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Show Scoreboard C4 O Comics C7 The Daily Herald BYU Friday, saga continues Saturday So here it comes again, a game. Another stage show unravels for BYU's football juggernauts. These are the guys who started ignored and disrespected. Then they were men of destiny, shooting stars in a WAC galaxy of a few twinkles and a lot of black holes. Then in Seattle, the high and mighty embarrassed themselves and their doting fans two-a-da- ys By DtCK HARMON Sports Editor Daily Herald Dennis Pranchione believes New Mexico's 0 start coming to Provo may be the biggest confidence-builde- r, momentum kicker and positive force entering WAC play he's seen since coming to Albuquerque. hosts New Mexico BYU (2-(3-Saturday at noon in Cougar Stadium. The game will be telechannel 5. vised live on KSL-TIn defeating New Mexico State, Northern Arizona and Central Florida, the opponents may not have been powerhouses, but the wins have lifted the Lobo team spirits heading into today's arrival in Provo. said "It feels great to be Franchione, now in his fifth year in Albuquerque where season tickets have reached school record pro- 3-- 1) 0) ," DicZi Dormon Sidelines by proving mere flesh and bone, just mortal. A week ago, BYU could have been like Dorothy in Kansas, following the yellow brick road, dolled up, clicking their high heels toward the Top 10. But they left Seattle with just the high heels. ,, And many of their fans, distraught of what could have been, were left wanting, like Toto looking for a fireplug. Oh, the days of Cougar football, rankings, statistics and TV specials and Heisman candidates. There's few places like it; where '. 300-yar- d, games come like Lawrence did to Arabia. Like water to boil and our minivans to Minit-Lub- e. Once again, La Veil Edwards' show takes to the turf Saturday with weather fit for an O.J. trial. The saga continues. We wait, microphones and notebooks at the ready. And, of course, the media is guilty too. We loved them too much in August. One BYU coach 's blamed the media for Steve mindset in Seattle. Oh, yeah. Guilty as charged are we all. And if we'd ignored building up the NCAA's leading TD producer, guilty also would we be. Saturday cameras will roll, the seats will fill and New Mexico is the opponent who will either slap BYU's other cheek or be the welcomed newly found fireplug. Wackier things have happened in Provo and probably will again as the season unfolds in months to come. You can't chew a steak if you don't have the teeth, said one old Indian chief. BYU has humbly regrouped . this week, trying to grow some molars. A week ago, a dozen Cougar players before kickoff at Washington were huddled in the locker room arguing whether they should wear white or blue socks to go with their bleached Toad look. What was funny (or sad) is the edict from above was to wear blue. There was more worry about fashion than first downs. This week, they worry about completed passes, execution and no matter quarterback sacks what color socks are between their skin and cleats. Reality is back; it is more important to play good than look good this week. It's a whole new Saturday; a whole new season. And a league title is on the line. "We've been focused this week. We know what it takes to win a game," said Sarkisian, the quoted QB who is supposed to be quoted, but not interviewed before a big game. "We may have started believing all we needed to do is show up and we'd win a game. Nobody just shows up and wins. We're back to basics and working on getting a win." We knew the kid was smart. Fanfare or fanless, Sarkisian remains the focus of BYU's football team and the game Saturday with the Lobos. UNM wants to finish what Washington started and put Sarkisian on the sidelines with an ice pack. BYU wants to just take what UNM gives. remains the top pass, Sarkisian er in college football, a dangerous player with a knack for making big plays to hungry, trained and drilled targets. 0 , New Mexico wants to be and atop the WAC, leaving Provo with the upset of the season and momentum like payload on a Sat- Sark-isian- . 