Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 11

Saturday. November It 1983 -Mld-IlllnoU Newipapers-B-3 Saints may be hottest team in NFL ByFREDMcMANE UPI Sporti Writer start in five weeks when the Broncos meet the Raiders. Elway replaces Steve DeBerg, who is out with a shoulder injury. Jim Plunkett, who came off the bench to rally the Raiders to victory over team, maybe the strongest in our division," says 49ers' Coach Bill Walsh. "I realize we beat them earlier, but In the last couple of weeks they are playing as well as any team In the league while we have been having some tough luck." The 49ers have lost their last two games, a 17-13 setback to the New York Jets and a JO-17 defeat to Miami.

San Francisco has been installed as a 4-polnt favorite, but the weather forecast la for rain and if the field at Candlestick Park is very muddy then the Saints would appear to have an advantage because of premier running back George Rogers. Rogers rushed for 137 yards against the Atlanta Falcons last weekend and has gained 678 yards on the ground this year.1 San Francisco, led by quarterback Joe Montana, leads the NFC In total offense while the Saints rank first In total defense. San Francisco has been averaging 37.3 points per game but has had trouble scoring at home. In five games at Candlestick, the 49ers are averaging only 15.6 points per game. The New Orleans-San Francisco tilt is one of five key divisional contests scheduled for Sunday.

The others include Pittsburgh at Baltimore, Miami at New England, Denver at the Los Angeles Raiders and Green Bay at Minnesota. Pittsburgh (8-2), which leads the AFC Central Division, will be seeking its seventh straight victory but will be facing a club that has won five of Its last seven to vault into contention in the AFC East Division. Baltimore (6-4) boasts the NFL's top rushing offense while the Steelers rank third. Miami (7-3) has a one-game lead in the AFC East over Baltimore and Buffalo and la riding a four-game winning streak. The fourth place Patriots (5-5) have won three of four and are only two games behind.

Miami beat New England 34-24 at the Orange Bowl on Sept. 11 but since then the Dolphins have switched quarterbacks. Rookie Dan Marino now directs the Dolphins' attack and has been Intercepted only once in his last 129 attempts. Another rookie quarterback, John Elway of Denver, will be making his first It's beginning to look as If folks In New Orleans may have something else to rave about besides good food and not music. The New Orleans Saints, once the doormats of the National Football League, are in serious contention for their first playoff berth initiatory and if they make tt, it will be Mardi Gras all over again on Bourbon Street The Saints can take a giant step closer toward a playoff spot Sunday if they can beat the San Francisco 49ers.

New Orleans, San Francisco and Los Angeles are currently locked in a three-way tie for first place In the NFC's Western Division and there will be only five games remaining after this weekend's activity This will be the second meeting of the season between the Saints and the 49ers. San Francisco won the first game, 32-13, on Oct 18 but the Saints have improved tremendously since then. "We look at the Saints as a very strong Kansas City last weekend, will start at quarterback In place of the Injured Marc Wilson. Denver (6-4) trails the Raiders by only one game in the AFC Western Division. The Packers (5-5) will be bidding for a share of the NFC Central lead against Minnesota (6-4).

Minnesota edged Green Bay 20-17 in overtime on Oct. 23 but has been slumping lately. Green Bay quarterback Lynn Dickey leads the NFL in touchdown passes (22), only two shy of the single season Packers' record held by Cecil Isbell. In other games Sunday, Seattle Is at St. Louis, Tampa Bay at Cleveland, Cincinnati at Kansas City, Detroit at Houston, Buffalo at the New York Jets, Dallas at San Diego, Philadelphia at Chicago and Washington at the New York Giants.

The Los Angeles Rams will visit Atlanta on Monday night. Miami needs win to cinch Orange Bowl By DAVE RAFFO UPI Sporti Writer hosts Kansas, No. 2 Texas hosts Texas Christian, No. 6 Illinois hosts Indiana, No. 7 Southern Methodist hosts Texas Tech, No.

8 Michigan visits Minnesota, No. 9 Iowa visits Michigan State, No. 10 Brlgham Young hosts Colorado State, No. 11 Ohio State hosts Northwestern, No. 12 Boston College visits Syracuse, No.

13 Florida hosts Kentucky, No. 14 Pittsburgh hosts Army, No. 15 West Virginia hosts Rutgers, No. 16 Alabama hosts Southern Mississippi, No. 17 Maryland 1 i ftT hi At.

I Florida State has gone in the opposite direction. The Seminoles were ranked seventh In pre-season, fell to 13th after losing Its opener to East Carolina and dropped out fo the ratings for good after losing its third game to Tulane. Florida State, 6-3, now has a chance to regain a rating and possibly go to a bowl with a win Saturday. The game matches Miami's defense, second best in the nation, against FSU's fourth-ranked offense. Miami has given up but 9.0 points per game while the Seminoles have averaged 35.9 points.

