Times-Advocate from Escondido, California • 22

C4 TIMES-ADVOCATE, Escondido, Monday, December 9, 1985 Gatchina the last bullet in an offensive shootout tjM team going one way, then cut it back across the field. I love to run with the ball. It brings back flashes of high school. Dale was treated to several crucial blocks during his first professional touchdown gallop. Danny Walters leveled Frank Pollard.

Its only fitting for us to get out of the goat house," said Walters. Its nice that we could help out the offense after all they did for us. After smashing the ball to the ground. Dale was mobbed in the end zone. Everybody experienced the joy.

said Gill Byrd. For me, the best thing was that it was my first NFL spike, said Dale. That was the best. And Ill tell you what I was thinking about when I spiked it. Earlier I had missed the tackle that let (Walter) Abercrombie score.

I felt bad. This was national TV and all my friends back home in Louisiana were watching. Until then, all they had seen was the bad. The touchdown and the spike were uplifting to me. It was my give back to the team for making that mistake.

This was for missing that tackle. Abercrombies 25-yard touchdown midway through the third fense would handle the rest. Air Mail Jeff Dale delivered the knockout. The rookie free safety from LSU made a diving interception at the 47-yard line, quickly gained his feet, moved down the far sideline, then cut across the grain at the 37. Picking up a few key blocks.

Dale raced to the near sideline, then cut back again and hurdled one final defender before scampering into the end zone to give the Chargers a wild 54-44 win. The most important thing for our team is to somehow come up with the big play just win any way you can, said Dale. I was thinking big play all the way. That was some kind of way we found to get out of it. Woodley had not thrown an interception all night until Dale made the steal that cemented any chance Pittsburgh might have had to make the playoffs.

We were playing a three-deep zone defense, said Dale. My responsibility is to play the quarterback. I saw his arm go up and I got a good jump. I didnt even see the receiver because it was underthrown. I did see room to run.

My favorite thing is to get the other By Bob Gaines Times Advocate Sports writer SAN DIEGO When it comes to surviving scrapes with doom, Indiana Jones could direct the Chargers defense. It was certainly no shock that the defense tumbled head-first into a snake pit on Sunday night against the Steelers. How they managed to escape with hardly a scratch was the miracle. With 2:25 left in the game, the Chargers offense had already scored 47 points, but the defense had returned 44 points. Pittsburgh quarterback David Woodley had stung the Chargers with 24 of 34 completions for 287 yards and three touchdowns.

The Steelers were 77 yards from the Chargers goal line, but distance had not been a problem. Pittsburgh had scored on every possession of the second half. Feed the defense to the pythons. The main question was not whether the Steelers would once again score, but how much time the San Diego offense would have to unravel the mess. But Dan Fouts, Wes Chandler, Charlie Joiner and Co.

could enjoy this one from the sidelines. The de Chargers Scoreboard Chargers Notes period tied the game at 34-34. I knew what was coming and didnt really tighten down on him, said Dale. He was my man all the way. If I had sprinted straight to him, Id have picked that one off, too.

After making the catch, Abercrombie put a move on the 23-year-old Dale. He cut back, but I should have made the tackle, said Dale. It burned me up bad. I dont forget those things. After that, I knew I had to come up with a big play.

And am I happy I did. See. now I have a lot of friends. Otherwise, I might be sitting alone with my head down. I could have been the one that lost it.

The whole thing is never to get down on yourself. That would be a lesson for the entire defense. I dont think any defense is set up to allow 40 points and I guarantee we dont go on the field thinking that were always going to give up 40 points, said Dale. I guess it does keep happening and we have no excuses. But we do have nine people on defense that have three or less years in the NFL and were playing our hearts out.

He (Coryell) said, Theres only two things I care about, self respect and my family, rookie tackle Jim Lachey said. And you know, thats true. Coach Coryell is a great guy. I dont think theres a player here who doesnt enjoy playing for him. We all want to win for him.

I just wish we could have won more games. The Chargers are currently 7-7, but four of the losses have been by six points or fewer (as have four of the wins). They will conclude the season with games against Philadelphia here next Sunday and at Kansas City Dec. 22. I think it really helped the team, running back Buford McGee said of Coryells speech.