4-- (See HARMON, Page C2) rare gGD carry and 83 yards a game. BYU doesn't have a back on its team averaging what Sellers does on the ground. His favorite target has been tight Larry Banks, who has 12 catches for three touchdowns. The Lobos like to play pressure, blitzing defense and have 10 sacks in three games. "We've played BYU tough the past three years. Provo is the toughest place to play in the WAC because of the large crowds and strong tradition, but I believe we'll be fired up to play," said Franchione, a driving, ambitious coach who has lifted UNM despite some tough schedules in five years. Obviously this is a big challenge for our football team," said Franchione. "We're starting with the best program in the league. portions. "The feeling in the locker room after the game was special. We have had three important weeks. We may have to play 25 games to get ready for BYU, but we're more prepared going into our first conference game than at any other time in our tenure here; maybe not from an X's and U s standpoint, but in terms of confidence and team chemistry." The Lobos are led by quarterback Donald Sellers, a multidimensional athlete who has completed 40 of 68 passes for 516 yards and six touchdowns. Sellers likes to run when he gets a chance and is strong on the option and creating yardage. Sellers is UNM's second leading rusher, having carried the ball 37 times for 268 yards, an average of 7 yards per end-slotba- September 20, 1996 start 3-- 0 They deserve to be nationally-ranke- d based on their performances the first three games. BYU has as good of a defense as last year and their offense might be better based on the maturation of Steve Sarkisian. He seems to be in better command of the offense this season. He's looking for his third and fourth receiver more. That's probably a credit to a very large offensive line. They probably have the best pair of tight ends in the country Itula Mili and Chad Lewis." Lewis, who reinjured his groin this past week, is probable for Saturday's game. Mili, according to a tight end ranking by the University of Texas, is the leading receiver at that position in the country. Mili has 16 catches for 199 yards and Q Dennis Franchione (See LOBOS, Page C2) Hampton helps Dons to hot start By BOB HUDSON The Daily Herald Assistant Sports Editor SPANISH FORK , Spanish Fork's Quinn Hampton generally doesn't make the same mistake twice. A year ago, it appeared he had the inside track to be the Dons' starting quarterback. After all, he had started at that position the last three games of his sophomore year, "Bringing a new offense in, Quinn actually had the upper coach hand," said second-yea- r Everett Kelepolo. "But Garrett te Johnson, who went on to earn honors was able to gain some points while Quinn was gone baseball tournament." to an all-stHampton was invited to a similar baseball tournament this year. "I felt last year it hurt me," Hampton said. "This year I figured I owed it to the football team to stay with them and practice." Judging from his numbers, Hampton's decision was a good one. He has led the Dons to a 0 record in the preseason. He has completed 60 of 95 passes for 931 yards and 11 touchdowns. And he has only been intercepted four times. "He has a keen sense of picking apart a defense," said Kelepolo. "He has great passing ability. He can place it." Kelepolo said that Hampton is also a decent runner though that obviously isn't his job. He has rushed 17 times for 95 yards this season. "Quinn is calm and collected," Kelepolo said. "He shows a lot of poise. "He's just a competitor," he continued. "He loves that aspect of the game." i 0 all-sta- ar f tit 3-- Daily Herald PhotoJohn Blodgett . week as the Dons prepared for tonight's game of 95 passes for 931 yards and 11 touchdowns," against Provo. Hampton, who has completed 60 has helped the Dons to a 0 start. Though the Dons didn't win the result, the Dons have risen to second catches for 57 yards arid two scores); and running back Kyle Region Eight championship, they in The Salt Lake Tribune's 4A poll. "We have so many weapons, it's Wilson, who has 17 carries for6 caught fire late in the season and : advanced to the state 4A semifinals. a really hard offense to stop," vards and three touchdowns. Like every other team in their Hampton said. Hampton is quick to credit classification, they hope to go furAmong those weapons are some people who rarely get their receivers Joel Higginson, who has names in the newspaper for the ther this year. Z "From last year, we knew we 26 catches for 379 yards and five team's success. "Our line has been