Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 October 1995 — Page 22

Blount to bo honorod at Coachos Luncheon Athletic accomplishments along with his commitment to community service make NFL Hall of Famer Mel Blount a natural candidate to receive the prestigious Major Taylor Award, during the 1995 Coca-Cola Circle City Classic Coaches Luncheon. This year’s luncheon will be held at noon, Friday, Oct. 6 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. Blount, a graduate of Southern University, was twice named to the Southwestern Athletic Conference first team. I n his junior year, he was named Most Valuable Playerof the conference. Graduating in 1970, he was a third-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Blount played 200 games for the Steelers, missing only one game. Aside from playing comerback, he returned 36 kickoffs for 911 yards. He led the NFL in interceptions in 1975 with 11 and was named the NFL’s MVP. He also played in six AFC Championship games; was on the winning teams in Super Bowls IX, X, XIII and XIV, and played in five Pro Bowls. Before retiring from the Steelers in 1993, he founded the Mel Blount Youth Home in Vidalia, Ga. to help young boys pursue their natural potential. A second youth home was established in Claysville, Pa. and now he “intercepts” boys from all over the United States. In his first year of eligibility, Blount was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

fCMAYS CHEMICAL

Saturday, October 7, 1995

Rockets top Redskins; Knights' streak snaps

Recorder Staff Report As the 1995 Indiana high school football season nears an end — and the playoffs are just three weeks away — many teams would Ipve to savor this season while others are looking for a new start. Sept. 29, at Manual, the Redskins were manhandled by the Rockets of Broad Ripple 34-12. Manual earned its sixth loss of the season. The Rockets were led by Obie Dowdy, who rushed for 139 yards. All-

purpose player Varon Cantrell threw a touchdown pass for 67 yards and caught a touchdown pass for 46 yards. There were three bright spots for the Redskins, including Corey Parchman and Damon Ward. Parchman threw for 187 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown pass to Ward. Darrin Douthit rushed for 107 yards, including a 74-yard touchdown run. With the win, the Rockets improved to 2-4, while the Redskins fell to 0-6. Friday, on the week-seven schedule,

the Rockets travel to Fern Creek Ky., while the Redskins host Center Grove. Other action from Friday, Sept. 29 The Arsenal Tech Titans lost to the Franklin Central Flashes 25-14. The Titans were led by Aaron Thomas, who carried the ball 20 times for 92 yards and a 4-yard touchdown run. The Flashes were led by Eric Farley who rushed for 135 yards on 18 carries. He also scored two touchdowns on 12yard and a 11-yard runs.

Manual running back Elmos Ray busts through the line before running into Broad Ripple linebacker Larry O’Conner during Sept. 29 action. The Rockets won the game 34-12 to improve to 2-4 on the season. (Recorder Photo by Walt Thomas)

The Northwest Space Pioneers lost to the top-rated Roncalli Rebels in 3A, 21-7. The Pioneers were led by Avachino Reeves who rushed for 56 yards on nine carries, including a 23yard touchdown run. As a team, the Pioneers rushed for 124 yards and passed for 64 yards. The Pioneers fell to 3-3 and were scheduled to host the Tech Titans on Friday. Meanwhile, Roncalli, which improved to 6-0, was slated to be on the road against Arlington. Action from Saturday, Sapt. 30 The Golden Knights of Arlington suffered their first loss of the season to South Bend Washington 28-6. In spite of controlling the game on offense with more rushing yards, more first downs and more yards of total offense, Arlington turned the ball over six times en route to its loss. Leroy Peterson led the Knights with 85 yards rushing on 10 carries. Keenan Pounds scored the Knights’ only touchdown with a 9-yard run. He finished the evening with 58 yards rushing on 13 carries. The Knights (5-1) were scheduled to host the Rebels of Roncalli on Friday. The Trojans of Chatard defeated the Crusaders of Scecina 17-7. Quarterback Rich Linden threw two touchdown passes to Kyle Conner, for 71 yards and 24 yards. The Trojans defense also put the clamps on all-purpose player and potential all-stater Donald Winston, holding him to 60 yards on 19 carries. With the win, the Trojans improved to 3-3 while the Crusaders fell to 0-6 because they had to forfeit two games, which was announced last week. Cardinal Ritter defeated the Brebeuf Braves 21-7 for its first win of the season. Dexter Salenda and Nemo Grundy combined for 146 yards en route to the victory. Salenda scored on a 2-yard run while teammate Grundy broke one for 18 yards. The team’s other score was furnished by John Wilson on an 18yard pass from Jeb Sloan.

