Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 January 2004 — Page 27

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2004

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE D5

LSI! defense stifles the nation's highest-scoring team

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Chad Lavalais was willing to share the national championship. He wasn’t going to concede anything when it comes to LSD’s defense. Not to Southern Cal. Not to anyone. “There’s no doubt in my mind we re the best defense in the country," said Lavalais, the prison guard-turned-star defensive tackle. “We made the plays when we needed to all year." He’ll get no argument from Oklahoma. The blitzing Tigers shut down the nation’s high-est-scoring team Sunday night, winning 21-14 in the Sugar Bowl to claim the Bowl Championship Series title. USC finished No. 1 in The

Associated Press media poll. The Sooners, averaging 4.“>.2 points, needed help from their special teams and defense just to score their two touchdowns. Without Brandon Shelby's blocked punt and Brodney Poole's interception, it wouldn't have been close. Make ho mistake: Defense wins championships. “We re used to playing smashmouth football, real football." LSU end Marquise Hill said. “They weren’t just going to come in here and blow it out on us. If they thought that, they were sadly mistaken." Oklahoma had a chance at the end when LSD’s defense wilted just a bit. But the Tigers came through again, turning away the Sooners’ chance

at a tying touchdown with less than three minutes to go. Oklahoma got the ball once more, but White threw three straight incompletions, then finished the season on his back. Lionel Turner blitzed up the middle and crushed the Sooners quarterback, who never had a chance to get rid of the ball. \ V h i t c p i c k ed h i m sel f o ff t h e turf and trudged to the sideline, having completed just Li of 37 passes for 102 yards and two interceptions - by far his worst performance in a brilliant season. He was sacked five times and hit too many times to count. "Excuse me, Mr. Heisman,” Hill told White early in the game. “I’m going to be coming at you all night.”

Overall, the Sooners managed just 154 yards on 70 plays from scrimmage, 2.2 yards a tiy. Hardly to be expected from a team that had been piling up 461.4 yards per game, beating opponents with numbers that looked more like basketball than football. Then again, LSD had been doing this all season. The Tigers were the stingiest defense in the country, allowing just over 10 points a game. Oklahoma barely made a dent in that average. There were some bain moments for LSD. Trailing by a touchdown, Oklahoma drove from its own 42 to the Tigers 12. White threw a couple of incompletions, his receivers too well covered. Then came the play that epitomized LSD’s

gambling style - safety Jessie Daniels blitzed up the middle and Kejuan Jones was left running all alone toward the middle of the end zone. But Daniels flattened White as he threw, the ball fluttering over Jones’ pleading bands. “When that happened. I knew we were meant to win the game. ” Lavalais said. “Who knows what might have happened if he makes that catch.” Oklahoma went for it on fourth down and White delivered another pass over the middle. It was deflected by an LSD defender and Sooners receiver Mark Clayton nearly made the catch, but the ball scraped the turf with 2:46 remaining. Clayton squeezed the ball.

shaking it in frustration. LSD breathed a sigh of relief. On the second play of the second half; Spears provided the points that ultimately decided the game. After starting the third quarter with a sack, the 297-pound end fooled White by dropping into zone coverage on second down. White threw the ball straight to Spears, who rumbled 20 yards for a touchdown that gave LSD a 21-7 lead. It was the seventh touchdown of the year for the Tigers' defense a school record. "That was just something that played into our hands," Spears said. “I was fortunate to be in the right place." And LSD was fortunate to have a defense like this.

P.J. Brown of the New Orleans Hornets tries unsuccessfully to block Jermairte O'Neal's shot. O’Neal added 26 points and 16 rebounds to help the Pacers beat the Hornets, 91*84. (Photo/W. Thomas)

SPORTS BRIEFS

500 Festival MiniMarathon expands field to 30.000 There is second life for those who have not yet registered for the 2004 Indianapolis Life 500 Festival Mini-Marathon. Organizers announced that the 28th running of the nation's largest half-marathon has surpassed last year's record registration of 25,000. In an effort to accommodate more race enthusiasts, the festival will accept an additional 5,000 registrations - expanding the

field to 30,000 entries. The Mini-Marathon is scheduled for May 8. ESPN.com ranks Indy as No. 1 pro sports city in the nation A winning season by the Colts and Pacers move Indy from No. 7 last year to No. 1 in ESPN.com poll. In ranking the most successful professional sports cities in the nation, ESPN.com ranked Indianapolis first out of 33 major league cities in North America.

