The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • Page 41

Sports Journal anb October 9, 1977, Lincoln, Neb. Cornhuskers Wildcats, 26-9 Green ww im-y I 11 I wl; Nebraska's Rene Anderson (2) steps in front of Kansas State receiver Charley Green (24) for the first of his two interceptions with just seconds STAFF PHOTOS BY BOB GORHAM remaining in the first half Green pushed Anderson out of bounds at the NU 1. At the time, the Huskers were protecting a 10-3 lead. Nebraska Kansas St. First clowns 19 IS 40-62 Passing S9 96 Return 44 Passes 7-13-0 9-20-3 5-45 6-32 2-2 5-2 Penalties-yards 5-45 2-10 Time-of-possession 33:27 26:33 Third down conversions 11-18 3-15 By Virgil Parker Sports Editor Manhattan, Kan.

Nebraska gave Kansas State a gift before the game ever started and two more early in the first quarter here Saturday afternoon to fall behind 3-0 in the Big Eight Conference football opener for both teams. But Cornhusker coach Tom Osborne's troops rebounded thanks in great part to a second-straight 2(W-yard-plus-day for Isaiah Hipp to claim a 26-9 victory. The triumph wasn't assured however, until Billy Todd knocked in a 20-yard field goal with four minutes remaining in the final frame. first gift to K-State was a new mascot for the Wildcats a pair of young bobcats from the Lincoln zoo. The other two were fumbles one by fullback Monte Anthony and the other by Kick Berns.

who returned to action to spell Hipp at I-back and Kansas State converted the second bobble into three points on a tremendous 51-yard field goal, by barefoot kicker Kris Thompson. Season records NEBRASKA iJ 10 Wash. St. 17 Alabama 24 1 Indiana 0 8 Kansas St 0 IS Iowa St 0 22 Colorado 0 29 at Okla St. 5 at Missouri 12 Kansas 25 at Oklahoma 10-19 10 BYU 31-24 17 Fla St 24 Wichita St 31-130 1 MisSqSt 0 8 Nebraska 0 15 at Okla St 0 22 Missouri 29 Oklahoma 5 at Kansas 12 Iowa Stale 19 at Colorado KANSAS ST 114) T9 1018 2114 -21-24 9 26 Nebraska turned to the speed of the elusive Hipp early in the second quarter.

But the final score, produced by Todd's second fielder and a 27-yard touchdown run by Kenny Brown with just 21 seconds remaining, was much closer than the ending total on the scoreboard would indicate. Hipp, who set a new school rushing record with 254 yards against Indiana last week, piled up most of his 207 yards this day on two long touchdown runs of 66 and 82 yards. never really been known as a team." Osborne observed. hope we have to start relying on things like that. Although it is nice to have a back with speed for a change.

We haven't had a guy who could break plays like that for a long time. was another game where we really had to struggle." the Husker head man added just hope we re learning something from this type of game. I'd be the first to admit, though, that I'd like to win one easily. That might be good for us." The prospects for such a thing appear very bright. This week Nebraska hosts Iowa State in Lincoln, a teanii that dumped Missouri, 7-0, even though Miz- zou was coming off a big win over Arizona State.

After its shaky start, Nebraska take long to bounce back after Thompson gave the their 3-0 lead. After the ensuing kickoff. Berns carried on the final two plays of the first quarter for a first down at the Husker 34. Hipp returned, and on the first play ot the second stanza, set sail around the right side and scampered all the way. Todd's extra point boot gave Nebraska a 7-3 lead it never lost.

To most observers, it appeared the run started from the 33. That would have made the TO dash a 67-yarder. which would have been the longest touchdown run since Bill Olds went the same distance against Texas in 1971 Hipp had a 73-yarder against Indiana last week, but didn't reach the end zone. It wasn't too much longer before the argument of yardage became moot, however. Todd kicked a 26-yard field goal to give NEBRASKA: Continued page 6D Yankees get another chance; Dodgers in Series Lyle gives New York relief Dodgers win in rain storm KANSAS CITY (DPI) Sparky Lyle, the man his teammates call the "saviour," rescued his club from elimination in the American League playoffs Saturday by pitching 5 1-3 scoreless innings in relief to help the New York Yankees defeat the Kansas City Royals, 6-4.

