College Football (The All-American Football League)

[OmahaBaseball]

Very fun to follow along - I really like what you are doing.

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Thanks, Chowderhead. For those of you following the AAFL, I will be posting a Heisman ballot at season's end. Please feel free to express your opinions.

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Los Angeles--Replace the Texas Two-Step with the two-point conversion.

Vince Young perfectly executed the option pitch to Earl Campbell on the deciding two-point conversion as the #1-ranked Texas Longhorns tipped the USC Trojans 29-28 in perhaps this season's most exciting game.

"Both teams played well all day long," said USC head coach John McKay. "It's a shame someone had to lose."

The game could have easily ended as a tie. After a Ricky Bell touchdown put USC ahead 28-21 with just 1:20 remaining, Texas launched its final drive. Young drove the Longhorns 45 yards in just 35 seconds. The key play was 19-yard pass play to Mike Adams. Young capped the drive with a two-yard TD pass to Pittman.

"Vince Young came up big on the last drive," said Texas head coach Darrell Royal. "He's done that all season long for us."

Royal then passed up the extra point kick for a tie in favor on the two-point attempt for the victory.

"You don't play for a tie in this league if you can help it," said Royal.

On the conversion, Young faked an inside dive play to his fullback and rolled right drawing two USC defenders to him. At the last possible moment, Young pitched the ball to Campbell. The Texas running back broke an arm tackle and easily ran into the end zone.

Young ran for 20 yards and a touchdown on the day. He also threw for two scores. Matt Leinart completed 11-of-13 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown pass.

Nebraska 28, Colorado 14

The third-ranked Cornhuskers set up a showdown next week with top-rated Texas by bashing the Buffaloes. With second-ranked Oklahoma struggling against winless Wisconsin, there is speculation that Nebraska will move to No. 2 in the rankings.

Following a pair of Johnny Rodgers' touchdowns early in the game, Mike Rozier ran for 149 yards and a score. Ahman Green added 120 yards and a TD run.

"That's a potent team right there," said Colorado head coach Bill McCartney. "They have so many weapons it makes your head spin."

Colorado scored its touchdowns on big plays. Charlie Davis scored on a 57-yard TD run in the first quarter. J.J. Flannigan broke away for a 74-yard touchdown romp late in the third quarter.

"We need to shore up our defense for next Saturday," said Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne.

Washington 35, BYU 29

Down 35-14 in the fourth quarter, BYU staged a ferocious comeback only to fall short in the end.

First, Robbie Bosco hit Mike Mills for a 76-yard touchdown play at the 6:02 mark. Ty Detmer then found David Mills for a 66-yard TD with just 1:12 remaining. A successful two-point conversion pulled the Cougars within a touchdown of Washington. However, an onside kick attempt failed.

The Huskies outgained the Cougars 555 yards to 507. Greg Lewis led Washington with 152 yards rushing, including a 65-yard score. Rich Alexis added 99 yards, 81 of which came on a record-setting TD dash. Billy Joe Hobart tossed two touchdown passes.

"We looked sharp early and then relaxed a little too much," said Washington head coach Don James. "It nearly cost us the ballgame."

UCLA 24, Arizona State 10

After falling behind early, the Bruins blitzed the Sun Devils with 24 unanswered points.

"They went by us like we were standing still," said Arizona State head coach Frank Kush.

Following a Danny White-to-Mel Owens touchdown pass, the Bruins got rolling on a 42-yard TD run by Skip Hicks. Later, Karim Abdul-Jabbar scored twice to cap long UCLA drives and the Bruins never looked back.

"This is a game we had to win if we have any hopes of winning (the West)," said UCLA head coach Terry Donahue.

Abdul-Jabbar wound up the game with 86 yards on 12 attempts. Hicks finished with 66 yards on seven carries.

Arizona State was plagued by turnovers, fumbling the ball away twice and being intercepted once.

West Standings
Nebraska 4-0
Texas 4-0
UCLA 3-1
Washington 2-2
BYU 1-3
Colorado 1-3
USC 1-3
Arizona State 0-4

Week 5 Schedule
Colorado @ Arizona State
USC @ BYU
Washington @ UCLA
Texas @ Nebraska

West Player of the Week: Greg Lewis, Washington (shown below)

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Max Mercy, Jr. here again, folks . . .

This week's matchup of #1-ranked Texas and #2-rated Nebraska may be known as How the West was Won after the final gun sounds. It's not only the a battle of the top two teams in the latest All-American Football League poll, but more importantly gives the winner a leg up on taking the West title and moving into the playoffs.

So, which team does Ole Max give an edge to? Let's check the tale of the tape. Texas, 4-0, has played both its close games on the road (narrow wins over BYU and USC). Nebraska, also 4-0, has been pretty tough in Lincoln with victories over UCLA and Colorado. Edge: Nebraska.

The Longhorns have rolled up 153 points thus far this season. That's an average of 38.3 for those of you mathematically challenged. Nebraska is averaging 32.5 points a contest. Defensively, Texas is giving up 22.8 per game while the Cornhuskers are surrendering 19.3 . . . Edge: Even.

Texas features better offensive balance. Earl Campbell (236 yards) and Ricky Williams (219 yards) are the top rushers. Vince Young has shown the ability to both run and pass efficiently. Mike Adams is the top Longhorn receiver. Nebraska, meanwhile, is all about the run. Ahman Green (441 yards) and Mike Rozier (380 yards) power the ground game that goes deeper than a dandelion root. Six different Cornhuskers have scored rushing touchdowns this fall. The passing game has been virtually non-existent this season. Some would argue that Nebraska hasn't needed to throw. Edge: Texas.

Whose special teams are more special? Texas' Dean Campbell has two punt returns for TDs and Nathan Vasher has one. Johnny Rodgers has a kickoff return score and also handles the punt return duties. Both teams' kickers have just one field goal this year. Of course, there ain't much use for field goals when you can score six. Edge: Even.

Which coach is better, Darrell Royal or Bud Wilkinson. Why don't you ask Ole Max which Sports Illustrated swimsuit model is the greatest? It's a wash (don't you like how Ole Max paints a picture?) . . .

So just how does Ole Max see this one turning out? Well, folks, it will come down to special teams. Give Nebraska the win by a field goal, 31-28.

Luck of the Irish
How fortunate has Notre Dame been this season? Well, the Fighting Irish of Knute Rockne are 4-0 . . . yet, ND has outscored opponents by just over five points a game. The Irish have two seven-point wins while twice edging teams from the state of Michigan by four and three points respectively. Three straight weeks have brought comeback victories. Sometimes, Ole Max notes, it's better to be lucky rather than good.

Ole Max's Big Poll
1. Texas (4-0)--Vince Young rode again this past week.
2. Nebraska (4-0)--The Cornhuskers take over the second spot and are waiting in Lincoln to lasso the Longhorns.
3. Oklahoma (4-0)--The Sooners may have the inside track to the Midwest title, but then again they struggled to get past winless Wisconsin.
4. Florida State (4-0)--A last-minute win over archrival Miami sweetens the Seminoles' season.
5. Notre Dame (4-0)--When will the Irish luck run out? Maybe, it won't.
6. Penn State (3-1)--Joe Pa's Lions roared back from their first loss of the season quite nicely.
7. HBCU (3-1)--The Titans run the ball better than anyone, including Nebraska.
8. Syracuse (3-1)--Only one of this week's teams ranked sixth, seventh and eighth will be crowned East champions.
9. Michigan (3-1)--Bo still can't believe he lost to Notre Dame in the Big House back in week two.
10. Auburn (3-1)--The Tigers have renewed life after this week's heart-pounding win.

Heisman Hype
1. Willie Galimore, HBCU--Still the odds-on favorite to strike the pose.
2. Ahman Green, Nebraska--A big game against Texas this week could go a long way to vaulting this 'Husker past Galimore.
3. Bo Jackson, Auburn--Bo may know a lot of things, but Bo knows running the football best.
4. Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh--A dark horse candidate who continues to play well in the Steel City.
5. Walter Payton, HBCU--Too bad for Walter he's in the same backfield with Galimore. Good for the Titans that Walter's in the same backfield with Galimore.

Until the final gun sounds in Lincoln, this is Max Mercy, Jr. signing off . . .

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State College, Penn.--Penn State head coach Joe Paterno sent Michael Robinson out to start the second half with the intention of his quarterback making something happen.

Robinson did just that on his first play from scrimmage. With the Nittany Lions trailing 17-14, Robinson broke free on a 78-yard touchdown run. The TD scamper ignited sixth-ranked Penn State to a 35-17 win that put the Nittany Lions in the driver's seat of the All-American Football League East title chase.

"It was just a straight option," said Robinson. "I faked the pitch, cut back inside and saw daylight all the way."

After a three-and-out series by Syracuse, Robinson engineered another scoring drive. Ki-Jana Carter capped the march with a 36-yard touchdown run.

