Banner Graphic, Volume 22, Number 102, Greencastle, Putnam County, 2 January 1992 — Page 8

THE BANNERGRAPHIC January 2,1992

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Miami national champion by four votes

By RICK WARNER AP Football Writer Miami won its fourth national championship in nine seasons today, edging Washington by four points in the closest final vote in the 56-year history of The Associated Press poll. The Hurricanes and the Huskies both finished 12-0 after impressive bowl victories on Wednesday, the first time r " i the 1973 season that two major teams have gone undefeated and untied. WASHINGTON, WHICH trailed Miami by 14 points going into the bowls, almost overcame the deficit after demolishing Michigan in the Rose Bowl 34-14. But Miami, which blanked Nebraska 22-0 in the Orange Bowl, barely held on to win the balloting by a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters. “It’s great for the program,” Miami coach Dennis Erickson said. “This football team deserves to be

Notre Dame crushes Florida in second half

By BARRY WILNER AP Sports Writer Even before it fell apart in the Sugar Bowl, the Florida Gators knew they weren’t headed for a national championship. With Washington routing Michigan 34-14 in the Rose Bowl, then Miami blanking Nebraska 22-0 in the Orange Bowl, the two teams ahead of Florida did not cooperate. So the SEC-champion Gators had lost their title aspirations by the time Jerome Bettis scored three touchdowns for a 39-28 victory by Notre Dame. “THIS IS PROBABLY the worst defeat I’ve had since I’ve been playing football,” Florida quarterback Shane Matthews said. “I still think that we’re a better team than they are, but we didn’t show it, and they beat us.” Matthews threw for 370 yards, but the Gators got just two TDs. And their defense couldn’t handle Bettis, who scored his TDs in a span of 2:44 late in the game. “My job is to get it into the end zone,” Matthews said. “We had to settle for field goals, and you can’t win doing that.” i Arden Czyzkewski set a Sugar Bowl record for ipost field goals in a game, going 5-for-5. i “WE LOST, AND it’s tough to deal with,” CzyzKewski said. “If I’d missed five field goals in a game and we won and we didn’t win, so it’s hard.” Willie Jackson also had a career night with eight catches for 148 yards and a touchdown. “It’s going to be hard to know you’re going to be remembered for a game like this rather for winning 10 games in a season, something no other Florida team has ever done,” he said. In other games Wednesday, it was Florida St. 10, Texas A&M 2 in the Cotton Bowl; Penn St. 42, Tennessee 17 in the Fiesta Bowl; East Carolina 37, North Carolina State 34 in the Peach Bowl; California 37, Clemson 13 in the Citrus Bowl; and Syracuse 24, Ohio St. 17 in the Hall of Fame Bowl. Cotton Florida St. 10, Texas A&M 2 At Dallas, in one of the ugliest of postseason games, the teams produced a record-tying 13 turnovers. The Aggies lost eight of them and got their only points on a rainy day when Casey Weldon was sacked in the end zone by linebacker Quentin Coryatt for a safety. But Weldon also scored his first touchdown since 1988 by faking a draw and running around right end untouched from the 4. He also was intercepted four times, but the Seminoles’ defense, ranked 10th in the nation, recovered six fumbles. “The defense and offensive line carried me today and I almost broke their backs,” Weldon said. “But it was a great win. It won’t make up for having that championship ring on our finger.” Florida State (11-2) missed two field goals, but Gerry Thomas hit a 27-yardcr with 2:40 left. Texas A&M (10-2) lost a fumble at the 1, had a pass intercepted and another dropped in the end zone, and had a field goal wiped out by a penalty. Fiesta Penn St 42, Tennessee 17 At Tempe, Ariz., Penn State’s 28-point outburst in a 3:59 stretch of the second half turned the game around. The Nittany Lions (11-2) didn’t have to drive more than 35 yards for any of the four scores. Tony Sacca threw four touchdown passes, while OJ. McDuffie’s 39-yard punt return and linebacker Tyoka Jackson’s sack and fumble recovery sparked the scoring spree against the Volunteers (9-3). “Everybody was in disbelief on the sideline, with the crowd behind us, it was absolute mayhem,” Sacca

