North County Times from Oceanside, California • 17

C-3 C-4 C-5 Blade-Cidzen Tuesday, November 21, 1989 NFL Yount MVP Ike Handicap Wounded runners fault Steelers tactics By David Little Staff Writer SAN DIEGO Two Chargers running backs suffered knee injuries Sunday. Both were hurt while getting tackled by Steelers safety Thomas Everett. Coincidence? The wounded players say it isnt. The guy played dirty all through the game, Marion Butts said of Everett. Everett knocked out Butts with a tackle at the knees at the end of the first quarter.

Tim Spencer was hurt on an Everett hit in the second quarter. Hes a guy that just goes at your knees, said Butts, who could be shelved for weeks. He just comes at you, and he doesnt tackle you high. He sees you in a pile, he just comes in and dives at your knees. Thats something they shouldnt let him continue to do.

Hes hurting other individuals careers. He shouldnt do that. Everett, a 5-foot-9, 179-pounder, gives up four inches and 70 pounds to Butts, and almost that much to Spencer. Its not wise for a guy of his size to tackle big guys like -me upstairs, said Butts, but still, he doesnt have to come down at your knees all the time. He should change his style of play.

I understand they say, If we hit big backs high we wont stay in the league that long. But still, you have to think of other peoples careers also. Spencer, who has been around longer than the rookie Butts, wasnt so quick to finger Everett, a third-year player. He was coming pretty low at the knees, said Spencer, who isnt expected to miss playing time. Thats probably not for me to say, but I know he came low a couple times and he came low at mine and Marions (legs).

I guess thats to be expected when youve got a little guy coming at a bigger running back. I dont know if it was a cheap shot or not. Henning said he saw nothing dirty about the hits. Itll catch up to him one day. said Butts, when somebody goes out and breaks his neck.

By David Little Staff Writer SAN DIEGO Marion Butts was off crutches and out of his knee brace Monday but walking like a three-legged coyote. Butts tried his best to hide the obvious limp, but X-rays dont lie. When the results are announced today, the Chargers may find that their valuable rookie running back is out for a game. Or the season. A look of fear spoiled Butts countenance when someone asked if he would have to be riaced on injured reserve, which would eliminate him for the final five games.

No. Oh, no, he exclaimed. Im off crutches diready. You can just see that its coming around real good because yesterday I was on crutches and today Im not. That could be wishful thinking, said Chargers head coach Dan Henning.

Henning wasnt ready to publicly declare Butts out for even one game, but privately he believes Butts knee sprain could be significant. Thats a severe blow because, aside from Anthony Miller, Butts may be the quarter. The rest of the day was like a fire drill on offense and special teams. Butts and Spencer are the only backs Henning likes to use in running situations. Spencer was the only one available for three quarters.

Then theres the H-baek position. Tight end and H-back Andy Parker suffered a concussion on the first play of the game. Spencer is a backup at H-back. He lined up there for three plays, and Darrin Nelson was tried at running back. That plan didn't exist (before the game), said Spencer.

We had anticipated maybe one of our tight ends getting hurt but we didn't anticipate losing a tight end and a running back. Im sure we probably will from here on out To complicate matters, Spencer hurt his knee in the second quarter, then aggravated it in the third quarter. He missed only a handful of plays. The short-yardage offense was limited without Butts In those situations, Spencer shifts to a blocking back, clearing paths for Butts. Furthermore, Henning likes to split time between Butts and Spencer to See Chargers.

Page C-2 teams most irreplaceable offensive player. And the offense is already hurting. I certainly hope hes not out for long, said running back Tim Spencer. Marions doing so many other things and hes been doing a helluva job on special teams. To see him go down, you know were going to be scrambling.

The Chargers did some scrambling Sunday in a loss at Pittsburgh. Butts was lost on the final play of the first Stolzs wife bitter over SDSU firing Hes frontrunner at New Mexico State By Steve Dolan Staff Writer SAN DIEGO Former Aztecs football coach Denny Stolz may be looking forward to taking a job at New Mexico State but his wife, Cena, is still bitter over the way he was handed his walking papers at San Diego State. Stolz is still the frontrunner for the New Mexico State job that became vacant when Mike Knoll was fired over the weekend. But Stolz hasnt yet accepted the position although he visited the school today. New Mexico State personnel will have to convince Stolz he would be entering a situation with winning potential.

The Aggies are 4-40 over the past four seasons and their current 17-game losing streak is the longest active one in Division I-A. Cena Stolz certainly doesnt want her husband treated the same way he was at San Diego State, where he was abruptly fired with one game left last season. It was so stupid, she said. Dennys always been a winner everywhere hes been. I still marvel at it and cant believe how it happened.

She directed her comments toward Aztecs athletic director Fred Miller and current head coach A1 Luginbill. Fred Miller knew Denny built this team for this year, she said. They have a weak, weak schedule. Look at the teams theyve beaten. Its like a joke.

A1 Luginbill couldnt even get a job as an assistant coach, she said of the former Aztecs associate athletic director. I think he knew he couldnt fail this year with the players Denny had. Denny cant believe theyve lost so many games this year. The only reason is because their head coach isnt a head coach. Luginbill is 6-4-1 this season, his first as a major college head coach.

Stolz, who has a career mark of 125-93-2, was 16-19 in three seasons at SDSU, but he led the Aztecs to their only VVAC title in 1986. Theyve seen New Mexico sophomore Jeremy Leach, who is sixth in the nation in total offense. Theyve seen Miami sophomore Craig Erickson, who has yet to lose a game as a college starter. But as far as San Diego State defensive coordinator Barry Lamb is concerned, his unit hasnt seen the sophomore quarterback in the country yet. That time will come Saturday See Aztecs, Page C-2 RBVs Hall works for his honors By John Schlegel Staff Writer VISTA Accomplishments are not things that are handed to you, like so many footballs in practice.