The triumph evened the best-of-five championship series at two games apiece and set up the deciding game night. The Yankees, who beat the Royals in five games to win the pennant last year, will go with their ace pitcher, southpaw Ron Guidry, while the Royals will counter with lefthander Paul Splittorff Splittorff beat the Yankees at New York in the first game of the series while Guidry won the second on a three- hitter. looks like a tossup to said Yankee Manager Billy Martin. a little better and theirs is a little While Guidry has been the most consistent starter over the season, it is Lyle who has been their most valuable pitcher. During the regular season he won 13 games and saved 26 others and he showed again Saturday why many are considering him for the AL Cy Young award.

Normally a late-inning pitcher. Lyle was summoned by Martin as early as the fourth inning after the Royals had scored twice to close the gap to 5-4. got out of that jam by striking out John Mayberry with the tying run on second base, tlien allowed only two hits the rest of the way to pick up the victory. was said Royals Manager Whitey Herzog, pitched last night and then came back today and did a job on us. Actually he had better stuff in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings then he had earlier.

I thought get him in the late innings, but he simply was Lyle surprised that he pitched better as the game went on. pitched for a while until last night, but I do tend to get belter the longer I go." said Lyle. my arm gets tired, my slider tends to work better. When too strong you try to muscle the ball. not an overpowering pitcher I just try to throw it as hard as I can and try to keep that slider down and If necessary, Lyle said he would be able to come back and pitch Sunday.

pep Texas to victory, 13-6 downi. Ruslies-yards Paiiiny yards Relurn yards Passes Punts Fumbiesiosf Penalfies-yards Oklahoma Texas 13 9 58-190 52 189 47 58 4 9-0 8 45 2-1 7 55 57 38 410-2 9-48 1-0 783 DALLAS (UPI) The Texas Longhorns Saturday removed the large question mark with which they had been saddled and replaced it with an emphatic exclamation point. In one of the fiercest rivalries in college football, being played for the 72nd time before the 32nd consecutive sellout crowd, the unbeaten Longhorns who went 5-5-1 last year reestablished themselves as a national power under new coach Fred Akers. They did it with a 13-6 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners, a decision made possible by the freight-train running of senior fullback Earl Campbell, the long- range, wind-aided kicking of Russell Erxleben, and the astonishingly cool performance of Randy McEachren, a third- string quarterback forced into the game after a blitz of first-period injuries. "McEachren did one heck of a Akers said.

might read something like that in a story bwk. He was smart, he was poised and he was cool and we didn't change our game plan a bit. something else. I think somebody had better stand up fast if they are going to top Earl Campbell for the Heisman Trophy, Earl made the biggest difference out there Over in the Oklahoma dressing room, Coach Barry Switzer agreed that Campbell was the difference. is Just Switzer said, told Akers after the game I hope they win the rest of them and the national championship.

They have a great, great football team. Texas went into the game ranked fourth and leading the nation in rushing offense, scoring, rushing defense and points allowed. Campbell and Erxleben were 1-2 in NCAA scoring. The Longhorns had run over their first three opponents so completely that the first team had hardly broken a sweat. But.

because of the generally bland quality of the opposition College, Virginia and Rice there was a Season OKLAHOMA i4-11 10 Vanderbilt 25-23 17 Utah 62 24 24 Ohio Stale 29 28 0 1 Kansas 24 9 0 8 Texas 6 13 15 at Missouri 22 Iowa State 29 at Kansas St 5 at Okla St 12 Colorado 25 Nebraska records TEXAS (4.0) 10 Boston Coll. 17 Virginia 0 I Rice 0 8 Oklahoma 0 15 at Arkansas 0 22 at SMU 29 Tfi 5 Houston TCU 19 Baylor 26 at Teias AKM 44 0 680 72 15 136 major question as to how good the Longhorns were. The third-ranked Sooners. who lost for the first time in five games, helped supply the answer. Okiahoma was held without a touchdown for the first time in 11 years.

