The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • Page 21

vu offense makes Osborne Biy Virgil Parker Spotti Editor Last Nebraska football scrimmage was postponed because of a snowstorm. head-knocking session was staged under a blazing sun. The weatherman said it was 85 degrees. It was hotter than that on the AstroTurf of Memorial Stadium. After the drill, Comhusker coach Tom Osborne was also hot under the collar.

the worst offensive scrimmage had in a long, long Osborne observed after the top two units failed to score a touchdown. no use beating around the bush about the Big Red boss added. was The offense started with the ball on its own 30 or 35-yard line. When a drive faltered by failing to make a first down, go back and start again. The first and second strings while facing comparable defenses initiated 17 series.

Only five of the 17 times did the offense move the ball across midfield, despite starting just 15 or 20 yards away. Four of the five times get far into the territory, gaining the opposing 41, 46, 40, and 38. The longest sustained march by the top offensive units reached the defensive 21- yard line. Runs of six and 31 yards by fullback Dodie Donnell, a 21-yard, scamper by I-back Isaiah Hipp and a seven-yard pass from quarterback Tom Sorley to split end Rocke Loken covered most of the ground. But, a motion penalty created a second-and-eight situation from which the offense recover.

defense showed a considerable improvement over last first Osborne noted. offense certainly They were a tremendous disappointment. (the offense) got a long way to go. They just got man on man. got to buckle down and start blocking and running.

Frankly, I was burned Osborne expressed pleasure in the showing by the defense, which he admits was a concern after the graduation of many key performers. With a 20-30 mph wind whipping through the stadium, the paiilng statistics were less than spectacular. Starting quarterback Randy Garcia completed just two of eight tries for a yards, while Sorley was eight of 16 for 94, and had one intercepted. wind was probably a Osborne admitted, we throw and catch the ball as well as we should. struggling with our Loken led those from the top units with three catches for yards.

The third and fourth units salvaged the day for the offense. I-back Greg Suelter tallied two touchdowns on runs of six and 28 yards and quarterback Brad Humphrey found split end Mike Hanika open on a 27-yard TD toss. The all-out, aggressive defense installed this spring by defensive coordinator Lance Van Zandt was certainly evident. Twice the safety was involved in the tackle at the line of scrimmage on third down and short yardage situations. The offense was guilty of six fumbles, many defense shines STAFF PHOTO BY WEB RAY Byron Stewart grinds out yardage Saturday during the Nebraska scrimmage as Randy coach.

Editur'i nutt: Guideposts Magazine sponsored an essay contest In which the student would recount a or memorable experience of faith Jon Kopetzky of Falls City Sacred Heart High School won a 500 scholarship with his essay about the death of his brother, Steve. Jon is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Kopetzky The easay is reprinted below with permission from Guideposts Magazine The time was October 11, 1974 Football was an important part of our school lile and our Friday night game was almost over We led our opponents was second string safety, and my brother, Steve, was playing defensive halfback on the varsity. Nebraska's unpredictable weather, in mid-iktober, had changed from a sunny aiternuon, to clouds of billowing fog that gradually enveloped the playing field, giving an eerie atmosphere to the contest.

My attention shifted from the game's action to the sidelines as I saw Steve limping off the field. 1 realized he had muscle cramps in his legs. After a few minutes of massage by the trainer, Steve was determined to return to the game 1 heard his prophetic words. Coach, I ready to as he eagerly returned to the lineup. 1 saw Steve come up from his position to land a crushing tackle to stop a sure touchdown.

1 was always proud of the way he tackled head straight and always tackling low. After the play was over, I noticed a player down on the field. Somebody said that it was Steve. 1 said to myself that it was only leg cramps again 1 stared intensely as Steve was engulfed by coaches and trainers. Over the public address came a call for my parents.

1 sank to my knees. Something was wrong Another call, this time fMT the rescue squad he needed oxygen. 1 started to shake. Steve be hurt A hushed silence came over the stadium as the spectators seemed to sense instim'tively that the injury was grave Minutes Were like hours as they worked with Steve Again the P. A announcement a call for the and a request that no one leave the field in order not to block the access roads.

No one moved. TTie seriousness ot the situation was evident. The game was called. Through the thickening fog, the Rick (90, rear) and Tom Vering (57) do their best to retard his progress. ready to jiiMiriial auii SUir SPORTKED Best Read Is Red April 10, 1977 1C caused by hard tackling.

Twelve running plays were stopped behind the line of scrimmage and the quarterbacks were sacked for a loss on 15 other occasions. Tim Fischer picked off two passes, one thrown by Sorley, another by Tim Hager. call it my defense, Van Zandt said, referring to the entire defensive coaching staff. was pleased with the way the kids played. They showed improvement but what we practice he added.

effort and attitude was good. There was a lot of enthusiasm for making the big Van Zandt credited for the better showing. need to react on instinct. If a player has to think, he does this, then do too late. A defensive player has to get rid of the block quickly and move to the ball carrier.