By STEVE THOMAS Staff Writer After three weeks of yielding more ground than a real estate agent, the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds defense has knuckled down. In ensuring the Greyhounds’ 21-7 weekfour victory over host Wayne State would never be misinterpreted as a fluke, the ‘hounds defense held visiting Hillsdale to a single touchdown, Sept. 30. The Chargers also brought a serious defense to Key Stadium and departed with a 10-0 victory Over the Greyhounds. But they netted 242 yards of total offense against a ‘ hounds defense which hitherto had yielded an average 469 yards per game. “We simplified things,” Greyhounds Head Coach Joe Polizzi said, before his team began preparations for its Saturday, Oct. 7 game at Michigan Tech. “We went back to the basics and we’re playing fundamental football. Really, for the last 10 quarters, we’ve been very solid, defensively. Hey, we got to be excited about that because we’re going to win with our defense.” • Placing as a team, as a disciplined unit, has been as simple an adjustment as the defense

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Deon Brimmage

could have made. “We came together,” Greyhounds sophomore defensive back Deon Brimmage said. “We’re a young team. But we came together as a defense.” Brimmage, a graduate of Pike High School, didn’t get burned either as a safety or as a cornerback against Hillsdale; not a bad performance at all for the wrestler. “It doesn’t matter where I play,” Brimmage said. “Anytime I play, I’m happy to contribute to the team. If I get a little playing time, I’m happy. If I get a lot, I’m happy, too.” The entire Greyhounds secondary has improved its ability to sniff and to accordingly snuff the run. The DBs have been all but inside the receivers’ jerseys during this transformation. Gang tackling has become the norm for the defensive ‘hounds. Overall, signs of progress in the Hillsdale game were as obvious as the light of day. “Every time I carried the ball, I know they were there,” Hillsdale running back Anthony McCree said, after rushing for a tortuous 90 yards on 23 carries. “Everybody was aggressive and hitting hard. They’re young and they’re going to be good in the fiiture. They’re a good defense.”

Faulk puts sophomore jinx to rest

By JAMES M. KEOUGH JR. Sports Writer Marshall Faulk ravaged the National Football League with the power and ferocity of a tornado last season en route to earning Rookie of the Year honors and a Pro Bowl appearance. After being drafted by the Colts with the second selection of the first round in the 1994 college draft out of San Diego State, the former All-American blasted out of the gate with two KKl-yard rushing performances in his first two games. Additionally, he emerged as one of the better pass receivers on the team which helped him to become one of the league leaders in all-purpose yardage. Faulk, a native of New Orleans, was considered one of the most explosive running backs in college football history. However, after being sidelined by a knee injury midway through his collegiate career, many questioned his durability on the professional level. There were also critics that questioned the level of competition he faced while playing in a conference not known for competitive football programs. However, Faulk silenced all of his critics and emerged as one of the premier running backs in the NFL. Was the rise of Faulk a fluke? Will he be able to maintain the high standard of performance ^ie achieved as a rookie? Will he experience the “sophomore jinx” syndrome? Based on his statistics through the

first three games of the season, the Marshall Faulk storm had subsided. But the Colts’ 21-18 victory over the previously undefeated St. Louis Rams, Sunday in the RCA Dome, marked the return of the storm. “Everything (worked today)... I felt real good during the game and I feel great now,” said Faulk, who rushed for 177 yards, the sixth best rushing performance in Colts history. He also collected 45 yards receiving and scored three touchdowns. “I felt like the plays were made when they needed to be made. The running plays were called at the right time. They couldn’t be called at a better time. “Every time I get the ball, I think about breaking it. I don’t ever think about getting 5 or 10 yards. I think about scoring every time I touch the ball. I think the Rams came here worried more about the passing game than the running game.” Faulk had gained 177 yards rushing combined through the three previous games. It was only a matter of time before his offensive explosion. “Without question, Marshall did a great job,” said Colts Head Coach Ted Marchibroda. “The great job up front (on the offensive line) — they opened up some holes and allowed him to get into the secondary — and he certainly did the rest. “Marshall is not going to play every game like this, but when he does we are probably going to win.” The Colts will travel to Miami to face the Dolphins Sunday.

Colts running back Marshall Faulk has the best game of his 1995 season rushing for 177 yards. He also scored three touchdowns and earned 45 yards as a receiver in the Colts 21-18 win over visiting St. Louis, Suhday. (Recorder Photo