He has been really fired up the last couple of weeks. Injury report: Dennis McKnight, who started his first game at tackle, injured his right ankle in the first quarter, but played the entire game. I didn't run block very well, teams, they must win their last two games while the Bengals and Browns go winless the rest of the way. As we said, virtually no hope. That was the feeling many fans no doubt had as the Chargers defense took the field with 2:25 left and a three-point lead.

Thats because the last four times a team needed to score in the last minutes of a game against San Diego, it did (Houston, Denver, the Raiders and Minnesota). The last team the Chargers stopped with the game on the line was Kansas City on Oct. 13, when Wayne Davis intercepted a pass in the end zone. This time, the Chargers stayed out of their prevent defense and lined up in their normal 3-4 set. Woodley, who had great success in the game on mostly short passes (a career-high 24 completions for 287 yards and 3 TDs), tried to go downfield to Weegie Thompson, these weather conditions influenced the course of the game.

They also exposed Broncos coach Dan Reeves to his own second-guess about overtime strategy. Jeff Dale made up for this missed said McKnight, who was limping noticeably afterward. I couldnt push off. Also, safety Gill Byrd suffered a gash in his right calf, while quarterback Dan Fouts played despite a very sore back. His back was hurting so bad said Ernie Zampese, San Diegos assistant head coach.

I kidded him that the only reason he played was so he could take next week off in practice. Fouts completed 21 of 33 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns. He was sacked just once and threw three interceptions. It was Fouts seventh 300-yard game this year (he has started and completed only 10 games), two shy of the NFL record set by Miamis Dan Marino last year. Fouts own club record of 8 was set in 1980.

Also, Fouts averaged 11.3 yards per passing attempt, almost double the Steelers season average of 5.9. Fouts season average of 8.38 leads the NFL. but the pass was terribly underthrown and Dale got the interception, his second of the year. Still, some of the Charger defenders had mixed emotions after the game. I dont feel too great about (the 44 points).

said John Hendy. who intercepted Woodley two plays after Dales touchdown. I was asking the guys if it was a basketball game or a football game. "Its bittersweet, Dale admitted. We never want anyone to score that many points on us.

Added safety Gill Byrd, referring to the game being on national television: Im definitely embarrassed. Were under criticism constantly and all you do is solidify everyones position (that) we have no defense in San Diego. Its demoralizing, it really is. Its supposed to be a 50-50 partnership and the offense is carrying Escondido Saw Works SAW SHARPENING CARBIDE TOOL SHARPENING 528 W. 5th AVE.

ESCONDIDO 746-8670 Pittsburgh 7 13 14 10 44 San Diego 21 13 7 13 54 1st quarter Chargers 7, Steelers 0 Spencer, 12-yard run at 2:39. 28-yard drive, 2 plays after Newsomes punt was blocked by D. Nelson and traveled just 14 yards. Key gain Joiner, 11, pass from Fouts. PAT Thomas (kick).

Chargers 7, Steelers 7 Abercrombie, 15-yard pass from Woodley at 8:14. 79-yard drive, 10 plays. Key play Woodley passed 13 yards to Stallworth on 3rd and 7 at San Diego 33. Key gains Pollard, 18; Cunningham, 13, passes from Woodley. PAT Anderson (kick).

Chargers 14, Steelers 7 Chandler, 36-yard pass from Fouts at 12:15. 77-yard drive, 7 plays. Key play James ran 6 yards on 3rd and 2 at Pittsburgh 45. Key gain Joiner, 24, pass from Fouts. PAT Thomas (kick).

Chargers 21, Steelers 7 Holohan, 20-yard pass from Fouts at 13:25. 24-yard drive, 3 plays after Smith recovered Abercrombie's fumble (forced by Byrd). PAT Thomas (kick). 2nd quarter Chargers 21, Steelers 14 Lipps, 8-yard pass from Woodley at 6:13. 38-yard drive, 5 plays after Woodruff intercepted Fouts pass and returned it 13 yards.

Key gains Stallworth, 1 3, pass from Woodley; Abercrombie, 11,6, runs. PAT Anderson (kick). Chargers 21, Steelers 17 Anderson, 45-yard field goal at 10:15. 22-yard drive, 7 plays to San Diego 28. Key play Woodley passed 9 yards to Pollard on 3rd and 4 at San Diego 44.