They doing that fast enough in the first Van Zandt has a pet saying which sums it up; got to give a frantic effort to be a good defensive what we talk about all the he added frantic effort. But, get me wrong. We made a lot of errors on defense today. But, we can correct those through coaching if the players are giving a good Nine players missed the scrimmage because of a variety of what Osborne called injuries. Those from the top two units included defensive tackle Rod Horn, defensive backs Rene Anderson and Pat Lehigh, split end Tim Smith and offensive tackle Mark Goodspeed.

All but Lehigh (hip pointer) are expected back in uniform by the first of the week Only one serious injury marred the scrimmage. Middle guard Oudious Lee dislocated a bone in his wrist the same injury I-back Monte Anthony suffered last year and is likely to miss the rest of the spring drills. I-back Richard Berns retired with a Charley horse after carrying the ball just twice. The Huskers will practice Monday, Wednesday and Friday this week with another fullscale scrimmage scheduled Saturday. Three more weeks of spring practice remain, with the annual Red- White intrasquad game set for April 30, Saturday's scrimmage statistics: Ruihing Berns, 2-U, Stewart, Donnell, 3-31; Craig, 3-9, Brown, 1-7; Juehring, 4-24, Steward, 7-34, Hipp, 7-27, Sorley, 4-13, Wurth.

7-25; Everett, 1-1; Garcia, 4-mlnus Suelter, McCrady, 3-1, Hager, 52, Lewis, 9-25, Jacobs, 4-10, Burns, 2-mlnus 3, Washington, 3-24, Taylor, 12-47, Humphrey, 21; Siebert, 2-7 Quinn, 9-22 Passing Garcia. 2-8-0-23, Sorley. 8-16-1-94, Burns, 5-11-0-52, Hager, 1-5-1-7, Humphrey, 2-70-39, Quinn, 2-3-0-21 Receiving Loken, 3-25; Everett, 1-21, Lee, 2-27, Miller, 1-10, Donnell, 1-7, Spaeth, 1-9, Brown, 2-19, Jacobs, 1-6, Taylor, 3-44; Higgins, 2-14, Hanika, 1- determination and enthusiasm. He had accomplished so much apart from football He wore the Eagle Scout badge with pride; he was a licensed swim instructor and a certified pool manager, a master of the baritone bom and bass guitar. Perhaps his proudest accomplishment came when he was rated the Oratorical Champion for the State of Nebraska for two successive years.

This year would be his last try for the National Championship Twice he attended the American Academy of Achievement. Steve loved life and lived it with great exuberance. A word of encouragement from a OK coach continuad paga 4C Wildlife work brings Petska top J-S honor By Tom Vint Outdoor Editor Ord Ken Petska stands a little taller than most men. No matter. Wildlife and people who have a strong interest in wildlife would look up to him anyway.

Petska is a rancher and farmer by trade. When not puttering around on the farm north of here, getting involved for wildlife. For his efforts, Ken Petska has been named the winner of the Sunday Journal and Howard L. Wiegers Award as Outstanding Conservationist for 1977, in cooperation with the University of Nebraska Wildlife Club. It is the second year the annual award will be given in honor of Weigers, a UNL professor who founded most of the wildlife study at UNL Wiegers also acts as Nebraska Wildlife Club faculty advisor It is the I2th such award given to outstanding conservation work in the state.

Petska IS not one to claim any glory. He says he isn't the one who does most of the work for wildlife in the Ord area. rather have the credit go to others. But it was the who compiled a stack of endorsing letters in behalf Petska became sincerely interested in the conservation of Nebraska wildlife resources about ten years ago, wrote Woodgate, the man who nominated Petska for the award. that time he has held numerous positions in several organizations dedicated to wildlife starters, Petska is past president of the Nebraska Council of Clubs.

now a director at large. been the local chairman of the Ducks Unlimited Chapter in Ord, a group raising $2,497 and $3,180 the past two years for waterfowl. Petska was one of the founders of Karp and Krow Club, a director of the Nebraska Fur Takers and holds memberships in the Nebraska Trap Shooters the National Rifle the Loup Valley Muzzel Loaders Club and the Citizens for Wetlands organization also a certified hunter safety instructor, avid hunter, trapper and fishes whenever he gets a chance When he has a little more extra tune, Petska wife Dorrita keeps waving goodbye because oft speaking at the local Rotary Club, the Presbyterian Group, at the St. Athletic Banquet, on NTV, anywhere he can get people to listen about wildlife. STAFF PHOTO BY TOAA VINT The Valley County living snowfence program was one of Ken brainchildren for wildlife habitat.

