European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 27, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday december 27,1987 the stars and stripes Page 21 sports Browns Nab acc Central title Pittsburgh a berate Kosar threw a Short touchdown pass Earnest byner ran 2 Yards for a store and the Cleveland defense did the rest As the Browns clinched their third straight acc Central championship saturday by defeating the Pittsburgh steel cars 19-13, the win which Lave the Browns a final record of 10-5, assured Cleveland of at least one Home came in the playoffs. It knocked Pittsburgh which finished at 8-7. Out of any Hope far a wild card playoff berth. And while Kosar was 21 of 36 Tor 241 Yards and Matt Bahr kicked Field goals of 31 and 30 Yards the win was largely the work of the Cleveland defense led by linebacker Eddie Johnson in a game filled by numerous minor scuffles Between the Arch rivals. Pittsburgh s Only touchdown came on a 45-Yard interception return by Cornell Gowdy with 7 35 left in the game. After the last of the games brawls a roughing penalty on Pittsburgh s Dillon Hall led to the second Cleve land to. The Browns had been slopped at the Pitts Burgh 7 five minutes into the fourth Quarter and were ready to Settle fora Field goal. Instead the Penally on Hall gave the Browns a first Down at the 4, setting up byner s 2-Yard touchdown run that made the score 19-6 with 9 36 left in the game. Cleveland s Only other touchdown came in the Sec Ond Quarter on a 2-Yard to pass from Kosar to Derek Tennent a backup Light end. The Browns won for the second straight Lime in three Rivers stadium after losing their first 16. The Pittsburgh offence eos Only Field goals of 39 and 27 Yards from Gary Anderson and was limited 221 total Yards. Other than Gowdy s to return these eco ers reached the 10 twice once setting up an Anderson kick. The other time late in the first half Johnson ended the drive with an interception. The slice Lars consumed the first 6 37 of the game taking the opening Kickoff from their own 21 to the Browns 25 for almost a third of the total offence they got in the game. But Anderson s 42-Yard Field goal attempt was blocked by Bubba Baker to end the threat. The Browns then moved 55 Yards in 10 plays to the Pittsburgh 13, from where Bahr kicked i 31-Yard Field goal to give Cleveland a 3-0 Lead with 3 37 left in the Quarter. The Browns made it 9-0 2 15 into the second period on Kosar s 2-Yard touchdown pass to Tennell at the end of a seven play 55-Yard drive. But Bahr s extra Point attempt was blocked by Pittsburgh s Rod Wood son. Anderson s 39-Yard Field goal on the next series Cut in to 9-3. It came after an eight play 54-Yard drive that ended with Mark Malone s first incomplete pass after six straight completions. Pittsburgh threatened late in the half after a 25-Yard punt by Cleveland s Lee Johnson followed by a pass interference Call on Hanford Dison. Gave the Sec clerk a first Down at the Cleveland 10 with 1 05 left. But Eddie Johnson intercepted a malnic pass on the first play id end the threat. Bahr made in 12-3 5 40 into the third period with a 30-Yard Field goal thai hit the left upright and bounced through. In came after a drive of seven plays and 47 Yards 24 of which came on a pass from Kosar Tooz Zic new some. Anderson kicked a 27-Yard Field goal on the first play of the fourth Quarter to make it 12-6. It was set up by a 27-Yard pass play from Malone to Louis Lipps who made a leaping catch at the Cleveland is. But the Browns came Back logo 76 Yards in 10 plays to make it 19-6 on byner s to run Hanford Dixon intercepted for Cleveland on Pitts Burgh s next drive but Gowdy a replacement player signed during the strike More than returned the favor picking off a Kosar pass that deflected off the hands of Curtis Weathers and racing untouched to the end zone. But Cleveland was Able to retain Possession for the final six minutes reaching the Pittsburgh 18 As the game ended. Bruins trip gators 20-16 for 6th straight bowl win by the associated press Honolulu Urcla coach Terry Donahue celebrated Christmas Friday by equating a major accomplishment of two coaching legends Bobby Dodd and Bear Bryant. Donahue s Bruins Defeated Florida 20-16 in the sixth Aloha Bow marking the sixth straight year that Urcla has won a bowl game. Dodd and Bryant arc the Only other coaches in Mcaa history to win bowl games to close out six consecutive sea sons Dodd doing so at Georgia tech from 1951-56 and Bryant accomplishing the Feal at Alabama from 1975-80. Two other schools have won six consecutive bowl games Nebraska from 1969-74 and Southern Cal from 1974-79, Bui two coaches were involved for each school. During their postseason winning Streak the Bruins won three Rose bowls one fiesta bowl and one Freedom bowl before this Victory. It s a tremendous accomplishment for this team it s a National record that