The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • Page 11

THE LINCOLN STAR sDorts Saturday. Page 11 Nebraska hopes to survive weather act at Ames Starting lineups By Virgil Parker Sports Editor Ames, la. The Nebraska football team has endured a lot this fall. The Comhuskers have survived the charge of stampeding herd of Buffaloes (Colorado), a Wildcat (Kansas State) and a rowdy bunch of Cowboys (Oklahoma State). You can throw in a Homed Frog (TCU), plus a Hoosier (Indiana) and a Jayhawk (Kansas) whatever they are.

The biggest problem has come while to tame a Tiger. They came away bloodied but even with one (LSU), before being scratched to death by another (Missouri). The next biggest problem came while trying to control a Hurricane (Miami). Nebraska barely survived the storm. Now the Comhuskers face a similar threat.

A cyclone (Iowa State) will try to blow them out of sole possession of Big Eight Conference lead here Saturday afternoon. Nebraska tops the league standings with a 4-1 record, while Iowa State and four others are deadlocked in second place with 3-2 marks. not an uncommon position for Nebrska, which has won or shared the conference championship nine times in the last 13 seasons. But, since the beginning days of the Big Sue (1928), Iowa State has never claimed the title. Yet, a victory over Nebraska in this crucial, pressure-packed matchup, could put coach Earle Cyclones in a challenging position.

Iowa State has the second-best overall record of any team Coaches' capsules Nebraska's Tom Osborne; will to run tho boll bottor than wo have in recent if we hope to win. Iowa State has an explosive offense which gets most of the notice, but they also have an excellent defensive team." Iowa State's Earle Bruce; "Vince Ferragamo is one of the country's best passers and Nebraska has excellent receivers. And nobody has to be introduced to their Black Shirt defense they are a formidable group to say the least." other than Nebraska in the conference. Its 7-2 mark is the best start for the Cyclones since their famed team of 1959. game is a classic example of the irresistible force and the immoveable object.

Iowa State is the No. 1 offensive team in the Big Eight, while Nebraska has the top defensive unit. Iowa State leads the conference in total and scoring offense. Two good reasons for the Cyclone success are tailback Dexter Green, who is the third-best rusher, and Wayne Stanley, second in passing and total offense. But, in addition to having a Black Shirt defense vdiich tops the league in three categories total, rushing and scoring defense Nebraska is second as a team leading in the individual offensive statistics.

NU quarterback Vince Ferragamo has been the Big total offense and passing leader for an amazing seven straight weeks. The 6-3, 208-pound senior has nearly a 600-yard lead in the passing stats over Stanley. In total offense, Ferragamo also has a commanding edge, averaging 177.6 yards per game to 139. Ferragamo has the best completion percentage of any of the major college passing leaders. Nebraska is 14th in the nation in the team passing stats, but .581 (on 125 completions of 215 attempts) tops the list.

game should be an explosive contest. Iowa State is third in the nation in toUl offense behind only Southern Cal and Michigan while Nebraska is ninth in the country. Nebraska lost to Iowa State since 1960, when the Cyclones recorded a close 10-7 victory, although the unbeaten string includes a well-remembered 23-23 deadlock here in 1972. Iowa State has been severely hurt in the past three meetings by earlv mistakes. Iowa State fumbled the opening kickoff in a 52-0 loss in Lincoln last year; the Cyclones fumbled on their first offensive play two years ago and lost the ball on a fumble on their first series in the 1973 game.

Nebraska leads the overall series between the two schools which dates back to with a 56-12-2 record. game will be the first between the two in Iowa new artificial-surfaced stadium. And it wiU produce a record, standing-room only crowd of 51,400. The kickoff is set for 1:30. Offense NEBRASKA No.

Namt IOWA STATE Ht. Wt. Pos. Wt. Ht.