great this had the talent to do good this year," touchdowns; Brent Harwood, who has 14 catches for 303 yards and year," he said. "At first we though Hampton said of the Dons' goals. coach three touchdowns; Kyle Houghton we'd be hurting because we lost aH to According Kelepolo, Clark has developed an offensive (10 catches for 128 yards and a (See HAMPTON, Page C2) " attack that is difficult to stop. As a TD) and Matt Christensen (five Spanish Fork quarterback Quinn Hampton works out in the high school's weight room this Last year he and Johnson split time at quarterback in the preseason. When Kelepolo and offensive coordinator Dave Clark chose to go with Johnson, Hampton didn't sulk. Instead, he turned his attention to defense. He became the Dons' starting strong safety. "He did an excellent job there," Kelepolo recalled. "He loves to hit. He made some great plays all through the playoffs." 3-- remains perfect with BYU 5-- 2 Orem kickers post victory over Oregon ; Even after a EUGENE, Ore. slow offensive start Thursday afternoon, the Cougar kickers ran away with a 2 victory over the Vi shootout victory xL. j tl r By BOB HUDSON The Daily Herald Assistant Sports Editor miss and An Amber Davidson's stop in a penalty kick shootout helped 2 in Orem defeat Hillcrest Region Four girls' soccer Thursout-and-o- ut a-- - 3-- 5-- University of Oregon. The win gives BYU a 6-- 0 undefeated record this season. "We did what we needed to do to get the win," said head coach Jennifer Rockwood. "We had some inconsistencies during the game and missed some scoring opportunities, but overall it was a good win for us." Shauna Rohbock continued on a hot streak for the Cougars with two goals in the first half and one in the second period. Freshman Maren Hendershot was credited with assists for two of Rohbocks' goals. Michelle Jensen and freshman Jennifer Love added a goal apiece in the game to secure BYU's victory. The Ducks got on the board early in the first half with a goal from forward Erin Anderson. She also put in the second goal of the afternoon for the University of Oregon. BYU will stay in the Northwest on Friday night to take on Portland State. if h H; ft u- - day. ; After Hillcrest's Emily Woodward missed her shot, Davidson stopped Anna Neisen's attempt to give the Tigers an opening. Meanwhile, Sara Frederickson and Tami Honeycutt had hit their shots to give Orem a 0 edge in the five-shshootout. Hillcrest goalie Brandy Ljungberg stopped Sunny Gleim's shot and the Huskies' Kerstin Plagemann scored on hers to close the gap to 2-Orem's Natalie Fitzgarrald and Hillcrest's Alicia Nelson followed suit to give Orem a 2 lead. When Heather Deavuono booted her shot past Ljungberg, Orem had its third victory of the year, two of them coming in shootouts. "There's a lot to compliment these girls about," said Orem coach Garlan Fitzgarrald. "We had our best practice of the year yesterday. The light turned on and they started executing." Actually, the Tigers fell behind early, then battled back. Hillcrest took a lead in the 2-- ot (I 1. 3-- i ::V 'r - - Dally Herald PhotoJohn Blodgett Mountain View's Kristy Wakefield (5) and Alta's Jennie Hall (2) battle for the ball during Thursday's match. The Bruins beat the Hawks 3-- 1. 1- -0 15th minute of the first half when Aleece Allred scored off Suzanna Hansen's assist. The Huskies increased their edge to : in the 23rd minute on ' 0 Neisen's goal. Orem missed three solid: opportunities after that when Honeycutt broke free, only tar. misfire each time. Honeycutt made up for it in the second half, though, scoring the tying goal after Jenni Strat-to- n had closed the gap to "After our wins over Ameri-can Fork and TimpanogosC we've had some disappointing, losses because we weren't exe-:- : cuting," Fitrgarrald said. "BuJ-- ; these girls have found a confi;:!; dence I didn't know they had.--" Now they're starting to play;:" together." Orem is now 6 while Hill-- : : I- crest slipped to 4-In other games, Brighton beat: Mountain View: l Timpanogos downed Alta 1 and Jordan., stopped American Fork Bruins 3, Hawks 1 At Mountain View, Brooke;: Dodge's goal in the 39th minute; of the second half sealed the vic; l't tory. on Angela The Bruins led Benson's first half gocl, but Summer Hall scored off a free kick in the 39th minute o'. 2-- 2-- 1. 3-- 5. 8-- 0, 3-- 3-- 0. 1- -0 (See SOCCER, Page C2) |