"Michael makes things happen," said Carter, who rushed for 74 yards and two TDs. "Our other QBs may be better pure passers, but Micheal adds a dimension that makes defenses nervous."

Robinson wound up with 86 yards rushing and 50 passing. Larry Johnson rushed for 70 yards and John Cappelletti scored a touchdown for Penn State.

Syracuse, ranked eighth, scored its touchdowns in the first half on a run by James Mungro and a pass from Marvin Graves to Art Monk. Jim Brown led the Orangemen with 40 rushing yards.

Kim Herring returned an interception for a 57-yard touchdown in the game's final minute to ice the victory.

"We made some adjustments at halftime on the defensive side of the ball," said Paterno. "It paid off for us."

Penn State improved to 4-1 on the season. Syracuse fell to 3-2.

HBCU 21, Ivy 0

The seventh-rated Titans continued their solid running game yet it was their defense that enjoyed their finest day.

HBCU upped its record to 4-1. However, its loss to Penn State earlier this season means the Titans will need some help if they are to win the East title.

HBCU ran for 321 yards as a team. Tank Younger led the way with 73 yards and a touchdown. Emerson Boozer added 69 yards while Willie Galimore ran for 57 yards and a score.

"We used Willie more as a decoy this week," said HBCU head coach Eddie Robinson. "It worked out well."

The Titans also scored through the air when Willie Totten connected with Gloster Richardson for a 15-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

Ivy struggled all game long to get its offense on track. The Eagles (1-4) twice threw interceptions while in the red zone.

Pittsburgh 22, Boston College 21

Dan Marino had struggled all day long, but when it counted most the Pittsburgh quarterback came up big.

Marino and the Panthers rallied from a 21-7 deficit. The Pittsburgh signal caller completed the comeback by tossing a seven-yard touchdown pass to Julius Dawkins with just 31 seconds left. Pittsburgh then lined up for a two-point conversion and the potential win.

"There's no other way to play it," said Marino who had earlier thrown two interceptions.

Tony Dorsett, who logged a game-high 130 rushing yards, scored the two-point conversion on sweep behind pulling lineman Mark May and fullback Craig "Ironhead" Heyward.

Boston College scored twice on touchdown passes from Matt Hasselbeck to Brian Brennan. Shawn Halloran also had a TD pass.

Clemson 21, Armed Forces 14

The Patriots' bid for their first win of the season ended when Tiger defensive back Terry Kennard intercepted Roger Staubach in the game's waning moments.

Clemson (3-1-1) used the powerful legs of Kevin Mack to earn the hard-fought win. Mack carried the ball 11 times for 118 yards. He scored on a 64-yard run midway through the second quarter.

"Kevin Mack was the man," said Clemson wide receiver Perry Tuttle.

Glenn Davis led Armed Forces with 78 rushing yards and two TDs. Napoleon McCallum chipped in 61 yards on 12 carries. Staubach struggled with a 4-for-11 passing performance.

"We're getting closer (to a win) every week," said Armed Forces head coach Earl "Red" Blaik.

East Standings
HBCU 4-1
Penn State 4-1
Clemson 3-1-1
Pittsburgh 3-2
Syracuse 3-2
Boston College 1-3-1
Ivy 1-4
Armed Forces 0-5

Week 6 Schedule
Pittsburgh @ Armed Forces
Boston College @ Penn State
Ivy @ Clemson
Syracuse @ HBCU

East Player of the Week: Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh (shown below)

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Gainesville, Fla.--Florida head ball coach Steve Spurrier didn't get the license plate number of the monster truck that ran over his team in the second half Saturday.

"All I can tell you is that they flattened us but good," said Spurrier after his Gators surrendered 35 second half points as fourth-ranked Florida State pounded Florida 56-31.

Things looked good for Spurrier and the Gators at halftime. Florida, thanks in part to Spurrier's play at quarterback, held a 31-21 advantage.

"We felt good, especially the '66 version of me," said Spurrier. "All that changed after the bands left the field."

The Seminoles (5-0) came out like gang busters. First, Charlie Ward connected with Snoop Minnis on a 20-yard touchdown pass. A series later, Chris Weinke scrambled for a six-yard score. Ward later hooked up with Fred Biletnikoff on a TD pass and Greg Allen ran for two scores.

"Our offense was fine all day long, it was the defense I had a talking to at halftime," said Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden.

Whatever Bowden said, it worked. While Spurrier enjoyed success (12-for-13 for 219 yards and a touchdown), Kerwin Bell (0-for-9) and Shane Matthews (6-for-14 for 134 yards) did not. Danny Wuerffel left the game with a sprained wrist after being sacked by Derrick Brooks early in the third quarter.

"That's one heck of a football team," said Spurrier. "They could win it all."

Tennessee 28, LSU 14

The Volunteers ran off 21 unanswered points as they knocked off the Tigers in Baton Rouge.

Charlie Garner, James Jones and Travis Henry each scored rushing touchdowns. Andy Kelly hit Joey Kent with a 16-yard touchdown pass as Tennessee improved to 3-2.

"This is as tough a place to win as there is," said Tennessee head coach Robert Neyland. "What we accomplished today is no small feat."

LSU (2-3) gained just 201 total yards. The Tigers were intercepted twice, lost a fumble and were whistled for 11 penalties.

"Other than special teams we didn't do much right today," said LSU quarterback Bert Jones.

Skyler Green ran back his fourth punt return for a touchdown against the Volunteers. His latest return covered 90 yards.

Auburn 26, Miami 21

The 10th-ranked Tigers kept their post-season hopes alive by holding off the Hurricanes.

Bo Jackson ran 12 times for 109 yards to pace Auburn (4-1). His rushing kept the Miami defense off balance and opened up the Tiger passing game. Dameyune Craig threw a pair of TD passes, one to Karston Bailey and the other to Joe Cribbs.

"Bo cracked their defense and the quarterbacks broke it wide open," said Auburn head coach Shug Jordan.

Miami (0-5) also enjoyed success through the air. Bernie Kosar led the way by throwing for 210 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Jim Kelly's 20-yard TD pass to Brian Blades cut Auburn's lead to 19-14 early in the second half.

"Then came the play that broke our backs," said Miami head coach Jimmy Johnson.

Vince Dooley intercepted a Vinny Testaverde pass and ran it back 28 yards for a touchdown.

"I ruined our momentum," said Testaverde of his fourth interception of the year.

Alabama 28, Georgia 21

Bear Bryant's Crimson Tide finally put together what he termed "a pretty good effort for 60 minutes."

The result gave Alabama its second win of the season. Georgia fell to 2-3.

For perhaps the first time all year, the Crimson Tide quarterbacks gave Bryant something to smile about. Steve Sloan opened the scoring with a 35-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ozzie Newsome.

"That's a play we should use more often," said Bryant of Newsome's pattern down the middle of the field.

Sloan, Kenny Stabler, Joe Namath and Brody Croyle threw just enough to keep the Bulldog defense from loading up the line of scrimmage. That allowed Tony Nathan to enjoy his finest day in a Crimson Tide uniform. Nathan rushed for 123 yards on 11 carries.

"Other fellas got to smell the end zone today, but Tony set us up for success," said Bryant.

Georgia (2-3) was dealt a severe blow early in the game when Herschel Walker left with a high ankle sprain. Walker ran the ball just three time for nine yards.

"That hurt us but it didn't lose the game," said Georgia head coach Vince Dooley. "We've got other backs capable of stepping in for Herschel."

Fran Tarkenton tried his best to rally the Bulldogs. The Georgia quarterback completed 8-of-11 passes for 113 yards and a 30-yard touchdown to Hines Ward.

"Fran gave us a chance," said Dooley. "But give Alabama credit for the win."

South Standings
Florida State 5-0
Auburn 4-1
Tennessee 3-2
Alabama 2-3
Georgia 2-3
Florida 2-3
LSU 2-3
Miami 0-5

Week 6 Schedule
Miami @ Alabama
Auburn @ LSU
Florida State @ Georgia
Tennessee @ Florida

South Player of the Week: Tony Nathan, Alabama (shown below)

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South Bend, Ind.--Notre Dame head coach Knute Rockne has gotten used to his team falling behind and then rallying for victory. Yet, even he didn't expect it against winless Wisconsin.

"I just can't seem to get through to my guys," Rockne said. "Every opponent is dangerous."

Wisconsin certainly was. The Badgers cashed in on three straight Notre Dame fumbles and took a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Down 21-7 at halftime, the Fighting Irish rallied to tie the score on a pair of touchdown runs by Allen Pinkett and Jerome Bettis. Yet, Wisconsin again took the lead on a nine-yard dash by Dwight Smith with 10:14 left in the game.

After a key 44-yard kickoff return by Raghib Ismail, Brady Quinn marched the Irish to the tying score. Quinn connected with Tim Brown for a 26-yard touchdown pass with 5:51 remaining.

After holding Wisconsin on its next series, Notre Dame put together the winning drive. The Irish went 65 yards on six plays. Pinkett scored the game-winner on a three-yard run with 2:02 left on the clock.

