Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 6

(H) Journal Gaaatte Friday. October 1 1171 i ft By Jim Kimball oMnB i i -V is1- If Go seo E1U play Saturday Panthers everywhere and 0 Wayne Ramsey. 44 record on the line Saturday In against once-beaten Tennessee TO if pretty typical of the kind of defensive Ky EIU football coacn John Konttantloo bat receivlnf this teaaon from hla wlnungry Panther Closing In on an unidentified Central Missouri baDarrier during last Saturday's victory ht Charleston are six Pao-thers. No. 85left) Is OrvtDe Erby, 75 Ron Miner, 46 Dennis Ghlnant, 7X second from right) Rose PoIy(2) and MUlikin scored against EIU that Slnce 1928 no Eastern football team has gone undefeated.

No, not even the 1930 team, noted for Its uncrossed goal line, or the 1948 team which appeared In the Corn Bowl. The 1930 team of which the late John Powers of Charleston served as team captain and popular folk singer Burl Ives was a starting lineman, finished 6-1-1 losing to Southern Illinois University 14 In the seventh game of the season after Bradley University played the Panthers to a scoreless tie In the third game. The "Corn Bowl" team, the only Panther unit to ever play In a post-season football event, and coached by Pat O'Brien, lost two(Eastern Kentucky 25-14 In the second game and Indiana State 21-20 In the seventh)games while winning seven during regular season play. Illinois Wesleyan nipped the Panthers 64 In the Corn Bowl game. The last Panther team to win four games In successive before this season was the 1948 "Corn Bowl" team.

The last team to win five In a row was the 1929 6-14 team who beat Shurtleff 19-12, McKendree 194, Indiana State 74, Southern Illinois 94 and St. Viator 64 In the final five games of a seven-game schedule. MUlikin posted a 134 win In the second game after the Panthers beat Illinois State 344 In the season opener that year. Konstantinos said during a pre-season Press Day conference "there isn't an opponent on our schedule we're not capable of His According io lasted mi MATTOON-Have you been across the county yet to watch -Eastern Illinois University's nationally-ranked football team play? It -not, then this Saturday would be an excellent opportunity to do so. They meet nigged Tennessee Tech at 1:30 p.m.

at O'Brien Field and the 3-1 Golden Eagles should provide quite a challenge to EIU's unbeaten 44 record, Coach John Konstantinos' Panther team, ranked No. 7 In the latest UPI Division II national poll, Is a talented outfit Judging by Its performance last Saturday against Central Missouri. The Panthers clawed the Mules 41-14 In displaying some of the best overall football I've seen an EIU team play In my 25 years of following the school's gridiron fortunes. They're pretty salty In all aspects of the game. particularly their defense.

They've got some real hitters and for once some overall balance. Konstantinos doesn't have to count on just a few to carry the load defensively or offensively. This columnist has had calls Inquiring about how long its been since Eastern experienced an undefeated football season, and when was the last time a Panther team won five games In a row. A check of the EIU Press Guide shows that the Panthers have never enjoyed a "perfect season" In the 77-year history of the sport at the school. Five different Panther teams went through unbeaten, but the records were marred by a tie or two.

Coach the 1901 Panthers to 6-0-3 mark before coach Charles Lantzled the 1914 unit to an 84-1 mark. Lantz' 1917 team finished 44-1, the year the United States entered World War I. Lantz, who coached football for 23 years at EIU, saw his 1928 team outscore eight opponents 238-21 hi rolling Hp a 74-1 record. His team battled Mllllkin University to a 12-12 tie in the first game and then steam-rolled past the next seven opponents capped by a 75-0 win over Lincoln College in the final game. Only Shurtleff(7), contest after running up a 314 halftime lead.

"We let down a little In the second half, which Is natural but something we can't afford to do from here on out. There are no more easy ones. "The 56 points Tech scored against a good Division II team (Nebraska-Omaha) last week Indicates their offensive strength, plus we saw what they could do last year and with 18 regulars back It won't be easy. I'm sure If It wasn't for that first game loss to Furman, they'd be ranked also," Konstantinos said. "But we've shown that we can move the ball, also, and we've been able to do It by substituting liberally the past couple games.

