The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 17, 1980, Page Page 9, Image 9
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