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Show Page 6—THE HERALD. Provo. Utah Monday, Decen Sports: What's happening on the national scene, State and local sports, columns and opinions ALK Oiler Defense Stingy in 13-7 Victory Over Broncos HOUSTON (UPI) — Denver Coach Curley Culp said, of a 13-10 win over Red Miller and pfobablya lot of other Washington some years ago All folks did not believe the Houston Oilers defense.’ could pull it off —win without Earl The Oilers built a 10-7 first half lead Campbell on Toni Fritsch’s 31-yard field goal and Miller knew that Oilers’ victories Campbell's 3-yard scoring run And usually coincided with good perfor- then they virtually held Denver at bay mances by the NFL's rushing leader and it was common knowledge that in the only game Campbell missed this Season, Seattle creamed Houston. However, before Campbellarrived in Houston the Oilers made do with occasionally strong defenses and verylittle offense. And in the Oilers’ 13-7 victory over the Denver Broncos’ Sunday, they made do once morefor old times’ sake “It reminded me,” middle guard They had to key with injuriestothree offensive players that one occasion kicker Fred Stein- reinjured a strained iower back early fort's 50-yard field goal try glanced off in the game the right goal post Oilers defenders preferred to think The victory moved Houston into he they shut down Denver. Miller sounded AFC semifinal round against the as if he weren't in total agreement Chargers at San Diego Saturday Bron cos cornerback Louis Wright said he liked the Oilers to win that contest Campbell Against San Diego the way the teams matchup I'd have to say “Basically, it was a do or die situa tion. We werelooking at a Christmasat Diego's defense Against San Diego's offense I'd have to give the edge to quarterback Dar Pastorini and wide receiver Ken Burrough homeor advancing in the playoffs — if welet them score one time said Culp, a 13-year NFL veteran The Broncos moved theball so inconsistently that they threatened to score only oncein the final three quarters. On Houston's offense is better than San Noalibis. No excuses CongratulaUons to the Houston Oilers "he said But you cannot score seven points and win a lot of games Sometimestheoffense broke down. Sometimes (quarterback Craig) Morton held the ball too long. It wasa lot of things 1 didn’t think they could beat us Houston's defense,’’ Wright said without Campbell.’ The Oilers managed without Denver's season ended as the Campbell, whostrained a groin muscle Broncos scored a total of 14 points in late in the second quarter. Pastorini, their final two games. who may have torn a groin muscle in ‘We mustanalyze and do something the third quarter and Burrough, who about our offense next year” Miller said Houston's current problem is getting people healthy Team physican Dr Tom Fain said it would be at least todaybefore the extent of the three injuries could be determined. Campbell said he would play Saturday The injured players contributed heavily to Houston's early lead with Campbell gaining 50 yardson 15 carries and Pastorini throwing for 149 yards Houston's lead also allowed the Oiler's defense to sit in what Miller called a “‘sub defense." “We threw more to our backs today because they took our wide receivers away from us well,” he said. “That's the sub defense.” Denversoffense did not advance the ball inside Houston 18-yard-line but once. The Broncos’ first Possession produced an 80-yard drive and a 7-yard scoring pass from Morton to Dave Preston “We had.”” Philipy ae probably the most courageous of young men out on that field hatrT have ever seen assembled. They ola would not take no for an answer The Oilers sacked Morton six times for a total loss of 40 yards. Defensive end Andy Dorris had three sacks. “A lot of the sacksthat I got wereoff the stunt where Curly cleared the guy out down the middle. Everybody hung together * Dorris said Eagles Dump Bears, 27-17 HOUSTON'S ANDY DORRIS prepares to bearhug Denver's Craig Morton during Sunday's AFC i. Morton was sacked six times as beyles Tefested the Broncos 13-7 to advance to the semifinals against San Diego next Saturdayy(UPI Telephoto) __Marion Dunn Nielsen, Jaworski Reinforce Theory Utah Top State On Survival of Fittest in Basketball Mania The most recent issue of the NCAA Statistics Service College Basketball notes asks the questions: How do you measure college basketball mania in terms of attendance? Total turnout for all senior-college teams regardless of division or association? Per capita ratio of populationsvs. attendance? Per-game turnout? Well, if you live in Utah and have been caught in the goinghometraffic jams from the Marriott Center, the Special Events Center, the Spectrum or the Dee Events Center. you will probably cast your vote for the per capita method. And the NCAA,itself, says that method is a better indication than per gameand uses Wyoming as an example. Wyoming's only senior-college teamis in Division I so it is sixth in per game but 28th in per capita. And, in case you are wondering, Utah is ranked No. 1 among the states in per capita and in per game. Texas is No. 1 in total turnout. In per capita, Utahis first with am amazing 1.58 ratio, 1,228,000 populationvs. 