Irish defense won with heart

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Linebacker Demetrius Dußose insisted all week that Notre Dame’s defense had taken enough abuse. “People said that we didn’t have a chance and we proved them wrong tonight,” Dußose said Wednesday night after the Irish parlayed a bend-but-don’t-break defense with three touchdowns by Jerome Bettis into a 39-28 Sugar Bowl victory over Florida on Wednesday night. “WE PLAYED OUR hearts out,” Dußose said. “We finally found the unity we’ve been searching for all year long.” So concerned was coach Lou Holtz about his defense, he spent most of the bowl preparation serv-

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DENNIS ERICKSON Second national title

No. 1.” The USA Today-CNN coaches poll will crown its champion later today (Thursday). Miami and Washington were tied for first in

said. “If you were watching the game at home and had gone to the bathroom you would have missed the game.” Sacca threw TD passes of 3 yards to Chip Laßarca and 13 yards to Kyle Brady, Richie Anderson scored on a 2-yard dive, and Reggie Givens picked Andy Kelly’s fumble out of the air and returned it 23 yards for a score - Peach E. Carolina 37, N.C. State 34 At Atlanta, East Carolina staged a thrilling comeback with three TDs in less than six minutes. Jeff Blake, who threw for 378 yards and four touchdowns, ran for a score and passed for two in the fourth quarter. His 22-yard pass to Luke Fisher with 1:32 to play won it. Fisher had 12 catches for 144 yards and AllAmerica linebacker Robert Jones had 16 tackles, a blocked extra point, a fumble recovery and an interception. “Everyone knew what they had to do deep down,” said Blake, who during the season won three other games with fourth-quarter heroics. “N.C. State didn’t put that much pressure on me and I had time to throw.” The Pirates (11-1) ended their best season with an 11-game winning streak after an opening 38-31 loss to Illinois. The Wolfpack (9-3) had a chance to tie, but Damon Hartman’s 49-yard field goal attempt went wide on the final play of the game. “This was the biggest game any of us has ever had the opportunity to be a part of for players or coaches, and I mean that,” Pirates coach Bill Lewis said. “It’s the most fun I’ve ever had.” Citrus California 37, Clemson 13 At Orlando, Fla., a 17-point first quarter sent California on its way to the rout and its first 10-win season since 1949. Clemson had won its last five bowl games. The Golden Bears (10-2) went 76 yards for a touchdown on their first drive and kept rolling as they won a New Year’s Day game for the first time since 1938. Brian Treggs had a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown as part of his 108 yards in punt runbacks in the first period. Doug Brien kicked three field goals. Mike Pawlawski, named most valuable player in the game, completed 21 of 32 passes for 230 yards for California and Russell White ran for 103 yards, about twice what Clemson’s top-ranked run defense had allowed per game. “We had a little more incentive,” Cal nose guard Mack Travis said. “I think we showed the nation that West Coast football can win games and that we can play with the best of them.” Hall of Fame Syracuse 24, Ohio St 17 At Tampa, Fla., Syracuse used the long pass to stun the Buckeyes. Marvin Graves threw for touchdowns of 50 and 60 yards and hit Qadry Ismail with a 57-yarder that set up a field goal. Shelby Hill had the 50-yard score, then Antonio Johnson streaked behind the defense to grab the 60yarder with 7:05 remaining to break a 17-17 tie. Graves, who also had a 3-yard TD run, threw for a career-high 309 yards. “We had to score ... and we had to score quick,” Graves said of the wining TD. “That was the way to do it” Syracuse (10-2) concluded the season with a sixgame winning streak, while Ohio State (8-4) finished with consecutive losses. The Buckeyes had tied the game when Steve Tovar blocked Pat O’Neill’s punt at the Syracuse 15 and Tito Paul recovered in the end zone.