Chargers 28, Steelers 17 Chandler, 75-yard pass from Fouts at 1 1:53. 92-yard drive, 4 plays. Key gain Joiner, 9, pass from Fouts. PAT Thomas (kick). Chargers 34, Steelers 17 McGee, 3-yard run at 13:04.

22-yard drive, 3 plays after Wilson recovered Woodley's fumble (forced by King). Key gain Joiner, 15, pass from Fouts. PAT Failed (Mojsiejenko fumbled snap from center). Chargers 34, Steelers 20 Anderson, 41 -yard field goal at 14:24. 56-yard drive, 8 plays to San Diego 24.

Key gains Stallworth, 19, 14; Gothard, 16, passes from Woodley. 3rd quarter Chargers 34, Steelers 27 Woodley, 1 -yard run at 5:22. 40-yard drive, 9 plays after Swain intercepted Fouts' pass. Key play Pollard ran 6 yards on 3rd and 2 at San Diego 18. Key gain Pollard, 14, pass from Woodley.

PAT Anderson (kick). Chargers 34, Steelers 34 Abercrombie, 23-yard pass from Woodley at 10:31 54-yard drive, 7 plays. Key play Woodley passed 1 6 yards to Lipps on 3rd and 1 1 at San Diego 39. Key gain Pollard, 12, pass from Woodley. PAT Anderson (kick).

Chargers 41, Steelers 34 McGee, 7-yard run at 14:00. 90-yard drive, 9 plays. Key plays Fouts passed 16 yards to Chandler on 3rd and 4 at San Diego 37; Fouts passed 40 yards to Anderson to advance ball to Pittsburgh 7. PAT Thomas (kick). 4th quarter Chargers 41, Steelers 41 Lipps, 15-yard run at 3:00.

68-yard drive, 6 plays. Key play Woodley passed 1 7 yards to Pollard on 3rd and 2 at Pittsburgh 40. Key gain Stallworth, 26, pass from Woodley. PAT Anderson (kick). Steelers 44, Chargers 41 Anderson, 26-yard field goal at 8:23.

47-yard drive, 1 1 plays to San Diego 8. Key gains Pollard, 15, pass from Woodley; Spencer, 11, run. Chargers 47, Steelers 44 Anderson, 2-yard run at 12:27. 75-yard drive, 9 plays. Key play Fouts passed 6 yards to James on 3rd and 6 at San Diego 29.

Key gains Joiner, 37; Chandler, 15, passes from Fouts. PAT Failed (Mojsiejenko fumbled snap). Manuel CenicerosThe Times Advocate tackle on Walter Abercrombie. Ralf Mojsiejenko fumbled two snaps from center on extrapoint attempts and blamed no one but himself. I got handcuffed on the first one and I just messed up on the second one, the rookie said.

Im just glad it didn't hurt us, although it did hurt me because I got my face smashed in (by a Steeler) on the first one. The Chargers 54 points equaled the most ever scored against the Steelers. Green Bay scored 54 on Nov. 23, 1941. The 8 touchdowns allowed tied Pittsburghs club record set in that same 1941 game.

Also, the 34 points scored by San Diego in the first half were the most tallied against the Steelers in one half since Nov. 24, 1968, a span of 243 regular-season games. Speaking of no defense, the two offenses combined to succeed on 15 of 24 third-down conversions. Pittsburgh was 10 of 15, while San Diego was 5 of 9. us 90 percent of the way.

I definitely feel were letting the offense down. If we could just contribute 40 percent of the time, theres no end to what we could accomplish." For the offense, though, its another story. In the 10 games Fouts has started and completed, the Chargers are averaging 33.7 points. Overall, they are averaging 29.5, and their point total of 413 leads the NFL (Chicago has 400) and is just five short of the club record, set in 1980. Thank God weve got them," Dale said.

With the type of defense weve been playing, we need an offense like that. Added running back Lionel James: If you watch a Charger game, theres no time to get beer and popcorn. Youd better bring the whole six-pack to the TV. We tend to run up the points every now and then. Master service WANTS TO GET TO KNOW ATTENTION ALL FORD AND LINCOLN MERCURY OWNERS In other words come on down and lets get acquainted with Safety this once in a Wetime value Check By appointment only with this ad Tj Expires 12-31-85, 6 p.m.