Bowden Isn't overlooking Miami quarterback Bernle Kosar, however. The freshman has completed 62 percent of his passes while helping the Hurricanes average 26.5 points per game. FSU has surrendered an Identical 26.5 points per game. "If we don't beat Kosar this year, when are we going to beat Florida State Coach Bowden asked, noting that the redshlrt freshman has three collegiate seasons ahead of him. "He's going to get better and better." In another classic matchup, No.

3 Auburn visits No. 4 Georgia with a Sugar Bowl berth at stake. Both teams are unbeaten In Southeast Conference play, with the Bulldogs, 8-0-1, looking for their third straight league title and Auburn, 8-1, trying to win the SEC for the first time since 1957. "This is what we play for," Auburn Coach Pat Dye said. "This Is what college football is all about." The Auburn-Gerogia pits the two best running attacks and the two best defenses against the rush In the SEC.

Auburn, featuring tailbacks Bo Jackson and Lionel James and fullback Tommie Agee, lead in rushing out of the wishbone at 291 yards per game. Georgia, with no single offensive star, is second In rushing with 249 yards per game and leads the conference In rushing defense. In other Top 20, games, No. 1 Nebraska Fourteen down and five to go for the Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes in their Improbable bid for a national championship. Miami, ranked 19th in pre-season and not at all after losing its first game, has ascended to No.

5 after nine straight wins. The Hurricanes can probably wrap up a shot against No. 1 Nebraska in the Orange Bowl If they get by Florida State Saturday night. An Orange Bowl victory, in addition to at least one other upset on Jan. 2, could vault the Hurricanes to the top.

"This football team has passed some very good horses with four great football teams ahead of them," Miami Coach Howard Schnellenberger said. "But we have the running room. It will be a sprint to the finish line and we have an opportunity to get to the wire first." vibiis isiciiiBun, iio. io iiurin Carolina visits Virginia, No. 19 Tennessee hosts Mississippi and No.

20 Washington hosts Southern California. Also, unranked UCLA visits Arizona In hopes of keeping Its lead in the Paclflc-10. UCLA is 54-1 in league play, with Washington right behind at 4-1. With Illinois the only unbeaten Big Ten team, the Rose Bowl pairing could be practically settled if Illinois and UCLA win Saturday and USC knocks off Washington. Crucial prep playoff games Saturday Class 2A game, but defen-dlng champion Bloomlngton and Coach John Mclntrye are not awed.

"Dwight is probably the biggest team a team of mine has ever faced," said Mclntyre. "I did not start my quarterback, Dough Moews, against Villa Grove last Wednesday because he was still hurting. But still, he tossed two passes for touchdowns." Concord Trlopla and Monmouth Yorkwood are In a key game in Class 3A, unbeaten Dupo plays Plttsfleld. In Class 1A, top-ranked and unbeaten Walnut hosts Mount Carroll. Top-ranked Class 3A power Addison Drlscoll will face once-beaten Mahomet Seymour.

In what could be the top Class 5A game, second-ranked Glenbard West battles upstart Belvidere. Dwight is expected to prevail over Bloomlngton Central Catholic In a tough getting upset common happenings in the IHSA playoffs. East St. Louis, the top-ranked team in Class 6A In the final poll by the UPI Board of Coaches, faces Romeovllle and Is expected to win by at least two touchdowns. Top-ranked Jollet Catholic travels to Peoria to play Rlchwoods in a Class 5A matchup.

Unbeaten Jerseyville, the No. 1 team In Class 4A, plays once-beaten Washington. CHICAGO (UPI) -Unbeaten powers Concord Trlopla and Monmouth Yorkwood In Class 1A and Ottawa Marquette and Marian Central of Woodstock in Class 2A will highlight quarterfinal matchups Saturday in the Illinois State High School Association football championships. With 48 teams remaining in the six classes of competition, most coaches voiced apprehension about either looking ahead ok Bob Trumpy saves woman CINCINNATI (UPI) Police and a sukJde-pretention counselor pralaed former Cincinnati Bengal tight eod Bob Trumpy for hit efforts in talking a woman who called hli radio talk thow out of killing herself. Trumpy, now a sports broadcaster for WLW radio In Cincinnati and an NFL commentator for NBC, spent 1 Vt hours on the air Thursday trying to convince the woman, who Identified herself as to provide her phone number or address.

The woman's U-yearold son finally provided the address at about 1:30 p.m. and police rushed to the woman's home in suburban Forest Park. "He (Trumpy) did a very, very good Job to keep the line open. He did a top-notch job for someone not trained in this," said Forest Park Police Captain Stephen Vollmar. "In a spontaneous situation like this, your feelings of concern have to be genuine." Connie Prick, a counselor with the city's Crisis and Suicide Intervention service, said Trumpy did an excellent Job as an impromptu counselor.

