The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 09, 1995, Page 7, Image 7

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7 Newberry-] to resume RYAN WILSON Sports Editor The dry wind. The chill in the air. It can only mean one thing...it's Derby time. For those with the furrowed brow, I am not talking about some frat thing. This Saturday will be highlighted by one of the best rivalries in the state, the annual matchup between Newberry and Presbyterian, otherwise known as the battle for the Bronze Derby. This is South Carolina's smaller version of Clemson-Carolina in many ways. It is a game for ultimate bragging rights and the winner takes home the prized Bronze Derby. That's right, it is a derby that has been bronzed. The story goes that over 40 years ago a PC student was at Basketball game in Newberry when the derby off his head was stolen by some Newberry students. A battle ensued to get the derby back, and the rest is history. The Newberry-Presbyterian rivalry is a very natural one. The schools are about 20 miles apart and, as can be expected, are the focus of the small communities in which they reside. This year's game will be played in Newberry, but the visiting Blue Hose should be favored to win. PC is led by senior fullback Steve Gorrie, the Blue hose all-time leading rusher. Gorrie has made himself into a legitimate draft pick with his bullish style of running and in some scouts' eyes is one of the top ten fullbacks in the nation. Newberry also has a star in the backfield in Keith Porterfield, a Lexington native. Porterfield is a slashClassifieds Work! P.C. rivalry Saturday ing runner who could put up huge numbers if he was playing for a better team. (Something he's used to. Like 1 said, he is a graduate ot Lexington High.) I had the privelege of being on the sidelines of a Bronze Derby game (I started my collegiate career as a member of the Blue hose squad), and I can tell you, there is no love lost between these two teams. The game, which used to be played on Thanksgiving, is the last for each team this year. So if you see some guys next week walking Five Points with a Bronze Derby, ask them if you can see their blue hose. Wahoo! Hey Florida State fans, don't say I didn't warn you! Deja vu? With the Seminole loss, the Fiesta Bowl has lost its sparkle and for the second straight year, a Big Ten team will go undefeated and not win the National Championship. What I would like to see is a Ohio State-Nebraska matchup, but that would just be too logical now, wouldn't it? Closing the door. An era in Gamecock athletics comes to an end Sunday as the volleyball squad plays its last game ever at Blatt P. E. Center. It may not be the best place in the world, but it has been the sight of some excellent games (none jumps quicker to mind than last year's upset of Florida snapping a 49- game strangle hold the Gators had on the Seniors Kori Ermigarat and Cary Berson will close out their seasons and will be honored before the game against No. 25 Georgia Sunday at 2 p. m. Can you say look out Bulldogs? I can. /^V WUSC90.5FM Tune into 90.5... The Gamecock KSjalJ Irvin ready Associated Press Michael Irvin wants to set the NFL record for consecutive 100-yard receiving games Sunday with San Francisco's t n* i.l: uerry luce waummg. Td love to break the record in a game of this magnitude," Irvin said on Wednesday. "It would be cherry on a pie to do with with Jerry on the sidelines. Fd love for Jerry to be there when the announcer announces it and hears the cheers." One of the sidelights to Sunday's meeting between the Dallas Cowboys and the 49ers in a rematch of their NFC championship game is whether Irvin can set one of the few records Rice doesn't hold. Irvin has 100 yards receiving in seven consecutive games, a mark established in 1961 by Charley Hennigan and Bill Groman, both of the Houston Oilers. Irvin talked of his respect for Rice, who became the NFL's all-time leader in career receiving yards last month. "Fd say Jerry is the greatest receiver ever to play the game," Irvin said. "My job is to be the best receiver Sunday." Irvin said it will be interesting for him to watch Rice have to go one-on-one with