Here he surveys young trees along a stretch of snowfence. will do something if other people talk to them so they can understand the trouble Petska said. As evidence, he can lean back on the Valley County snowfence program, a brainchild of you-know- who. like to plant said Petska thought about this snowfence thing and a friend told me to go tell the board ol the Lower Loup Re.source District. I went in to talk to them and they were just great They programmed $12,000 for it and off we went As explained it, the NRD and the county cooperate with the landowner to plant rows of pine and plum thicket through a 100-foot-wide grassed area The landowner provides the land, the NRD fences it off for him, the county plants it and tends it and the Conservation Service oversees and assists where possible.

else are you going to find three such agencies working together to get a project asks Petska. We think the work doing is great. Thus far, some 10 miles of the living snowfence has gone in through the area In a matter of years, they should be providing valuable habitat lor wildlife, not to mention providing the snowfence value to the surrounding land Petska friends indicate he has done a good deal of personal habitat planUng, has helped build and put up wood duck houses on his place and others, helped push through LB861 habitat bill and has participated in the stale pheasant stocking operation. 111 tell you one thing that has done some real good around here and the pheasant stocking operation Petska said After a landowner or his kids take the time to raise 100,200 or more pheasant chicks for seven or eight PETSKA continued page 6C Crenshaw into Masters lead Jon Kopetzky Steve Kopetzky muffled voices drifted onto the field as the fans began praying, "Our Father Who art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy name Thy kingdom come, Thy will tie done It brought comfort.

The players were told to go to the locker rooms. It was hard for me to leave the field with my brother lying there unconscious. How I admired Steve! As football players go, he was small, but what he lacked in stature, he overcame with AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) Tom Watson, grimly determined to avoid the collapses that have tormented him in his last two starts, rammed in a birdie putt on the final hole and tied dynamic Ben Crenshaw for the third-round lead Saturday in the 41st Masters golf tournament. downhill, five-foot effort on the two-tiered 18th green finished off a round of 70 and gave him a three-round total of seven under the grudging par on the famed Augusta National Golf Club course.

Crenshaw, who typifies the power and pride of the youth movement that has swept the tour this season, muscled his way to a to the ball in flight, twisting his stocky frame in body English, danciim in delight when a go- ahead putt dropped, visable agonizing when another putt missed. The man they call and the red-haired, freckle-faced Watson, winner of two UUes and a leading $135,000 in winnings this season, a one- shot advantage over Rik Massengale going into final round of this, the first of the four major tournaments. Massengale bolted into his high position with a five-under par 67 that put him at 210. Jack Nicklaus, the famed and feared Golden Bear who has won this prestige- laden tournament a record five shook ott his putting woes with a 66 that left him very much in cimtention at 212. "It was pretty much a reverse from the first couple of said Nicklaus.

who has finished second twice here, been worse than fourth in six years and holds a record 14 major professional championships. play nearly as well as the first two days, but 1 putted a lot he said. encouraging going into the last round. I think I can get to hitting the ball well again and if 1 can keep the putter going got a chance to do He was tied with Jim Colbert, who had a 69 in the sunny, warm spring weather The group at 213, only four strokes back and very much in the race for the lamed green jacket that goes to the winner, includtnl Hubert Green, South Alrican veteran Gary Flayer, Tom Kite and 44-year-old Rod Funseth, who shared the second round lead with Watson Funseth went to a 74 Flayer, the only foreign winner this tournament has produced, had to come back from a crippling double bogey to shoot 72. Green also had a 72 and Kite moved up with a 70 lUrk Eynuum of Nebraska hurled a Saturday to highlight the 5-0 and 7-0 sweep past UNO.

Game story, Page 5C. "It ought to be a good turkey shoot tomorrow," said Green. what the game is all 11 take a good score to said Kite, a one-time teammate of both Crenshaw and Massengale in their college days at the University of Texas. many guys up there at the top that have a habit of Delending champion Ray Floyd, with a 71. and Hale Irwin, with a 70, were in a group at 214.

Tom Weiskopf, the unhappy holder of a record four runner-up Masters finishes, once was in the middle of the hunt. He was one of six men Funseth, Watson, Crenshaw, Green and Massengale were the others who led or shared the lead at one time or another in the mulUple- man scramble through the Georgia piney woods Injury-hampered U.S. Open champion Jerry Fate, still bothered by hand, neck and shoulder problems, got into the chase, but dropped back with a (touble bogey from a bunker on Uie 18th. He had a 74-216 Slump-rtdden Johnny Miller revived with a 69 that left him tied with Arnold Falmer, still the gallery favorite, at 218. Falmer shot a 71.

PGA champ Dave Stockton was far back at m. Watson almost certainly is the outstanding player of the season and would be a run-away choice but for the problems with his swing that have cost him titles in his last two starts. In each, hid a lead in the stretch run.