League President Charles Feeney announced Monday that the clubs requesting an NL meeting on the designated hitter withdrew their request, and that there will be no league meeting following the joint meeting Chicago on Wednesday. w- id There had been speculation that the league would finally vote in favor of the rule. The American League has used the designated hitter since 1973, and the National League voted it down in its most recent voting by a slim 5-4-3 margin.

It had been suggested that the owners who abstained from the last voting were simply waiting for a later date in the season to adopt the measure. Flexible Mast May Aid Aussies in AmericasCup Test Today Kings Franklin FOOTBALL 5 Official Size 8. Weight I Rubber Soccer Boll 5 I NEWPORT, R.I. (UPI) The summerlong finale of the 24th Americas Cup yachting campaign begins Tuesday with the Australian challengers boasting a "perfect" weapon against the U.S. defender Freedom The Aussies spent Monday in heavy winds on Rhode Island Sound, testing their innovative flexible mast, which they believe will make their yacht faster over the six-leg 24.3-mile race course.

"We believe we have achieved perfect control, said Alan Bond, the Australian campaigns financial backer. The mast was slightly damaged during practice Sunday, but the fiery Bond told reporters it was rebuilt and works satisfactorily. We have no fears. The mast, whose fiberglass top bends through a hydraulic system, allows the Australians to expose more of their yachts mainsail to the wind Since sails power these 30-ton yachts, the new rig could give the Aussies a bold edge, particularly in light conditions. Light southeasterly winds of 5 to 10 knots and fair weather were forecast for Tuesdays first race.

If Bond's yacht proves faster, the Americans will have to rely exclusively on sailing skills and tactics to win the best-of-seven series. In one-on-one match racing, even a fraction of a knot difference in speed can be a definitive advantage. But the Freedom crew finished a final practice session Monday with abundant confidence. Were on our way, said sail trimmer Tom Whidden. I think weve got it.

Were not worried at all. The longest winning streak in history will be at stake when the two sleek million dollar yachts sail over an imaginary starting line in choppy waters seven miles off Newport at 12:10 p.m. EDT. Freedom was the heavy favorite to win the series probably four straight and preserve the New York Yacht Clubs 129-year grip on the silver pitcher. The battered old Cup, which stands just over two feet, weighs 128 ounces and wont even hold water, has attracted 23 spare-no-expense challenges from 14 foreign yachtsmen since 1870.

But in 78 races sailed, challengers have only won seven. Since racing began in 12-meters in 1958, the U.S. has won all but two of 30 races. Freedom skipper Dennis Conner, who turns 38 Tuesday, and his 10-man crew spent an unprecedented 315 days sailing together over the last two years in the most costly Cup campaign ever $2.1 million. Bond appeared to back down on his intention to challenge the New York Yacht Clubs "country of origins ruling, which puts sophisticated American-made sailcloth and equipment off limits to foreigners.

The Aussies have acquired a mainsail of laminated cloth, presumed to have been made in the U.S. But asked if he would use the sail Bond said Monday, I think we'U make that decisioh at a later date." This is the sixth time an Australian yacht is in the challengers role. The Coast Guard put the finishing touches on elaborate plans for riding herd over 1,000 to 1,500 spectator boats expected for the match. To cope with the assortment of craft, ranging from small outboards to luxurious power yachts to ferries, the Coast Guard assigned seven cutters, 17 41-foot utility craft, up to 10 smaller auxiliary craft, one helicopter and two Navy destroyer escorts. i.