Times-Advocate from Escondido, California • 32

Special teams spark victory By John Maffei The Times Advocate MIAMI Saturdays NFL playoff game between the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers before 73,735 screaming Dolfans in the Orange Bowl and a national TV audience was very special. It was only fitting that the special teams should play a big part In the game. The Chargers got 20 of their winning 41 points as a direct result of play from their special teams while twice preventing the Dolphins from getting the field goal they needed to win the game. San Diegos special teams scored the Chargers first touchdown as Wes Chandler returned a punt 56 yards early In the first quarter. Chandler was the up-man for Tom Orosz punt.

Chandler fielded the short boot on his own 44, received a block from Ray Preston to spring him free, bounced to the outside where he got another block from Keith Ferguson and raced past Orosz for the score. I didnt know I was in for a TD until I was one-on-one with the kicker, Chandler said. Its a great feeling to score, but when you break a punt for a touchdown everybodys got to do their job. Preston gave me a great block to start things and Fergusons was a real clincher. It was the first punt returned against the Dolphins for a TD since Billy (White Shoes) Johnson of Houston turned the trick In 1975.

It was also the first punt returned by a Charger for a touchdown since Mike Fuller busted one for 88 yards against New Orleans In 1977. "We knew from watching films that Orosz sprays the ball around when he punts, Chandler said. We decided that a second back was needed on the returns to give James Brooks some help. A lot of Orosz yards on his punts come because theyre too short for the deep man to catch and the ball bounces and rolls forever. We wanted to prevent that from happening so I became the up-man this week.

Any kick longer than 30 yards I was supposed to let go. If it was shorter it was my job to catch it. Its funny, though, we practiced this a lot in practice but I never got a chance to return a ball because our punter (George Roberts) never kicked one short. Chandlers TD return was the first punt he had ever fielded In an NFL game that counted. He had several punt returns for touchdowns as a collegian at The San Diego Chargers blocked this Uve von Schamann field goal attempt in overtime.

Leroy Jones was credited with the deflection. did on a 35-yard van Schamann kick late in the over-time. We tried the same thing the 11-man sellout -on that kick, Braden said, but this time he just kicked the ball low and we were able to block it. Getting kicks blocked wasnt Benirschkes problem but missing a 27-yard attempt in overtime almost proved to be one for the Chargers. With 9 15 left to play in the overtime, Benershke's try sailed wide left.

A little over four minutes later the Chargers gave Benirschke another chance to win the game and this time the kick was true from 29 yards out on a first-down attempt. I was frustrated, dearly frustrated, when I missed that first one," Benershke said. Theres no excuse, I just missed it. The ball was positioned perfectly on the left hash mark just where I like it and the snap and hold were perfect. I just missed it.

Its a lonely feeling. Miami got the first chance to score a field goal and win the game when Uwe van Schamann lined up for a 43-yard field goal with four second remaining in a tied contest. The kick was blocked, however, as Kel-len Winslow leaped as if he was pulling down a rebound and deflected the kick off line. The Chargers never practice that play and it was only the second time Winslow had been playing in that situation in his three seasons with the Chargers. The only other time was during his rookie season.

We were in an 11-man sellout situation on that kick," said Chargers Special Teams Coach Marv Braden. "In that situation we bring everyone. If Miami had decided to run a fake instead of kick the ball they could have walked in. But we figured they would kick so we put our best athlete the guy who could get off the ground best just behind the line of scrimmage to try and block the ball. Thats exactly what Winslow did on the van Schamann attempt and its exactly what Leroy Jones Florida and once returned a punt 92 yards against Philadelphia In an NFL exhibition game In Mexico City.

On the kickoff following Chandlers punt return, the Chargers got another break when Hank Bauer recovered Rolf Benershkes short kick on the Dolphins 29. It took the Chargers seven plays to score a touchdown and capitalize on that break provided by the special teams. "I dont know what happened on that kickoff, Bauer said. "I was just watching my guy and the ball popped up and I recovered it. Every week the special teams have two goals, one is to score a touchdown and the other is to force a turnover that leads to a touchdown.

