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Show The Salt Lake Tribune SPORTS Friday, December 29, 1995 Franson Leads USU to Victory By Jared M. Eborn Utah State had a chanceto go into the locker room with a nice leadat the half, but instead trailed 40-37. A one-minute bout of careless rebounding allowed the Devils to score the finalfive points of the half. Thefirst half rebounding in general wasn't up to USU Coach Larry Eustachy’s standards. MVSU led the board war 22-13 at the half; the Devils finished with a 42-41 edge. For Utah State, that’s an anomaly. The Aggies cameinto the game with an average rebounding mar- SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE LOGAN — Utah State played perhaps its worst basketball of the seasonforthefirst eight minutes of the second half Thursday night. BHS Runners Top List of 1995’s Best Before 1995 fades, here’s our look at the 10 most memorable high school sports happenings, a list dominated by excellent performances and unparalleled achievements 1. NATION'S BEST Paced by senior Jeff Hopkinson's third-place performance at the Foot Lockernational championships, Bingham’s boys cross country team finished the season ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today. The Miners spent mostof the year in the top spot. and solidified their standing by winning the state Class 5-A meet in October 2. LEGAL LIONS The drawn-out legal battle between Rowland Hall-St. Mark’s and the Utah High School Activities Association over the eligibil- ity of star guard Chris Alexis, a fifth-year senior, grabbed frontpage headlines in February and March and focused attention on the UHSAA's governing powers. 3. EAST AWAKENS Casting off the shackles of 22 straight losing football seasons. the East Leopards returned to their former glory. After winning just one game the past two seasons, East madeit all the wayto the 4-A championship game before losing to Box Elder. Chiefs’ Rule Works Just Like Glue Team Keeps Tight Grip on the Football THE ASSOCIATED PRESS KANSASCITY, Mo. — Anexasperated Marty Schottenheimer dreamedit up in 1990 and called it the Seattle Rule Eachviolation costs $50 and the Kansas City Chiefs willingly pay up. They're convincedthe Seattle Rule, which drills into players’ heads the importance of keeping a tight grip on the ball, explains their ever-widening lead through- out the 1990s in giveawaytakeawayratio. Schottenheimercalledit the Seattle Rule because twice during his first year in Kansas City in 1989, Seahawks tacklers plucked the ballout of the handsof Chiefs’ ball-carriers who assumed,incorrectly, the play wasover. The following season and henceforth 4, MINER MILESTONES Led by Division I signees Malinda Lynch and Emily Van Dyke, Bingham’s girls basketball team capped an unbeaten season by winning its second straight 5-A championship in March and was the state's only undefeated basketball team. The Miners have continued the success this season by winning their first six games and are on anall-time best, 35gamestreak. Oo 5, STRAIGHTA’s FOR ALTA Not to be outdone, Alta’s boys basketball team turned in one of the most dominating seasons in recent history, going 22-2 while capturing the 5-A title. Together since the sixth grade, the Hawks were powered to their second crown in four years by The Salt Lake Tribune’s MV-Three — Brad Willden, Adam Sharp and Brent Hawkins. 6. FREMONT TO THE FRONT Plain City is on the map, thanks to the exploits of the new Fremont High. The 5-Aschool’s girls basketball team went all the way to the finals in its first year, be- fore losing to Bingham. And the football team madeit to the championship game in its second year. then nearly knocked off Skyline in the finals beforefalling in overtime when a game-winning pass was droppedin the end zone. Oo 7. EVERYBODY'S IN In April, the UHSAAdrastically altered the state basketball tournament formats for 5-A and 4-A boys and girls. Now, every team will make the tournament regardless of how it fares in the regular season, and fewer teams will advanceto college venues for late-round games. 8. JOHNSENJOINSU. Murray basketball star Jeff Johnsen, the most-cherished Utah prep since Shawn Bradley, ended months of intense recruiting in October when he committed to play for the University of Utah Johnsen led Murray to a secondplace finish in 1995, earning Trib- in every practice, Schottenheimer ordered that whoeverhasthe ball at the end of a play must handit to a man wearing a striped uniformportraying a gameofficial. Lay the ball on the ground, throwit to a teammate or casually phy. The Tigers also won twoother major boys sports titles in the AFC Buftclo Bile 10-80.am.channel4 Sunday —Indiana lis Colts at San Di p.m., Channel5 Chargers, @ First-round Byes — KansasCity Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers NFC § Saturday — Detroit Lions at Philadelphia