We knew before. the season McRae home to Bradenton, Fla and be with his family. "We weren't physically tired at all," said McRae, "but mentally we had been through a lot." The Royals have been In a terrible slump, with only one win In their last eight games and only two In their last 11. Since July 19, they played 34-40 baseball and had a 12-game lead on Aug. 6 shrink to just 24 games over five-time defending champion Oakland on Sept.

29 "That is all over," said McRae. "We're in a new season now and we don't have anything to shake off. All we have to do Is Into pennant winners as the new manager of the youthful St. Louis Cardinals. Rapp, 48, was selected Thursday to replace Red Schoendlenst, who was fired Tuesday after 12 years as the Cardinals' manager.

Rapp, a native of St. Louis, said he also was offered the coaching Job with the San Francisco Giants but chose the would be a regular. They said .300 hitters played every day, not once a week against lef-thanded pitchers." At Kansas City, McRae Is one of the mainstays of the Royals' offense. Mainly used as a designated hitter, he has alternated with John Mayberry as the Royals' fourth and fifth hitter all year long and he en-Joys It. "I like this role because I can make a better living and because it allowed me to prove a Jew things: to, people," said irnelps you mentally to know you are a regular, not an Irregular." Herzog said he would use virtually the same lineup he has used all season in the playoffs and Buck Martinez would catch Larry Gura in the opening game.

Martinez's selection was a slight- surprise as Herzog had platooned his catchers most of the year and Bob Stlnson had played against right-handed pitchers, such as New York's Jim "Catfish" Hunter, who will start the opening game for the Yankees. EIU hosts tough foe i 1 1 and a job to do. I can't worry about things like that." McRae Is one of just three Royals who has been Involved with a playoff. As a platooning left fielder with Cincinnati in 1970 and 1972, he has a .450 batting average In World Series play and feels there Is no reason he shouldn'tiontinue to hit at a hot pace this year. "I'm In a different role now," said McRae.

"When I was with Cincinnati they didn't expect much of me. They told me to had i6ur or five big guys who were responsible for dally things. "They said I was not supposed to tear things up or I ability according to the Cardinals' way of doing things." August A. Busch president of the Cardinals and board chairman of Anheuser-Busch, said, "As a onetime player and manager in the Cardinals' organization, he knows the long tradition and spirit of the Cardinals. "Vern Rapp's long and successful career In developing young ballplayers leaves no doubt in my mind as to his abilities." Rapp, who has managed minor league clubs the past 14 years, led the Denver Bears to the American Association championship this year.

He coached seven years at Indianapolis and led that American Association club to two pennants. No less than 14 of the 25 members of the world champion Cincinnati Reds played for Rapp at Indianapolis. Prior to his arrival at Indianapolis, Rapp won Texas League pennants at Tulsa and Little Rock In 1965 and 1968, respectively. Local sports menu TODAY 7:30 p.m.-MHS varsity football team hosts Lincoln at Gaines Field. SATURDAY 10 a.m.-MHS cross country team at Peoria Invitational.

I a.m.-MHS at Newton Frosb-Sc)h golf invitational. 10 a.m.-MHS girls tennis team at Danville. 10 a.m.-MHS sophomore football team boats Rantoul. a ftk LlL-- Vern Rapp Roderick Wmiams Eastern puts Its home game TedUJG Photo). KANSAS CITY, Mo.

(UPI) -The five days between the end of the regular season and the opening of the American League playoffs was a big help for the Kansas City Royals as far as designated hitter Hal McRae was concerned. "A break like that helps everybody on our team because we had such a mental strain the last few weeks," said McRae, who finished runnerup to teammate George Brett in the American League batting race. ItavS us chance j-ela The relaxation came' Monday and Tuesday, when manager Whltey Herzog gave his team the days off. McRae took advantage of the time off to go ST. LOUIS (UPI) Vernon Rapp, whose minor-league teams won six championships In the last 12 years, will need his talent for molding youngsters Stevej-obell shoots for Triple Crown LEXINGTON, Ky.

