The Daily Sentinel from Grand Junction, Colorado • 31

f. Section PrepCollegeProsRecreationScoreboard Sunday November 1008 Bmiffs sJhnmdk ComJhmkeirs 27 21 i Orange Bowl, title bout all but assured with win Jeff Letofsky Daily Sentinel A -s dont-break defense to inspired special teams play. In what was billed The Clash in Colorado, the Buffs theme of Things have changed rang true, loud and clear. Jeff Campbell burst into the spotlight with two stellar punt returns. The first set up Colorados first touchdown that tied the game at 7-7.

The second, a 54-yarder, set up a 19-yard drive that gave CU a 2444 lead midway through the third period. JJ. Flannigan capped the drive with a 2-yard run off a pitch from quarterback Darian Hagan. The Buffs dodged a bullet when Eric Bieniemy, making his first appearance in three weeks because of a broken leg, was intercepted by Tyrone Legette in the end zone. But Legette was flagged for pass interference, giving CU a first down at the 2.

Nebraska came right back with a 12-play, 80-yard drive with Gdowski hitting Chris Garrett for a 26-yard touchdown. That pulled the Cornhuskers to within 24-21 late in the third quarter. CU drove to the Nebraska 2 midway through the final quarter fob lowing back-to-back 17-yard runs by Hagan, but the Cornhusker defense stiffened. Culbertson came on and hit a 28-yard field goal that gave CU a 27-21 cushion. Then it was up to the Buffs defense to preserve the win.

Nebraska marched to the CU 26 and faced a fourth-down-and-six situation with 3:31 to play. Gdowski threw incomplete and the Buffs seemingly had sewed up the win. Please see Buffs, page 3D BOULDER All that glitters is gold and black. The University of Colorado took a giant step toward a Big Eight championship and an Orange Bowl berth with a 27-21 win over Nebraska, the Big Red. A last-second survival series confirmed the Buffaloes mission toward a national championship at slap-happy Folsom Field here Saturday.

The victory, which gave Colorado its first 9-0 record since 1923, was only the Buffaloes' second over Nebraska in their last 22 meetings. The Cornhuskers suffered their first loss of the season after eight wins. Colorado is 5-0 in the Big Eight, with games remaining at Oklahoma State and Kansas State. The Buffaloes will be heavily favored to win both and make their first trip to the Orange Bowl since 1977. Trailing by six, Nebraska drove into Colorado territory on its last two possessions, but the first drive stalled at the 26 and the final march ended when Gerry Gdowskis hail Mary pass from the 42 was broken up in the end zone by cornerback Dave McCloughan.

Nebraska outgained Colorado 397-227, but the Buffaloes outrushed the Cornhuskers 205-186 in a battle of two of the nations top running teams. Nebraskas firepower came through the air as Gdowski completed touchdown passes of 51, 12 and 26 yards. The victory was achieved through a total team effort, from the big play offense to the give-but- Mr A A Christopher TomllntonDaily Sentinel Colorado wide receiver Jeff Campbell, 84, just misses a catffb in the School product, helped the Buffs with two dazzling punt returns as midst of Nebraska defenders Saturday in the battle for the Big Eight they bested the Huskers 27-21 Colorado, 9-0, has two games Conference lead at Boulder. Campbell, a Battle Mountain High remaining, at Oklahoma State and at Kansas State. Big plays go CUs way this time Jeff Letofaky Daily Sentinel 70-yard run and a 2-yard run.

We didnt play our best game, but kept on fighting. Flannigan was credited for a 70-yard run after taking a pitch from quarterback Darian Hagan that tied the game at 7-7 in the first quarter. Hagan had broken away on an option for 35 yards and pitched to Flannigan, who romped into the end zone. He added a two-yard touchdown in the third quarter that gave the Buffs a 24-14 lead. Darian can make anything happen, said Flannigan.

Hell pitch anywhere on the field. Flannigan was one of a number of heroes for Colorado. Senior Jeff Campbell got into the act with stunning punt returns of 47 and 54 yards that set up a Hagan 2-yard run and Flannigans second touchdown. Everyone remembered JJ. Flan-nigans fumble last season against Nebraska.

After Saturday, no one will forget the University of Colorado tailbacks two touchdowns against the Cornhuskers. Flannigan dropped the football last season when it appeared he was headed for a touchdown. That miscue helped seal Colorados doom in a 7-0 defeat at Lincoln, Neb. His two touchdowns against the third-ranked Cornhuskers Saturday helped the second-ranked Buffaloes claim a 27-21 Big Eight victory and provided Flannigan with redemption aplenty. "I think those two touchdowns made up for that fumble last year, said Flannigan, who scored on a Christopher TomlinsonDaily Sentinel Nebraska tailback Ken Clark waits for a pitch as Colorado defender Alfred Williams, 94, closes in during first-half action Saturday in the Big Eight battle at Boulder.