Namo No. 86 70 Llnganfaltar 51 Schmidt 52 63 Jorgansan 78 Holns 8 15 Farragamo 49 Anthony 45 Donnait 81 NEBRASKA 228 TE 216 6-3 277 LT 225 6-3 222 LG 240 6-4 232 227 6-1 235 RG 230 6-1 Stoffal ..................55 256 RT 228 6-5 Cunningham .68 162 SE 181 6-0 Blua ......................91 208 QB 178 6-0 Stanlay ................18 208 IB 1715-9 219 FB 195 5-11 190 WB 182 6-0 Hardaa ..................29 Defense IOWA STATE 96 227 6-3 .82 91 Pruitt 247 LT270 6-4 Mike Stensrud .63 66 MG 237 6-4 Mnrd. Stensrud 90 72 Fultz 275RT 245 6-6 Randall 98 211RE 209 6-2 ,93 61 206 LB 210 6-2 Boskty ,96 59 Wightman 215 LB 210 5-9 Banda .86 23 196 Mon. 186 6-3 Williams .16 34 182CB 191 6-1 Jaksich ,17 31 Harvey 5-10 170CB 186 5-11 7 4 186 6-0 .14 Kickoff 1:30 p.m., Iowa State Stadium Broadcasts KLIN, KFOR, KFAB, WOW Southeast finesses for 20-10 Win i ptioto by Wed Ray Ron Hagan (11) was a thorn in Hampton's side all afternoon during eight-man football championship game Friday. Wheatland won, 38-32, in overtime.

Wheatland, tie-breaker both winners By Chuck Sinclair Prap Sports Writer Hampton Score one state football championship for Madrid-Wheatland and add two sobd votes for the Nebraska Sthool Activiues Assoi-iation tle-breaker rule after 38-32 double- overtime thriller over Hampton in Friday eight-man finale The hard-fought contest in bitter-told temperatures ended with the use of the Uebreakmg system for the fuTit time in Nebraska prep football after Wheatland out a 2(M) first half deficit and knotted the score 32-32 with 32 left in regulaUon play After an initial try at the goal line from 10 yards out failed for both teams in the first overtime period. Wheatland struck on the first play of the sei-ond extra period when Hon Hagan grabbed a 10-yard pass from Bryan for the go ahead score. It was fifth touchdown pass of the game and eighth for the two-game playoff period, establishing class and overall records in both catagories The point after try failed, and by the rules. Hampton was given four cracks at matching the score. On the first play, quarterback Mark Klute pitched to fleet halfback Brian Hahn around right end, but Hahn stopped and a throwback pattern to the opposite comer intended for Brad Regier The ball fluttered into the hands of defensive back Dennis Tjaden as Regier, who caught the first touchdown pass of the game, looked on helplessly "That was the first time he (Tjaden) covered him on that pattern all Hampton coach Jim Conmck ccMnmented "He covered it three other times.

He covered it that time Although disappointed with the loss, Conmck found it himself to praise the system that left his team wi the short of the score. "1 liked the he said "Both teams just played too good a footbaU game to end up ui a tie. Otir kidi gave it all thei' could. You can't ask any more of them With the first use of the system, new questions arose, such as if you won the toss for the extra period, would you want first crack at the goal line or Coach Jack Wheatland Spartans chose the ball first in both overtimes We wanted the ball so we could si-ore and put the pressure on them to I'ome he said "We were a little worried when we get it that first time F.specially with that Hahn iBrian' awlully good for a Hahn ru.shed for 130 yards on 29 carries, but still trailed standout Hagan Hagan and Brad Lee surpassed the 100 yard mark as Hagan accounted for 174 yards in 21 tries and Lee 102 yards in 14 carries scored three times for Wheatland, twice on receptions and once on the ground while Hagan picked up the most important score and equally crucial extra-point Trailing early in the fourth quarter after Lee had scored on a 49-yard screen pass, Hagan caught a jump pass from Mi'Cormick and was apparently stopped short of the goal by Mike Hahn, but a second effort gut him into the endzone for the two points to tie the game for the first time since the start Wheatland survived a total of su turnovers, four fumbles and two while Hampton, although credited with su fumbles, never lost possaision "You just can do that against a team like Sunderland said get to you It was just a peat comeback for our make any adjustments at halftime, Sunderland added "We just basically talked about the year had We decided if we going to lose the ball game, we were going to lose it looking good Conmck failed to be upset about his team limng its lead to Wheatland "Leads only go away against a great football team," he said. "When you get a lead hke that against a mediocre bail club, fold," Sumt, ftatii Fogt 12 By Randy York Prep Sports Editor Frank football life has been spent figuring out ways to make up for the physical part of the game Friday night at Seacrest Field, Lincoln Southeast's head coach did it again, as his Kmghts out- finessed Creighton Prep, 20-10, for the state Class A championship before 5,500 freezing, but excited fans Solich.