Trumpy was not available for comment Friday. Sale of Indians denied CLEVELAND (UPI) A report that the Cleveland Indians have been sold to New York developer Donald Trump was denied Friday by a spokesman from Trump and Indiana President GabePaul. WKYC Television of Cleveland said In a copyright report Thursday that It had learned from three separate sources that Trump had signed an agreement to purchase the American League franchise, subject to league approval. John Barron, a spokesman for Trump, said Trump "has not bought the Indians and will probably not buy the Indians. Mr.

Trump was interested but has not purchased the Indians." In New York for a league meeting, Paul said, "There has not been any sale of the club. There are a number of people who are interested." Trump has vast real-estate holdings in New York and also owns the New Jersey Generals of theU.S. Football League. The O'Neill Foundation, a charity set up by the late F.J. "Steve" O'Neill, owns 60 percent of the Indians.

Indians Chairman Pat O'Neill, nephew of the late owner, said following his uncle's death In August that a "sincere" effort would be made to sell the franchise to local investors. WKYC said sources said Paul will resign effective next month but will stay on as a consultant It also reported that the sale price could go as high as $34 million. The station said Gov. Richard F. Celeste, who has been active in trying to keep the Indians in Cleveland, met with Trump and was told part of the deal would involve Trump becoming a developer in Cleveland so he would have a base of operations other than the ballclub.

USFL team after Campbell HOUSTON (UPI) Houston Oilers running back Earl Campbell will be offered a lucrative contract to Join the San Antonio Gunslingers of the United States Football League in 1986, a Gunslingers executive says. However, an agent who says be represents Campbell reportedly has not met to discuss it with the running back. News of the Gunslingers' interest follows Campbell's adamant, public demands this week that he wants the last-place Oilers to trade him. The contract the Gunslingers are talking about reportedly would pay the Helsman Trophy winner and three-time National Football League rushing leader $2.5 million over three years starting after be would play out his Oilers contract in 1985. Bears president named LAKE FOREST, ILL.

(UPI) Michael McCaskey, grandson of the late George "Papa Bear" Halas, Friday was formally named as the president and chief operating officer of the Chicago Bears, the team his grandfather founded. McCaskey, 39, a former Peace Corps volunteer and split end at Yale University, said he planned few Immediate changes In the operation of the club that be had no reason to make any personnel changes, including any move with Coach Mike Dltka. At the sme time, McCaskey's father Edward, appointed toe team's chairman of the board by his wife, Mrs. Virginia Halas McCaskey. Mrs.

McCaskey is the only living child of Halas, who died Oct 31 after a long illness. Wilson apologizes KANSAS CITY, Mo. (UPI) Former American League batting champion Willie Wilson today apologized to the people of Kansas City for his association with cocaine and Royals owner Ewlng Kauffman accepted that apology In the form of a promise to help his star center-fielder develop a drug program in the Wilson, a two-time All-Star facing up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine next week, was one of four Royals who pleaded guilty last month to a federal misdemeanor following an extensive cocaine trafficking investigation. Wilson and the other players Willie Aikens, Vlda Blue and Jerry Martin are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Milton SuDivant next Thursday.

Wilson, Aikens and Martin pleaded guilty in the federal court to attempting to possess cocaine while Blue pleaded guilty to possessing three grams of cocaine. "I'm sorry for my family, the Royals, my teammates and fans especially the young fans," Wilson said. "If I would have known now one person could affect so many other people I never would have done it." Stanford fires Wiggin STANFORD, Calif. (UPI) Paul Wiggin, the good guy coach who won everyone's affection but not enough football games, was fired by Stanford Friday but will handle the team for Its final two games of the season. Officially, Wiggin resigned from the Job be has held for four seasons, but he said as far as he was concerned, Stanford fired him.

Athetotic Director Andy Geiger confirmed under prodding that be fired Wiggin. Stanford won only one game of the eight it has played this season, and obviously that was the reason why Geiger decided a chance bad to be made. two of the state's stingiest teams. Trlopla has given up only two touchdowns in 10 games. Coach Don Kemp said his team "is going to run right at Monmouth Yorkwood and let them try and stop us.