NO DEALERS 12740 Poway Road Poway SAN DIEGO 277-2200 No County 7435495 Poway 748-1400 HOURS M-F 7 30-5 1 CAR PER INDIVIDUAL Expires 12-31-85. 6PM Meeting with Coryell has paid off By Jay Posner Times Advocate Sportswriter SAN DIEGO Much has been made recently of Chargers Coach Don Coryells lack of job security, but several of the teams players disclosed Sunday that at a team meeting nine days ago, Coryell told them not to be concerned. He told us hes not worried about his job, defensive end Fred Robinson said. He said, Im concerned about having a winning season. I think it took a lot of guts to get up in front of everyone with his personal feelings.

It is believed that a winning season will indeed save Coryells job, but the players said thats not what Coryell was referring to in his speech. Chargers Continued from page Cl passed for 372 yards despite a very sore back. Weve done it time and time again. Its a very contagious, confident feeling. Sunday it came against the AFCs top-ranked defense overall and against the pass, something Fouts and other players said was a motivating factor.

As Coach Coryell told us, Chandler said, based on our past, with high-rated defenses weve had an edge. Teams come in here with a high rating, weve sent them home with a very low rating. They also sent the Steelers home with virtually no playoff hopes. At 6-8, Pittsburgh is one game behind Cleveland and Cincinnati in the AFC Central with two to play. And, since the Steelers would lose tiebreakers with both Raiders Continued from page Cl On the next play, Bahr, whose 32 -yard overtime field goal provided the Raiders edge in a 31-28 win over Denver two weeks ago, won it again at 4:55 of overtime.

It was the third straight extra-time game between these teams. Asked why he had gone for the field goal on first do-vn, Flores smiled: Because of the yard-line, because the ball was on the left hash-mark where we like to kick from, and because I was getting cold. The Raiders, in a sense, played two entirely different ballgames. There was the first half in which they laid back in a zone defense and let Elway pick them apart for a 14-0 lead. Also they chose to run Marcus Allen wide and he gained only 34 yards.

In the second half, however, they switched to heavy pressure on Elway, to blitzes and strong rushes that often left their cornerbacks one-on-one with the Denver receivers. And they adjusted their running game to send Allen inside more often. Allen wound up with 135 yards in 25 carries for his ninth 100-plus game in the last 10. In their second-half comeback, the Raiders cashed in on three penalties and an interception for drives of 63 and 46 yards that tied the score before the third quarter had ended. And then both teams struggled on offense, the Raiders overcoming two interceptions against Marc Wilson, until the Long-Townsend sack-fumble raid on Elway set up the winning score.

Snow began falling by the third quarter, the wind stiffened and GIVE YOUR FAMILY A GIFT ftf THEYLL USE ALL YEAR! I Satellites Bring you the World I SPORTS MOVIES SPECIAL EVENTS SATELLITE SYSTEMS Chargers 54, Steelers 44 As Low SATELLITE PLUS 410-K W. FELICITA AVE. (Behind McDonald s) ESCONDIDO sr 480-6236 Calif. Registration 22799' Niraa COUNTY BASEBALL CANES During Christmas Vacation Rushing Abercrombie 20-73, Pollard 1 4-50, Woodley 2-3, Lipps 1 -1 5, odd Spencer 1-11. Passing Woodley 24-35-2-287.

Receiving Pollard 7-87, Stallworth 5-85, Abercrombie 5-41, Lipps 3-31, Cunningham 2-19, Gothard 1-17, Todd Spencer 1-7. Missed field goals None. San Diego Rushing Tim Spencer 10-42, James 7-25, McGee 6-12, Anderson 2-7, Fouts 1 -(minus 2). Passing Fouts 21 -33-3-372. Receiving Joiner 6-1 1 0, Chandler 5-1 54, Anderson 4-53, James 3-22, Holohan 1-20, Tim Spencer 1-9, Winslow 1-4.

Missed field goals None. Featuring TONY GWYNN, TIM FLANNERY, ALAN TRAMMELL, DAVE SMITH AND CALL (619)5837372 What a Terrific Christmas Gift!.