Wilpolt preserves Mesa State victory All I had to do was run with the football, said Campbell The guys up front did a great job blocking. Dave McCloughan came up with the game-saving play when Nebraska quarterback Gerry Gdowski lofted a pass to Jon Bostick with time running out Although a flag was thrown on Gdowski for releasing the ball past the line of scrimmage and a touchdown would have been called back, McCloughan said he was just doing his job. I wasnt a hero, said McCloughan. "I just jumped a little higher than he did I didnt think (Gdowski) was going to throw back across the field. I saw him roll to his right and when the ball came toward me I just did what Im supposed to do.

I just knew that I had to get the ball on the ground. Doherty halts Central try at semis, 5-0 Sentinel staff COLORADO SPRINGS The explosive front line of Doherty beat Central to the baU and cut short the Warriors precedent-setting bid by a Western Slope team in the state prep soccer playoffs. Dean Hutchinson and Don Gonzalez each scored twice and Pat McCarthy added a goal to lead Doherty to a 5-0 victory over the Warriors in a quarterfinal match here Saturday. All three Spartans forwards are in double-figure scoring this season. Doherty outshot Central 26-16.

Doherty improved its record to 15-1-2 and will play in the state semifinals at Thornton High School Wednesday. The Spartans won the Colorado Springs Metro League crown. They were state champs 1985. Central, the Western League champion, reached the final eight by winning the first two playoff games ever in five years of Western Slope varsity soccer. However, Coach Larry Backes conceded that the Warriors were outplayed.

They beat us to the ball said Backes, whose team ended up 12-2-Please see soccer, page 3D Patti Arnold Daily Sentinel Gretel DaughertyDaily Sentinel Mesa State quarterback Terry Karg pitches to Michael Vaughn Saturday in RMAC action against Western New Mexico. Vaughn rushed for 137 yards in the 27-21 Mesa State win. es, with two leading to touchdowns. Wilpolts two interceptions came in the first quarter, but the Maverick offense sputtered, gaining just four yards after the first turnover. Wilpolt returned his second interception to the Western New Mexico 20, but the Mavericks stalled on the 4.

Tracy Bennett came on for a 21-yard field goal attempt, but the snap was high, bouncing over Wilpolts head. He ran it down, but was smothered near the 30. Mesa State finally got untracked offensively early in the second quarter after Bob Beaudoin returned a punt to the Western New Mexico 37. Mario Johnson went over from the 2, his first of three touchdowns. Blake Younker intercepted a pass from the Mustangs No.

2 quarterback, Chris Cochran, to stop Western New Mexico on the next drive, and seven plays later, Johnson again went over from the 2. Michael Vaughn, who rushed for 137 yards Saturday to give him 1,109 on the season, had a 21-yard scamper on a sweep to set up the touchdown, stepping out of bounds on the 1 It was only right that Mike Wilpolt was on the bottom of the pile Saturday afternoon as Western New Mexico University tried a last-gasp onside kick against Mesa State College. Wilpolt was all over the field for the Mavericks in a 27-21 victory at Stocker Stadium, making five tackles, two for losses, and picking off two passes. And after Western New Mexico scored with 22 seconds to play on a 73-yard bomb from Kevin Jolley to Steve Mitchell to cut Mesa States lead to six points, the Mustangs lined up for their scrum kick. The eqtire kickoff team bunched up along the line next to kicker Kirk Zimmerman, who punched the ball along the ground.

Wilpolt on the front line as part of the "hands team, pounced on the ball as 21 bodies piled on top. The ball didnt travel the required 10 yards, and the Mavs ran out1 the clock with one play. "They were trying to pull it away from me, Wilpolt said after the Mavericks raised their record to 8-1. Mesa State picked off four pass The play lost three yards. Karg added a 25-yard touchdown run on fourth and two with 12:01 to play in the game for a 27-7 lead, but Mitchell scored two of his three touchdowns in the final 7.24 to set up the onside attempt Im just tickled that we won the game, Cortese said Wheh you have to play a team twice, its tough to communicate to your kids that their players are not going to give up because you beat them the first time.1 prepared for it.

Mesa State head coaCh Bob Cortese wasnt happy with the offense, which generated just 223 yards of total ofTense, and was especially miffed about the passing game. We cant throw, he said. We can, we just dont When you only score 27 points and cant throw the ball, a good team is never out of the ballgame. Mesa State attempted six passes, completirg just one to Vaughn. The snap from center was high, giving Mesa State a 13-0 lead with 3.38 to play in the half.

Another interception, this one by Travis Pride, led to Mesa States next touchdown, a one-yard plunge by Johnson. Pride picked off Cochrans pass at midfield and weaved his way to the 9 and was one defender from the end zone. We were keying on the pitch, because thats what they beat us on the last time we played them, Wilpolt said. "We didnt think they would throw on us, but we were i I.