Coach Switzer was handed only his fourth loss in 51 games and the Texas defense came up with a critical stand on the 5-yard line with less than four minutes to play to decide the outcome. The game consisted of four chapters for the Longhorns; Campbell, who gained 126 yards on 23 carries and had his best day in four tries against the Sooners. He bounced off tacklers, they bounced off him, and he scored the only touchdown, a 24- yard run late in the first half that put the Longhorns in front for good Erxleben. the holder of the NCAA record for field goal distance, kicked 64 and 59 yarders Saturday and, after Texas had stopped the Sooners on the 5, punted 69 yards from his own goal line. McEachren.

a senior who had never played a down before this year but was forced into the contest after an ankle injury to Mark McBath and a knee injury to jon Aune. -He led the only touchdown drive of the day and hit four of eight passes fnr 57 yards The defense, which threw nine men near the line of scrimmage and effectively shut down wishbone rushing attack Tackle Brad Shearer and defensive back Johnnie Johnson stopped Oklahoma quarterback Thomas Lott at the 5 on fourth-and-one the critical play of the think I could go five or six he said, "I'm serious, I could probably come in early because 1 haven't pitched for a agreed, won't need him, but he can go. It wasn't only Lyle's pitching that contributed to York's victory. The Yankees finally started to get their bats going after being four-hitted by Dennis Leonard Friday night. New York lashed out 13 hits, including four by Rivers, and built a 4-0 lead against hander Larry Gura, which the Royals were never able to overcome.

Not that the Royals didn't try. Fred the 5-loot-4 shortstop who plays like a giant in playoff competition, had three hits for Kansas City, including a triple and a run-scoring double that nearly triggered a comeback. Besides Lyie pitching, there were perhaps two things that led to the defeat. The first was Herzog decision to start Gura and the other was another controversial call, this time by tirst base umpire Bremigan in the tirst inning which took the Royals out of a potential big inning Herzog's decision to use Gura was prompted by a hunch that the 29-year-old left-hander would pitch well against the Yankees because he doesn't like Martin. It was Martin who was responsible for being traded to the Royals last year and the Yankees manager has never been a big fan of Gura's.

But Herzog's hunch was dead wrong this time. The Yankees bombed Gura fw SIX hits in two innings to build a 4-0 lead wliich the Rovals could not overcome. How top twenty fared nvxt Metk'4 oppontnl 1 i4 I. it Ui AirtDa-na. 21 20 Oregpn 2 '4 I Inst to 13 6 Missouri i ijOl del MntiajanSt 2414 Wis.yusin 4 Ohio stale 1 1 del Purdue 46 0 Iowa '4-01 det OKI.thoma 13-6 Arkansas 6 'lorado (50: del Oklahoma State, 29 13 Kansas 7 Aiabania '4 1- det Southern Cat, 21-20 Tennessee tip) Arkansas (4-0) idle Texas 9 Nebraska del Kans.ts State.

26 9 loxva State 10 Penn State (4 del Utah St 16 7 Syracuse 11 )tre Damo II idle Army 12 fexas A8.M Idle Baylor 13 Brigham Young (3-I! lost to Oregon St 24-19 St 14 California (4-1; h.gt to Washington St 17-10 Oregon 15 Pitt 11) tied Honda. 17-17 Navy 16 Kcntucry (4 1) del iss St 23-7 LSUmi 17 Tens tech 1-1' played mght Rue in; 18 LSUiMidet Vanderbilt, 28 15 Kentuiky 19 Wisconsin 0) del Illinois. 26-0 Michigan 20 Florida (2 1-1) tied Piti, idle PHILADELPHIA (UPI) The Los Dodgers won the National League pennant in a driving rain Saturday night, beating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 on another timely homer by Dusty Baker and the steady seven-hit pitching of Tommy John, The Dodgers will now go on to meet the American League champion, either the Kansas City Royals or New York Yankees, in the World Series, which Tuesday night in the AL champion's city. two-run homer gave the Dodgers and John, their left- haniler. all the runs they needed in the second inning.