Bob Crable put the icing on the cake for Notre Dame by sacking Ron Vanderkelen for a safety to provide the final 37-28 margin.

Pinkett led the Irish with a season-high 136 yards on 19 carries. His 55-yard run on the final drive proved to be fatal for the Badgers.

Oklahoma 35, Michigan 31

Perhaps Bud Wilkinson has watched too much film of Notre Dame lately. Taking a page out of the Fighting Irish book, Wilkinson's Oklahoma Sooners rallied to victory.

The first 20 minutes of the game of the game belonged to Michigan. Desmond Howard got the Wolverines off and running with a 98-yard return of the game's opening kickoff. The next three drives all resulted in Michigan scores.

"We wanted to take the crowd out of the game," said Howard.

Trailing 28-7, Oklahoma scored on a 15-yard run by Greg Pruitt with 4:22 remaining prior to halftime. Wilkinson then pulled out some trickery--an onside kick.

"We needed something to get us going," said Wilkinson. "Fortunately, it worked."

With momentum on their side, the Sooners scored on a 26-yard run by Tommy McDonald and then opened the second half with two straight touchdown drives.

"We knew we could come back and win," said Sooner back Adrian Peterson who scored both TDs, the second coming on a 23-yard pass from Claude Arnold.

Michigan (3-2) could muster only a Remy Hamilton in the second half.

Ohio State 17, Michigan State 7

The Buckeyes turned in a workman-like performance to keep the Spartans without a victory on the season.

In true Woody Hayes fashion, Ohio State passed for just 66 yards yet controlled the game. Mike Nugent kicked a 22-yard field goal just before halftime to give the Buckeyes a 3-0 lead.

Michigan State enjoyed a brief 7-3 lead when T.J. Duckett broke free on a 40-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. Ohio State (3-2) answered with an 80-yard, 10-running play drive that ended with Eddie George scoring from a yard out.

"We knew they were going to run and run, but we didn't stop them," said Michigan State's Bubba Smith.

Ohio State put the game away with another all running drive in the game's waning minutes. Pepe Pearson capped the drive with a six-yard run.

Purdue 55, Illinois 23

Boilermaker head coach Joe Tiller decided to mix things up a bit by running the ball more than normal. Following a rout of Illinois, Tiller smiled at the results.

"Montrell Lowe gave us quite a ground game today," said Tiller. "Maybe I should switch to the wishbone."

Lowe ran for 100 yards on 16 carries. Otis Armstrong added 45 yards, 25 of which came on his first-quarter touchdown run.

"Purdue did what they wanted to us today," said Illinois linebacker Dick Butkus.

The Boilermakers rang up 607 yards in total offense. Purdue ran for 257 yards while throwing for 350.

Purdue's balance was evident on the scoring sheet. Four different running backs scored touchdowns while three different receivers caught TD passes from three different quarterbacks.

"Balance is nice, but the key is that we didn't turn the ball over," said Tiller.

Midwest Standings
Notre Dame 5-0
Oklahoma 5-0
Michigan 3-2
Ohio State 3-2
Purdue 3-2
Illinois 1-4
Michigan State 0-5
Wisconsin 0-5

Week 6 Schedule
Illinois @ Michigan
Michigan State @ Wisconsin
Notre Dame @ Purdue
Oklahoma @ Ohio State

Midwest Player of the Week: Allen Pinkett, Notre Dame (shown below)

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Lincoln, Neb.--When it was over, nothing had really been decided.

"It was one heckuva football game," said Texas head coach Darrell Royal after his No. 1-ranked Longhorns rallied to tie second-rated Nebraska 34-34.

Cornhusker head coach Tom Osborne added, "It looked bad for us early, pretty darn good in the middle but ended much the way it started."

Things indeed looked bad early for Nebraska. Mike Adams ran back the opening kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown. Moments later, Nebraska's Tom Rathman fumbled. The Longhorns cashed in on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Vince Young to running back Hodges Mitchell. Two series later, Young hooked up with Lam Jones on a 38-yard TD pass.

"It looked like a Texas-sized blowout at that point," said Osborne.

Yet, there was hope. Texas kicker Russell Erxleben missed one extra point and had another blocked.

Nebraska owned the second and third quarters. The Cornhuskers scored five touchdowns in that span. The final score came on a fourth-down gamble as quarterback Scott Frost hit Irving Fryer on an 18-yard TD pass. Nebraska held a seemingly safe 34-19 lead with just over a quarter to play.

"We needed something to spark us," said Royal. "It wasn't magical. It was just getting back to basics and some old-fashioned hard work."

The Longhorns cut Nebraska's lead to eight when Mitchell capped a 68-yard drive with a five-yard TD run with 4:22 left. Nebraska appeared on the verge of running out the clock with a time-consuming drive. Then came one of the game's key plays. Frost fumbled a snap and Brad Shearer recovered for Texas on the Longhorn 26 with 1:24 remaining.

A play later, seldom-used Texas running back Chris Gilbert turned in the biggest play of his season. Gilbert took a swing pass from Major Applewhite and rambled for a 57-yard gain to the Nebraska 16.

"That play should never have gained all those yards," said Osborne. "But, it did."

Texas drove to the Cornhusker three-yard line with 36 seconds remaining. Three incomplete passes brought up a fourth-and-goal. With the game hanging in the balance, Applewhite rifled a touchdown pass to Kwame Cavil. That set up the game-deciding two-point conversion attempt.

"We had talked about this possibility all week long," said Royal. "We wanted the ball in Vince Young's hands."

Young came off the sideline, ran the option to perfection and scored virtually untouched.

"You figured that's what they'd run, but you still have to stop it," said Osborne.

Nebraska tried its best to get within field goal range, but could advance the ball no further than its own 45 yard-line when time ran out.

Mike Rozier led the Cornhuskers with 133 yards rushing. Ricky Williams led Texas with 94 yards on 12 attempts. In addition to his two-point conversion, Young passed for two touchdowns.

The result leaves both teams with 4-0-1 records. If both teams win out, a special playoff game will be held on a neutral site.

"We can't worry about that now, there's still two games to be played by both of us," said Osborne.

BYU 34, USC 28

Tom Tuipulotu wanted the ball with the game on the line. LaVell Edwards agreed.

Tuipulotu took a handoff from Ty Detmer and raced in for the winning toucdown from six yards out with 1:12 left in the game to give BYU the win.

"Tom is a hard runner," said Edwards. "We thought USC might be expecting the pass so we went with it."

Tuipulotu ran for 31 yards and two touchdowns on the day.

Although BYU missed the extra point to open the door for USC, the Trojans failed to convert on their final drive. USC turned the ball over on downs when Carson Palmer's final pass sailed over Lynn Swann's outstretched hands.

"We let another one get away," said USC head coach John McKay.

Reggie Bush led USC with 96 rushing yards, including a 54-yard touchdown run.

Colorado 21, Arizona State 14

This proved to be a game of two halves.

The Buffaloes raced to a 21-0 halftime lead and then did virtually nothing in the second half. Arizona State, meanwhile, put together just enough offense to pull within seven points in the game's final minutes yet failed to prevent Colorado from running out the clock.

"We played hard, for a half," said Colorado head coach Bill McCartney. "We're fortunate to get out of here with the win."

James Mayberry, Rae Carruth and Rashaan Salaam all scored rushing touchdowns for Colorado. Terry Battle led Arizona State with 47 rushing yards and scored both Sun Devil touchdowns.

Colorado moved its record to 2-3 while Arizona State dropped to 0-5.

"We haven't given up yet," said Arizona State quarterback Danny White. "We'll get a win this season."

Washington 14, UCLA 7

The Huskies won this low-scoring affair by turning in big plays on defense.

"Give our defense credit for this one," said Washington head coach Don James. "They deserve one big game ball."

UCLA (3-2) jumped out to a 7-0 on a first-quarter touchdown pass from Gary Beban to J.J. Stokes. After that score, Washington (3-2) thwarted the Bruin offense the remainder of the day. Walter Bailey intercepted a pair of UCLA passes, including one in the end zone midway through the third quarter.

"Walter turned the game around in our favor," said James.

Washington's offense finally got untracked following Bailey's key play. The Huskies moved the ball 80 yards in nine plays. Corey Dillon's 31-yard touchdown run allowed Washington to tie the game.

The Huskies put together what turned out to be the game's deciding drive early in the fourth quarter. Dillon, Hugh McElhenny and Napoleon Kauffman did the bulk of the work on the 10-play, 77-yard drive that ended on Rich Alexis' 10-yard touchdown run.

UCLA managed just 88 yards on the ground. Gaston Green was the leading Bruin rusher with only 26 yards.

West Standings
Nebraska 4-0-1
Texas 4-0-1
UCLA 3-2
Washington 3-2
BYU 2-3
Colorado 2-3
USC 1-4
Arizona State 0-5

Week 6 Schedule
USC @ Arizona State
BYU @ UCLA
Texas @ Colorado
Washington @ Nebraska

West Player of the Week: Mike Rozier, Nebraska (shown below)

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Max Mercy, Jr. here again, folks . . .