who used to tape weights in his thigh pads to push the scales to 155 pounds when he played for Nebraska, earned a reputation as a back He holds the Nebraska single game rushing record of 204 yards against Air Force in 1965' He been able to preach those same tactii's to his own players The Kmghts punished Prep's proud and powerful defense for 221 yards rushing "1 think we have the only type offense that can beat iWp." Solich said afterward "No one has or was going to overpower Prep this year They are so physical, the only way you re going to beat them is with quick- hitung stuff The Kmghts delivered it with consistency Gilliland inflicted the most damage After a 118-yard rushing performance last week in a 14-0 win over Grand Island, he prtxiui'ed a 112- yard performance against Prep on 22 carries Gilliland had some help Junior Dan who left the game in the fourth quarter with a knee injury, rushed for 51 yards on 10 carries and quarterback Ed Davis accumulated 50 on 13 attempts Davis also proved a crafty operator in the clutch, throwing a pair of touchdown passes in the fourth quarter The first was an 11-yarder to slotback Don Jones with 9 26 remaimng to give the Knights a 14-10 lead The second was a 17-yard strike on second down to tight end Mark Lanik, who had beaten Prep safety Randy Brooks in the left comer of the end zone. "To be honest. Ed called that touchdown pass," Solich said. was a gutsy play, but shown that of leadership all year. In fact, we coaches have hopped on him before for being too gutsy.

But the one kept the defenses Davis also was the key to first touchdown with 3 11 left before halftime intermission He optioned left, passed the line of scnmmage and perfectly timed a pitch to Gilliland, who raced 38 yards down the left sideline into the end zone "That one hurt more than Prep coach Tom Jaworski admitted "We went into a deep zone defense and one of our guys just went inside too much they snapped the momentum right The Junior Bluejays. winners of 10 state football championships in te Sunday Journal and Star, had constructed a 3-0 lead six minutes earlier on Pat 33-yard field goal Prep appeared to regain a deiisive in momentum at the outset of the third quarter, capitalizing on a costly illegal blocking penalty against Southeast nuddle guard Fehx White Southeast watched a LeClair punt roll dead in excellent field position at the 50-yard hne four plays into the second half But White was assessed the peanlty. Prep regained possession and the Bluejays promptly marched 58 yards down the field in 10 plays to assume 10-7 control Substitute fullback PrenUss Reddick got the touchdown on a four-yard bust over right tackle. He accounted for the last yards of the scoring drive on six Cr Dave Southeast's Ed Davis goes back to pass while Prep's Scott Sherry threatens. carries after conung in for Thurman Cotton Prep was in excellent shape to expand the 14-10 lead on its next piissession, marching to a first down on the Knights 30-yard line But a four-yard gam.

a key tackle for a loss by White and a pass deflection by Don Jones soon presented Prep with a fourth down situation on the Southeast 32 The Jays, who had run for a first down out of a fake punt mation four plays earlier, tned a fake field goal this time The Kmghb snuffed it out and that was the beginning of the end for Prep, winch finished with an 8-3 reiwd after shutting out Its first four opponents of the Southeast finished with an 8-12 mark A 23-7 Lite September loss at Ralston the only blemish of consequence We deserve to be 1. Solich with a toothbruch type smile "Prep was so physical just like Ralston but we ve ome a lung way since the first of the season The Knights withstood the trauma of four first half turnovers lost and one pa.vs interception' without losing the lead That the same as the week before against Grand I- land," Solich noted "Somehow, our defense been able to bring us through all this Jaworski gave Southeast highe-t compliments We iiuldn stop em on the drive we had to stop them, he said I wish things luld have turned out diffiTor.tiy But our kids gave roore than some thorn on uragv all w.fk As li. th it r- all I an a Sums, stats, Page 12 See picture. Page 12 LSE's Underwood receives game ball after win By Chuck Sinclair Prep Sports Writer Nlembers of Lincoln Southeast state championship football team could have easily clung to the game ball and salted It away in one of the school trophy cases after a 20-10 conquest over Omaha Creighton Prep Friday night at Seacrest Field in the state Class A finals But totally characteristic of their attitudes all year long, co- captains Will Hewitt and Ed Davis wanted the ball given to Kevin Cnderwiiod. a Southeast student who played football since midget days when he and Davis were on the same team I'nderwood, now a junior, broke his neck on the trampoline in the seventh grade, and has since been confined to a wheel chair "Kevin was just a great athlete, Hewitt said "He would hav been a starter for us this year He deserves the ball can always get a different one for the trophy case Hewitt was emotional in the lockerroom He fought back from a injury early in the season to come back and play on offense as a guard since his mobility was too Imuted for his customary hnebacking ptwiUon H'uson long, we ve had this thing at Southeast with our prayers." Hewitt said Some people didn really understand, but we knew that God gave us the strength and courage to compete We kept winning with the strength irom our prayers, he added knew we wouldn have been in this position if it wasn fur Him He intended it fur Us It had been a long road for the Knights, espe ially tor the seniors, most who had suffered throui.h a 0-8 i-ampaign Siiphomores and 3-6 last years as juniors on reserves It wus even longer for those like Davis who played on the best 4-5 team in the state last vear varsity Davi: felt ure mure since he didn feel he had Uved up to his expe- tatiun.s 1 don know why bui 1 i all niy -untidence in paMing.