But it took the rain, which delayed the start of the game for 17 minutes, to ruin the hard-luck chances in the fifth as starter and loser Steve Carlton let one run in on a wild pitch and another when he slipped off the mound attempting to field a bunt. Baker, who hit a grand slam homer to win the second playoff game for the Dodgers in Los Angeles, staked them to a 2-0 lead in the second inning when he liornered into the left field canvas screen above the 371foot mark after Ron Cey led off with the inning by drawing a walk Both of playoff homers came on 2-0 pitches and his two-run smash off Carlton gave him eight RBI for the championship series, a National League record The Phillies looked as if they might get at least one run back in the bottom of the inning when they filled the bases with two out on singles by Richie Hebner and (iarrv Maddox and an infield nubber bv Ted Sizemore, which John but wisely held in his glove when he realized he had no play because of the wet. slippery underfooting. Carlton, up next, worked the count to 32 and the record playoff crowd of 64.924, anticipating another bases-loaded walk such as the three Burt Hooton issued the day before, set up a tremendous din But John would not be rattled and, with the crowd screaming and the rain coming down harder, reared back and fanned Carlton on a hard slider for his third strikeout of the inning. A leadoff single by Greg Luzinski, followed by double into the right field corner, got John into trouble once more in the fourth inning.

infield out brought up Luzinski. but John pitched his way out of further trouble by striking out Tim McCarver and Carlton around a walk to Sizemore. The worm turned on the Phillies in the fifth when the Dodgers parlayed a walk, a wild pitch and a pair of singles for two more runs to increase their lead to 4-1 Baker led off with a walk and, one out later. Steve Yeager singled to center, sending Baker to second John, attempting to bunt the runners along, struck out but Carlton, after running the count to 3-1 to Davey Lopes, uncorked a wild pitch. The ball bounced in front of the plate and skidded all the way to the backstop on the rain-slickened artificial turf.

With McCarver in frantic pursuit. Baker dashed all the way home and Yeager wound up on third. Seizing the opportunity to squeeze another run out of the treacherous surface. Bill Russell poked a bunt to the left of the mound and Carlton, attempting to reach the ball too quickly, slipped and was too late with his throw to first as Yeager came in with the fourth run National League President Chub Feeney, who was huddled under an umbrella alongside the dugout, explained why the game was allowed to be plaved i talked to the umpires at the start of the game and they said the players i were not complaining, so we decided to Feeney said the fifth inning, when the rain got heavy, we had to continue to be fair to the Phillies." Carlton, who was 17-2 at Veterans Stadium this year and 23-10 overall, was removed in favor of Ron Reed by Phillies' Manager Danny Ozark after walking Cey to lead off the sixth. Carlton has never won a playoff game in six starling attempts.

Conversion try misses; Alabama nudges USC Qluilin Siimlav ing yd e. 20 6f 42 8 2(9 42 2 2 6 0 16 42 6 47 Season records 24 Football College highlights, 8 a.m., 3 NFL Today, 12,30 p.m., Lions V. Vikings, I College Football p.m., 7 C4; Chiefs v. Broncos, 3 p.m., 3 Cowboys v. Cardinals, 3:30 p.m., Tom Osborne, 10:30 p.m., 3110 Bud Moore, 10:30 p.m., C2; Ellis Rainsberger, 11 p.m., C2; Barry Switzer, 11 p.m., C2.

Baseball Yankees v. Royals (AL playoff, if necessary), 7 p.m., iCS. IM ulto 1 Baseball World Series, 7 p.m. game. OKiahoma Texay OKI FG Von Scnamann 47 Tex FG Erxleben 64 Tex Campbell 24 run Erxleben KicK IKI FG von Scnamann 33 Tex FG Erxleben 51 A nm 3 0 0 10 0-6 3-13 Fultz unchanged by life as pro By Randy York staff Sports Writer Much like many other laborers, he lives in the inner core ot New Orleans, rents a room from his aunt and uncle and drives 11 miles to work.

Pennies are pinched and purchases are tew. Every paycheck is banked with the thought that it may be the last. After a day at the he returns to his relatives' home. And if the day's work taken too much out of him, he'll rally with the neighborhood kids for a game of basketball. Mike Fultz His labor is playing defensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints and his factory is the Superdome.