Well, by now you've watched the highlights of the 34-34 tie between Texas and Nebraska many times over. You've read all the game stories that have been splashed across the papers and posted on the web. You've heard all kinds of chatter on sports talk radio. It's time for Ole Max to give you some insight the rest overlooked. Here's Ole Max's two cents' worth:

This game played out like an old Love Boat episode for the folks from Austin. The first third of the game all was wine and roses as they boarded the ship and built a 19-0 lead . . . the middle part of the game saw the problems settle in on our cast as Nebraska rallied and took what seemed to be a safe lead . . . and the finale brought the Longhorns and their lovers back (what's that they say about a tie and kissing your sister?!).

Now if you've from Lincoln and clad in red, well the game didn't have such a happy ending. Things looked dreary early like the start of an awkward trip to the used car lot. Everything seems to be going in the flashy saleman's favor, then before you know it you threaten to walk away and the deal appears to swing your way . . . but as you're pulling away from the lot you realize you just bought a lemon and it sure tastes sour.

If you didn't follow anything Ole Max said, just know this: Unless one of these two teams slips up in their last two games, they'll meet again to determine which of 'em represents the West in the All-American Football League bowl playoffs. Only this time, the game won't be in Lincoln. And it won't be in Austin either. Ole Maxie's sources tell him to look for that new fangled ballyard of the pro football Cardinals to play host to this game. If it pans out . . .

Ole Max's Big Poll
1. Florida State (5-0)--Bobby Bowden can't downplay his juggernaut any more.
2. Texas (4-0-1)--Fifteen points in the last 4:22 saves the Longhorns.
3. Nebraska (4-0-1)--Things looked good until the last 4:22.
4. Oklahoma (5-0)--The Sooners defeated a pretty good Michigan team.
5. Notre Dame (5-0)--Mr. Rockne, let me intoduce you to Mr. Pinkett.
6. Penn State (4-1)--A win over Syracuse means the Nittany Lions control their own fate.
7. HBCU (4-1)--If only Penn State can somehow stumble . . .
8. Auburn (4-1)--Another strong performance by Bo Jackson, another Tiger win.
9. Michigan (3-2)--The Wolverines played Oklahoma to the wire.
10. Tennessee (3-2)--The Vols' win in Baton Rouge raised some eyebrows.

Heisman Hopefuls
1. Willie Galimore, HBCU--Eddie Robinson used him as a decoy this week. Yet, his body of work speaks for itself.
2. Bo Jackson, Auburn--Another day, another 100-plus yard peformance.
3. Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh--Quickly and quietly climbing the charts.
4. Mike Rozier, Nebraska--Came up big when the Cornhuskers needed him most.
5. Ahman Green, Nebraska--Held to just 35 yards by Texas. His star is tarnished.

Looking forward to next Saturday's action heroes . . . until then, keep hitting those dummies (practice and otherwise).

This is Max Mercy, Jr. signing off . . .

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West Point, N.Y.--Armed Forces head coach Earl "Red" Blaik believed in his team all season long. Even after five straight losses, Blaik still believed.

"As I've been saying, we've been getting closer and closer to winning," said Blaik.

Saturday afternoon, Blaik's belief paid off as Armed Forces earned its first victory of the season by tipping Pittsburgh 15-14 on a late touchdown and two-point conversion.

With 1:39 left in the game, Armed Forces quarterback Dee Dowis threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Cormac Carney. Down 14-13, Blaik and his Patriots went for the win.

"A tie isn't a win on any level," said Blaik.

Armed Forces got both the two-point conversion and the win when Felix "Doc" Blanchard bowled over two Pitt defenders and carried the ball into the end zone.

"It's great to get the monkey off our backs," said Blanchard who led the Patriots with 63 rushing yards.

Carney hauled in two touchdowns, the one from Dowis and an earlier score from Beau Morgan.

Armed Forces (1-5) held Pittsburgh star running back Tony Dorsett to 61 yards on 15 carries. The Panthers fell to 3-3.

Penn State 42, Boston College 13

The sixth-ranked Nittany Lions roared to a 28-0 lead and were never threatened.

"We want to close this thing out," said Penn State back Ki-Jana Carter who led the Nittany Lions with 104 yards rushing.

Penn State (5-1) can claim the AAFL East title with a win at Ivy next weekend.

"We'll celebrate this one tonight but start getting ready for Ivy tomorrow," said Penn State head coach Joe Paterno.

The Nittany Lions played nearly flawless football. Penn State racked up 536 total yards (470 on the ground) and was an amazing 11-of-12 on third-down conversions.

"And we didn't turn the ball over," said Paterno.

Tony Hunt added 86 yards rushing and a touchdown. Lydell Mitchell scored twice. Larry Johnson and John Cappelletti each notched a rushing TD. Bobby Engram caught his first touchdown pass of the year.

Tom Waddle, the East's top receiver, hauled in nine catches for 84 yards and a touchdown.

Clemson 49, Ivy 7

The Tigers consider themselves still in the hunt for the East title and want everyone to know it.

"The championship isn't decided yet," said Clemson head coach Frank Howard. "We took care of business today and we'll be ready for next week."

Clemson (4-1-1) visits Syracuse in Saturday's finale. If the Tigers beat the Orangemen and Ivy upsets Penn State, Clemson will win the East.

"All we can do is prepare for Syracuse at this point," said Howard.

The Tigers registered 537 total yards in their wacking of Ivy. Terrence Flagler led a balanced attack with 60 rushing yards. Woody Dantzler rushed for 56 yards and one touchdown. Kevin Mack scored two TDs while Tom Zachery ran for a touchdown and caught a scoring pass.

Ivy's lone points came on a 101-yard kickoff return by Calvin Hill with 6:25 remaining. It was Hill's second kickoff return for a touchdown this season.

Syracuse 28, HBCU 21

Despite a monster day by Heisman hopeful Willie Galimore, Syracuse pulled out the win on a short touchdown run by Jim Brown.

Brown capped a 12-play, 77-yard drive by scoring on a two-yard run with 2:19 left in the game. His TD gave Syracuse its fourth win of the year.

Galimore amassed 301 total yards to lead the seventh-rated Titans. Galimore, the AAFL's leading rusher, ran for 119 yards, caught a nine-yard pass and racked up 173 yards in returns.

"He's amazing," said Brown. "That man can do it all."

Galimore tied the game at 21 with a 96-yard kickoff return with 7:37 left. Syracuse, however, then went on its game-winning march.

Brown, meanwhile, ran for 55 yards and caught two balls for 62 yards. He turned a second quarter screen pass into a 49-yard touchdown.

East Standings
Penn State 5-1
Clemson 4-1-1
HBCU 4-2
Syracuse 4-2
Pittsburgh 3-3
Boston College 1-4-1
Armed Forces 1-5
Ivy 1-5

Week 7 Schedule
Armed Forces @ Boston College
Clemson @ Syracuse
HBCU @ Pittsburgh
Penn State @ Ivy

East Player of the Week: Willie Galimore, HBCU (shown below)

[batted balls]

Athens, Ga.--No. 1-ranked Florida State wrapped up the All-American Football League South title by drubbing Georgia with a second-half surge.

The Seminoles (6-0) rallied from a 28-21 halftime deficit as the nation's top-ranked team steamrolled to a 35-28 win.

"Our defense pulled the plug on Georgia in the second half," said Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden. "And our offense got it rolling."

Snoop Minnis enjoyed his finest game of the year by hauling in five catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns. Chris Weinke and Danny Kannell each threw a touchdown to Minnis.

"They couldn't stop me, and they couldn't stop us," said Minnis.

Amp Lee led Florida State with 70 rushing yards, including a 36-yard touchdown run.

Georgia (2-4) was hampered by four second-half turnovers. Herschel Walker, sidelined early last week with injury, was the top Bulldog rusher with 68 yards on 15 carries. Frank Sinkwich added 56 yards and a touchdown. Garrison Hearst chipped in 56 yards and a TD.

Even with a loss against LSU next weekend, Florida State holds the tie-breaker over second-place Auburn. The Seminoles defeated Auburn 28-23 back in week two.

Auburn 35, LSU 21

The No. 8 Tigers were methodical en route to their fifth victory of the year.

"We showed polish and balance," said Auburn head coach Shug Jordan. "It's a shame we can't play Florida State again."

Auburn (5-1) used big plays to jump out to a 28-0 lead. Alexander Wright caught two touchdown passes, one from Pat Sullivan and one from Dameyune Craig. Bo Jackson managed just 46 yards on 10 carries but did score on a three-yard touchdown run with 1:12 remaining to seal the game.

Meanwhile, the Tiger defense clamped down on LSU. Auburn recorded six sacks and three interceptions.