said pre all -late qu.irtefbai don know what tarted it I just overthrowing uut patterns and froin on. it went duwnhill Davc admitted he h.id sull not regained confidence enjoyed as a junior wiih all state etv H.ig^T un th- -Uh-'r end of hir I didnt ihmk I th-ew well tomght eitluT -liU with ex. pti th p.i to 1 for toui-hdoAi in irk 1 I 'be' ili iKi iwx 2 1 avis al u- tou hdoW" the game ud I fAO to to IX tu Ingles' crew escapes specter of season By Staff Sports Writer Ames. Iowa Guy Ingles about to ad- nut It. but when he woke up here Friday morning.

he was scared What was bothering the Nebraska freshmen footbaU coach, was the fact his Comhuskers were in the unenviable posiUon of making history bad history Set to face the Iowa State Junior Varsity in their season finale, the yearUnp were fUr- Ung with the of beconung the fint Nebraska to Um two games in one season since the 1957 squad finished 0-2. Ingles shouldn't have bothered worrying. Hu squad rolled over the Cyclones 38-15 to bounce back from a 19-18 loss at Kansas two weeks ago. "1 didn't say anything to the kids alxNit kxuim two," said Ingbs, who led the HusMrs to a record in his rookie teauon as head coach, "but personally 1 was worried about it" Ingles proved he had doiw his vrhen told sportswnters the game. "I know we lost two games any season lor the last 15 years He then Ucked off every game the Irosh had lost since 1961 "Iowa Stale once.

once, Muaoun three Umes and Kansas Ingles said of the six the Huskers have suffered while winmng 56 games since 1961 The frftihmen were not going to let their edgy coach off the hook without a few anxious moments against the Cyclones in a game that was played in bitter-v'old After jumping to a 15-0 first lead on touchdowns by fullback Chns Juehnng i3 and quarterback Brad Humphrey U-yardt and a 45-yard field goal by Tim Bergkamp. Nebraska suddenly wilted as Iowa State scored 15 points in the second penod to knot the score at halfume A safety occured when center Joe Adams, who was subbing for injured Dan Laherver, snapped the ball Husker Scott Mensing 8 head and out of the end zone giving Iowa State two points The play led to a gutty decision by Ingles ly in the third quarter Faced with a fourth and one situation on ht- own 32-yard line. Ingles mxed a punt and went for a first down 1 was afraid to punt, Ingles said of the which worked when Humphrey picked up the first down on a quarterback keeper Shortly after that. Nebraska sputtering offense finally came to life, thanks to a 53-yvd punt return by walkon Tim McCYady and the runmng of I back Tim Wurth McCrady brilliant rrtura, which saw him break three tackles earned the ball to Iowa State 35 Wurth quickly got 27 yards and then put the Huskers ahead for good when he snagged an five-yard touchdown pass from Humphrey The punt return really got us going," Ingles said "1 thought great Wurth, who did not enter the game until the second quarter, rushed for 153 yards on 15 and scored in the second half on runs of eight and su yards The raight-mite from Omaha Burk, be ame the aii time leading rusher fnnh hivtorv- tlw with iaii to former Netr great Juiin I) Learv 1972 mark of 99 1 jut th. thiRr Wurth, Ingles said Wurth performance against the iNclone- A five-year veteran of the Nebraska freshman program, Ingle- he would mauh the current Nebr fnuh crop with any of the former he worked with I think they are very wid Ingles, who iiarred at Nebriaka as a split end 1 think there are some walkons who are going to be a great help and are some scholarship kids who will help in the near future But I cant prediti which ones They are a great bunch of kids, Ingles continued i told them the game that they never made Uungs bonng this ttaft, 12.