Eagles,2 p.m, Channel 4 ® Sunday — Atianta Falcons at Green Bay Packers, 10:30 a.m., Channel 43 @First-round — Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers tossit in the direction of the official, and the fine is $50. In the past six years, nobody's donea better job of holding onto the ball than the Chiefs, whothis season — besides winning a league-high 13 games — led the NFLwith a plus-12 turnover ratio. For the ‘90s, the Chiefs are plus-89. Nobodyelse in the NFL is even close. The Pittsburgh Steelers, coached by Schottenheimerprotege Bill Cowher, are a distant secondat plus-46. Besides instituting the Seattle Rule, the turnover-conscious Schottenheimer occasionally sneaks around during practice and pre-game warmups swatting the ball out of players’ hands. This constant emphasis has led toan AFC-best 226 takeaways and 137 giveaways from 1990-95. The Chiefs led the NFL during that time with a league-most 118 fumble recoveries and league-low 65 interceptions thrown. Paup Named Top Defender, Teammates Lead Cheers with 1742 sacks, and with oppo- CEDAR CITY — Russ Caton scored 15 ofhis 17 points in the second half to help Southern Utah pull away to a not-so-easy 91-63 win over NAIA foe Western Oregon in the Centrum Thursday night The Runnin’ Wolves trimmed an eight-point SUU lead to 46-45 with 13:02 in the game and looked like they might surprise a visibly flat group of Thunderbirds. However, one point was as close as WOSC would get. Caton and Jon Gaines sparked a 45-18 run to end the game. Gaines led all scorers with 23 points and Jamie McCarty led WOSC with 19. Caton’s 17 was a career-high for the junior forward. “You've got to give Western Oregona lot of credit. They came in here and played us very close for 30 minutes. I was proud of how our guys turned it up when they got within one,” said Bili Evans, who picked uphis 59th win in his 100th game as SUU’s head coach SUU center Don Faux recorded his second double-double in as many gameswith 11 points and 12 rebounds, and Thunderbird guard Reggie Ingram seta careerhigh with 10 assists. Last year’s winner was corner- back Deion Sanders, then with the 49ers. a FOOTBALL Southern Utah junior defensive end Jeff Galyean was named to the Division I-AA All-America third team by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette. SUU senior punter Craig VanWoerkom received honorable mention. ... Chicago Bears Coach Dave Wannstedtwill coach the South team and Seattle Seahawks Coach Dennis Erickson will coach the North in the Senior Bowl, which features 90 college all-stars. The game is scheduled for Jan. 20. ... Reserve linebacker Garth Jax, who has been with the Arizona Cardinals since 1989, signed a two-year contract with game at home — school record. ‘I liked the way westayed focused,” said Roger Reid “We played hard, we played solid and we ran our offense. It wasn’t helter skelter. It wasn't like P.E class.” With the No. 15 Utes looming, Reid had reason to be concerned about concentration. BYU was also playing for just the second time in 19 days. That doesn't do a lot for continuity. And the rust did showearly. Hampered by a pesky Morgan State press, the Cougarsdidn’t get their first field goal until more than three minutesinto the game. They led just 14-11 when Bears guard Chris Watson delivered a three-pointer with 10:55 left in the half. BYU committed a dozen turnovers in the opening period. “it was ugly.” said Roberts, who finished with 12 points and five rebounds, “We cameout slow and wereterrible. We can’t afford to do that Tuesday.” But BYU finally got its bearings. Ruffner’s slashing drive touched off an 11-2 surge that staked the Cougars to a 25-16 advantage at the 8:16 mark. State (1-8) never got closer the rest of the way. The turning point might have been whenthe ref threwtheball up in the jump circle.” said Bears Coach Chris Fuller, whose team shot just 15-of-40 from the floor. Thursday, the 6-foot-6 junior hit 10-of-14 shots and was 5-of-6 from the line. BYU’s Stafford Out 4-6 Weeks PROVO — With the start of Western Athletic Conference play just around the corner, the BYU women's basketball teamhaslost its leading scorer. Senior forward BehkaStafford has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in her right leg, and will be sidelined for the next four to six weeks. It's a big blow,” said Cougar Coach Soni Adams. “We're going to have to get some other players to step up while she’s gone.” Stafford averages a team-leading 753-5662 for information. ...The New York Yankees acquired out- Police said no one will be allowed to camp out until tonight. The Cleveland fanssaid they planned to be back in line. ... Wayne Sevier, special teams coach for the St. Louis Ramsand a 20-year assistant coach in the NFL,has retired. BASEBALL The Rocky Mountain Schoolof Baseball will conduct a pre-season Little League tournamentfor