LSU's Terry Robiskie caught a pair of TD passes. The Tigers (2-4) converted just three of 15 third-down plays against Auburn.

"We even stopped Skyler Green," joked Jordan. Green has four punt returns for touchdowns this season.

Alabama 28, Miami 21

This game was a battle of two teams going in opposite directions.

The Crimson Tide (3-3) won its second straight game while the Hurricanes (0-6) remained winless.

"We let it all hang out today," said Alabama quarterback Joe Namath.

Namath tossed a season-high two touchdowns. Both scores went to David Palmer, one for 59 yards and the other for 31 yards.

On the ground, Tony Nathan rushed for 152 yards on 15 attempts. Nathan, last week's South Player of the Week, broke loose on a season-high 85-yard run early in the second quarter. Nathan was finally tackled at the Miami two-yard line.

Randal Hill provided Miami's offense by returning two kickoffs for touchdowns. Each return covered 98 yards.

"Another case of us coming close but winding up with a loss," said Miami head coach Jimmy Johnson.

Tennessee 35, Florida 7

The 10th-ranked Volunteers made sure this one was never in doubt.

"You come down here to the Swamp and you want to keep the crowd out of the game," said Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning who passed for two touchdowns.

Peerless Price, James Jones and James Stewart (from Heath Shuler) all caught TDs for Volunteer scores. Chuck Webb and Charlie Garner each ran for a touchdown.

Florida's only points came on a 34-yard pass from Danny Wuerffel to Reidel Anthony in the second quarter. Fred Taylor led the Gators in rushing with 62 yards on 12 carries.

"Maybe we can't win the South title this year, but we're gaining momentum for next season," said Manning.

Tennessee's two losses this fall have come at the hands of Florida State and Auburn.

South Standings
Florida State 6-0
Auburn 5-1
Tennessee 4-2
Alabama 3-3
Georgia 2-4
Florida 2-4
LSU 2-4
Miami 0-6

Week 7 Schedule
Alabama @ Auburn
Georgia @ Tennessee
Florida @ Miami
LSU @ Florida State

South Player of the Week: Snoop Minnis, Florida State (shown below)

[batted balls]

Columbus, Ohio--Tim Spencer ran wild and the Ohio State Buckeyes spoiled fourth-ranked Oklahoma's perfect season.

"Coach told me I was going to see the ball more this week," said Spencer. "I wanted to make the most of the opportunity."

Spencer delivered with a 153-yard performance on just eight carries. His 56-yard touchdown with 1:29 left in the game provided insurance as Ohio State completed the 28-20 upset of the Sooners.

"They stacked the line trying to stop us," said Spencer. "I broke a tackle and saw nothing but daylight ahead."

Oklahoma (5-1) held an early 14-7 lead, thanks in part to a 55-yard punt return by Tommy McDonald.

However, the Buckeyes fought back. Eddie George scored a pair of third quarter touchdowns, one by running and one by receiving to rally Ohio State (4-2).

Despite the loss, Oklahoma still can win the Midwest title. The Sooners need to defeat Notre Dame in South Bend to claim an AAFL post-season spot.

"We need to bounce back and be ready to play," said Sooner head coach Bud Wilkinson.

Notre Dame 28, Purdue 21

Sticking to its practice of winning close games, the Fighting Irish toppled the Boilermakers in West Lafayette.

Trailing 14-7 at halftime, the fifth-ranked Irish quickly tied the game on an early third-quarter touchdown run by Paul Hornung. After trading scores, Notre Dame captured the lead for good as George Gipp broke off a 39-yard touchdown run with 7:45 left in the game.

"This was a good tuneup for next weekend," said Notre Dame head coach Knute Rockne.

The unbeaten Irish (6-0) host Oklahoma in a contest that will decide the Midwest title. Sooner scouts saw virtually nothing from the Notre Dame passing game. Only Joe Theismann put the ball in the air for the Irish, completing one pass for 12 yards in just three attempts.

Meanwhile, Notre Dame gained 366 yards on the ground. Gipp led the way with 94 yards on 12 carries.

Wisconsin 14, Michigan State 0

The Badgers earned their first victory of the season by shutting out the winless Spartans in Madison.

"Our fans deserved to see a win this year," said Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez. "It was nice to win in the home finale."

Alan Ameche scored the lone touchdown of the first half on an eight-yard run. The Badgers put the game out of reach when Brian Calhoun plowed over from the one-yard line late in the fourth quarter.

"We struggled on offense all afternoon," said Michigan State head coach Duffy Daugherty.

Wisconsin held the Spartans to just 145 total yards. Michigan State fumbled six times yet lost just two. Carlos Fowler recorded two key sacks for the Badgers.

Michigan 28, Illinois 7

Steve Breaston wanted to get things going early for the Wolverines. With just under six minutes gone Saturday, he accomplished his goal.

Breaston returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown and ignited ninth-ranked Michigan to the easy win.

"I wanted the crowd to get going," said Breaston. "I wanted to let Illinois know who was boss."

The Wolverines (4-2) later got scores from Tim Biakabutuka, Tyrone Wheatley and Bump Elliott. Anthony Thomas powered to 74 yards on 13 carries.

The Illini (1-5) gained only 177 total yards and made just nine first downs. Rocky Harvey's lone carry of the day resulted in a 22-yard TD run to break the Michigan shutout with 3:37 remaining.

Michigan concludes its season next weekend by hosting arch-rival Ohio State.

"We want those bragging rights big-time," said Wolverine defensive back Charles Woodson.

Midwest Standings
Notre Dame 6-0
Oklahoma 5-1
Michigan 4-2
Ohio State 4-2
Purdue 3-3
Illinois 1-5
Wisconsin 1-5
Michigan State 0-6

Week 7 Schedule
Wisconsin @ Illinois
Ohio State @ Michigan
Purdue @ Michigan State
Oklahoma @ Notre Dame

Midwest Player of the Week: Tim Spencer, Ohio State (shown below)

[batted balls]

Boulder, Colo.--Vince Young once again worked his magic as second-ranked Texas came from behind to pull out a 24-21 win over Colorado.

"Things looked bleak for awhile, then Vince took over," said Longhorn head coach Darrell Royal.

Young's running and passing rallied Texas to victory. The Longhorns came back from a 21-0 halftime deficit. Young drove the Longhorns 46 yards in five plays to set up Russell Erxleben's 49-yard field with nine second left.

"We couldn't afford a loss much less another tie," said Royal.

Erxleben's kick cleared the crossbar with plenty of room to spare.

"It's a moment every kicker works for and dreams of," said Erxleben.

The win allowed Texas to keep pace with third-ranked Nebraska. With both schools winning Saturday, Texas and Nebraska remain tied for the West lead with identical 5-0-1 records.

Young tied the game early in the fourth quarter by connecting with Roy Williams on a 27-yard touchdown. On the game-winning drive, Young again hit Williams with a key 37-yard completion.

Rashaan Salaam led Colorado with 101 yards rushing.

Nebraska 28, Washington 7

A week after blowing a lead and ending up tying Texas, the Cornhuskers regained their dominating form by blasting the Huskies in Lincoln.

Mike Rozier took over the team lead from Ahman Green in rushing by gaining 95 yards on 15 carries. Rozier has run for 608 yards in six games.

"Mike has really taken off the last few weeks," said Cornhusker head coach Tom Osborne.

Quarterback Tommie Frazier ran for 81 yards including a dazzling 70-yard touchdown scamper. Green rushed for 48 yards on nine attempts.

As a team, Nebraska racked up 375 rushing yards.

"They just line up and smash you," said Washington head coach Don James.

BYU 45, UCLA 40

The Cougars nearly blew a 35-7 halftime lead, yet held on to even their record at 3-3.

"It was a wild ride," said BYU quarterback Jim McMahon. "When the last bullet was fired, we were left standing."

McMahon threw for a season-high 181 yards and a touchdown. Robbie Bosco and Ty Detmer also tossed TD passes. Receiver Golden Richards had career-highs in catches (7) and yards (161).

"Golden lived up to his name today," said McMahon. "He snagged everything thrown his way."

UCLA put up a valiant effort. The Bruins scored 27 fourth-quarter points. Gary Beban completed 11-of-19 throws for 153 yards and a score. Their rally came up short when Washington recovered an onside kick with 44 seconds remaining.

The two teams' combined 95 points and 1,164 yards established AAFL records.

USC 58, Arizona State 21

The Trojans are out to erase their early-season woes. Arizona State is still smarting from USC's wrath.

USC scored through the air, on the ground and on defense to throttle the Sun Devils.

"It was as bad as it looked," said Arizona State quarterback Danny White. "Maybe it was worse from the stands."

USC (2-4) scored on touchdown runs by Ricky Bell, O.J. Simpson and Marcus Allen. The Trojans scored on passes by Carson Palmer and Rob Johnson. Ronnie Lott also returned a White pass 35 yards for a TD.

"We want to show folks that we haven't packed it in," said Lynn Swann, who hauled in a 59-yard pass from Palmer.

