Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 14

1 In This Section flctroit Jfrcc SECTI0N Sports on Television Page 3 Sports Tni The Inside of Sports Page 6 r-j Outdoors with Opre Page 8 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1975 L) WE WANT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP NOW 9 2d "Tf Mar reaks uason Win So BY JACK SAYLOR Pratt Iporfi Writer GRAND RAPIDS Move over, Jack Armstrong make room for the REAL Hudson High and 41 Ail-American boys. The little school with the big football team did it again here Saturday. Coach Tom Saylor's fighting Tigers pushed over 24 first-half points, then bit their nails the rest of the way before nailing leged Hackett charges of a weak Hudson schedule. But Irish coach Dick Soisson denied it. "We knew they were good all along," the veteran coach said.

"Give all the credit to Hudson. We Just made too many mistakes we gave them 16 points. We gave them good field position too much of the time. "They're a well-balanced team and whoever won the other playoff game is in for a heckuva battle next week." THE TONE FOR the game was set on the first play from scrimmage as Hackett's Frank Kent fumbled and John Barrett recovered for Hudson at the Irish 33. Greg Gutierriz barged over from the one shortly after and before upset-minded Hackett could say zing went the string, the Irish went crunch in a bunch.

Gutierriz scored again, going 13 yards behind Terry Camp's block to cap a 70-yard drive in the second period. Mark Luma made good the two-point conversion each time. Please turn to Page 5E, Col. down a 24-14 victory over Kalamazoo Hackett in a semifinal Class state football playoff game. The historic victory was an incredible 72nd In a row for the Tigers, breaking the tie for the national record previously shared with Jefferson City, and as did Jack Armstrong's mythical radio preps, "show 'em where we stand." Coincidentally, the triumph shoved Hudson Into the Class championship game next week against Ishpeming, which beat Portland, 32-6.

It also triggered a wild celebration as the joyful schoolboys made their way to their lockerroom amidst an overflow crowd of 11,000 at Houseman Field. COACH SAYLOR planted a kiss on his wife, then one after another he and his players took victory rides on an abundance of Hudson shoulders amid the Inevitable shouts: "We're No. 1." "Fantastic," grinned the remarkably calm Saylor after the emotionally charged game was history. "We want to win the state championship now, and, no, there was nothing personal involved in beating Hackett we just wanted to be the first one in the history of the U.S. to win 72 games in a row." Pregame hoopla had created a grudge atmosphere over al Semifinal Kesulls Class A Livonia Franklin 12, Southwestern 9.

Traverse City 35, Kalamazoo Central 9- Class Divine Child 20, Sturgls 3. Sagfnaw MacArthur 44, Flint Alnsworth 38. Class Hudson 24, Kalamazoo Hackett 14. Ispheming 32, Portland 6. Class I) Forest Park Crystal Fall 67, Posen 0.

Flint Holy Rosary 33, North Adams 14. 5 Outcome's the Same In Buckey Country Game Details on Page 5-E GORDON BELL KINGS UP 2 TDs WW ins, 21-15 Bring On Bucks! wiw tf BY CURT SYLVESTER. Frit Frtsl Spoilt Wrltfr CHAMPAIGN, III Michigan set the stage for its Big Ten title game and, in the process, increased its bowl appeal with a ragged 21-15 victory over Illinois Saturday. But if the game before 45,077 fans in Memorial Stadium was any kind of indication, the Wolverines have a whole lot of work to do before they meet Ohio State next Saturday. In one of their shoddier performances of the season, they fumbled the football six times, lost it four and barely stood off a founh-quarter Il'irois rally to save the game.

But when the bowl selectors examine the records Monday morning, they will show U-M a perfect 7-0 in the Big Ten and a slightly blemished 8-0-2 for the season. The Wolverines got more COLUMBUS It's truly amazing. The Ohio State football team does the same thirg Saturday after Saturday season after season So what if all the games look alike? So what if every performance is like every other one? So what if the whole thing seems like a taped replay of everything that has ver happened fai the big horseshoe stadium? Tho folks here wouldn't have it any other way. They don't reed any frills. They don't need anything fancy.

Just give them the thing they want the most another victory and they can return to their homes secure in the knowledge that all is well with their beloved Buckeyes. They don't care how the Buckeyes get there Woody Hayes could run his fulback 82 straight times only that they get (here. With their 38-6 victory over Minnesota Saturday, the Buckeyes have won 24 straight games at home. Even more impressive is the fact they've sold out for 44 straight games at home. The last time there was an empty seat around here was back in the 1968 season.

You ought to try to et a ticket to one of these games. The moment you step out of your hotel room there are guys standing in the hallway asking: "Got any tickets for today?" It's worse down in the lobby. You literally have to push your way through the mobs of people looking for tickets. I even found myself clutching the working press ticket In my pocket. It's th same on the way to the stadium.