Deion Sanders for a change. "That's an interesting challenge for both guys," said Irvin, who had numerous battles with Sanders when his teammate played for the 49ers and Atlanta Writer predi Associated Pre? This year, The Gamecock sports staff has conducted weekly college football picks every Friday entitled "The Gamecock Sports Challenge." We thought it would be interesting to let you hear what the others say throughout the sportsworld. Associated Press writer Rick Warner, who has compiled a 135-41 record in predicting Top 25 scores this season, predicts his prospects for this week in the following: Three weeks ago, Nebraska beat a Top 10 team from the state of Kansas. The Huskers have a chance to do it again Saturday. There's little reason to believe Kansas will come any closer to pulling off the feat than Kansas State. Compare how Nebraska (9-0) and kjHfefl Thursday, November 9,199 for Niners Falcons. Til have the best seat in the house for it. Fll be sitting on my helmet watching that matchup." Tn civ cramps atrainsf flap 4Qprs Trvin has gone over the 100-yard receiving mark twice, including a 12-catch, 192yard day with Sanders defending in the 38-28 NFC championship loss to the 49ers. "I thank San Francisco for setting us straight and making us refocus," Irvin said. "Hopefully, we can return the favor. We just have to watch getting too emotional for this game. We have to be smart about it." Irvin admitted he was getting a kick out of the 49ers four-loss season/Tve enjoyed seeing 'em struggle," he said. Irvin has 66 catches for 1,023 yards this season, best in the NFL. He's averaging 15 yards per catch. He also is just seven catches and 30 yards away, respectively, of setting club records in those categories. Irvin said the driving force for his season has been the Januaiy loss to San Francisco in which he lost a fumble. "I haven't forgotten," Irvin said. "It's an anger you want to take with you throughout the season. It slapped us back to reality." And Irvin wants to return the favor. on Sunday with, what he calls, "a little cherry on the pie." cts Husker \ Kansas (8-1) fared against Kansas State. The Huskers dominated Kansas State, building a 42-6 lead before the Wildcats made the score respectable in the fourth quarter. A week later, Kansas State manhandled Kansas 41-7. Kansas is good, but Nebraska is much better. The visiting Huskers (minus 24 1/2) are heading for the Fiesta Bowl, where they'll play for a second straight national championship.... NEBRASKA 48-21. THURSDAY No. 18 Texas A&M (minus 15 1/2) at Rice: Aggies have won 14 straight over Owls ...TEXAS A&M 24-17. SATURDAY Illinois (plus 191/2) at No. 2 Ohio St.: iMim 15 Gator on the /wimW MirMiir >;^-.v ;.: . . \ ..J ^ijk 1 ; .*: "?SS|j?: "- Sjit g) _ jivy-.' ^ . Linebacker Ben Hanks and the Invade Wllllams-Brlce stadlv Gamecocks. The Gators are rani ictory, Gam Tllini have won four in a row at Columbus ...OfflO ST. 28-14. No. 3 Florida (minus 20) at South Carolina: Two highest-scoring teams in the SEC ...FLORIDA 58-31. Iowa (plus 8) at No. 5 Northwestern: Hawkeyes have beaten Wildcats 21 straight times... NORTHWESTERN 2414. No. 6 Honda St (minus 181/2) at North Carolina; Seminoles still have shot at Fiesta Bowl... FLORIDA ST. 42-24. No. 12 Southern Cal (minus 15) at Oregon St.: Trojans earn Rose Bowl berth... SOUTHERN CAL 34-14. Purdue (plus 13 1/2) at No. 13 Michigan: Boilermakers winless at Ann Arbor iP^Mi FILE PHOTO The Gamecock rest of the Florida Gators will im Saturday to take on the ced No. 3 nationally. ecock loss since 1966... MICHIGAN 28-21. 4 i TT* / 4 4\ .1 If ino. 14 Virginia iminus iij ai lviaiyland: Cavaliers clinch tie for ACC title... VIRGINIA 27-17. Mississippi St. (plus 11) at No. 16 Alabama; Sherrill 0-6 vs. Tide... ALABAMA 2810. No. 17 Oregon (minus 21/2) at Arizona' Pac-lO's top passing team vs. league's best pass defense.:. ARIZONA 17-14. No. 20 Auburn (no line) at Georgia: Longest-running rivalry in SEC ... AUBURN 32-28. No. 22 Washington (plus 4) at UCLA Abdul-Jabbar has three straight 200yard rushing games... UCLA 31-24. Duke (plus 15) at No. 24 Clemson: Blue Devils haven't won at Death Valley since 1980... CLEMSON 28-7.