(UPI) -Billy Haughton was none too happy following the Sept. 4 Hambletonian, even though he had driven Steve Lobeil to victory in the harness racing classic. The DuQuoln, race took four heats to be decided and Steve Lobeil later went into shock and nearly died. "I sincerely believe they should change the way this stake Is run," Haughton said at the time. Steve Lobeil and Haughton were faced with the posslbllty of a similar situation today as a well-balanced field of nine 3year-olds were scheduled to go postward in the $100,000 Kentucky Futurity.

The Futurity, the last leg of trottlng's triple crown and harness racing's oldest stakes, Is run in heats similar to the Hambletonian, with the first horse to win two heats taking the race. Besides Steve Lobeil, who also won the first event In the triple crown, the Yonkers Trot, and has the No. 1 pole position for today's first heat, Armbro Reglna, Zoot Suit, Quick Pay and Soothsayer were all given good shots at winning at least one heat. Avorymon losoot Paris PARIS.IU.- Psris svenged sn earlier one-stroke loss to Mattoon'i Green Wsve here Thursday with a 206-212 victory on the cold Edgar County Country Club course. "Our kids shot pretty well considering the cold weather and the fact we were playing on their course," Wave coach Bob Avery commented.

Asked now many strokes the borne course advantage Is worth, Avery said, "Assuming both teams, like Mattoon end Paris, are pretty equal in I'd say the home course Is worth five strokes. -'rftrftg nharoeneTT-wai pleased- with our klaV-performance yesterday. he added. "Paris has beaten us 10 or 15 strokes In tourney play this year." Paris' Jay Relnhart enjoyed medaltsthonort with a 39 score. Stevfcfofflnbarger topped MattoonT eJforfo ith-a 40.

Rich Havlik anWIiFEaitln each shot a 41, Kent Kovack 44 and Scott Behm 46 among Mattoot counters. TJ.Slnger and Brett Hoots each fired 47s as non-counters. "Pofflnbarger and Havlik shot well," Avery praised. The loss leaves Mattoon with a 10-7 dual match record. Paris also won sn exhibition match, 183-191.

Tim Uskall shot a 45 lor MHS, Matt Fuestlng 47, Al Gossard 49, Greg Freeze 50 and Mitch Moncel 51. Mattoon'i next match Is Tuesday against Effingham St.Anthony at the Mattoon Golf and Country Club. Hawks boat Bluos 6-4 ST. LOUIS (UPI) "I think I'm going to enjoy playing with this team," said Bobby Orr as he walked scroti the Chicago Black Hawks' dressing room. The Black Hawks beat the St.

Louis Blues 6-4 Thursday night and Orr, playing without any sign of previous knee operations, was a big part of the victory. He scored a goal, assisted on two others and revitalized the Chicago power play. Orr was on the Ice for all six Chicago goals, four of which came on the power play. "It hasn't been hard at all to adjust to another team," said Orr. MHS hosts Rallsplltters ionlght MATTOON- Mattoon will be trying to snap a two-fame awing streak aid score its first win over Lincoln's Rallsplltters since UTS when the two teams meet at 7:30 p.m.

today on Gaines Field. It win serve aa the Homecoming game tor Mattoon High School. Coach BIO Bass' team enters wtth a 1-2 season record and 6-2 Big IS Conference play In comparison to snd 6-1 outputs, respectively, for Lincoln. Lincoln, coached by Gene McDonald, stared the Big 11 championship last season wtth DanvUle. However, the team was hit hard BTfrasiSBd Mattoon frosh win another close one start this season off well.

It's only five games at the most so you don't have time to go Into a slump." Also part of the past, said McRae, was the discussion over whether the Minnesota Twins robbed him of the batting title when Twins' left fielder Steve Brye let a Brett fly in the ninth Inning fall in for an lnside-thepark home run. Brett and McRae contended the Twins' conspired to allow the hit in the jveguJar "I had forgotten about that on onday," said McRae. "It was the first problem I've had In baseball and it won't be the last. I still have a family to support Cardinals because of his past connections with the team. "I had a choice and I picked the Cardinals because that's where I want to be," he said.

