Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 11

1 YANKS WIN rw Mondav I The New York Yankees found enough offense to advance to the ALCS. AROUND A brief look at the worid of sports DIAGWAY Decstur driver wins Super Pro 0CTCCO19, 2000 LW 1 MATTOOH (ILL.) JOURNAL GAZETTE QUESTION OR COMMENT? CONTACT IIS AT 5portsigtc.com METS 4 GIANTS 0 CHARLESTON The coki weather couldn't stop the action at the Coles County Dragway Saturday. All classes of competition took to the eighthHTiile track with Decatur's Jaime Alexander winning the Super Pro Class in his 1966 Chevelle in the final against Mattoon's Jason McConnel. Mark Probst of Effingham won the Sportsman Class and Charleston's Chad Isley defeated Lema's Brad Hanner in the motorcycle finals. Both bikes are from the T-Dale Racing stable.

Bret Brown of Clements Racing won the Junior Dragster Class and Tuscola's Justin Long won the Ray Evans Junior Dragster Consolation. NIELSEN Bold call makes difference Sup Pro Winr Jaime Alexander, Decatur, 1966 Chcvdle Runner-up: Jason McConnel, Mattoon, Nova Semifinals: Allan McCool, Decatur, Vega; Ed BucMes. Decatur, 1969 Nova Quarterfinals: Daw Horn. Bement 1981 Renal: Murl i Kimmel, Farmer City, 1989 Probe; BiP Utile, Decatur, 1967 'J Nova; Greg Taylor, Springfield, 1973 Dart Nr. at kind of fool runs the ballonthird-and-21? Sportsman Winner Mark Probst, Effingham, 1967 Chevelle Runner-up: Lori Ann WiUenborg, Dieterich, 1977 Dodge Semifinals: Bin Ruhn, Mattoon, 1990 Mustang; Rick WOlenborg, Dieterich, 1968 Dart Quarterfinal! Billy Hayden Urbana, 1963 Impaia; Jeffrey Lei, MartmiRe, 1988 Mustang; Chris Gonzalez, Humboldt, 1967Camaro Motorcycle Winner.

Chad Isley, Charlestoa 1977 Hondamatic Runner-up: Brad Hanner, Lena, 1982 Yamaha Junior Dragster Winner Bret Brown, Clements Racing Runner-up: Cody WiDenborg, Teutopoiis, 1997 Strickland Semifinals: Robby Easton, Mattoon 1995 Mike Bos Quarterfinals: Mike Lynch, Dalton City, 2000 Half Scale; Alex Ckxfletder, Charleston, 1993 Spitzen Tony vlrgilio, Champaign, 1998 Jegs Ray Evans Junior Dragster Consolation Winner Justin Long, Tuscola, 1998 Mike Bos Runner-up: Chris Gordon, Mattoon 1995 Austin Semifinals: Kyle Veach, Charleston, 1993 Chaney Quarterfinals: Matthew Easton, Mattoon, 1992 Half Scale; Robby Gordon. Mattoon, 1993 Gebhar ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO A New York Mets tan announces her team's next destination. Mets have next shot at Cards ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO Barry Bonds swings away but he save the Giants from losing to the Mats. Mets baffle Giants to advance to NLCS ST. LOUIS (AP) After sweeping the team of the of the postseason, the St Louis Cardinals get a bit of a breather.

The team has a workout scheduled on Monday, but every-one had the day off Sunday to savor beating the Atlanta Braves in three straight games. They'll open the NLCS against the New York Mets, which eliminated the San Francisco Giants on Bobby Jones' one-hitter Sunday, at home on Wednesday. The Cardinals were 345 against the Mets, getting swept twice home and away in May and sweeping New York Sept 1-3 at home. JD. Drew batted .409 against the Mets and Jim Edmonds had four homers and six RBIs.

"They're awfully hot," Mets pitcher Al Letter said. "I have to like our chances. I don't know, I feel good about it" The Cardinals, who were greeted by about 500 fans at Lambert Airport wJienvmeyrretijfcned St. iLiaiSjturday night still couldn't quite believVwhat they haaJaccompJMVed? St Louis is in the playoffs for the first time since 1996, while the Braves have won nine straight division titles. and sent to the minors in June, Jones pitched the first one-hit shutout in the postseason since Boston's Jim Lonborg in the 1967 World Series against St Louis.

