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Sports Caroli Last n lifts Ga By Jim Corbett Staff Writer To paraphrase Shakespeare, it was the best of games, on the worst of days. The Gamecocks defeated the determined Demon Deacons of Wake Forest 3938 in the rain Saturday, thanks to a 62 yard bomb from Garry Harper to Horace Smith with 57 seconds left in the game. After the game USC received an invitation to play in the 36th annual Gator Rn\i;l r?r? OQ in iy vy *? a v/ ii *_/ v v . ^ III Jacksonville. The two teams traded touchdowns through 60 minutes of flying footballs only to see the game come down to two plays; one full of deja vu, the other an untested technique borrowed from a beaten foe. The Harper to Smith bomb hrniiffhf hark mpmnrips nf the 1978 Mississippi game, where the two hocked up on a similar pass in a similar situation to beat the Kebels. This time, Harper launched the ball down the lett sideline, where Smith was being covered tightly by defensive back Pierre urown. "He was covering me stepfor-step, like a blanket," Smith said. "I think he lost it. I looked up and it fell into my hands," said Smith. Smith did a good job to avoid falling, and sprinted the remaining 20 yards into the end zone to set up the two point conversion try. Using a play that Michigan had successfully utilized against Carolina, the offense set up in a tight formation, then split both tight end John Bailey and tailback George Rogers to the right. Smith then went in motion to the same side and drifted un 1 pi ^ ^ p USC Heismart Trophy a pWrts honored at halftime o ^forest game when ofl Wafetirement of Roaers' nn. 3i igjj^ewman) ina su linute TL imecocks covered into the corner of the end zone to receive Harper's soft Dass for tho game winning points. COACH CAKLEN credited his assistants tor picking up the play would work. "I knew the two point play would work, it's perfect for the situation," Harper said . Smith nnmmontoH "I think this is one of the best plays on the goal line we got." The last second victory overshadowed a spectacular performance by the Deacons dynamic duo of Jay Venuto and Wayne Baumgardner. Venuto, the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year last season, completed 28 of 50 passes for 447 yards and four TD's. The lanky speedster Baumgardner latched on to 12 passes and his 271 receiving yards established a single game record as well as placing him atop the alltime Wakp Fnrpst'c reception yardage list. The senior Venuto riddled the Gamecock secondary with long and short passes, and accounted for all but 30 yards of Wake Forest's total offense. Venuto said he wasn't bothered by the rain that rarely let up and made the field slick. "I'd rather throw in the rain, ne said. "The defense has to lay off you more and I don't have to throw as hard. The offense has the advantage when it rains." Harper concurred, saying, "The weather helped me." The senior from Hialeah, Fla. had one of his best games ever, completing 15 of 29 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns. It was the last home appearance for Harper and 15 other Carolina seniors, &fB V*V <?^ . hi " -&$ iibfff jp** gBHBL JHHB a : ?' ?ls?l* *> ' ' v- * indidate George Rogers f Saturday's USC-Wake 1icia/s announced the 3 jersey. (Photo by Barry * rvivej pass > to win which added to the dram, and emotion of the contest "I was in the lockerroon LKJiure me game ana I wa crying," Harper said. "It* probably the most emotiona game I've ever been in." HEISM AN THOPIP candidate George Roger brought the most emotioi from the 55,583 fans wh braved the rain, receivini three standing ovation during the afternoon. Th 1 1 A ? ^ luuuesi came wnen noger number, 38, was retire* during halftime. The All-American turne< in another stellar per formance, skidding througl the Deacon defense for 17 yards on 38 carries. Wake Forest started th> game off with a bang Taking over at the Carolin; 30 alter a high snap wen through the hands of punte Chris Norman, Venuto tool just five plays to engineer ; score. He hit tight em Michael Mullen with a twi yard pass to put Wake up 7after just three minutes ha< elapsed. The Gamecocks tied th score early in the secon< quarter, driving 84 yards ii 15 plays to knot the score a seven. Carolina took the lead lcs than two minutes later whei Kogers rambled 24 yards fo a touchdown. Eddie Leapon kifLpri hit: uprnriH nf cn\roi extra points, giving him 4 straight PAT's this season for a 14-7 lead. The Deacons came righ back, driving 77 yards in si: plays. Venuto found flanke Kenny Duckett for the TD t tie the score at 14. After Roger's jersey wa retired, it seemed likely th< Gamecocks would pla; inspired football early in th< second half. But it was Wak< wno iook me kickoii am Kef alos < for USC By Tamn Sta Aiinougn me um.: womer first in a fall season tourna thinks last year's eighth ran this season. Contradictory as it may i come true, since every tean Gamecocks was ranked in tl poll. USC, ranked eighth after nament, placed second in tw Louisiana State University 1 VUIIV^U lUll . "We could have done bett well as we can right now," h< In the most recent tourn Memorial