In this game we did both. But the biggest contributions by the special teams came late In the overtime game as the Chargers and Dolphins both tried to win the contest with a field goal. Doug Williams' long day finally came to an end Quotebook Continued from page D1 My first thought when I fumbled the ball was that I had blown the game. I had to dive fully extended to get the ball and when I landed I was trying to protect my knee. It was a clean interception and a fumble but I was hoping the referee would rule that the fumble was caused by my contact with the ground rather than with a Miami player and rule the ball dead.

Buchanon on the Miami flea-flicker touchdown from Strock to Nathan to Harris just before the end of the first half: That TD was partially my fault. I thought Allan Ellis had Nathan wrapped up. Allan and I had coverage on that side and I ran inside to make sure Nathan didnt break one for a score. Everyone in our coverage got sucked inside and Miami went outside. We never thought theyd go up the field with something like that.

Chargers offensive lineman Ed White, when asked if he heard the crowd: I was so tired and so intense that I had no concept of what was going on other than doing my job. Ive been in 21 playoff games (with Minnesota and San Diego) and this is the best absolutely the most exciting game Ive ever played in. It was an entire season wrapped up in one game." Muncie on the game and the Dolphins: Im exhausted. This is the toughest game Ive ever been in. We knew Miami would be tough because we went overtime with them last year.

I really respect their defense, but their offense showed me something this game, too. We got ahead and started playing a little too conservative. It allowed Miami to get a great surge. But I have faith in our offense. All weve got to do to score is get our hands on the ball.

San Diego quarterback Dan Fouts: It seems like all our games are close. We never really blow anybody out. I wasnt upset when Rolf missed that field goal. In a playoff game you cant tie. I knew wed just keep playing until it was over.

If we had to play another quarter that was fine with me. Chargers owner Gene Klein to Fouts after the game: Ive never, never, never seen a guttier performance. San Diego defensive tackle Louie Kelcher: Im so tired I felt like I rode a horse from Texas to California. San Diego's Chandler on the game: Other than our games with the Oakland Raiders, this is the most physical contest Ive been in. Im very sore.

Miami is very aggressive and Im pleased to beat a team as talented as the Dolphins. Youve got to hand it to them, they didnt give up just by being down. I never really felt comfortable this game, even when we led by 24. 1 remember a game with Minnesota this year where we were ahead by nine with seconds to play and lost. Bauer again: Youve got to congratulate Don Shu-la and the Dolphins for the way they played.

They had a great scheme both offensively and defensively and they just never gave up. We played a team that didnt quit. By Frank Dolson Knight Ridder News Service DALLAS After the final gun mercifully sounded, Doug Williams, a lonely- looking figure in his bright orange jersey, trudged up the long runway leading to the visitors locker room at Texas Stadium. It was the first time in three hours that the Tampa Bay quarterback went anywhere Saturday without Too Tall Jones and Harvey Martin chasing him. Williams was just a few short strides from the locker room when his foot caught on something and he stumbled.

Gamely, he regained his balance and made it through the door in an upright position, saving himself the embarrassment of becoming the first National Football League quarterback to get sacked after a playoff game. It was frightening what the Cowboys did to Doug Williams on Saturday. Especially if your name happened to be Doug Williams. Want to know how bad it was? Try this for size: After three periods, this exceptionally gifted athlete with the rifle arm had completed four passes worth 48 yards to Tampa receivers and had thrown the same number to Dallas defenders, who had returned them a total of 71 yards. His favorite target at that point was Cowboys cornerback-headhunter Dennis Thurman, who picked off two for 50 yards.

If it sounds as if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team that wanted to gain Americas respect by beating Americas Team, had a bad day, let me assure you that words alone cant tell you how awful it really was. Even John McKay, the master of the one-liners, was virtually speechless when the goshawful 38-0 rout had run its course. Trapped in a comer of the locker room, the Tampa Bay coach lit up a cigar, glared dolefully at the writers who had him pinned there and said, We did not play well, which is the understatement of the year. They kicked the hell out of us. McKay then muttered something about some of his players talking too much before the game and pointed out that the aim of the game is to play, not talk.