INDIANA ► Continued from Page 6

him Most Valuable Player ofthe game. Guard Eric Gordon and forward A.J. Ratliff also scored in double figures, adding 19and 16 respectively. The third game ofthe night started off two hotly contested games that left Indiana with a split at the end of the night. Liwrence North, the No. 1 team in Indiana Class 4A. played Detroit -Renaissance, the No. 3 ranked team in the nation by the Sporting News/School Sports Top 50 poll. Detroit came out with speed and hustle, denying Lawrence’s 7 center Greg Oden any inside scoring for the entire first quarter. Renaissance still trailed until a free throw by guard Joseph Crawford put them up one with 3:44 left in the half. Detroit lost the lead for only a few seconds, in the third, and then maintained it until the end. Detroit coach Mark White out-strategiz.ed his counterpart Jack Keefer, controlling the tempo the entire game. While in the first half it was all run and gun, in the second the Renaissance players held the ball, much to the dislike of the fans, and displayed great patience, passing the ball around until a scoring opportunity appeared for them to take advantage of. In the end Lawrence still had

yn opportunity to win, but four missed free throws in the final two minutes by Oden prevented the victor} - and Detroit came out on top 58-55. The final game ofthe evening showcased an unranked (nationally) defending state champion Pike Red Devils vs. Peoria Central High School from Illinois, the No. 5 team in the nation on the DSA Today Top 25 poll. Pike led for almost the whole game in a sloppy, run and gun contest that included bad passes (29 combined turnovers), missed shots (Pike was 22 percent from beyond the arc and Peoria was a meager 14) and all the tension you could ask for in a high school game. The Red Devils protected their home turf by out-scrapping a struggling Peoria team 57-50. MVP of the game Pike guard Courtey Lee led the Devils with 24 points, nine of them in the final quarter where he scored a field goal and three clutch free throws to put the game out of reach. Due to the victor}’ Pike is now No. 18 on the DSA Today Top 25 poll. Once again the Challenge of Champions showed the power of Indiana basketball and has a great start to building a tradition of exciting high school games for years to come.

Lawrence North center Greq Oden (No. 50), posts up Detroit Renaissance forward Andre Criswell. Lawrence came up short in a hard-fought battle to Detroit, losing 58-55. (Photo/J. Hurst)

GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL ACTION

Perry Meridian's senior forward, Christina Cunningham (center) led her team to a 71-65 overtime victory against Franklin Central.

Cunningham hit four clutch free throws during regulation to send the game into overtime. She ended the game with 16 points..(Photos/J. Hurst)

COLTS ► Continued from Page 6 tinues its aggressive play, the knock on them will also the way of Manning’s playoff curse. Another critical test comes Sundavin Arrowhead Stadium, where All Pro tailback Priest Holmes will look to run all over the Colts this Sunday afternoon. Holmes rushed for a NFL record 27 touchdowns during the regular season. Defensive end Dwight Freeney has yet to buy into the notion of the 1) being a weakness. Now more than ever, he argues, the Colts have gained the identity on the defensive end that theircoach has preached for the last two years. And their timing could not be better. “This is the second year with Coach Dungy, this is the second year in this scheme, "Freeney said. “Offensively and defensively. We’re coming off that Coach James Perkins, district athletic director for Pike Township was Dung} mentality, never give up, among the 56, 586 screaming Colts fans on Sunday along with keepon playing hard and do what his wife, Cynthia Doyle. (Photo/W. Thomas) we do.”

Going into Sunday’s Divisional on the road, I like where were at. still have to get out there and play," playoff match-up, the Colts may obviouslv. Comingoffagame like he said. “A lot of guys want to actually stack up better against this, it should help our confi- know what it takes to get there, the Chiefs, although Arrowhead deuce.” and what it's like. 1 just tell them is admittedly one ofthe most dif- Kickoff for Sunday’s Divisional you have to play ever}’ play, every ficult stadiunis for any opposing playoff is 1 p.m. game, because you don’t get anteam. The Colts have won six other chance." straight against the Chief’s, and Late Hits One more home game? were better away from home, bar- Stokely comes up big for big Maybe...Colts fans should not only ring a lone mishap against the games Colts wide receiv er be rooting for an upset in Kansas Jacksonville Jaguars in week 10. Brandon Stokely. quickly gaining City, but one in Foxboro as. well. After charging out, of the gates a reputation as a playoff threat. Should both the Colts and the this season with nine straight matched Marvin Harrison fora TennesseeTitanswintheirgames wins, the Chief’s were exposed on Colts record two touchdown this week, the AFC championdefense in the season’s second ^grafts, including an 87 yard strike ship will he played in the RCA half, resultingh) two losses in their with secondsrcmainingin the first Dome. last four games. half. Stokely led all receivers with And, as the Broncos witnessed A well-rested Chief's team 144 yards in Sunday's victory. before thei r early playoff exit, Indy sports five All-pros, including The only current Colt with a is a tough win right about now. Holmes. Two additional All-pros, Super Bowl ring. Stokely’s pres- The potential match-up will pit tight end Tony Gonzalez, and kick ence isn’t just being felt on the theleague'sco-MYPsagainsteach returner Dante Hall, will be key field. As the Colts make their way other, and could prove who will targets the Colts will need to con- through the playoffs, Stokely is standout as most deserving. Mantain in order to seclirc a victory in already fielding questions from ning has outshone quarterback the hostile Kansas City confines, the confident team about win- Steve McNair in both games, each “(The Chief's) play great foot- ning the big one. resulting in Colts victories. Indiaball, especially at home,' said "I’ve been there, and 1 know napolis trounced Tennessee at Dungy.“Our team hasplaved well w hat it takes to get there, but we home earlier this year.