Not to 0 Hall. No, you work for your accolades, whether it's a team CIF championship or an individual career ardage record. It doesn't just fall out of the sky. You earn it. At least that's the way Hall sees it.

"People think were just supposed to go out and beat up on anybody, said Hall, a senior on the Rancho Buena Vista High football team But we dont have this gift that we can just do that. It's not just something we do Its not just that we have great coaches or great players. It's because we work hard. For the team, the hard work has paid off to the tune of a CIF 2A crown in an undefeated season last year and a spotless Palomar League record and the top seed in the 3A playoffs this year. For Hall, the work has put him in the San Diego Section record book.

With a 283-yard performance against Patrick Henry last week, Hall became the CIF-San Diego Section career yardage leader. He now has 3,966 yards after surpassing Sweetwaters Terry Rodgers 1983-85 mark in the first half last Friday. Rodgers now plays for Nebraska. And to think Hall started his high school career as a linebacker. Of course, with a name like O.J.

(which is reminiscent of a guy named Simpson), Orthro James Hall would have to be a Staff Photo Tom Riggs born running back, right? His Ranchos O.J. Hall wants to play three more games this season. See Profile, Page C-2 Stallings to resign, but gets fired first Area prep teams face tough tests San Dieguito, RBV, El Camino will meet talented teams this week the 3A division. The Mustangs earned the right to meet No. 2 seed Morse (9-2), the City Eastern champ, Saturday at Southwestern College.

All games begin at 7:30. Following are scouting reports on the opponents of local teams: the well-respected Stallings has several strong allies in the NFL, including Denver Broncos coach Dan Reeves and Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka. Reeves, Ditka and Stallings were assistants on the same staff at Dallas. I think Im going to be kind of lost for a while, Stallings told Phoenix reporters. I know Im too young to retire and havent made all that much money.

Im a football coach and will always want to be a football coach. The growing animosity between Stallings and Cardinals management came to a head this weekend, after Stallings read critical remarks made by Wilson in a column published by the Post-Dispatch last Wednesday. Wilson told the Post-Dispatch that Stallings works at being popular. Wilson intimated that Stallings created a positive image for himself at the expense of Cardinals management. Cardinals attendance for home games has lagged this season, and owner Bill Bidwill has been under fire from the teams fans.

Dont think that I dont know hes popular, Wilson said of Stallings. And he works at it. Maybe thats one of the things that bothers me a little bit. One man doesnt make the show. Stallings was given a copy of the Post-Dispatch story Friday See Fired, Page C-2 By Bernie Miklasz Scripps Howard News PHOENIX A showdown between Phoenix Cardinals coach Gene Stallings and general manager Larry Wilson ended dramatically Monday.

After announcing that he intended to resign at the end of the 1989 season, Stallings was fired immediately by Wilson, who named running backs coach Hank Kuhlmann as interim head coach. Gene made his decision, Wilson said, and I made mine. Stallings, 54, compiled a 23-34-1 record after being nmed Cardinals coach before the 1986 season. Phoenix, ravaged by injuries, is only 5-6 this season, but Stallings was praised throughout the National Football League for keeping the team in playoff contention. His four-year contract was due to expire Feb.

1. Its best that we make a move and put this team back in perspective of what wTe are here to do, and thats to win, Wilson said at a news conference. I think it would be disruptive if Gene was here as a part of it. Stallings, who played and coached under the legendary Paul Bear Bryant, joined the Cardinals after coaching the defensive backs for the Dallas Cowboys for 14easons. His im-'mediate plans uncertain, but Three of the six coastal North County prep football teams invited to the CIF playoffs earned another week of play with victories last Friday.

Now each must face another team they know little about. The area boasts the top-seeded teams in the 3A and 2A divisions, and both have survived. Rancho Buena Vista (8-3) defeated Patrick Henry 51-27, to move into the quarterfinal round of the 3A playoffs. The Longhorns will host Southwest (7-3-1) of the Metro Conference on Saturday night at Vista High. El Camino (10-1), the top seed in the 2A division, beat Valhalla of the 2 A Grossmont League 55-7 last week and will host another Grossmont team, Santana (7-3-1) Friday.

The only other local team to make it past the first round was San Drguito (8-3), which defeateLvVIonte Vista, 24-10, in biggest receiver literally is David Dunn (6-4, 197), but Donnie Nash (6-1, 190) and Tommy Bennett (6-1, 185) are potential threats as well. The running game, aside from Lawrence, features seniors Jesse Campbell, a 5-8, 175-pound tailback, and Utufo Fiame, a 5-11, 198-pound fullback. The Morse defense gave up an average of 21.6 points a game during the regular season, but the Tigers held Bonita Vista to a touchdown in a 37-7 victory in last weeks first round. SOUTHWEST RAIDERS vs. Rancho Vista The Metro Conference runner-up tied champion Chula Vista.

17-17, but suffered a late-season loss to Sweetwater to take second. Although Southwest lost iU first two games tj the See Report, Pae C-2 MORSE TIGERS vs. San Dieguito The Tigers began the season losing two straight, including a 35-20 loss to Rancho Buena Vista. But they ended the season as the champions of the tough City Eastern League, defeating Ft. Loma, 42-35, in the final week of the season to earn the No.

2 seed in the playoffs. The talent on the offensive side rivals any team in the county. Junior quarterback Teddy Lawrence (5-foot-ll, 180-pounds) is a dangerous element whether he runs the ball. His.