779,248 total attendance. In per game turnout Utah leads at 8,572. In total turnout Texas leads with 1,585,225. But the Lone Star State isn’t in the top 20 in per capita. In fact, only one state, Kentucky, ranks in the top 10 in all three categories. Utah, Indiana, North Carolina, Alabama, PHILADELPHIA (UPI) — Ron third quarter it wasjust a shorttoss to Jaworski has been in Philadelphia for Campfield that helped eliminate the three years and nothing surprises him, Bears. not even fans booing a man who helped Campfield. who is used mainly in sure passing situations, crossed with lead the Eagles into the playoffs. Forget that he had thrown for 18 Carmichael and snared the pass touchdownsandfinished fourth in NFC Carmichael got just enough of passing efficiency during the regular linebacker Jerry Muckensterm to take season. The ‘ans did, because once him outof the play, and wide receiver Jaworski threw four straight incomple- Charlie Smith picked off a Bear secontions, fumbled the ball away and threw dary man at the Chicago 45 to spring aninterception, they booed andcalled Campfield all the way. for replacement John Walton. Chicago CoachNeill Armstrong sugUndaunted. Jaworski cameback and gested Carmichael may have runinto fired two second-half touchdownpasses Muckensterm onhis crossing pattern to rally the Eagles from a 17-10 half- while the ball was in the air, contime deficit and give them a 27-17 vic- Stituting an illegal pick. “T don’t know whetherit waslegal or tory over the Chicago Bearsin the NFC wild card playoff game. their first post- anillegal pick but the play really hurt us,"’ he said. ‘It’s a crossing pattern season win since 1960. Philadelphia now plays at NFC and we do it sometimes but I’m not Central champion Tampa Bayin the sureif they picked our guyoff.” The go-ahead touchdown followed an NFC semifinal playoff game next interception by Philadelphia cornerSaturday. Jaworski threw two scoring passes to back Bobby Lee Howard in the end zone Harold Carmichael before completing that snuffed out a Bears’ marchat the a short toss to reserve tailback Billy Eagles’ 9-yard line with the gametied. Campfield that turned into the Eagles’ Mike Phipps threw the ball for Brian 63-yard go-ahead touchdown with 12:24 Baschnagel when Howard stepped in left to play. It almost madehim forget frontof the intended receiver. Jaworski hit Carmichael on a 17-yard aboutthe fans’ reaction during a period late in the second quarter and early in TD passand Tony Franklin kicked a 29yard field goal to give the Eagles an the third when hestruggled. “That's a bunch of garbage.’ he said early 10-7 lead. But Walter Payton, who of the jeers. ‘They can say what they scored on a 2-yard runearlier. plunged want to say but I have a jobto do. It one yard and Bob Thomaskicked a 30didn’t bother meatall. But I’ve been yard field goal to give the Bears a 17-10 here three years and I know whatit's halftime advantage. Chicago wentscoreless in the second like. They can get down on you after a half and Jaworski threw two TD passes couple of mistakes.” “There will be times when a quarter- while Franklin booted a 34-yard field back can’t complete everything,” said goal. The Bears werehurt when an 84-yard Carmichael, who snared six passes for 111 yards. ‘Sometimes we make mis- run by Payton to the Philadelphia 1 was takes that the fans don’t see. But he’s called back because of an illegal motion penalty against Baschnagel, who the quarterback.I thoughtit was great when the fans gave him an ovation said ‘I would knowifit was illegal mowhen heleft thefield (at the end of the tion or not, anc it wasn’t.’” Payton, the NFC’s leading rusher, game).” While Jaworski was on the money was slowed when he aggravated a with his TD passesof 17 and 29 yards to pinched nervein his neck in the second Carmichael, the second of which tied quarter and gained only 67 yards in 16 the game 17-17 midway through the carries, Kansas and Oklahomaarein the top 20 in all three. Here are the top 10 teams in the three categories: Per Capita Ratio 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Utah New Mexico S. Dakota Montana Kansas Pop. Rank 158 24 2737 2.742 2.99 6. Nevada 7. Kentucky 8. Rhode Island 9. W. Virginia 10. Tennes: see Total Attendance 36 4 43 31 3047 30 315 9 35M 3317 1. Texas 2.N. Carolina 3. Indiana 4. California 5. Ohio 6. Tennessee 7, New York 8. Penn. 1171 227 9. Kentucky 149 10. Ilinois mes 16. Utah ‘om Per-Game Average 1 Utah 8.572 6. 7. 8, 9. 10. 3.990 316. 