The Daily Advertiser from Lafayette, Louisiana • 24

2 Oklahoma 17 6 Syracuse 32 1 Nebraska 7 W. Virginia 31 3 Miami 24 PennSt 21 Toledo 14 7 Notre 20 16 42 TCU 24 18 Iowa 34 Minnesota 20 35 McNeese ..44 28 Lamar 36 41 NLU 31 36 Ark. St 21 33 Southern 8 21 SW Missouri 6 11 Mich. St ..30 Wisconsin 9 13 OSU 48 Iowa St 27 15 22 Kentucky 14 Col. St 9 LSU Tulane USC 17 8 Clemson 7 5 UCLA 13 12 S.

20 Kent St 5 Sunbag Sunday, November 22, 1987 Sports Page 25 Mitchell runs wild against Colorado St. Bruce fpy Brown 1 By BRUCE BROWN Sports Editor It was not a night when you'd expect defense to finally decide the issue not with 980 yards between USL and Colorado State and Ragin' Cajun quarterback Brian Mitchell accumulating 476 by his running and passing. But, somebody had to stop somebody and the Cajuns finally halted the Rams to preserve a wild 35-28 victory Saturday night at Cajun Field before 14,031 thrilled but chilled fans. Coach Leon Fuller's Rams, who had taken the fight to the Cajuns from the start and at one time led 21-7, were knocking on the door one more time. Wide receiver J.D.

Brookhart, owner of two touchdown passes this night, returned a punt 43 yards to the USL 45 with 3:05 left to play to give CSU a final chance. Quarterback Scooter Molander hit passes of 17, six, and seven yards to help position his team on the Cajun 10 with two minutes to go. But on third and goal from the 10, Dexter Gatewood sacked Molander back at the 19, and his fourth down pass into the end zone fell incomplete. That dropped CSU 1-10, and boosted Coach Nelson Stokley's Ragin' Cajuns to 5-5 heading into next week's 2 p.m. home finale with Southern Mississippi.

"They don't get any easier," Stokley said. Not to imply that last night's decision was any piece of cake. The Cajuns had rallied from 21-7 down to finally tie the Rams at 21 apiece in the third quarter, and grabbed a 28-21 lead after three. But the road-weary Rams fought back again. Molander led a 10-play, 80-yard drive to tie it at 28, hitting passes of 21 yards to Todd Tyrrell, 25 to halfback Scott Whitehouse, and 10 to Whitehouse again to the USL 20.

Whitehouse beat a blitz with an 11-yard draw to the nine, and three plays later Todd Yert plunged a yard for the TD with 7 34 to play. But Mitchell, who totalled a school-record 271 yards rushing and 205 passing with a dazzling assortment of draws and options, brought his team back. He brought the crowd to its feet with his 53-yard scoring sprint up the west sidelines for what proved to be the game-winner with 4:41 to play. It was the game-winner, but the game was far from over. It took that final defensive stand to assure that.

CSU got hot in the second period to claim a 21-10 halftime lead, with a foolish penalty on the Cajuns proving pivotal. The Rams had mounted a 14-0 advantage, only to be answered by a rapid-fire Cajun march to get back within seven points At that point, with 3:49 to play in the half, the Cajuns were right back in the game. But CSU punter Tom Rouen was roughed, and that gave the Rams a big first down at midfield. Molander hit Whitehouse for one first down with a six-yard pass to the USL 36 on third and two, and then found Dewey Dorough on a crossing pattern for 27 to the USL nine. On third and goal at the four, Molander clicked with Brookhart for the second time on the same pattern for a touchdown 23 seconds from intermission.

It was that combination which had given the visitors a 7-0 lead from five yards out 11:19 from halftime. That first score climaxed a 90-yard, 11-play drive, and the second capped an 11-play, 81-yard march. The Rams, who set the tone early by driving on the Cajuns with their first possession, only to miss a 47-yard field goal, almost had to go much shorter than 90 yards to break the ice. Linebacker Pete Pavlakis intercepted a Mitchell pass and rumbled 70 yards to the USL 13 THE ADVERTISER P.C. Piazza Amazing performance single-game rushing record in leading USL to a 35-28 come-from-behind victory over Colorado State.