held in Miami, F1 pleased with the Lady Gam powerhouse teams. "This v/as by far our best second-place finish. ONLY MIAMI OUTSCOKI uoiron toumc in 1 by flights, in which every se< members of the same seec varices in her flight, the mon Texas placed third, whil< and number-three Trinity ti Florida State and Rollins rc tournament's 11 team field. Kefalos said good individ hieh finish "Colette (Bennett) and Ci tournaments and Carol Rc s Deac< d K WV p \ i 0 . V 0 a , USC tight end Willie Scoti Swider (24) in the Gamecoc Jj by Dan Langendorf) r> t marched 51 yards for the go- a ahead touchdown. Tailback th s Wayne McMillan returned E n the kickoff 49 yards, and ni r seven plays later carried <c ri nvnr thp loft cirln fAi> l? J ~ ?v?v oiuc iui IIIC IV; n score. sc 3 The Gamecocks came back taking the kickoff and th driving 74 yar iS in six plays th t to tie the score at 21. The yi K highlight of the drive was a p; r 54 yard completion from m o Harper to Smith. Harper hit tight end Dwayne Chivers ai s cutting across the middle on 43 e the next play, and Chivers 43 y dragged two defenders into or q the end zone for the TD. nc e Til K K E MINUTES ai 1 LATER, Fhii Denfield hit on expects top - women's t iy Kilpatrick nc If Writer i's tennis team has not placed ment, Coach Jell Kefalos still K< iked team will be in the top five ev >eem, Kefalos' prediction may he i placing higher than the Lady dc tie top 20 in last year's national Ui last summer's national tour- N< ;a I ? * U/? \J> IVM4I 11CU1IV.IHO tillVI IIIIIV4 III 11HJ nvitational in a season Kefalos Hi bt er but we ended up playing as is isaid. tr ament, the Catherine Sample la. Oct. 31-Nov. 2, Kefalos was ecoek's play against a field of si ar tournament," he said of (JSC's fr to EI) USC in the tournament that bt top 20. Scores were determined to *ded player met opposing team Ss i. The further the player ad; points awarded to her team be ; numoer-iwo ranKea Morula ac ed for fourth. North Carolina, so untied out the top eight of the di ual play contributed to USCs sti di / L) r\ /\ v U U?? /-J ii c*v v MKUIU-i mini uuu :>n ?nz had an exceptional tour- in _ ? )iiciir i > J r has the ball jarred loose by ks 39-38 win over the Dear^ 25 yard field goal to give air e Deacons a 24-21 lead. But reir ddie Leapord kicked his tak< nth field goal of the year pas in nine attempts) with 2:40 Bai ft in the quarter to tie the ma ore at 24. woi Carolina took the lead for e first time since early in bea e second quarter on a 13 kne ird Harper to Tim Gillespie hap iss, after a 60 yard drive, to ake the score 31 -24. as t Venuto rallied his Deacons Hai id drove to the Gamecock mir . With fourth and one at the line , Venuto hit Baumbardner goa i a quick out. Baumgard- awe :r sidestepped a defender was id raced to the end zone. rigf Wake took over with of H >five finish ennis tear iment," he said Kenz won the fiftl IN TIIE LSI' Invitational, whe 3falos said the team played w entual winner, Texas. "Texas is good, but we did not pi said. USC beat LSU 9-0 to ea| feating Texas Tech 8-1 and Aubur At the Blue Raider Classic at N diversity. South Carolina fell vi< 3rth Carolina team that they defea Also determined by flights, USC ght finals, winning five. "We stil tot \I/\rt h Pm /ifo Iac ui iivi in v cu vMuiu, iwiuivm Daivi stronger competitively this yi ansfers and a freshman. HAKIUE, TI1E SECOND seed, th <th-seed Ellen Oxreider won thei id Ken/, were runner-ups. A bright spot for the I^ady Gamec L'shman Otto. Attending USC last sit out competitive play because iiinced back to remain undefea urnaments She was unable to imple Memorial Tournament. Kxtra pressure often felt by fre ther Otto. "Even in the first rou st because you don't know what that 's nothing new," she said. Finishing second and third in ^appointing for the team, howevei ill pleased with the results. " sappointed because you always \a e said. "We'll just work for it nc y best shot for the team." ? im "'I?' ' U- '""' X i V;::?' P? % '>. ' -vs-l ? ?': % Ifc ^ + w%* Wake Forest's John ons Saturday. (Photo nost s i y minntpc laining and proceeded to e the lead on a 12 yard s from Venuto to imgardnei. Denfeld's kick de it 38-31, but Carolina iiid not quit. I knew we were gonna it 'em," Gillespie said. "I :w something had to >pen." Something" did happen, he Deacons intercepted a 'per aerial with two lutes left, and Denfeld d up for a 32 yard field 1 attempt that would put ly the game. But the kick . short and wide to the it, setting up the heroics [arper and Smith 1 n i place seed. re USC finished third, ell except against the lay well against them," pture third place after n 9-0. diddle Tennessee State r>tim tn :i ?trr?nof honor! ited last year. placed in eight of nine 1 didn't score enough to . North Carolina's team ear after gaining two ird-seed Dawn Otto and r flights, while Bennett ocks in fall play was the spring. Otto was forced of an ankle injury, but ted this season in two play in the Catherine shman plavers did not nds, which are the harto expect, I get nervous the tournaments was r. Otto said, but they are Everyone was a lit tip ant to be number one," 'xt season, and I'll give