They're standing In the streets some of them dodging traffic out in the middle of the streets nd they're in the parking lots and jammed all eround the gates. They look longingly at those headed inside and they hold up one finger or two fingers, hoping somebody, somehow, has tickets they're not using. Clean as a Surgeon's Knife Watching Woody Hayes teams perform may be like watching the same movie over and over. You know exactly how it's going to come out but no one cares. The ending is always satisfying to these fans.

What is curious is that for the most part they sit here dispassionately as if they are witnessing surgery. They'll jump out of their seats if Archie Griffin breaks one off or if Cornelius Greene slips away on one of his keepers. than they wanted from the II- lini, now 3-4 in the SJ5 MSURuns and 4-6 overall, in that I minutes of the game, however. however. THANKS TO THE generos- llH OVP1 If it I 'i ft 11 lit v.

nil' 1 I Tf I But the whole place seems like a giant operating room. Forceps, please. Clamps. Sutures. All that's missing is the blood and sometimes that's not even missing.

You look at the artificial turf and it's worn white straight up the middle of the field That tells you where Ohio State does most of its playing. Almost everything seems to go between the tackles or at least the hash marks. But, again, nobody cares. These people put on their Scarlet and Grey Jackets, their Scarlet and Grey hats, their Scarlet and Grey galoshes and have one rousing time for themselves. This, of course, explains how it Is In Ann Arbor since that is where Bo Schembechler learned much of his football.

He saw how The Fat Man did it, and now he's doing it the same way. The interesting thing is what happens when these two teams these two identical philosophies come together in the climatic game, as they will again next Saturday. ity in turning over the football, the Illini were able to control the game during most of the fourth quarter, and sophomore Kurt Steger made the most of it to whittle a 21-0 U-M lead down to the final six-point deficit before time ran out. Tailback Gordon Bell, who scored two first-quarter touchdowns for the Wolverines before the fumblitis set in had one of his customary games, going over 140 yards in more than 30 opportunities to carry the football. And the defense, despite giving up the two late TDs, was again instrumental In the victory.

Wolfman Don Dufek set up a touchdown with a fumble recovery, defensive end Dan Ji-lek came up with an interception, and safety Dwight Hicks had two interceptions, including the one that set up the winning TD. THE WOLVERINES won the coin flip but, instead of electing to receive, they decided to kick with the wind and the strategy paid off. They kept the Illini deep in their own territory, produced a couple of short scoring drives and then Just played out the error-filled first half with a 14-0 lead. Illinois made the first mistake when fullback Steve Greene fumbled on his own 30-yard line and wolfman Don Dufek recovered it. A 13-yard gain and an elght-yarder by tailback Gordon Bell helped U-M move the ball to the two-yard line and, on the sixth play of the drive, Bell sailed into the end zone point kick went wide and the Wolverines led, 6-0.

The Illini couldn't get going the next time they got the ball either and, after a short punt into the stiff wind, the Wolverines began moving from the Illinois 48. THIS TIME It took 12 plays NW, 47-14 BY CHARLIE VINCENT fm fni prt Wrlttr EAST LANSING It didn't change a thing in the grand scheme of things around the Big Ten. But Michigan State's Spartans looked for all the world like champions Saturday, hammering Northwestern into submission, 47-14. Michigan State for the first time this season played the full 60 minutes without losing a single fumble or interception. And it was no coincidence that the Spartans also put more points on the scoreboard than they have on any previous Saturday after noon this fall.

They established a school record with 26 first downs by rushing; Charlie Baggett re-established himself as a more than-adequate quarterback; and when It was all over, the MSU fans left without ft conference championship or a bowl trip to look forward to celebrated the win over lowly Northwestern by ripping down the goal post In the south end zone. Baggett started and was not replaced until Marshall Law-son came in with the Spartans ahead, 34-14, and only 6:45 left in the game. Baggett, who was benched In favor of Lawson at halfrJma of last weekend's 14-6 win over Indiana, passed for two touch downs and finished the day with 241 yards total offense 120 rushing and 121 passing. "I READ where my career was in jeopardy after lasfl week," Baggett said, savoring Saturday's victory. "I think that was a false statement.

All quarterbacks get set down sometime." But he said he wasn't thinking about that on Saturday. "The only thing that In- Please turn to Page 2E, Col. 4 Archie Griffin Ia their six years against each other, Woody and Bo have played It almost to a standstill. Ohio State holds a 3-2-1 edge but the points are almost entirely even, 75 for the Buckeyes and 74 lor the Wolverines. Examine the most recent scores and you'll understand how close these teams play it, how very much alike they are in their approach to the game.

Last year it was Ohio State 12, Michigan 10. It was 10-10 the year before and 14-11 for Ohio State in 1972. In 1971 it was Michigan 10, Ohio State 7. AP Photo Michigan tailback Gordon Hell dives across goal for first TD against Illinois GOPHERS I0TI1 VICTIM Buckeyes Clinch a Bowl, 38-6 with Bell, Rob Lytle and Rick Leach taking turns running the ball to come up with the TD. Again It was Please turn to Page 2E, Col.