USL sophomore quarterback Brian Mitchell began his record-breaking evening that saw him score four touchdowns, as well as run and pass for over 200 yards. Mitchell broke the Ragin' Cajun before fleet P.D- Broussard dragged So they simply drove to a TD Brookhart for the score on third and him down from behind. anyway, as Molander hit Tyrrell for goal from the five. But, with clipping detected on the 31 yards to the USL 25 and Sanjay Rams, they had to start at their 10. Beach for 11 to the 12 before hitting Is PaS OU 17, Nebraska 7 Sooner leave little doubt who's No.

1 Oklahoma 17, Nebraska 7 TOMROUSSELisoneof dozens of former New Orleans Saints who never saw a winning season wearing the fleur de lis on their helmets, but he is joined by many in figuring this will finally be the year. "If they're going to have winning season and make the playoffs," Roussel said, "this would be a good year to do it. There's no dominant team. And, I think they're leading a charmed life this year. The 42-year old Roussel serves as the president of the New Orleans Chapter of the NFL Alum i Association, the sponsoring group for a youth Super Bowl this weekend at Lafayette Lanes.

A Thibodaux native, Roussel went to Southern Mississippi and played linebacker for the Washington Redskins before coming to the Saints in the Billy Kilmer trade of 1971 that eventuated in the drafting of Archie Manning. Roussel played for a 1971 Saints team that dropped Dallas 24-14 in a year that saw the Cowboys go on to win their first Super Bowl title. This year's Saints are aiming to do the same to a defending champion. "THOSE BOYS are well-coached," said Roussel of the '87 Saints, who host the New York Giants today in the Superdome. "They're doing all the right tilings, and not just the big things, either, but the little things, too.

"Everything is done proficiently offense, defense, and special teams." Credit for that goes directly to Head Coach Jim Mora, according to Roussel. "MORA has a great singleness of purpose," he said. "It's like he's got blinders on. His one goal is to win. That's all he cares about.

"He's not out to promote himself, like some coaches are." Combine Mora with General Manager Jim Finks and the Saints have a winning management team. "Finks is like Mora," said Roussel. "He has the same philosophy, and they've both been successful." FANS should be alert to other clubs trying to steal that one-two punch from New Orleans if this success continues. 'The people in Phoenix are operating just as if they already have a team," Roussel said, "and I heard the other day that if they get an expansion franchise they're going to go after Finks and Mora. "If Mora wins in New Orleans, he can name his ticket." NOW 6-3 for the first time ever, the Saints have the second-best record in the NFC and are the top Wild Card playoff candidate if not ready to catch San Francisco (7-2) in the NFC West chase.

The Saints have scored in 19 straight quarters, are second in the NFC in rushing at 162 yards per game, lead the conference in third down conversions (47.8) and total defense, and have the NFL's leading scorer in kicker Morten Andersen. They come off three straight road wins over NFC West foes, including the 49ers, for this weekend's game. "THEY HAVE a good array of talent," said Roussel. "When you take out a Reuben Mayes, and you can put in a Dalton Hilliard, that's a good one-two punch. "Sunday's game will be a real test," he added.

"Coaching is so much more than X's and O's, and after three straight road wins they're bound to be down a little. 'This will be a true test for Mora." Last week the World Champion Giants ended a three-game Philadelphia win streak in Philly, so the 3-6 champs aren't dead just yet. "They can take out a Lawrecne Taylor, and put in Andy Headen and they don't lose a step," said Roussel. I like what Stan Brock said this week. He said the Giants are still the champions, and that the Saints aren't good enough to just step on the field and win.

They have to work week to week." THAT POINT was driven horn emphatically by Mora with an uncharacteristic outburst after a losstothe49ersinthe (See Line, page 27) 'jBPjj- 11155 mm iMBfe hH jillliR y1 Oklahoma -W Nebraska 7 6 7 First Quaner Neb K. Jones 25 run Drennanktckl, 13:32 Third OMi-ter Okla Stafford ItrimiUshar kick), 2:12 Okl-collins45run (Uasttarkick), 13:31 Fourth Quarter Okla Nth First downs Rushesyards 75419 VW Passing 25 Return Yards -54 Comp-Attlnt 21 l-3 Punts 5 94 Fumttles-t-ost Penalties-Yards 515 5-47 Time of Possession 35:11 34:41 INDIVIDUAL, STATISTICS RUSHING Oklahoma, Collins 13131, C.TIwmpson 31 126. Anderson 24119, Stafford 12-43. Nebraska, K.Jones 15-9. Taylor 18-54, Bell 3 21, Heibel 2-5, Brinsot! 2Z Carpenter II.