It seems unlikely that a rookie with a three- year contract would adopt such a lifestyle when his teammates prefer condominiums and fancy apartments in more elite sections. That doesn't moan the former Nebraska all-American and pride of Lincoln High has never splurged, or tasted the rhapsody of Bourbon Street. His drive to work is taken in a 1976 yellow Lincoln Continental he bought from his brother Larry, but only because I got a good deal. Otherwise. I have bought it." FULTZ: Conhnued page 9D LOS ANGELES (UPI) With 35 seconds to go, University of Southern t'alifornia football coach John Robinson wanted a victory and not a tie.

But USC's dramatic comeback attempt fell short and underdog Alabama shot down the No, 1-ranked Trojans 21-20 and ended their 15-game winning streak, longest for any major college team in the country. Robinson, a former Oakland Raider assistant coach who replaced John McKay last season, said the thought of kicking the extra point that would have produced a 21-21 tie never crossed his mind. I think of Robinson said. couldn't come in and look my team in the face after going for a tie. just no way it's impossible You play to win a game.

the only way. The kids play too hard out there and they play to In contrast to the somber USC dressing room, the Alabama dressing room was filled with song and laughter. Even Bear Bryant was jubilant. was a great win and very proud of my team. I think everyone played as well as they could.

I agree with Coach Robinson. I sure would have gone for two if it had been me And the position USC was in, they had no The Trojans trailed 21-6 but scored two touchdowns in the final seven minutes. After Lynn Cain ran one yard for a touchdown with 35 swonds to go, the Trojans went for a twopoint conversion that would have won the game, but quarterback Rob Hertel, caught behind the line of scrimmage by end Wayne Hamilton, had a wobbly throw intercepted by linebacker Barry Krauss. The Coliseum crowd of 63,140 saw the eighth-rated Crimson Tide, who went into the game a nine-point underdog, hand the Trojans their first defeat since Sept. 11,1976, when they fell to Missouri in their season opener.

Tony Nathan, a talented junior wishbone halfback from Birmingham. ALABAMA '4-1) .1 ijpi .4 Vandprb 8 I. 29 'v s'- 2 20 24 40 8 Al.it 1 1, 0 29 At A a Ala scored on runs of one and 15 yards in a span of 58 seconds in the fourth quarter after Johnny Davis went into the end zone from two yards out to put Alabama ahead 7-3 at 5:08 of the third period. The Trojans, battling desperately to retain their winning skein and prestigious top spot on the UPI ratings, finally scored a touchdown with 6 46 left in the game on a lOyard pass from Hertel to Calvin Sweeney. Hertel then passed to Mosi Talupu for the two- point conversion.

Alabama, which lost its second game of the season to Nebraska 31-24, improved its record to 4-1, first touchdown came on a 91- yard. lO-piay march as Hertel completed six of seven passes for 88 yards USC got the ball for the last time with 3 08 remaining and went 79 yards in 10 plays for the score to get to within one point. The big play came when Alabama defensive back Don McNeal was called for pass interference against Randy Sim- mrin in the end zone That gave USC a first down on the Alabama one and Cain scored on the very next play A USC on-side kick failed and Alabama ran out the clock. Alabama USC USC Ala USC Ala Ala USi 0 0 3 0 14 21 14-20 FG Joraan 32 Daxii 2 fun i Chaiman kit FG Jordan 23 Nathan I run (Chapman kk x. Nathan 13 run (Chapman Sweeney 10 from Hertel iTatupw Pdii trom Hijnei; Uti Cam 1 run tailed; A 63.140 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS Rushing Alaoama Nathan 12 76, DaviS 18 6), Sheatv 6 26 Southern Cat.

15-43, TatuOu 9 40 Fitrd 'j 22 Pay' iny Alabama Rutledge 2-4 0.1 yardi, Nathan 0 10. 0. Shealy O-O 0 Southern Cat, Hertel 18 30 2, 239 Retetving Alabama tkner 15 Nathan 13 Southern Cat, Simmrin 4-120, Sweeney 4 S3, Cath 2-14, Tatupu 2 15, Gay 2 14.