USC will have something to say about the West title chase when the Trojans host Nebraska in a Saturday night game.

"That's our bowl game," said Swann. "We'll give them all they can handle."

West Standings
Nebraska 5-0-1
Texas 5-0-1
BYU 3-3
UCLA 3-3
Washington 3-3
Colorado 2-4
USC 2-4
Arizona State 0-6

Week 7 Schedule
Arizona State @ BYU
Colorado @ Washington
UCLA @ Texas
Nebraska @ USC

West Player of the Week: Golden Richards, BYU (shown below)

[batted balls]

Max Mercy, Jr. here again, folks . . .

Well, well. You play six games and nothing has really been decided. All that will change when Bud Wilkinson's Oklahoma Sooners ride into South Bend, Indiana to taggle with Knute Rockne's Notre Dame Fighting Irish Saturday under the cool autumn skies.

Ole Max will there on hand to render his observations as the two titans fight for supremacy in the All-American Football League Midwest division. With a win or a tie, Notre Dame will take the Midwest title and move into next weekend's post-season. Of course, that means if Oklahoma comes out on top, then it will be the Sooners that live to play another day.

Gamesmanship is already at an all-time high. Pay no attention to Oklahoma's loss in Columbus to Ohio State last weekend. That game didn't mean thing in the big picture. Bud and his boys knew that. Sure, the Sooners would have liked a win against the Buckeyes. But, it's a win over the Irish and a trip to the playoffs they're after.

As for the Irish, don't believe anything Knute Rockne says about the tough test his team will face against Oklahoma. Behind closed doors you can bet he's telling a different tale. Ole Max would love to be a fly on the wall in the Irish locker room before the opening kickoff.

Keep in mind last week that Notre Dame passed just three times. Keep in mind that Brady Quinn, Joe Montana and Tony Rice didn't hardly put the ball in the air in practice much either. Sure, Joe Theismann was seen throwing spirals by the Sooner scouts. That tells Ole Max that Rockne and the Irish are up to something. Don't be surprised if balls are flying all over Notre Dame Stadium Saturday afternoon.

But don't be surprised if the Oklahoma defense is ready and waiting.

"We're preparing our defense for their running and their passing," said Wilkinson.

Meanwhile, Rockne had better have his troops ready for a lethal dose of the Sooner wishbone attack. Many eyes may have missed that Adrian Peterson and Billy Sims didn't get too many touches a week ago in the loss to Ohio State. There's little doubt in Ole Max's mind that Bud Wilkinson knew exactly what he was doing. So what if he lost last week's battle; Bud and the Sooners are out to win the war.

With all this in mind, here's Ole Max's fearless pigskin prediction for Saturday's showdown in South Bend: Oklahoma 24, Notre Dame 20.

Ole Max's Big Poll
1. Florida State (6-0)--The 'Noles continue to top the polls.
2. Texas (5-0-1)--Vince Young is one of the most exciting players in the AAFL.
3. Nebraska (5-0-1)--A tough test awaits at revitalized Southern Cal.
4. Notre Dame (6-0)--South Bend is the place to be this Saturday.
5. Penn State (5-1)--Only Ivy stands in the way of the East championship.
6. Oklahoma (5-1)--A victory over Notre Dame would erase last week's loss to Ohio State.
7. Auburn (5-1)--The Tigers have the misfortune of playing in the same division as Florida State.
8. Michigan (4-2)--The Wolverines look to cap their season with a win over arch-rival Ohio State.
9. Ohio State (4-2)--The Buckeyes look to cap their season with a win over arch-rival Michigan.
10. Tennessee (4-2)--The Vols could end on a Rocky Top high.

Heisman Hopefuls
1. Willie Galimore, HBCU--Three Player of the Week awards in six weeks. What more is there to say?
2. Mike Rozier, Nebraska--He just seems to get better each week.
3. Bo Jackson, Auburn--Try to grab this Tiger by the tail.
4. Chris Weinke, Florida State--Fans continue to enjoy his Seminole moments.
5. George Gipp, Notre Dame--Finally, a Golden Domer amongst the favorites.

Ole Max will be back with the inside poop on the final week of the AAFL . . .

This is Max Mercy, Jr. signing off . . .

[batted balls]

Bristol, Conn.--Penn State overcame both the elements and the Ivy Eagles as it wrapped up the All-American Football League East title.

Battling a snowstorm that brought swirling winds, the Nittany Lions earned their way into the AAFL post-season with a 28-2 victory.

"We're happy to win the East and continue our season with a shot at a national championship," said Penn State head coach Joe Paterno.

Penn State took a 7-0 lead into halftime thanks to a 20-yard touchdown run by Ki-Jana Carter. The Nittany Lions (6-1) turned almost completely to their ground game in the second half. Penn State upped its lead to 14-0 when Tony Hunt broke loose on a 25-yard scoring run with 4:49 remaining in the third quarter.

Ivy nearly got back into the game on Penn State's next possession. Curtis Enis fumbled into the end zone. Fortunately for Penn State, quarterback Chuck Fusina covered the fumble. The play resulted in a safety for Ivy.

The Nittany Lions put the game away with a six-yard touchdown run by Larry Johnson halfway through the fourth quarter.

Penn State held Ivy to just 141 total yards. The Eagles fumbled five times, losing four.

Enis led the Nittany Lions with 71 yards rushing. Carter added 54. Rich Diana was the top Ivy ball carrier with 41 yards on 11 attempts.

Penn State advances into the AAFL post-season. The Nittany Lions will take on South champion Florida State in the Sugar Bowl national semi-final.

Clemson 28, Syracuse 20

The Tigers held out hopes for the East title by posting the victory on the road.

"Give Penn State credit," said Clemson head coach Frank Howard. "We'll be back next season to give it another shot."

Clemson finished the year with a 5-1-1 record. The Tigers were the lone team to defeat Penn State. Their tie came in the season opener against Boston College.

Tom Zachery scored two touchdowns for Clemson, one rushing and one receiving. The Tigers clinched the game with a 29-yard touchdown pass from David Whitehurst to Jerry Butler.

Jim Brown led Syracuse with a season-high 92 yards rushing. Brown scored on a 47-yard run and a 37-yard pass reception.

Pittsburgh 35, HBCU 21

Tony Dorsett closed the season in style.

Dorsett rushed for 129 yards and four touchdowns to lead Pittsburgh to the home victory. Dorsett scored on TD runs of 60, 3, 1, and 5 yards.

"I wanted to have a strong game and give us a chance to win against a tough opponent," said Dorsett.

Curvin Richards chipped in 84 yards to the Panther attack.

The Pittsburgh defense held Heisman favorite Willie Galimore to 84 yards on seven carries. Galimore broke a 53-yard touchdown run with 2:31 left in the game.

While both teams ended the season with 4-3 records, HBCU lost its final two games.

Armed Forces 33, Boston College 21

For the second straight week, the Patriots resembled the team head coach Earl "Red" Blaik thought he'd see all year.

Led by the strong rushing of Elmer Oliphant, Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis, Armed Forces powered its way to victory.

"They just kept coming at us with that three-man rotation of runners," said Boston College lineman Mike Mamula.

Oliphant led the Patriots with 78 rushing yards. Blanchard added 55 and a touchdown while Davis chipped in 47 and a score.

Armed Forces also got a huge play on special teams as Pete Dawkins returned a punt 88 yards for a TD.

Two Boston College backs rushed for more than 100 yards. Derrick Knight led the Eagles with a game-high 142 yards. Knight scored on a 49-yard run. Mike Cloud ran for 118 and a touchdown.

Tom Waddle, the nation's leading receiver, caught seven passes for 63 yards and a TD.

Final East Standings
Penn State 6-1
Clemson 5-1-1
HBCU 4-3
Pittsburgh 4-3
Syracuse 4-3
Armed Forces 2-5
Boston College 1-5-1
Ivy 1-6

East Player of the Week: Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh (shown below)

[batted balls]

Top-ranked Florida State, seventh-rated Auburn and No. 10 Tennessee all lost their finales as the All-American Football League South regular season came to a close.

LSU 14, Florida State 7

The Tigers held the high-powered Seminoles to a season-low in both points and yards gained.

"This is a huge feather in our cap," said LSU head coach Charlie McClendon. "The boys really wanted this one."

LSU sent a standing-room only crowd of Seminole backers home with the sting of Florida State's first loss of the year still fresh in their hoarse throats.

"Give LSU credit for the win," said Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden. "They took us behind the woodshed today."

The game turned on a third-quarter interception by Tommy Casanova of LSU. With Florida State leading 7-0, Casanova picked off a Danny Kanell pass and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown.

"That play changed the entire game," said McClendon.

LSU scored the winning touchdown on a 13-yard run by Dalton Hilliard as time expired in the third quarter.

The Tigers (3-4) then fought off three successive drives by the Seminoles (6-1) in the fourth quarter. A.J. Duhe sacked Charlie Ward on the LSU 26-yard line as time ran out.