"At that time I was not helping the ballclub," Jones said of his NEW YORK (AP) Bobby J. Jones made a name for himself and carved out a place in postseason lore. Known as much for being one -of two Bobby Joneses on the Mets asifochis owmpiishlngi, Jspej threw the-sixth1 complete game i two-week trip to TriplfrA Norfolk. one-hitter in postseason history as "After experiencing the playoffs last year and not being a part of it, the Mets eliminated the Giants with a 4-0 win in Game 4 of their NL division series Sunday. Left off last year's playoff roster EASTERN FOOTBALL See NEXT, B6 See METS, B6 Eastern rallies to top Tennessee State That was the brave interrogation I shouted right at Eastern offensive coordinator Roy Wittke who was sitting in his football office.

It was third down, 21 yards to gOpWith Eastern holding precarious six-point edge and plenty of time for Tennessee State to come back. Eastern quarterback Tony Roma was in shotgun formation, to pass of course. Wide receiver Kenny Alsop lined up near the Whp knew why. The Panthers had shown a similar look in the first half on a first and 10, Romo handed the ball to Alsop and Tennessee State Tigers stuffed him for no gain, pretty much summing up EILTs scoreless first half. But with the game on the line, Romo again handed off to Alsop.

What kind of call was that? Actually, my question to Wittke did not take all that much courage. The red sea parted, Alsop sprinted past bewildered Tennessee State defenders for 25 yardswidla firsbdowiL sjtttow nao Four plays later on fourth-and-one J.R. Taylor ran 21 yards for the clinching touchdown in Eastern's 33-19 Ohio Valley Conference win and Wittke was in a jovial enough mood to hear anything. "I ran trap because I knew even if we didn't make it, it would make (head) coach (Bob) Spoo happy," Wittke said with a smile nearly as big as the hole that opened for Alsop on the key play. "AttdBobSaltmarsh." Baltmarsh, a retired EIU professor and former player for Woody Hayes Miami of Ohio team, and Spoo, the former Purdue quarterback and Wittke's current boss, both like the trap.

"Spoo might not always call it onthird-and-21. "I asked (offensive line) coach Charlie) Roche 'what's the Spoo said. "He said '20 trap. He's either going to get hit in the mouth or go all the Alsop's mouth was not touched. jThat was as good a call as they coihe," Spoo said.

This was a pivotal play in what Spoo called a pivotal game. Jhe coach related this to the gaifce. two years ago at O'Brien Stadium when Tennessee State rallied from a 21-0 halftime deficit to beat EIU 26-21 and went on two win first of its two straight Ohtio Valley Cdnference championships. "For every team I think there are pivotal games," Spoo said, "This was a pivotal game for us." fust like the last time these two teams played in Charleston, the hafftime leader lost Jtennessee State had a 190 lead ly' in the third quarter as nearly everything was going wrong for the Panthers. Wittke pointed to the Romo pa that Frank Cutolo had on his fin ger tips and then held on for a 40 yard gain and first down as what help revive EIU's struggling offense.

kids never hung their he ids and doubted themselves," ttke said. all really felt all wc needed was one play and Fr ink's catch on third down was thi big play. I know it was still 19-0 nd we only got a field goal but I th nk that gave us the Sooner of later, the Panthers were celebrating, standing 4-1 ov raH 2-0 in the OVC and maybe st importantly with confidence th can beat a talented team even wi hout their best day. SOCCER team wins MATTOON Mattoon's Golden Strikers soccer team rallied from a 3-2 halftime deficit to post a 5-3 win over Effingham Sunday. The win keeps the Golden Strikers perfect on the season at 2-0-2 Troy Lane scored two goals from MattooniandPaul Weber, Adam u.

HeuemTerrpgrrtcPAdam Aubin each tad" one goal. The Strikers play Sunday against Charleston. COLLEGE FOOTBALL hero in hospital MIAMI (AP) A few hours after leading Miami over No. 1 Florida State, Ken Oorsey started cramping so badly he had to be taken to the hospital for intravenous fluids. The quarterback had company during his brief hospital stay, with center Brett Romberg also needing to be rehydrated.

Running back James Jackson and linebacker Dan Morgan each received four IVs during the game, and all were better Sunday. "That's the courage and commitment of the kids," coach Butch Davis said. "It makes victories like that even sweeter. You know how much they were hurting and they refused to lose." The 27-24 win was Miami's first victory against the Seminoles in six years. "It's a great win, but it's just one of the pieces of the puzzle," Davis said Sunday.

