Page Four
A Quick Glance
At Pro Football
by Bob Hoffman
Sports Writer
Professional football is in its
ninth week and divisional titles
are definitely at stake. At least
two teams of every division are in
the heat of the battle.
The American Football Con
ference has many teams quite
capable of representing them in
the Super Bowl.
In the Central division a bitter
struggle is going on between the
Pittsburgh Steelers (4-4) and the
Cleveland Browns (4-4). I feel
this divisional title surprisingly
depends on the outcome of
quarterback Mike Phipps. After
Cleveland's 26-9 loss to Pitt
sburgh, Cleveland coach Nick
Skorich stated that he will bench
both Bill Nelson and Gary Coffins
in favor of Mike Phipps and
Frank Pitts. Phipps could be the
inspiration they need.
In the Eastern Division, the
battle is between the Miami
Dolphins (6-1-1) and the
Baltimore Colts (5-2). Both teams
have fine defenses but Miami has
the better offense. In past games,
good opposing teams have been
able to run on Baltimore and with
Jim Kiick and Larry Csonka
running and Bob Griese,
throwing Miami should win it.
In the West, we see the Oakland
Raiders (5-1-2) against the
Kansas City Chiefs (5-2-1). In
their last matchup the result was
a 20-20 tie. In that game played in
Oakland, George Blanda had to
come .to the rescue and Kansas
City was without star running
back Ed Podolack. However,
next time it might be different.
The game will be played in
Kansas City and Ed Podolack
should be back.
The National Conference also
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has its great teams. In the
Eastern Division it is between
Washington and Dallas.
Washington continues to look
impressive both on offense and
defense, but in last week's tie to
Philadelphia, they commited a
total of seven turnovers and if not
for two Philadelphia missed field
goals, Washington would have
lost. Dallas on the other hand
amazes me. With such great
talent they should have a better
record than (5-3). Coach Tom
Landry is now using Roger
Staubach as starting quarterback
I
and feel you can't count them
out.
A three way battle is going on
in the Central division between
the Minnesota Vikings (6-2), the
Detroit Lions (5-2-1) and the
Chicago Bears (5-3). Minnesota
should come out on top but to go
any higher than a divisional
Championship they must improve
offensively.
In the Western Division the San
Francisco 49ers appear to be
heading for their second straight
divisions title. The new Los
Angeles Rams are putting up a
good fight but don't appear to
stand in the 49ers way.
And don't forget the second
place teams with the best record
in each conference also has a spot
in the play-off.
In the football anything can ha
ppen on any given day, the teams
with the worst record can beat
the teams with the best. This
season is far from over.
Chuck Crist Leads
1971 PSU Cagers
Chuck Crist, senior forward
from Salamanca, N.Y., has been
elected captain of the Penn State
basketball team.
"Chuck has been given a
mandate to lead," said Penn
State basketball coach John Bach
in announcing the team's
selection. "The staff welcomed
the team's decision. I'm sure
Chuck will be a fine captain."
A 6-2, 190 pounder, Crist was
named the team's Most Valuable
Player last year. Used sparingly
early in the season, he became a
Behrend Collegian
North Carolina Vs. PSU
Highlights All U Day
Penn State's football team, the
top scoring machine in the
country, entertains North
Carolina State on Saturday.
A capacity crowd of 50,000
Penn State's fifth straight sellout
this season is expected at Beaver
Stadium for the 1:30 p.m. kickoff.
It will be the final home game
of the season for the Nittany
Lions who have an 8-0 record so
far this year and a 13-game
winning streak. North Carolina
State is 2-7 after its upset 13-7 win
over Miami (Fla.) last week.
The game is the highlight of
All-University Day. Students
from Penn State's • campuses
around the state are invited to
University Park for the game and
other activities.
Penn State moved to the top of
the national scoring leaders after
ifs 63-27 rout of Maryland last
week. The Nittany Lions are
averaging 44.1 points per game to
43.6 for Oklahoma and 42.1 for
Michigan.
"We were pleased with the
offense," Paterno says, "and we
were particularly pleased that
Lydell Mitchell broke all of the
rushing and, scoring records.
Some of these runs were just
unbelievable. He has been just
tremendous and has to be a top
candidate for the Heisman
regular in the second half of the
campaign. He wound up the
season with 121 rebounds and an
average of 10.4 points per game.
An outstaring athlete in high
school, he earned Lake Shore all
star honors in football as a
quarterback and in basketball.
He was voted Athlete of the 'Year
at Salamanca (N.Y.) High School
in 1968.
Bach has been pleased with the
early practice showing of the
Lions.
"We appear to be much quicker
that we have been," the Lion
coach says. "We just have better
athletes on the floor."