Despite the loss, Florida State advances to the AAFL post-season as the South champion. The Seminoles will play East titlist Penn State (6-1) Saturday in the Sugar Bowl national semi-final.

Alabama 35, Auburn 14

The Crimson Tide rolled to victory in the Iron Bowl by blasting No. 7 Auburn.

"This was a great way to wind up our season and build for next year," said Alabama head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.

The Crimson Tide (4-3) again rode running back Tony Nathan to victory. Nathan rushed for 116 yards on 11 carries. He scored on touchdown runs of 43 and nine yards.

Alabama raced to a 21-0 first quarter lead. Auburn (5-2) never recovered.

"They came here and made short work of us," said Auburn head coach Shug Jordan. "I apologize to our fans for our poor showing."

The Crimson Tide limited Auburn star Bo Jackson to just 60 yards on 10 attempts. Jackson did manage to score both Tiger touchdowns.

Georgia 14, Tennessee 13

Volunteer head coach Gen. Robert Neyland had seen the highlights of the three teams that won games on last-second two-point conversions this season. He guesses that maybe the law of averages finally kicked in.

After Casey Clausen's seven-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Garner brought Tennessee to within a point of Georgia with 1:19 left on the clock, Neyland ordered his troops to line up for two and the potential win.

"I've never believed in settling for a tie in that situation," said Neyland.

Tennessee gave the ball to Garner on a sweep. A mass of Georgia defenders, however, was waiting to greet the Volunteer ball carrier. Garner was gang tackled at the five-yard line.

Moments later, Tennessee's on-side kick hopes disappeared into the waiting arms of Georgia back Garrison Hearst. The Bulldogs (3-4) easily ran out the clock to preserve the road win.

Georgia scored each of its touchdowns in the second quarter. D.J. Shockley hit Hines Ward with a 53-yard scoring strike. Herschel Walker bulled his way into the end zone from six yards out just before halftime. Walker led Georgia with 69 yards rushing.

Tennessee managed to move the ball into the red zone five times, yet came away with only a third-quarter TD run by Garner.

"We shot ourselves in the foot with penalties, turnovers and lack of execution," said Volunteer quarterback Heath Shuler. "It's disappointing."

Florida 34, Miami 31

The Hurricanes' final bid for a victory blew up in their faces as the Gators rallied to win in the Orange Bowl.

Miami (0-7) led 31-14 with 13:40 remaining in the game. Then, it all fell apart.

Florida (3-4) put together three consecutive scoring drives to pull the rug out from under Miami. The game-winner came on an 18-yard pass from Steve Spurrier to Rodney Hampton with 46 seconds remaining.

"We never gave up hope," said Spurrier. "You could see the look of terror in Miami's eyes."

Hurricane head coach Jimmy Johnson could only stammer, "It's unbelievable to think a team with this level of talent would go winless."

Rumors have been circulating the Miami area that Johnson will be dismissed from his coaching duties as early as Monday. Among the possible rumored replacements are Howard Schellenberger, Dennis Erickson and Larry Coker.

Miami built its big lead on touchdown runs by Cleveland Gary, Edgerrin James and Willis McGahee. Vinnie Testaverde, plagued by interceptions much of the season, also threw a TD pass.

The Hurricanes were also hurt by 14 penalties resulting in the loss of 98 yards. The biggest came on the final Gator drive. Jerome Brown was flagged for a roughing-the-passer infraction after Spurrier's fourth-down pass was battled down in the end zone. Given a new set of downs, Spurrier threw his game-winning completion two plays later.

Final South Standings
Florida State 6-1
Auburn 5-2
Alabama 4-3
Tennessee 4-3
Georgia 3-4
Florida 3-4
LSU 3-4
Miami 0-7

South Player of the Week: Tony Nathan, Alabama (shown below)

[batted balls]

South Bend, Ind.--It hardly seems fair. Yet, it happened.

Uwe von Schamann hooked a potential game-tying 27-yard field goal wide right as time expired. The miss allowed Notre Dame to escape with a 37-34 victory and send the Fighting Irish into the All-American Football League post-season.

"Obviously you feel badly for Uwe," said Oklahoma head coach Bud Wilkinson. "We had our chances."

The contest featured offense galore as the two teams traded scores back and forth throughout the title-deciding game. Notre Dame held a 21-20 halftime lead thanks to a missed extra point by von Schamann.

Yet, Oklahoma broke through in the second half and built a 34-27 lead early in the fourth quarter when Jason White found Billy Vessels alone in the end zone for a six-yard score. After a John Carney field goal cut the lead to 34-30, the Irish defense stiffened and forced Oklahoma to punt.

"If we make a few first downs there, the game is probably over," said White.

Instead, taking over on its own 23-yard line Notre Dame began mixing the pass and the run and drove to the Sooner five with 1:01 left. However, three straight Brady Quinn incompletions (including a drop by receiver Maurice Stovall) left the Irish with a fourth and goal.

"We've been in tough spots all season long," said Quinn. "Once again, fortune smiled on us."

Forced from the pocket, Quinn scrambled to his left and found a wide-open Ken McAfee in the end zone for the deciding touchdown.

Oklahoma refused to concede the game. Out of time outs, White hooked up with Tommy McDonald on a 48-yard pass play that set up von Schamann's hurried field goal attempt.

"I knew we had to hurry," said von Schamann. "Maybe I rushed it too much. I don't know. That's a kick I should have made."

The loss spoiled a career day by Oklahoma running back Clendon Thomas who ran for 118 yards and three touchdowns (including an 80-yard run to start the second half).

Quinn starred for the Irish by completing 9-of-15 throws for two touchdowns.

The victory sends Notre Dame (7-0) into the AAFL playoffs. The Irish will face either Texas or Nebraska in the Orange Bowl national semi-final.

Michigan 35, Ohio State 16

The Wolverines got the best of their arch-rivals in the season finale for both teams.

Desmond Howard returned the opening kickoff of the second half 98 yards for a touchdown sending Michigan to victory.

"That was the back breaker," said Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes.

The Wolverines showed balance. Michigan scored on TD runs by Jamie Morris and Tyrone Wheatley. The Wolverines also got touchdowns on passes by Jim Harbaugh and Brian Griese.

Ohio State's touchdowns came on runs by Archie Griffin and Eddie George. The Buckeyes also scored on a safety that resulted from a blocked punt.

"Looking back," said Michigan head coach Bo Schembechler. "If we hold on and win the Notre Dame, we're in the post-season."

Michigan lost to the Irish in week two on a last-second pass play that covered 68 yards.

Michigan State 21, Purdue 16

It may have taken until the final week of the season but the Spartans finally broke into the win column.

Down 14-0, Michigan State rallied thanks to the combined running of Scott Greene and Blake Ezor. Both backs scored touchdowns as the Spartans tied the game.

"Those two get overlooked a lot by people," said Michigan State head coach Duffy Daugherty. "They showed us what they can do today."

So did quarterback Jimmy Raye. The seldom-used signal caller put the Spartans ahead to stay by throwing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Gene Washington.

The Spartan defense then put the clamps on Purdue. Michigan State registered six sacks--four coming in the final quarter. Bubba Smith wound up with 21 tackles, including two sacks.

Drew Brees threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns for the Boilermakers. However, Brees completed just one pass in the fourth quarter.

Wisconsin 49, Illinois 21

The Badger defense battered Illinois all day long.

Wisconsin recorded an AAFL-record six interceptions, recovered a fumble and sacked Illini quarterbacks six times en route to the lopsided victory.

With the defense giving the offense key field position, Brian Calhoun and Ralph Kurek each scored two touchdowns for Wisconsin. John Stocco and Darrell Bevell each tossed TD passes.

"They were in our face on nearly every play," said Illinois quarterback Kurt Kittner who threw three interceptions.

Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez said, "This is a stepping stone for next season. If our defense gives us outings like this, we'll be tough to beat."

Final Midwest Standings
Notre Dame 7-0
Oklahoma 5-2
Michigan 5-2
Ohio State 4-3
Purdue 3-4
Wisconsin 2-5
Illinois 1-6
Michigan State 1-6

Midwest Player of the Week: Bubba Smith, Michigan State (shown below)

[batted balls]

Both the Texas Longhorns and the Nebraska Cornhuskers won their final regular season games. As a result, both teams are tied in the All-American Football League West standings with 6-0-1 records. Since their head-to-head game was the tie, Texas and Nebraska will square off in a special playoff game to determine the West champion. The game is Saturday at noon and will be played at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The winner will then take on Notre Dame, the Midwest champion, the following weekend in the Orange Bowl national semi-final.

Texas 21, UCLA 7

The No. 2-rated Longhorns utilized a swarming defense and a punishing running game to cruise past UCLA in Austin.

Texas rang up 306 rushing yards and recorded a league-record seven sacks. Ricky Williams led the Longhorns with 81 yards on 15 carries. Williams, Vince Young and Jam Jones all ran for TDs.