4 Bucks Do Little Things Well And so this is what you can expect Saturday In Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes are trained exactly like the Wolverines. They are trained not to make any mistakes. My feeling in watching the Buckeyes slowly take Minnesota apart is that they are a very sound team but not as good or as powerful as some of the past Ohio State teams. The best, in my opinion, was the 1968 aggregation of Rex Kern, Jim Otis, Leo Hayden and Larry Zelina.

That was the team which could slicker you as well as slaughter you. These Buckeyes are very sound. They do everything well. They have a balanced attack and anytime Griffin touches the ball you find yourself coming out of your seat. And, against the Gopphers, Greene opened It up with some passing in case he has to us It against Michigan.

You suspect they'd rather stay en the ground, where It's safer. The Bucks are also well-rounded on defense. In recent years, they've shown some weaknesses in their secondary but those no longer seem to exist. Most of all, they do all the little things well, such as like watching Michigan play. So what is the hope of the Wolverines to pull off an upset? Pretty good, I think.

For all of their experience and for all of their ability, the Buckeyes do not seem like an overwhelming team. In other words, they don't punish you the way they've been able to do In the past. If anything, they seem to rely a little more on finese the spectacular rather than oldtlme power. If their stuff is working, they could run right by the Wolverines. But if they have any trouble with their razzle-dazzle, they could be beaten.

A prediction? Let's try Michigan 17, Ohio State 14, with the edge going to the home-field advantage. Remember, Woody has never beaten Bo in Ann Arbor. But Mr. S. is going to have to open it up some, Instead of sitting around waiting for things to happen.

Got it, Mr. 1.7 BY JOE FALLS Fit Prti Jportj editor COLUMBUS The old rascal. Wayne Woodrow Hayes, kept it as simple as he could Saturday as his Ohio State Buc keyes went through their final warmup for the big game against Michigan. The Buckeyes battered poor Minnesota, 38-6, with a rudimentary attack in which Archie Griffin got his 100 yards again on the ground and quarterback Cornelius Greene romped for a pair of touchdowns on runs of 14 and 31 yards. Ohio State's runaway victory clinched a trip to either the Rosa Bowl or Orange Bowl.

The unbeaten Buckeyes (10-0) will play the Wolverines at Ann Arbor next Saturday and, for the eighth straight season, the Rose Bowl will be at stake. The loser will go to the Orange Bowl. But foxy old Woody gave no hint no tips on what he might do next Saturday. If he has any tricks, they're still up his sleeve. "He didn't show me anything I didn't expect," said Michigan scout Joe Hughes, who watched the game from the press box.

"I thought Greene passed a little better, in fact, his passing seems to have improved quite a bit this season." GREENE TRIED 14 PASSES and completed seven for 131 yards. But all of his tosses were of the "safe" variety, long pitches down the field, so thai if they were intercepted which none of them were it would have had the same effect as a punt. That's how close to the vest the Bucks played it. Actually, Minnesota gave it as good a try as possible. The Please turn to Page 4E, Col.

7 How Top 20 Fared Here's how the Top Twenty teams In the Associated Press poll fared this weekend: 1 Ohio State (10-0-0) creamed Minnesota, 88-6. 2 Nebraska (104-0) destroyed Iowa State, 52 0. J-Texas A-M (9-0-0) feasted on Rice, 38-14. 4- Michlgan (8-0-2) stopped Illinois, 21-15. 5 Alabama (9-1-0) tripped Southern Mississippi, 27-1.

8 Oklahoma (9-1-0) scraped past Missouri, 28-27. 7 Texas (9-1-0) blitzed Texas Christian, 27-11. 8 Arizona State (94-0) vs. Pacific, night. 9 Notre Dame (7-3-0) was stunned by Pittsburgh, 34-20.

10 Colorado (8-2-0) nipped Kansas, 24-21. Penn State (8-2-0) did not play. 12 Arizona (7-1-0) at Colorado State, incomplete. 13 So. California (7-2-0) at Washington, Incomplete.

14 Florida (8-2-0) stomped Kentucky, 48-7. 13 California (6-3-0) at Air Force, incomplete. Ift-MiamI, O. (0-1-0) ripped Kent State, 27-8. 17 Kansas (6-3-0) Inst to Colorado, 24-21.

18 Missouri (6-4-0) was stopped by Oklahoma, 28-27. 19 UCLA (6-2-1) vs. Oregon State, incomplete. 20 Georgia (8-2-0) clipped Auburn, 28-11 Mlchlqm 14 MhnCHi 0 IS tl MICH-BUI run (kick (ailed). MICH Bell 1 run (Lytic run).

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