ing as the defensive coordinator after Gary Darnell left to join the staff at Texas. Florida did put together 511 yards of offense, but the key was forcing the Gators to settle for field goals. after first downs at Notre Dame’s 9,13, 15 and 12-yard lines. AFTER ARDEN Czyzewski’s bowl-record fifth field goal, a 24yarder with 11:21 to play, gave Florida a 22-17 lead with 11:21 remaining, Bettis took charge. The 247-pound sophomore, who finished with 150 yards on 16 carries and won the game’s Most Valuable Player award, gave the Irish (10-3) the lead on a 3-yard run with 4:48 to play. When Florida (10-2) gambled

that survey prior to the bowls. THE HURRICANES outpointed the Huskies 1,472-1,468 in the AP poll, including a narrow 3228 advantage in first-place votes. It was such a close call that eight voters made Miami and Washington co-champs, giving each school half of a first-place vote. Teams get 25 points for a firstplace vote, 24 for second and so on, down to one point for 25th place. Previously, the closest final margin was Alabama’s 16-point win over Ohio State in 1961, when the national championship was determined before the bowls. Since the AP started its permanent postseason poll in 1968, the smallest final margin had been 20 points, when BYU edged Washington in 1984. THE HUSKIES CAME up just short again this year despite posting their first perfect record in 76 years. “I’m not surprised because Miami was ahead in the last

and failed on a fourth-and-10 at midfield, Bettis raced 49 yards with 3:32 left and capped the night on a 39-yard run with 2:04 remaining after the Gators had scored on Matthews’ 36-yard pass to Harrison Houston. Rick Mirer provided most of the Irish offense before Bettis went to work. Mirer threw scoring passes of 40 yards to Lake Dawson and 4 yards to Irv Smith. The other Irish score came on the first field goal attempt of junior Kevin Pendergast’s career, a 23yarder that started the second-half rally from a 16-7 deficit. Pendergast took over the kicking chores when Craig Hentrich reinjured the right knee.

(writers) poll,” Washington coach Don James said. “Hopefully, we’ll do better in the coaches poll.” Miami, which also won national titles in 1983, 1987 and 1989, is only the fifth school to capture four or more AP championships. Notre Dame leads with eight, followed by Oklahoma with six, Alabama with five and Minnesota with four. The Hurricanes also are the first team ever to finish in the Top 3 for six straight years. MIAMI AND Washington both made a strong case for No. 1 on New Year’s Day. The Hurricanes handed Nebraska its first shutout since 1973 and Washington manhandled a Michigan team that had won eight straight games. The Hurricanes and Huskies played two of the same opponents this year. Arizona lost to Washington 54-0 and was beaten by Miami 36-9. The other common foe was Nebraska, which lost to Washington 36-21 early in the

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The North Putnam Cougars return to action Friday at Zionsville with lettermen (from left) Kevin Mendenhall, Daniel Johnson, Eric Pipes and Roger Busch leading the way. The Cougars

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The Cloverdale Clovers open the second half of the season Friday at home against the Clay City Eels. The 3-3 Clovers are led by returning

USA Today-CNN says Washington No. 1 team

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) Don James wasn’t greedy. The Washington Huskies’ coach was willing, even hoping, to share the national championship with Miami. As it turned out, the Huskies just missed sharing The Associated Press national championship. WASHINGTON, HOWEVER, did end up with a share of the national title as it finished No. 1 in the USA Today-CNN poll. The Huskies received 1,449.5 points to 1,440.5 for the Hurricanes. Miami, which beat Nebraska 220 in the Orange Bowl, edged Washington, a 34-14 winner over Michigan in the Rose Bowl, by four votes in the closest AP balloting ever. Miami, ranked first ahead of Washington going into the New Year’s Day games, got 32 firstplace votes in the final balloting, with Washington getting 28. All 60 voters ranked the two teams either first or second. JAMES HAD SAID earlier that he thought it would be appropriate if there was a split national title so both Washington and Miami could be No. 1. “I think it would be a real tragedy if two teams go 12-0 and