3.000 2.780 2670 2.N 3. New Mexico 4, Arizona 5. Kentucky Saturday night in Logan. Tayloris the only Cougar listed in the top 20 of any category. And rebounding is the only category in which any WAC player is listed. UTEP’s Terry White is tied for 19th with 78 and 11.1. For those who have wondered about in-coming member Air Force's rebounding ability, note that the Falcons’ Reggie Jonesis 9th with 73 and 12.2. In team statistics, Wyoming is 10th in scoring margin and 11th in field goal percentage defense. Louisiana State, coached by former Utah State assistant, Dale Brown, is the nation's leading offensive team with an averageof 99.8 points per game. Just thought you would like to know where you stand as fans. aoe In games through Dec. 17, BYU's centerAlan Tayloris fifth in rebounds with 97 for an average of 13.9 per game. Before the season started, Taylor set a personal goal of 15 rebounds per game and heisjust under that figure although he had only 9 against Utah State last Hey,here in Utah we are proud of the fact that we have four major colleges within 180 miles of each other, but Michigan can top that. Michigan and Eastern Michigan are only 10 miles apart in Washtenaw County. There can’t be too many states who can boast two major colleges in the same county. . Coachly Quips: Cincinnati basketball coach Ed Badger commented on getting his players enough game time to keep them happy: ‘‘Basketballis difficult compared to football,” he said. ‘Football coaches can. start 11 on offense, 11 on defense, 11 on the kickoff and kickoff return teams, 11 on the punt and — whatis it — the anti- 5,904 5.80 5.512 4.063 Wyoming Louisiana Indiana N. Carolina Rhode Island By MILTON RICHMAN UPISports Editor ~ aa. ALAN TAYLOR 5th in Rebounds punt team. SometimesI'd like to Start seven at once, but they won't let me.” Badger also talked about the shooting of sophomore Bobby Austin: “If I were a player and my coach told me to take the open shot, I'd be thrilled. I got three assists myself last game telling him to shoot.” Pan AmericancoachBill White saw his team upset UNLV, 77-75, when a Rebel player scored a split second after the buzzer and then edge Murray State, 67-65, when a Murraytry rolled off the rim. Both games were on the road. White, whose ageis 42, said after the Murray game: “No, I'm not feeling the pressure — I feel great for a man of 62." wound up leading the Eaglesto a 27-17 NEW YORK (UPI) — Essentially, the NFL’s wild card playoffs didn’t prove too much from purely a football standpoint. Houston and Philadelphia, the two winners, move into the second round, but both remain long shots to get to The Big Showdownin the Super Bowl. What Sunday's activity accomplished more than anything else was reinforce Darwin's theory on survival of the fittest, and it was a pea green quarterback and a veteran one who did most to substantiate the hypothesis. "Gifford Neilsen, Houston's seldomused, second-year backup man for Dan Pastorini, was the ie who took over the Oilers after Pastorini pulled a groin muscle sete at the start of the second half and guided them to a 13-7 win over the Denver Broncos. Making his job all the tougher was the fact he didn’t have the services of Earl Campbell, the league's most productive runner, or stickout wide Pecaiver Ken Burrough. either. Campbellalso suffered a pulled muscle in his groin and Burrougns aggravated a tailbone injury in the first half. But the 25-year-old Neilsen. showing remarkable poise for someone with so little previousapares time, hung in there and survi ith a little help from his friends. His best friends were the Oilers’ defense, which sacked Bronco quarterback Craig Morton six different times. Ron Jaworski, the Eagles’ long experienced quarterback, had anentirely different problem than Neilsen. The fans in Philadelphia’'s Veteran Stadibe began booing him whenhe chose to y on the ground rather than pass ae the Chicago Bears had increased their lead to 17-10 with a 31-yard field goal near the end ofthe first half. Instead of letting it bother him, however, Jaworski threw a pair of touchdown passes in the secondhalf, giving kim three for the game. and victory. Oneof the reasons the Eagles will be meeting the Tampa Bay Buccaneersin Florida Saturday in one of the NFC’s second round playoff games is because most of the breaks went against the Bears in Sunday's contest. Walter Payton scored both Chicago touchdowns, one on a 2-yard plunge in the first quarter. and the other on a 1yard rush in the second quarter, after which he had another 84 yard to the Eagles’ 1 yard line called back in the third quarter because teammate Brian Baschnagel was foundguilty ofillegal motion. “That was the play that broke our backs,’ lamented Neill Armstrong. the Bears’ coach. Dick Vermeil. the Eagles’ coach. felt his team was fortunate to win. “Some things happened in the second half,”’ he said. ‘“‘If they had gone the Bears way they'd have won.” Houston now goes on to meet San Diego on the Chargers’ home turf Saturday in the AFC's second round paves and it was Canipbell who elped put the Oilers there by scoring their only touchdown against the Broncos Sunday less than a minute before thefirst half ended. Campbell streaked over from three yards out and had trouble getting up after scoring. That was the play on whichhepulled a musclebut the Oilers say he and Pastorini probably will be readyto play against the Chargers. Pastorini’s injury was something of a freak. Nobody even touched him. Looking for a receiver while trying to pass, he was jumping up and down and pumping the ball when he suddenly clutched the inside of his thigh. The pain was so intense, he had to be carried off the field. Upon taking over the Pastorini, Nielsen kept it basically simple and didn't try to get fancy. He did have one of his passes intercepted on Houston's 26 early in the final quarter but the Broncos couldn’t capitalize. |