PASSING Oklahoma, C.Thompson 2-9-1-25. Nebraska, Taylor 6-1S-3SII. RECEIVING Oklahoma, Jackson 1-21, Stafford 14 Nebraska, Bell 2 IB, Minikan 1-17, Hawkins 1-9, R. Smith 1-tvBrlnsonH. MISSED Ft ELD GOALS Oklahoma, Lashar 45,36.

players that play hard. It's speed and strength. A good pass defense is how you frustrate a quarterback. The Sooners held Nebraska's Steve Taylor to six completions in 18 passes and intercepted him three times. Oklahoma's triumph set up a possible national championship game with third-ranked Miami, which accepted an Orange Bowl bid Saturday.

Miami, coached by former Oklahoma assistant Jimmy Johnson, handed the Sooners their only two setbacks in their last 35 games. Nebraska, 9-1, winds up its regular season next Saturday at Colorado. The Cornhuskers who have dropped four in a row and 35 of their last 46 meetings with Oklahoma, will play fourth-ranked Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl. Collins, quarterback Charles Thompson and fullback Rotnei Anderson the last two filling in for injured regulars Jamelle Holieway and Lydell Carr all rushed for more than 100 yards. Nebraska led 7-0 at halftime as tailback Keith Jones ran 25 yards for a first-period touchdown, the only time the Cornhuskers moved the ball in the first half.

Except for that 10-play, 84-yard scoring drive, the nation's best defense shut down the top-rated offense. Nebraska managed only 14 yards on its other five first-half possessions. Despite trailing at halftime, (See OU, page 27) By HERSCHEL NISSENSON AP Football Writer LINCOLN, Neb. AP) -Oklahoma's offense gets most of the publicity especially now that Brian Bosworth is gone but you win championships with defense. It was with the nation's top-rated defense that Oklahoma beat Nebraska 17-7 Saturday to renew its claim to the No.

1 ranking it surrendered to the Cornhuskers last week. "This is the same defense that played in 1984 and beat them 17-7," Coach Barry Switzer said after Oklahoma concluded an 11-0 regular season, earned a fourth consecutive trip to the Orange Bowl and stretched the nation's longest winning streak to 20 games. The Sooners won all seven Big Eight games in capturing their 24th outright conference title in 45 years, in addition to sharing seven others. "This is the same defense, the same 8-9 kids. We didn't even miss Boz today." Anthony Stafford and Patrick Collins brought the Sooners from behind with third-quarter runs of 11 and 65 yards and R.D.

Lashar added a 27-yard field goal midway through the final quarter. The 22nd meeting of the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the 52-year history of the Associated Press college football poll failed to live up to all the pregame hype, but hardly anything short of an atomic explosion could have. Nebraska came in leading the nation in total offense with an average of 524.6 yards a game.

The Cornhuskers finished the afternoon with only 235 yards, 59 of them in the final two minutes against Oklahoma's prevent defense. "This was a dominating team," Switzer said. "I don't think there's any question. Anybody who was here or saw the game on TV knows Oklahoma is a better football team. "When they were talking about beating us 35 to something it's crazy to me.

They haven't scored but four touchdowns on us in three years. "There's no secret. It's just good Get away! Nebraska quarterback Steve Taylor (9) tries to elude Oklahoma linebacker Darrell Reed (40) as he goes for yardage in the first quarter Saturday. The Sooner defense stiffened in the second half and Oklahoma took the annual clash of the Big-8 Titans 17-7. LSU suns down Tulane in Dome shootout LSU 41, Tulane 36 By AUSTIN WILSON Williams' second touphdnwn run Louisiana St 7 14 7 1341 Tulane 0 7 14 1534 LSU-Williams3 run (Browndyke kick) Tu-Allen 1 run (Wiggins kick) LSU Davis lOpassfrom Hodson (Browndyke kick) LSU Davis 17 pass from Hodson (Browndyke kick) Tu Hunter 1 run (Wiggins kick) Tu Zeno IB pass from T.