s Good for the program said Donahue 43, who has Opach Edat Urcla for 12 years person ally Ilja great achievement. Reserve running Back Danny Thomp son s first reception of he year a 5-Yard touchdown catch from Troy Aikman in the third Quarter lifted Urcla out of a 10-10 tie and into the Lead for Good. Thompson a 6-foot, 202-Pound Junior was Flat on his Back when he made the catch with 1 18 left in the period. Florida s Kerry Walkins had deflected the pass near the goal line before Thompson grabbed it. The touchdown was the first for Thompson at Urcla and just the fourth reception of his career. It was right there for me Thompson said. I said i was going to haul this one in. I finally got the Chance to gel in there and show what i could do. I did expect to play because All the running backs were Hurt. I was ready to play i was up for the  the Bruins needed to move Only 15 Yards after David Keating blocked a punt by Florida s Herbert Perry and Randy Beverly returned ill Yards. I blocked the Ball with my Chest Keating said. That s How close 1  Aikman completed 19 of 30 passes for 173 Yards and was intercepted twice. He was named Urcla s player of the game. It s important you finish up with a win Aikman said. We re still really disappointed about not going to the Rose bowl i Don t think anybody will forget about that. This does t make up for the Rose bowl but at least we ended the season with a  Urcla lost to Southern Cal 17-13 in its regular season finale on nov. 21 and the trojans will represent the Pacific id conference in the Rose bowl on Friday. The loth rated Bruins 10-2, also got a 32-Yard Field goal from Alfredo Verasco with 11 06 left in the game making in 20-10. Florida Drew within four Points with 7 51 to go on a 14-Yard touchdown pass from Kerwin Bell to Anthony Williams. But the extra Point was missed. Florida drove from its own 13 to the Urcla 20, where Bell threw an incompletion in the end zone As the clock ran out. I was flushed out of the pocket by Ken Norton or and had to throw and Hope for the Best Bell said. I Felt like he had me and i could l take a  the Bruins took a 3-0 Lead on a 34 Yard Field goal by Vilasco with 8 45 left in the first Quarter. The gators who finished 6-6, then moved 71 Yards in 10 plays to go ahead 7-3. The touchdown came on a 7-Yard pass from Bell to Stacey Simmons. Bell finished 19-for-38 for 188 Yards and two touchdowns. Fonda extended its Lead to 10-3 on a 32 Yard Field goal by Robert Mcginly with nine minutes left in the half. The Bruins lied it 10-10 on a 1-Yard run by Brian Brown with three seconds left in the half. A photo Urcla coach Terry Donahue. Joins two legends the Bruins played without running Back Gaston Green their All time Lead ing rusher who was sidelined with a pulled High muscle. Freshman running Back Emmil Smith named player of the game for Florida led All rushers with 128 Yards on 17 carries. Cowboys squeak by mountaineers Elpaso Texas a Oklahoma stale held on for a 35-33 Victory Over writ Virginia in a Snow bound Sun bowl Friday and coach Pat Jones said the cowboys let the mountaineers slay too close but had the ability to Slop them when the game was on the line we made just enough big plays at crucial limes to allow us to win Jones said. Shawn Mackey slopped Keith Wirt a half Yard shy of the end zone on a two Point conversion try to Seal the cowboys Victory. Oklahoma stale which won its 10th game of the year has lost Only to no 1 Oklahoma and no. 5 Nebraska in 1987. West Virginia finished 6-6, with five of its losses coming by five Points or less. It was the same old Story for us said Mountaineer coach Don Nehlen whose team lost by one Point to undefeated Syracuse three to Pitt and tour to  state and Maryland we could t put the opposition away. We played a solid game but weren t  the cowboys All America running Back Thurman Thomas carried 33 times for 157 Yards setting a Sun Bow record for Rushing attempts. He scored four limes for another Sun bowl record and was selected the game s most valuable player. Offensively i did think that they had t stopped us. We stopped Oun elves Jones said. Defensively we did about whal we be been doing All year  the cowboys allowed West Virginia to convert two fourth Down plays on its attempt at a a finn Tyirin drive but stopped the two Point try after Craig Taylor s 6 Yard scoring run with 1 13 left. A was supposed to be Rushing the passer. He Wavu quarterback major Harris was scrambling Back and Forth and i was trying to slay Between him and the goal line Mackay said. He threw it straight in front of him where 1 was. The Guy was t two feet behind me. I just turned around and jumped on  West Virginia had taken a 24-14 Lead at halftime. Bui Thomas led a second half surge that brought the cowboys Back lie carried each Lime on a six play 56 Yard drive at the Start of the third Quarter scoring see cowboys on Page 26