"Everything has been beautiful. This has been my own personal bicentennial year." Rapp began his baseball career as a catcher for St. Louis and said he always "designed his playing and managing penalty. It came in the third quarter and would have given Mattoon a two-touchdown lead. Franklin scored twice in the fourth quarter to seize a 12-6 advantage before Spitz engineered his team on a 62 yard march and capped it with his short one yard plunge.

Mike Wurtsbaugh plunged three yards before Tom Dort grabbed a two-point PAT pass from Spitz in the second quarter to provide an 8-0 halftime lead which held up through the third quarter. The victory was Mattoon's third In a row after a season-opening loss. Bonlc praised the defensive play of Bob Epperson, Duke Wade, H.A. Youngblood, Greg Wallace, Mike Bonic and Phil Hardlri. "Our defensive unit did a great job," Bonic added.

Wurtsbaugh reeled off yards rushing to Join with Smith in providing a solid one-two ground attack. Mattoon returns to action next Thursday in a road game at Rantoul. "Also, all of the Big 12 schools with the exception of Stephen Decatur will be there so this meet wilt be a very strong one for us. The that we're running three seniors, three sophomores and a freshman makes this meet a real good experience for our kids." The complete list of Mattoon finishers in Thursday's meet against Centennial: 1.B111 Horn, 2. Jeff Thomas, 14:59, Dan Sparks, 4.

Dave Schackmann, 7. Steve Fryman, 9. Steve Banks, 11. Dave Warrem, 13. Steve Manning, 14.

Bruce Balllnger, 16. Eric White, 18. Jim French, 20. Greg' Harper, 21. Dean Smith, 24.

Joe Scott, 18:48. me tuiKt In the flrsr 4 the Panthers haven't got Into the meat of their schedule yet. They must play, at No. 3 ranked Western Illinois University next week before returning home to face tough Central(Ohio) State a narrow sb-a loser io western ana men No. 1 ranked Northern Michigan the following two Saturdays.

If the Panthers can survive that meat-grinder portion of their schedule an unbeaten season is not out of the question. started we wanted to give our freshmen plenty of playing time, and thank goodness we've been able to do It. Our veterans have played very well but you can never have too much depth," he said. Offensively the Panthers have averaged 365 yards a game with most of this coming on the ground. Mark Stettner continues to lead In rushing with 381 yards and three touchdowns.

Closing fast Is freshman Chris Cobb, who gained a team high 91 yards last week and now has 238 for the season. Free safety Kim Wells has led the Panthers defensively with five Interceptions, including a record-tying three in one game against Central Missouri last Saturday. last week In total offense with a 487.8 game average and number one in scoring defense, allowing the opposition Just 4.4 points per game. Western Illinois has averaged 401 yards per game, offensively, and scored 28 points each time out. The Wildcats have victories over Northern Iowa 41-7; North Dakota State 14-9; St.

Norbert 654; Minnesota-Duluth 444 and last week beat Eastern Michigan 284. Western has beaten South Dakota State 28-21; Weber SUte(Utah) 21-19; Central State of Ohio 35-32 and last Saturday beat Youngstown State of Ohio 28-12. ranked No. 7 In the latest UPI national poll, plays both teams this season. at Western a week from tomorrow and borne against Northern Michigan on 30 in Its annual Homecoming game.

Rlgney stays on with the Giants as a part-time public relations man, part-time scout and part-time player-personnel adviser. i "That's what Rig wanted to do," Lurle said, "and that's what we're going to let him do. He was tired of managing, Western at N. Michigan in key Division II clash CHARLESTON Eastern Illinois University's 7th-ranked football team will be out to prove its first ever national ranking is no fluke Saturday. Saturday's opponent, Tennessee Tech, should offer the best gauge of the Panthers' talents yet this season as the Ohio Valley Conference favorite has lived up to pre-season billing In the early going.

Eastern, 44 and off to Its best start since World War I era squads, will meet the Golden Eagles at 1:30 p.m. at O'Brien Stadium. (The game will broadcast over WEIC-Charleston via the Collegiate Broadcasting Network. Tech is 3-1 with wins against Youngstown State (13-10), conference opponent Murray State (24-7) and last Saturday Nebraska-Omaha (56-28), The lone loss was season opener to Division I Furman (17-7). The Panthers will have to cope with the Golden Eagles' balanced offense directed by All-Conference quarterback Gary Perdue and league leading pass receiver Craig Rolle.