Juniors Jim Dashield and Ed
Chubb have been the most
pleasant surprises for Bach.
"Dashield adds quickness and
scoring and could help us," Bach
says, "and Chubb has been
playing very well. If he can
rebound effectively, he will
challenge Paul Neumayer for the
center job."
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Trophy. I don't see how there can
be a better all-around back in the
country."
Mitchell, the Lions' 200-pound
senior halfback, broke six school
records in just over three
quarters of play against
Maryland. He now holds the Penn
State marks for rushing yardage
in a season (1,174) and career
(2,541), scoring in a season (126)
and career (198) and touchdoWns
in a season (21) and career (33).
The Salem, N.J. native gained
209 yards•and scored five touch
downs in only 24 carries against
the Terps. He is averaging 6.6
yards per carry this season with
his 1,174 yards in 179 attempts.
He also is second on the team in
receiving with 10 catches for 119
yards.
The nation's individual scoring
leader, Mitchell needs only four
touchdowns in the Lions' three
remaining games to break the
NCAA record of 24 TDs set by Art
Luppino of Arizona in 1953.
"The offensive line has been
great and we have so many other
good backs that the defense can't
gang up on me" Mitchell says.
Mitchell's point is a good one.
Quarterback John Hufnagel is
having an outstanding season.
The Lion junior has completed
62.5 per cent of his passes (55 of
88) for 778 yards and six touch
down. He has been intercepted
only twice.
Fullback Franco Harris, who is
fourth on Penn State's all-time
rushing list, missed last week's
game with a minor leg injury and
has been bothered by a suc
cession of minor injuries all
season. He still has managed to
gain 462 yards in 89 carries.
In addition to his passing
prowess, Hufnagel gives Penn
Lydell Mitchell:
Making History
Lydell Mitchell tried to play it
cool, but the feeling of pride was
obvious.
His teammates on the Penn
State football team gave him the
game ball after last week's 63-27
rout -of Maryland. They should
have given him the school record
book. He had practically
rewritten it.
Mitchell, a 200-pound senior
from Salem, N.J., carried 24
times for 209 yards and five
touchdowns against the Terps,
breaking six Penn State records
in the process.
"I knew how many yards I
needed to break the records. I
was thinking about it, " Mitchell
said. "Then when it happened, I
was elated. I tried not to show it,
but deep down inside I
congratulated myself. I feel like
I've accomplished something."
Mitchell now holds- the Penn
State records for rushing yar
dage in a season (1,174) and a
career (2,541), touchdownS in a
season (21) and career (33),
points in a season (126) and
November 11, 1971
State another running threat. He
has carried the ball 54 times for
302 yards and three touchdowns.
Sophomore Tom Donchez filled
in for Harris last week and
gained 80 yards- in nine carries.
Donchez has been running in the
same backfield with Mitchell and
Harris when the Lions are in their
Power-I formation.
The Lion running backs have
been running behind in offensive
line led by_ tackle Davey Joyner,
the team's offensive captain and
another All-American candidate.
Penn State is averaging 470.1
yards per game total offense,
including 317.5 yards per contest
on the ground.
The defense, led by linebackers
John Skorppan and Charlies
Zapiec and defensive end Bruce
Bannon has allowed just under 10
points per game. The 27 points
scored by Maryland were the the
most given up by the Lions this
season.
North Carolina State has been
hampered by a rash_of injuries to
key players this year, but came
up with its best game of the
season to beat Miami last week.
The Wolfpack is led by a pair of
sophomores—quarterback Bruce
Shaw and halfback • Willie Bur
den. Shaw has passed effectively
in the last several games. Burden
is the team rushing leader with
739 yards and is a threat as a
receiver.
The N.C. State defense is led by
middle guard George Smith and
defensive back Van Walker, who
had a 71-yard interception return
against the Lions two years ago.
Penn State holds a 7-0 edge in
the series against North Carolina
State. The Lions are against
Atlantic Coast Conference op
position.
career (198) and rushing at
tempts in one game (29 against
lowa ).
"The records are nice and what
other players and coaches say
about you is nice to hear, but
something else really pleased
me, " Mitchell says, "Joe
(Paterno) is very careful with
superlatives and when I read
what he said about me it made
me feel great. That's something
I'll remember all my life."
Asked after the game about
Mitchell's chance of winning the
Heisman Trophy Paterno
responded:
"That comes up every week. I
don't want to get into com
parisons, but he's got to be as fine
a back as there is in the country. I
don't know how there could be a
better runner; receiver, blocker
and he's been a great leader. He's
just a great all-around player.
Breaking Lenny Moore's records,
he's got to go down as one of the
great backs in college football
history."
C.J.
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