fielder Tim Raines from theChicago White Soxfor future considerations and new manager Joe Torre immediately equipped him with a virtually permanent green light. ““He’s had experience,” Torre said. “He knows whathe’s doing on the bases. He'll have a green light 99.9 percent of the time.” The Yankeesstole just 50 bases last season, last in the American League. Raines has 777 career steals, fourth on thealltime list. ... The Chicago Cubs signed free-agent Doug Jones, a right-handed reliever, to a oneyear contract. The 38-year-old, five-time All-Star saved 22 games in 25 opportunities for Baltimore last season. Helost his spot there when the Orioles signed ex-Cubs closer Randy Myers. a HOCKEY The Philadelphia Flyers traded right wing Kevin Dineen to the Hartford Whalersin exchange for future considerations. ... Scott Bowmanof Detroit and Doug MacLean of Florida will be the coachesin the NHL All-Star game Jan. 20 at the FleetCenter in Boston.... The Los Angeles Kings acquired defenseman John Slaney from the Colorado Avalanche for a sixth-round selection in the 1996 NHL EntryDraft. ... The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired defenseman Neil Wilkinson from the Winnipeg Jets for defenseman Norm Maclver. o SAILING American maxi yacht Sayonara, the apparent winner,will be far behindthe 20-year-old Sydney-toHobart race record. Organizers said that Sayonara wasstill 50 miles from thefinish line early today and race officials said the maxi would not complete the race for at least anothersevento eight hours. a SKIING World Cup leader Lasse Kjus, bidding for his first downhill victory, led the final practice run for today’s World Cup downhill race in Bormio, Italy. Tommy Moeand Kyle Rasmussen, the best U.S downhillers, stayed homefor the New Year's holidays. QO HORSE RACING Ready to Wear outsprinted favored Cavonnier bya headto win the $106,600 California Breeders’ Champion Stakes at Santa Anita Ridden byG.F, Almeida, Ready to Wear covered 7 furlongs in 1:22 4-5 andpaid $19, $4.60 and $3.60. Oo COLLEGES Ohio State will get an estimated $9.25 million dealto outfit more than 800 Buckeyes athletes and their coaches exclusively in Nike apparel and shoes over the next five years. Beginning in August 1996, Nike will provide $1 million per year in footwear and apparel for athletes and staff in Ohio State's 34 men’s and women’s sports. Ohio State’s coacheswill divide $725,000 a year and Nike will also pay $100,000 per year for marketing and advertising Feel the road again. The Jetta GL Lease. $219/month. Nothing down. 8 mon lease. - $450 acquisition fee. We're not looking for buyers, we're looking for drivers. Drivers wanted.@) 12.9 points per game and shoots 41 percent fromthefield She is 18-of-52 from three-point range, and broke BYU's career three-point record earlier this season I haven't said a whole lot to him during the last three games, but the ball was not going in,” said Roger Reid. Reynolds. Oscar Payen and Kelly Self A — Wei- dauer then started and Christensen finished an 11-0 tear to make it 49-26 at intermission. Morgan scuffled until police broke it up 210 8 39, Western Oregon 31 reentages — Field Goals Wesiern Oregon 38.9 ree Throws: Western Oregon 72.0; South Shooting — Western Oregon 2:13 (MeCarty 24 es 04. Appell 0-2, Wilson 0-1) Southern Utah 10vrosbie 45, Christopher 1-10, Ingram 14 Dregon 4 Jones 2. McCarty Apel South Christopher, Cros! esters Oregon 12 (Faberty6, Smith 2. McCarty 2. auth, Burks: Southern Utah 8 Ingram 3, Schweigert 2, caton, Ganstopter Blocks — Western Oregon (Appel Southern Utah 3caton 2. Gai Technical Foals — Western Oregon bench Officials — Ned Gallant Mart Periman and Joha Watson. A — foe5, 3 Reid, Thompson ts) BYU 4 (Roberts 2 . Some longtime Pitts- burgh fans didn’t take too kindly toa group of converts from Cleveland wholinedupfirstfortickets to a Steelers’ playoff game. Some 14 Cleveland-area fanslit a fire in a trash can andset up tent. Five Pittsburgh fans showed up later and declared that they were taking thefirst spots in line. The fans year-olds and 13-14 year. olds we the President’s Day weekend in St. George. The tourney will feature a clinic, and each team will play at least four games. Call 1-800-ROCK-BBU or 801- agent bythe Bills this season, re- ceived 73 votes in balloting by a nationwide panel of 88 sports writers and broadcasters. The numbers tell just why Paup drew so much support. Expected to help out Bruce Smith and Cornelius Bennett, Paup became the focal point of Buffalo's vastly improved defense. He led the NFL nents paying more attention to Paup, Smith had anotherbig year. Smith added 10% sacks and Phil Hansen hadhis best season with 10. ‘I told Bryce midway through the season, ‘You have yourself five more good, solid games and you'll be player of the year. There’s nobodyoutthere that can beat you.’ With the way heplayed this year, he deservedit,” Smith said. Clearly, the voters felt that way. Secondin the balloting was Pittsburgh linebacker Greg Lloyd with five, followed by San Francisco linebacker Ken Nortonandsafety Merton Hanks, Kansas City end Neil Smith, Green Bay end Reggie White, and Carolina linebacker Sam Mills,all with two votes. “It’s nice to get out of the shadow,” said Paup, who signed a three-year, $7.6 million contract “People have alwayssaid that I’m doing it because of this or that. It's nice to break outofthat. I said all along I'll let other people blow my horn. I’m not going to doit It's a nice award, it’s great and I’m happy.” Caton’s 17 Lifts T-Birds Past Western Oregon -12 Bryce Paup was signed by the Buffalo Bills to be a complementary player. Instead, he turned into the 1995 Defensive Player of the Year. Paup, an outside linebacker with Green Bay signed as a free the team... Paul Grant led Morgan State with 14 points, while Watson added 10. RogerReid was mostheartened by Ruffner's breakout after a three-game slump in which he baseball crown, snapping Taylorsville’s three-year grip on the tro- NFL PLAYOFFS @ Continued from C-1 9. REIGN ENDS After coach Kim Searle raised the hackles of thestate's 5-A softball teams by pronouncing that 10. OREM EMERGES Orem completed a remarkabie run in May by winning the 5-A neem Coast With Utes in Mind was playing its fifth game in 11 days this is our year,” Bingham’s soft- Thesloppyplay lasted well into the second half. During that ugly stretch of basketball, MVSU expandedits lead to 48-37. USU responded well, though, to a Eustachy technical foul. The Aggies went on a 14-2 run keyed by seven points from Mills and capped by a Justin Jones layup and three-poi inter. All told, USU went from being down by 11 with 12 minutes to play to being upbyfive with 4:43 to play. That's when the Spectrum's automatic light system shut down and the two teams took a breather while waiting for the light bulbs to warm up. But just whenthe lights came back on, Utah State turned them backoff for the Devils. Cougars une MVP honors ball team’s four-year reign was ended. Hillcrest stunned the Miners in a second-roundstate tour. ney game, and Alta claimed the top prize. gin of 11.7. wernoome 1B i = Rocuun TODAY:PREPS ByJay Drew No matter. For the final 12 minutes of the game, the Aggies may have played their best. Afterfalli ehind by11 points earlyin the second period. J went on a 28-4 run and evenedits record at 5-5 with a 80-63 win over Mississippi Valley State at the Spectrum. The victory was USU’s first over a Division I school this season. Tonight, the Ags play Southern Miss in the Gossner Foods Classic finale. Southern Miss beat Buffalo 77-71 Thursday. The Ags and Devils squared off in a tough first half in which saw the lead change hands 11 times. Eric Franson led the wayfor the Aggies with 18 of his 25 points in the first half. Silas Mills added nine of his 21 pointsin the half. Butit was Franson’s defensethat kept USUin the ‘ame. Guarding Marcus Mann, whoentered with a 21point average, Franson limited him to justa pair of buckets in the opening period. Sones MORNING BRIEFING “Hewent 10-of-14 to- night and he neededthat.” Cooper and Christensen also continue to astound. The two freshmenweré »mbined 10-of- 14 from the £ 3-of-6 from the 1994-95 school year, football and stripe and 4-of-5 fromthe three- wrestling point line. Stafford has been slowed most of the season by what were thought to be shin splints, but continuedto play. A bonescan earlier this week revealed the stress fracture. The Cougars (5-5) play at Idaho State Saturday night. They open conference play Jan. 11 at San *$218.85 first month's payment, $2. refundable security deposit and $450 acquisition fee due at lease inception, Monthly payments total $10,504.80. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $16,020 for a 1996 Jetta Gi. with S-speed manual transmission, air conditioning and AM/FM stereo cassette, 48. month dosed-end lease offered to qualified customers ty VW Credit, Inc. through participating dealers. Supplieslimited, my 12/31/95. Requires dealer discount of $600 which could affect final negotiated transaction. Price includes all costs to be paid by mer except for other options, dealer charges, licensing, registration and Lawes. Lease responsible for insurance. At lease end, leasee responsible for $0.1G/mile over 48,000 miles, for damage and excessive wear. Purchase option at lease end for $7,689.60. Dealers set actual prices. See dealer for details. ©1995 Volkswagen STEVE CLIFFORD VOLKSWAGEN 410 So. University Avenue CUTRUBUS VOLKSWAGEN 1234 North Main VOLKSWAGEN NTERMOUNTAIN 3711 South State Street DAVE STRONG VOLKSWAGEN 1045 SouthState Street Provo Layton Salt Lake City Salt Lake City 801-374-1751 Diego State. 801-544-5800 801-262-6401 801.531.9900 — Joe Baird , j “ + |