"We know Yorkwood hs size and speed, but we feel we have an outstanding running attack and a great quarterback In Troy Easley." Yorkwood Coach Steve Graves said his Golden Bears "have an excellent defense and since we play ball control, Trlopla is going to have to stop us. We've only given up one touchdown all season, and that was on a kickoff return." Peoria Rlchwoods has a monmunmentai task In hosting powerful Jollet Catholic. "I think we have been improving each week, and with victories over East Mollne and Galesburg, know what tough competition is," Rlchwoods Coach Tom Peeler said. "We are a physical team', too, but hope our quarterback, Greg Peeler (the coach's son) can do the Job with his sprint-out and play action passing." Plttsfleld is coming on strong after losing Its starting quarterback, Adam Petty, in the final game of the regular season against Qulncy Notre Dame. Penn State takes on Notre Dame omore Allen Pinkett ranks seventh In the nation with 980 yards and can become the Irish's third rusher.

Penn State's D.J. Dozier needs 102 yards to become the first freshman to rush or 1,000 In the university's history. He will be running against a Notre Dame defense that ranks third In the nation in total defense. "They're a very strong, very aggressive defensive football team," Paterno said. "Certainly, they are one of the better defensive teams we've played against." Saturday will mark the final home game In the career of Penn State's seniors.

Several, such as wide receivers Kenny Jackson and Kevin Baugh, fullback Jon Williams, tackle Greg Gattuso, linebacker Scott Radeclc and strong safety Harry Hamilton, played an Integral part in the Nittany Lions' first national championship last year. "Some of them have produced some of the greatest wins we've ever had at Beaver Stadium," Paterno said. "All of us, the coaches and the rest of the squad, really would like to do It up right this week and have them leave with another great win under their belts. "It'll be tough because Notre Dame Is a fine football team. But we will give It our best soot." UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.

(UPI) Gerry Faust isn't fooled when people tell him this is a down year for Penn State. "Don't let anyone fool you into thinking Penn State doesn't have a very good football team," said Faust, who will lead Notre Dame into Beaver Stadium Saturday for Its annual matchup against the Nittany Lions. "It's never easy to defend a national title and they had a tough September, but any team that can handle Alabama and West Virginia the way Penn State did obviously has a lot on the ball. They were very explosive last year and they're starting to play that way again this year." It's the big play that has marked Penn State's otherwise inconsistent season on offense, and that concerns Faust. The Nittany Lions, 6-4, ripped off touchdown runs of 61, 55 and 44 yards last week in their 38-21 win over Brown.

"The key to beating Penn State is not giving up the big plays," the Notre Dame coach said. "We also have to eliminate turnovers and we have to get good field position. Every game we've won or lost this year has been based on those three factors." The Fighting Irish, 6-3, suffered four Interceptions in last weekend's 21-16 loss to Pitt. Freshman Steve Beuerlein was nicked for three interceptions before being relieved by senior Blair Kiel, but Faust says Beuerlein will start Saturday It would appear that the Nittany Lions would need the win more than the Irish to impress the few bowls that still have an interest in them. The Lions need to defeat Notre Dame and Pitt to finish 8-4, which would be good enough for their 13th consecutive bowl bid.

The Fighting Irish, even with a loss Saturday, can end their season 7-4 with a win next week against Air Force. The Fiesta Bowl, which has expressed interest In Notre Dame, will have two scouts present to watch the game. Penn State coach Joe Paterno, however, insists that bowls are the farthest thing from his mind. "This team has a legitimate chance to win its next two football games," he said. "If we do that or even win one, I think we'll finish with a fine season.

We've played a tough schedule and staggered early but since then, we've played pretty gxd football." The game could turn Into a rushing duel between two rising young tailbacks. Notre Dame soph $1349.00 Three- TGniuiircciSoif Torquey, 4-stoke, SOHC single Breakerless Capacitor Discharge Ignition Recoil starting with automatic decompression Fully enclosed ring chain rarely needs adjusting MODELS IN STOCK 60-225cc ALSO, SEE US FOR: YAMAHA MOTORCYCLES RIVA SCOOTERS PARTS AND ACCESSORIES COMPLETE SERVICE WALGREENS LIQUOR Cross County Mall. 1 "ifCfljPT 'Open 9-9 I Mattoon, II. IgggVj Sunday 12-5 KILLER BEER OLD MILWAUKEE I WBDMH 12.Csns pH 12 Pah Cans mtm '149 Salt yg-JiW tj Salt i2, fag ii JIM BEAM PEPPECKT lj 'W VOCKA A bobtDoi fi SOPPS Ml" 55 fuiiirtre A ARROW BSASD 6a Classic Chi -a St Ar Jw A -Sain 7 1S3 sr Hlini game: sold but EVANSTON, 111. (UPI) For the first time in nine years, the Northwestern Wildcats will have a full house for one of their football games at Dycbe Stadium, a Wildcat spokesman said Friday.

A total of 49,256 have 1 for Northwestern's Nov. 19 matchup against Big Ten powerhouse Illinois, the spokesman said. The last time the Wildcats bad a full house was on Sept. 21, 1974, when Northwestern hosted Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish won that contest 49-3, the jmnkMinansaid.

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