season. Penn State (11-2) finished third in the final poll after routing Tennessee 42-17 in the Fiesta Bowl. Rounding out the Top 10 were Florida State (11-2), Alabama (111), Michigan (10-2), Florida (10-2), California (10-2), East Carolina (11-1) and lowa (10-1-1). Bowl scores Peach Bowl At Atlanta East Carolina 37, North Carolina State 34 Hall of Fame Bowl At Tampa, Fla. Syracuse 24, Ohio Sate 17 Citrus Bowl At Orlando, Fla. California 37, Clemson 13 Cotton Bowl At Dallas Florida State 10, Texas A&M 2 Fiesta Bowl At Tfempe, Arlz. Penn State 42, Tennessee 17 Rose Bowl At Pasadena, Calif. Washington 34, Michigan 14 Orange Bowl At Miami Miami 22, Nebraska 0 Sugar Bowl At New Orleans Notre Dame 39, Florida 28

start the second half of the season with a 4-2 overall record and 1-0 conference mark. North’s next home game is Jan. 20 against Edgewood. (Banner-Graphic photo by Steve Fields)

lettermen (from left) Brad Gerlach, Brian McCammon, Ryan Ford, Ryan Thompson and Bill Byrd. (Banner-Graphic photo by Steve Fields)

one of them is left out. I know I’d feel that way if it happened to us,” James said Wednesday evening after both the Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl were finished. The Huskies staked their claim by dominating Michigan (10-2), which fell two spots to No. 6 after losing to Washington. MIAMI THEN MADE its point with the shutout of Nebraska, the first against the Comerhuskers since 1973. “I just hope we get equal respect,” said James, whose Huskies did not try to run up the score

Putnam County Sports Thursday DePauw at Thomas More (Cincinnati, Ohio), 7:30 p.m., basketball. Friday Wesf Central Conference high school basketball: North Putnam at Zionsville Clay City at Cloverdale Tri-West at Danville DePauw women at University of Chicago Tournament Saturday DePauw at Illinois Wesleyan (Bloomington, Ill), 2 p.m., basketball. DePauw women at University of Chicago Tournament West Central Conference high school basketball: Owen Valley at Terre Haute South

Miami wins The Final Top Twenty Five By The Associated Press The Top Twenty Five teams in the final 1991 Associated Press college football poll, with firstplace votes in parentheses, season records and total total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 251 h-place vote, and previous ranking: Record Pts Pvs 1. Miami (32) 12-0-0 1,472 1 2. Washington (28) 12-0-0 1,468 2 3. Penn St. 11-2-0 1,342 6 4. Florida St 11-2-0 1,310 5 5. Alabama 11-1-0 1,216 8 6. Michigan 10-2-0 1,151 4 7. Florida 10-2-0 1,119 3 8. California 10-2-0 1,039 14 9. East Carolina 11-1-0 1,024 12 10. lowa 10-1-1 883 7 11. Syracuse 10-2-0 876 16 12 Texas A&M 10-2-0 870 9 13. Notre Dame 10-3-0 848 18 14. Tennessee 9-3-0 716 10 15. Nebraska 9-2-1 666 11 16. Oklahoma 9-3-0 629 20 17. Georgia 9-3-0 428 24 18. Clemson 9-2-1 410 13 19. UCLA 9-3-0 406 22 20. Colorado 8-3-1 383 15 21. Tulsa 10-2-0 348 23 22 Sunford 8-4-0 262 17 23. Brigham Young 8-3-2 182 24. N. Carolina St 9-3-0 109 21 25. Air Force 10-3-0 87 Other receiving votes: Georgia Tech 70, •,Virginia 63, Indiana 48, Ohio St. 31, Bowling Green 27, Baylor 5, San Diego St 5, Arkansas 4, Kansas St- 3. , v

against Michigan. “I knew we were a lot less visible than Miami because they were on national TV so much. “All we wanted was a chance to show how good wc arc. We took apart a very good football team today.” The Wolverines had won eight in a row going into the Rose Bowl. Michigan coach Gary Moeller succinctly summed up the onesided game: “Washington’s defense keeps beating on you and their offense finally jumps in there and does its job.”