Eastern will counter with a defense that has caused four turnovers per game and limited the opposition to Just 11 points while running up 31 per game itself. Head Coach John Konstantinos says his Panthers "will have little problem In getting motivated for this game." All they will have to do is remember last year's 374 pasting at Tennessee Tech. "That's where we hit rock bottom. There was only one way to go and fortunately we are headed In that direction," Konstantinos said. Since then Eastern has gone 7-1-1 and Is executing better In each ensuing game.

Last Saturday's 41-14 win over Central Missouri was no Giants SAN FRANCISCO (UPI) -Joe Altobelli, the new manager of the San Francisco Giants, Is nobody's fool. He knows he was Giants coowner Bob Lurie's second choice, but as he says "How can you say no to a chance to manage a big league club?" i CHAMPAIGN.IU.- Mat-toon's freshman football team Is developing a flair for dramatics. For the second straight game, coach John Bonlc's cardiac kids came through with the winning points in the game's dying seconds. Quarterback Tim Spill plunged one yard with 2:02 left here Thursday to provide a 14-12 come-from-behlnd victory over Champaign Franklin. In last Saturday's 22-14 win over Danville East Park, Jim Smith scored on a five yard run with 1:55 left for the tell tale points.

"Actually, we dominated the game yesterday despite what the score reads," MHS freshman coach John Bonlc said. He pointed out that Mattoon ran 62 offensive plays In comparison to only 24 for Franklin, Mattoon was assessed 165 yards In penalties to hamper its offense. Jim Smith, who led all rushers with 118 yards, was deprived of an 86 yard scoring run off an option pitch from Spitz via a 15-yard holding shows the determination of our kids." It was a complete turnabout for Mattoon after a disappointing performance Monday in a quadrangular meet at Mount Zion in which Burgess came away extremely displeased with his team's effort. "Almost every boy on the squad ran his personal best and those two or three that didn't achieve a personal best came within two or three seconds of achieving It," Burgess added. Mattoon competes In the big Invitational Saturday.

Is a super, super meet," Burgess says. "Many of the, top teams will be entered. Elmhurst York, Maine Proviso West, Peoria Central and Alton Just to name few. MACOMB.IU.- The nation's biggest NCAA Division II football showdown of the season has been set up for this Saturday at Marquette, Michigan when defending national II champion, Northern Michigan, hosts Western Illinois in a 12:30 p.m. CST klckoff.

Northern Michigan, undefeated in five games this season, has been ranked No.l In each of the NCAA II polls, while Western Illinois, unbeaten In four games, has been ranked as high as No.5( last week). "This is without doubt the most Important game tor us at this point," says W1U head football coach Bill Shanahan, "they are the kings and we are the challengers." Northern Michigan has been Invincible In its first five games as It has run Its winning streak to 13 consecutive games, which leads the nation. Northern was ranked third Harriers bounce back MATTOON- Senior standout BID Horn ran a personal best on the home course here Thursday In leading Mattoon's cross country team to an easy 41-17 win over Champaignl Centennial. Horn was clocked In 13:56 to beat runnerup finishers, teammates Jeff Thomas and Dan Sparks, by a 57 full seconds. "Only six other runners have ever run as fast on the same course," MHS coach Larry Burgess said In praise of name Altobelli Altobelli, a well-spoken 44year-old who played first base for the Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins In the late fifties and early sixties, was named the Giants manager Thursday, succeeding BUI Rlgney who quit because "mariaglng isn't fun Inexperleoce atr! a eTdeoOi fcr RaQspUttm rtrrhftlra Tl i Io the all-time seriee stan- dlngi between Mattoon tad Lmcom.

the Rallsplltters lead to victories noni penormance. JSkSK- werf- cWSd-lh Dav Mtackmann was fourth In 15:07 10 tive Mattoon a sweep of the first four places of finish. verv Pleased wltn way our kids ran," -Burgess said. "The fact that we went 1-4 Peoria "This state's East, a.