Then he excused himself and left in a swirl of cigar smoke. Actually, his mood wasnt as bad as that of some of his offensive linemen, the poor guys who spent the afternoon getting run over by Too Tall, Harvey and the boys in their relentless pursuit of Williams. Right tackle Charley Hannah, the spokesman for the group, couldnt have been more cordial. But the men dressing on either side of him left tackle Gene Sanders and left guard Ray Snell were about as talkative as their head coach. They just came after us, Hannah said.

"Different people had breakdowns at different times. Their front four didnt give Doug time to throw the ball. I feel a lot of responsibility myself. Sanders, sitting a few feet away, had heard and seen enough. When we win, none of you reporters come to the offensive line," he said.

When We lose, everybody comes. Will you get some of these people out of here? bellowed Snell. "Settle down, Hannah said soothingly- Ah yes, it would be a long trip back to Tampa. But surely not as long as the four periods the Bucs were required to play at Texas Stadium. I got beat today, said Hannah, who had the misfortune of taking on Too Tall on a day when he was too tough.

What can I say? He (Jones) is the reason I didnt play well, I guess. And Jones, Martin, Randy White and John Dutton were the reasons why Doug Williams had no chance to play well. Those two guys (Jones and Martin) can block a lot of lanes, Williams said. And Dutton is no midget himself. Theyve got a great pass rush.

Were all working as one, Martin said. Its important to us. Too Tall was injured out there he collided with Randy White while the two zeroed in on Williams on the final play of the third period and I looked around, and the only guys around him were the front four. Were a unit." Tampa Bay's Doug Williams (12) was being greeted by Ed "Too TaH" Jones (72) all afternoon. SPORTS Get the latest everyday in the TIMES-ADVOCATE AUTO LUBE 1 1 Mike's Mobile Oil t', I Lube will change your oil and filter, plus a i lube, at your home or I business.

726-4048 I IwtVHHttHHttWmf season, was used sparingly, yet gained 86 yards on 16 carries. Dallas now has shut out three teams in its 30 NFL playoff games. The last was a 28-0 victory over Los Angeles in 1979, and the first was a 5-0 victory over Detroit in 1970. Thurman intercepted Williams twice in the first period, but Dallas scored just one touchdown. The Dallas comerback returned his first interception 31 yards to the Tampa Bay 30, but the Buccaneers forced the Cowboys to punt.

On Tampa Bays next possession, Thurman returned an interception 19 yards to the Bucs 47. It took Dallas 11 plays for the second-quarter score. Fullback Ron Springs ran two yards on fourth-and-1 from the Bucs 28. White hit Drew Pearson with an eight-yard completion on third-and-five from the Tampa Bay 21 before the payoff pass of nine yards to Hill three plays later. Cowboys Continued from page D1 Tampa Bay in the only times they have played the six-year-old Buccaneers.

The Cowboys received a gift touchdown in the waning moments of the game when Cedrick Brown interfered with Butch Johnson in the Tampa Bay end zone. Third string fullback Timmy Newsome went the final yard for the touchdown, and the Cowboys equalled their greatest margin of victory in the playoffs. Dallas beat Cleveland by 38 points, 52-14, in 1967. Williams completed only 10 of 29 passes for 187 yards, while his Dallas counterpart, White, connected on 15 of 26 for 143 and was sacked only once. Dorsett, the second-leading rusher in the NFL this ftHOT: top-name ski equipment.

complete service game ever played a 27-24 playoff victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day, 1971. But Shulas Dolphins didnt win on Saturday in Miamis Orange Bowl. Instead, it was the Chargers who got the victory behind a 564-yard total offense effort, 433 yards passing by Fouts, 13 catches for 166 yards by Winslow and 120 yards rushing by Muncie along with some timely defense and a clutch kick by Benershke. Because of those efforts, the Chargers live again to fight another day while the Dolphins took the KO blow. Chargers Continued from page D1 There has never been a game like this.

It was the most exciting game Ive ever seen. I couldnt believe what was happening. Neither could the Dolphins. Had we won the game I would have said this was the greatest contest ever played, said Miami Coach Don Shula, who piloted his team through the longest rOPEN 7 TO 7 CAL FLAVOR, IN SUN SNOW SPORTS 152 W. VALLEY PKWY ESCONDIDO 741-3754 BUYERS-PACKERS-SHIPPERS ANDREASEN DR 92i Phone: 741-2656 I 440 L.

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