"Now, by winning this game, it sets up each game to get considerably bigger. What a tragedy it would be to not win the next game after winning this game. "Every game now takes on importance and magnitude. It sounds like coach speak but it's not. If you're worried about games past the next one, you're a fool." The No.

4 Hurricanes are off this -weekend, then face Temple and Louisiana Tech before playing host to No. 3 Virginia Tech on Nov. 4. If Dorsey continues to play as he did against Florida State, Miami has a good shot at playing for the national title. Dorsey completed 27 of 42 passes for a career-high 328 yards against the Seminoles.

The sophomore threw two touchdowns, including a 13-yarder to Jeremy Shockey with 46 sec- onds remaining. Earlier in the week, FSU players said Dorsey couldn't beat them, that he wasn't much of a threat and that he would fold under pressure. Dorsey definitely proved them wrong. i BY BRIAN NIELSEN T-C Sports Editor CHARLESTON Fans saw defensive end Mike Carlin shouting at sophomore quarterback Tony Romo as they headed to the halftime locker room. Once all of Eastern's football players got inside, anyone could guess things were not too pleasant "I just wanted us not to panic," EIU running back JIL Taylor said.

"We almost did panic." While the skydiver scheduled to bring the game ball was canceled because of the wind Saturday at EILTs Homecoming game, this EIU offense that had NCAA Division I-AA's third best scoring average came crashing to the ground, shut out for the whole first half. Fans who came to O'Brien Stadium to see this EIU sophomore quarterback who had the best passing efficiency rating in I-AA only saw an often-rushed Romo throw off target or passes bounce off cold receivers' cold hands in a 3-for-15 first half. Romo not only got sacked by Tennessee State defenders to end the first half but then had to catch heat from an EIU defensive end as he went to the locker room with his team trailing by 12 points. "He's definitely one of the leaders of this team and he was just trying to get me to settle down," a smiling Romo said of Carlin, one of the senior captains. "Carlin was a httle hot because the defense was playing so well and he wanted to see the offense pick it Linebacker Brian Jones said: "It was a little frustrating but that why you play 60 minutes." After 60 minutes of football, Eastern was celebrating a from night-tCHlay second-half transformation and 33-19 win Saturday afternoon, ending two-time defending champion Tennessee State's 13-game Ohio Valley Conference winning streak.

"It's about a group of guys coming together and believing," EIU coach Bob. Spoo said. "No matter what happens the first 30 minutes, you have to play 60 minutes. I'm very proud of them. This was some of the best 30 minutes we've played since I've been here." Now 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the OVC, Eastern took what might end up looking like the pivotal step toward its fourth NCAA I-AA playoff berth in Spoo's 14 years as its coach.

MIKE ESTELLSTAFF PHOTOCRAPHER Eastern's Jabarey McDavid (37) runs for some of his 41 yards on 10 carries as Tennessee State's Marquis Stephens (6), Antonio Jones (22) and Chane Price (48) try to bring him down In the Panthers' 33-19 win Saturday at O'Brien Stadium. goal seemed like just a chip off the iceberg, Tennessee State's KaRon Key fumbled and Miller was there for the big play scooping up the ball and running 19 yards to the Tennessee State 9-yard line. Romo connected with Will Bumphus who made the 9-yard touchdown reception while blanketed by a defender, Alsop caught a two-point conversion pass to make it 19-11 and any fans who left after a cold and dreary first half had made a mistake. The skydiver did not come but those statistics about EIU's offense were not fabricated after all "It wasn't anything technically," Spool said. "They were about the same plays.

The When Tennessee State built a 124) half-time lead, some may have thought EIU's early wins and impressive statistics were just the product of weak competition. When EIU's leading ground gainer for the season Jabarey McDavid lost his second fumble of the game, Tennessee recovered on the Panthers' 23 and converted for a 19-0 lead 59 seconds into the second half. The Panthers seemed to be reverting to last year's losing ways while the Tigers were again ruling the league and making sure others knew it "On the previous touchdown a boy said 'We just spoiled your EIU freshman linebacker Fred Miller said. "I'm just thinking big time players make big plays." So after Bill Besenhofer's 31-yard field NFL FOOTBALL 8 pjn. ABC Tampa Bay at Minnesota See EIU, B6 See NIELSEN, B6 rl t- t'K 't vr-.