Jones (Wiggins kick) LSU Wiggins 1 run Browndyke kick) TuFG Wiggins 49 LSU V. Jones 1 run (Browndyke kick) Tu Zeno Upassfrom Jones (pass failed) Tu Mcintosh Jl pass from Jones (pass failed) LSU Fuller 20 run (pass failed) Green Wave's opponent will be announced on Sunday, with bowl officials indicating it would be either Washington or Wake Forest. Williams got his 179 yards on 18 carries. Included was a 3-yard touchdown plunge in the first quarter and a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter. Davis caught both touchdown passes in the second quarter, giving him 19 scoring receptions for his career.

That broke the school record of 18 set by Andy Hamilton in an LSU career that ended in 1981. Tulane scored on a 1-yard run by Marvin Allen on the first play of the second quarter, tying the score briefly at 7. The Green Wave tied it again at 21 after Davis' two scores, getting one second-quarter touchdown on a 1-yard plunge by Rodney Hunter and another on an 18-yard pass from Terrence Jones to Marc Zcno. LSU first downs 4 Rushes yards 43-301 Passing yards 721 Return yards 7 football in this state two great universities went at it for 60 minutes," Archer said. "It's a shame in a ball game like this that somebody has to lose," he said.

"I'm sure Tulane doesn't feel very good right now, but they have a lot to be proud of." Harvey Williams ran for 179 yards and two touchdowns, and Wendell Davis caught a pair of scoring passes for LSU. Williams finished the season with 1,001 yards. But he wrecked his knee on his final carry. "It's major surgery. We don't know if we'll have him back next year," Archer said.

LSU finished its regular season 9-1-1 and has a date with either the Sugar Bowl or Gator Bowl, depending on the outcome of the Southeastern Conference race. Tulane, 6-5, accepted an invitation to the Independence Bowl to cap its first winning season since 1981. The Tul 23 30 76 316 9 put LSU back out on top, and Victor Jones scored on a 1-yard plunge after Tulane's Todd Wiggins kicked a 49-yard field goal. Zeno caught his second 18-yard scoring pass with 4:36 left in the game. A 2-point pass failed.

LSU's Alvin Lee fumbled the ensuing kickoff when hit by Pat Stant, and Jay Rink recovereed for Tulane on the LSU 32. Three plays later, Jones hit Jerome Mcintosh with a 21-yard scoring pass over James Pierson to put Tulane out front for the first time in the game at 36-35 with 3:37 remaining, and again the 2-point conversion pass failed. LSU marched 69 yards on seven plays to Fuller's game-winning touchdown. The Tigers tried a 2-point conversion pass, hoping to put victory out of field-goal range, but it failed. AP Sports Writer NEW ORLEANS (AP) It was exactly the sort of game that Louisiana State University Coach Mike Archer wanted to avoid an up-and-down-the-field shootout in which the last team to score won.

Happily for Archer, ninth-ranked LSU scored last a 20-yard sprint by Eddie Fuller with 46 seconds left in the game giving LSU a 41-36 victory over two-touchdown-underdog Tulane. It was the most total points ever scored in an LSU-Tulane game, a rivalry that began in 1893. Archer said before the game that LSU would have to control the ball, avoid mistakes and keep Tulane's high-powered offense off the field. Instead, LSU turned the ball over three times and picked up 83 yards in penalties. "It's truly a tribute to high school 16 24-1 27 40-0 Passes Punts 2 43 4-40 i-umoics 1051 2-2 Penalties-yards 113 220 Time of Possession 29:52 30:08 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHINO-Louisiana Slate, Williams IB 179, Martin 12 47, V.

Jones 10-44. Tulane-Hunter 9-2, Allen 5 la, Jones t-40. PASSING Louisiana State, Hodson 14 24 1, 221 yards Tulane, T. Jones 27-37 315 yards. RECEIVING Louisiana State, Davis 6 -II, Martin 3 54 Williams 3 30.

Tulane-Zeno 7119, Allen 6-56,.