UCLA scored its lone touchdown on a one-yard pass from Gary Beban to Karim Abdul-Jabbar just before halftime. Yet, the Bruins (3-4) were handcuffed for much of the day by the punishing Texas defense.

"We were ready to play, baby," said Texas defensive tackle Steve McMichael who registered 14 tackles, a fumble recovery and two sacks. "Nebraska had better be ready for us next weekend."

Quintin Jammer ended UCLA's final drive by intercepting a Beban pass at the goal line.

Nebraska 23, USC 17

The third-ranked Cornhuskers jumped to a 21-7 lead and then held off the Trojans in Los Angeles.

Mike Rozier and Scott Frost both scored touchdowns on the ground for Nebraska. Rozier led all rushers with 97 yards on 20 carries. Irving Fryar caught a 12-yard TD pass from Turner Gill.

"When they run play action it's nearly impossible to defend," said USC head coach John McKay.

Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne said, "We're glad to win this game in a tough road environment. We look forward to next week's rematch with Texas."

Mike Garrett ran back a second-quarter kickoff 100 yards for a Trojan touchdown. USC ends the year with a 2-5 record.

Washington 35, Colorado 7

Huskie head coach Don James decided to turn his runners loose in the final home game. It turned out to be a terrific idea.

Led by Napoleon Kaufman's 101 yards, Washington ran all over the Buffaloes. When Kaufman wasn't pounding the ball inside, Hugh McElhenny was running off the edges. McElhenny rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns.

"McElhenny has both speed and power," said Colorado defender Kanavis McGhee. "He's tough to bring down."

McElhenny broke the game open in the second quarter by racing 61 yards down the sideline for his second score.

"He got to the corner, made his cut and was gone," said James. "Guess I should have fed him the ball more this season."

Rashaan Salaam led Colorado with 88 rushing yards. However, Salaam twice fumbled the ball away inside the red zone.

Washington finished the year with a 4-3 record; Colorado ended 2-5.

BYU 38, Arizona State 35

It was a game that nearly went down as "The Great ASU Comeback." Instead, it wound up being another heart-breaking loss in a winless season for the Sun Devils.

Trailing 35-7, Arizona State put on a furious fourth-quarter rally. The Sun Devils ran off four touchdown drives, tying the game with 1:33 left as Ron Fair hauled in his third touchdown catch of the game.

"Ron was the man today," said Sun Devil quarterback Danny White who completed two TD plays to Fair. "He caught everything thrown his way no matter the circumstances."

Fair ended up with four catches for 79 yards. He caught two key passes on the final drive, one good for 28 yards in addition to the 11-yard TD play.

"We had BYU scared," said Fair. "It was great to hear their fans silent for so long."

Yet, the Cougars gave their fans something to cheer about in the final minute. Starting on its own 20-yard line, BYU quickly moved down the field. Robbie Bosco, who earlier had thrown a pair of touchdown passes, used a series of short passes to move the ball into Arizona State territory.

"It was as if we were standing still," said Arizona State head coach Frank Kush.

Bosco wound up hitting Golden Richards with a 23-yard completion to the Sun Devil 15. That set up Evan Pochman's game-winning 33-yard field goal with just 15 seconds left.

"It was disheartening after all we went through to rally," Kush said.

For BYU head coach LaVell Edwards, the game was a mirror of the season.

"At times we looked unbeatable today," Edwards said. "Other times we looked so ordinary. Forunately, in the end we were able to put together the winning drive."

The Cougars ended the year with a 4-3 record. Arizona State finished the regular season 0-7.

Final West Standings
Nebraska 6-0-1*
Texas 6-0-1*
BYU 4-3
Washington 4-3
UCLA 3-4
Colorado 2-5
USC 2-5
Arizona State 0-7
*champion will be determined by a special playoff game

West Player of the Week: Steve McMichael, Texas (shown below)




"That play was bi

[batted balls]

Max Mercy, Jr. here again, folks . . .

Ole Max's good friend Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra once said, "It's deja vu all over again." Well, folks, that's what we're going to get this Saturday at high noon from Glendale, Arizona.

It's time for Round 2 of Texas and Nebraska. It's the #1-rated Longhorns and the #2-ranked 'Huskers for the AAFL West championship. Yes, folks, these two behemoths squared off in Lincoln just a few weeks back. You remember it don't you? Nebraska (No. 2 at the time ironically) built a seemingly safe 34-19 lead late in the third quarter. Yet, Texas (ironically ranked #1 at the time) rallied for two late touchdowns and a two-point conversion by Vince Young to forge the memorably exciting 34-all tie.

So, now everything is the same. Or is it? It's winner-take-all. It's no chance of a tie because sudden death overtime will be in effect this time around. It won't be played in Lincoln. It won't be played in Austin. It will be played on a neutral field, the brand spanking new high-tech University of Phoenix Stadium in the Arizona desert.

So, how does Ole Max see it? Well, glad you asked, my friends. The first time around Mike Rozier, Scott Frost, Ricky Williams and Vince Young all had big games. Ole Max doesn't see why they won't in this sequel. Yet, Ole Max's football IQ tells him that some new Saturday Hero will emerge. Maybe it will be Irving Fryer of the Cornjerkers or perhaps Major Applewhite of the 'Horns. Maybe it will be someone on defense or possibly a special teamer. That's the beauty of sports, gang, you just never ever know.

With all that in mind, Ole Max is making the following prediction: Nebraska 34, Texas 30.

You heard it here, folks . . .

Ole Max's Big Poll--The Regular Season Finale
1. Texas (6-0-1)
2. Nebraska (6-0-1)
3. Notre Dame (7-0)
4. Penn State (6-1)
5. Florida State (6-1)
6. Clemson (5-1-1)
7. Oklahoma (5-2)
8. Michigan (5-2)
9. Alabama (4-3)
10. Auburn (5-2)

News and Notes: Willie Galimore of HBCU remains Ole Max's favorite to win the Heisman. Galimore led the nation in rushing with 767 yards in seven games. He scored seven TDs and averaged 9.8 yards per carry. Galimore also ran for more than 100 yards four times . . . Ole Max will have more on the Heisman hype in the very near future . . . the AAFL playoffs will begin next weekend following this Saturday's Texas-Nebraska game . . . things get kicked off with next Friday night's Toilet Bowl matching winless Miami of the East with winless Arizona State of the West. The game will be sponsored by Toto, the world's leading maker of kamodes. The game will be played in Boston, the U.S. home of the Japanese-based Toto.

Parting Shot: Does anyone remember that it took a late two-point conversion by Nebraska for the Cornhuskers to beat Arizona State back in week one? Hard to believe . . .

Making my way to Glendale . . . this is Max Mercy, Jr. signing off . . .

[batted balls]

Max Mercy, Jr. here again, folks . . .

This just in, the University of Miami has decided to retain the services of head football coach Jimmy Johnson for another season. That's right, folks, you read it here first. Despite losing all seven games this past year, the Miami administration has "felt an obligation to support Johnson."

So while the rumor mills had the likes of Howard Schellenberger, Dennis Erickson and Larry Coker as likely replacements for Johnson, the winless Miami coach has won a reprieve from the Miami wardens. Ole Max doesn't have a problem with this. Johnson's team was in nearly every game it played. In fact, the Hurricanes still have one game left this season, the infamous Toilet Bowl against the equally winless Arizona State Sun Devils.

Ole Max does have some problems with Johnson though. First of all, his team gets flagged for way too many penalties. Whilst the 'Canes proclaim that the men in stripes often pick on them, it's up to the coaching staff headed by Johnson to put an end to the senseless penalties. False starts and holding are one thing; late hits and unsportsmanlike conduct are another.

Secondly, Johnson needs to rid himself of the endless merry-go-round of quarterbacks. Sure the AAFL rules require that all four active QBs play a series. Yet, Johnson insists on rotating all four throughout the game. This means that none of the four 'Cane quarterbacks ever gets into a rhythm. Instead, they're always looking over their shoulders looking to be yanked at a moment's notice. One mistake turns into more. Pick the hot hand and let 'em play.

Finally, it's time to reign in all the skill Miami possesses. This team has more talent than you'll ever see on "American Idol." That's why Ole Max picked 'em to win the South back in the preseason. That's why Ole Max had them getting to the Rose Bowl. Johnson needs to prepare his team, discipline 'em enough to gain control, yet allow their individual skills and personality shine through. Oh yeah, Jimmy Johnson also needs to put notches in the Miami victory column.

Sure, it's a tough task. But, it's the same task that Knute Rockne has in South Bend or Bear Bryant has in Tuscaloosa or Darrell Royal in Austin. Heck, it's the same job that Frank Kush has in Tempe.

Ole Max still believes that Jimmy Johnson can win and win big in Miami. There's too much talent and too many reasons for success. Give the Miami administration credit for giving him a second chance. A year from now, they'll be glad they did.

Counting down to the next tailgate, this is Max Mercy, Jr. signing off . . .