European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 17, 1980, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday september 17, 1980 the stars and stripes Poge 21 Stabler Fritsch spark oilers in 16-7 Victory Over Browns Tony Fritsch. Boots three Fps of stars 4 stripes sports Cleveland a Houston quarterback Ken Stabler displaying the Ball control ability the oilers sought when they acquired him from Oakland during the off season completed 23 of 28 passes and Tony Fritsch booted three Field goals to Lead Houston to a 16-7 National football league Victory Over the Cleveland Browns monday night. Stabler combined with Farl Campbell who rushed for 106 Yards to hold the Ball for More than nine minutes on two separate drives. The Browns were Able to run off Only three offensive plays in the third period. The oilers took the second half Kickoff and strolled 67 Yards for their first touch Down and a 10-7 Lead. Campbell broke Loose for runs of 18 and 17 Yards and Stabler hit two passes for 19 to set up a iwo Yard score by fullback Tim Wilson. Fritsch converted a 29-Yard Field goal Early in the fourth period to boost the Oil ers Lead to 13-7 and capped the scoring with a 17-Yardcr with just Over four min utes left in the game. The Browns look a 7-3 Edge into the lock of room at halftime. Neither team was Able to move the Ball effectively until the end of the first Quarter when the Browns took a punt at to ctr own 43 and drove for the first score of the game. Quarterback Brian sip hit Mike Ruiu with a 15-Yard pass to the Houston 3-Yard line and followed with a touchdown toss to Calvin Hill on the second play of the second Quarter. Stabler ability to control the Ball combined with a Light Houston defense to limit Cleveland to a total of just 10 offensive plays for the remainder of the second Quarter and the entire third period. Frisch Cut the Cleveland Lead to 7-3 with a 25-Yard Boot on the ensuing series. Sta Bler hit on five of six passes for 29 Yards and Campbell ground out 23 Yards on six carries before the drive stalled at the Browns 8, setting up the three Pointer. The contest was played before 80,243 fans the largest crowd Ever to watch the oilers perform. Houston evened its record at la while the Browns fell to 0-2. The oilers Are now 5-4 in monday night affairs including five in a Row. And the Browns dropped to 5-3. Stabler who came to the oilers in a quarterback Swap with Oakland for Dan Pastorini used a variety of receivers in Pil ing up 187 Yards passing mostly on Short or intermediate Range tosses. The Browns helped keep alive a third Quarter Houston drive by nullifying an interception by defensive Back Thorn Darden which would have Given them the Ball inside their own 5. Instead they opted to accept a holding penalty to set up a third-and-29 situation. But Stabler foiled the strategy hitting Light end Mike Barber with a 14-Yard pass onto which a roughing the passer Penally against Lyle Alzado was tacked giving the oilers a first Down at the Cleveland 20. Four plays later Frilseth booted the second of his three Field goals. For Cleveland sip hit on 12 of 25 passes for 106 Yards and one interception. Mike Pruitt led the drowns rushers with 12 carries for 59 Yards. The Brothers Brett bred right Hilling to of Ukins City Royal so us brother Ken Roytub Ditcher walk of str sprint ing la it Outrich before Etc rat Gamt to Anaheim Sudi Iun. George by ton Lutu aed Slact stot 6 Hea be injured i right bad while Billing. He i to Ioui to get Biek and hit .400, pm says but it s More in Horuat Loum to Bettj for the  a photo tide rises to no. 1 in a poll by  Nissenson a sports writer the Crimson tide of Alabama striving o become the first team in College football history to capture three consecutive National championships moved past Ohio stale and into first place in this week s associated press poll. Alabama and Ohio state wore tied with 30 first place votes apiece but the Crimson tide Idle lust weekend following its opening game 26-3 Triumph Over Georgia tech. Jumped from second place to the top spot with 1,232 of a possible 1.280 Points from a nationwide panel of 64 sports writers and sportscast cars. The buckeyes of Ohio state who rallied from a 21-3 second period deficit to turn Back Syracuse 31-21, slipped to the runner up position with 1,216 Points. Last week Ohio stale led Ala Bama 33-22 in first place ballots and 1.140-1,121 in Points with 59 voters participating. Oklahoma and Southern califor Nia moved up one position each to third and fourth place respectively while Pittsburgh dropped from third to fifth. Oklahoma a 29-7 Winner Over Kentucky received two first place i continued on Pugelj Brett puts playoffs above hitting .400 by Milton r1chman up sports editor new York up George Brett can count. He knows time is running out. It in t the Walls so much that arc crowding in on him it s the numbers but eager As he is to become the major leagues first .400 hitter since Ted Williams in 1941, he s willing to let that go by the boards just so his still not per fact right hand is in Good enough shape to allow him to participate in the playoffs with the Kan Sas City royals. Thai s what he s aiming for most right now. Bretl has been on the shelf since sept. 6 when he injured his hand fouling off an outside pitch in a game with Cleveland. He visited or. William Benson in Kansas City monday and told him the hand Felt much better. The associated press reported that Brett has developed tendinitis in his hand. He has resolving tendinitis of one of his wrist extensors said Benson monday after a 45-minute examination. "1 told him i would not want him going Back to playing until this becomes non painful said Ben son. How Long that will take is very in  his hand in t  says his older brother. Ken who also is with inc royals and is slaying Wilh him at his Home in Lake quiver Kan. It s just a question of whether it s Good enough yet for him to play. He s anxious to get going again and nit .400, but it s More important to him to be. Ready for the playoffs. They mean much More to him than hitting .400. He does t care about the Money he d make if he did it. He does t need it. You know How he is. George puts the team s goals ahead of his own. He s always done that. 1 Don t bother asking him How his hand it. Everybody else docs  the royals magic number is two with 18 games left o play. They Start a three game series at Home with the Angels tues Day night any combination of one Victory for inc royals and one loss for the second place Oakland a s assures the royals the american league s Western division title and puts them up in the playoffs against the Yankees most Likely beginning oct. 8 in Kansas City. With his batting average on hold at .396, George Brett s own magic number is 14. I figmic i have to play at least 14 More games and i think i can do it he says. I d like to get Back in there right away but i might have to wait a Little longer maybe until thursday or Friday. It s one of those Day to Day things. I won t be Able to Tell until i get to the  Brett s 4-game projection is right on target. Here s the Way the arithmetic Breaks Down he has 447 plate appearances so far and needs 502 to qualify for the Balling title. If he does t win the title officially he will not be certified As a .400 hitter so the iwo go hand in hand. By playing in 14 More games and assuming he gets up four limes in each one he would finish with 503 Plain icon minued on Page 2?l Brett s Bat sunday no game average .396 games left 18