European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 19, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 30 the stars and stripes sports monday december 19,1994 Lions make believers of vikes Sanders Gray sparkle in 41-19 Detroit Romp by Harry Atkin Pontiac Mich. A the Detroit Lions have never lost Faith in players like Barry Sanders and Mel Gray it s easy to see Why. On saturday they made believers of the Minnesota Vikings too. Sanders had touchdown runs of 18 and 64 Yards Gray returned a Kickoff 98yards for a touchdown and the Lions tied Minnesota for first place in the of Central by beating the Vikings 41-19. Both teams have 9-6 records with one game remaining. Had the Vikings won they would have clinched the division title. We were the division champs not Minnesota Lions coach Wayne Fon Essaid. I think a lot of people forgot the Lions who have won the division two of the last three years were being written off after a2-4 Start that included a 10-3 loss at Minnesota in the second week. But the Lions have a history of fast finishes. The Lions Are 22-12 in regular season games on and after thanksgiving under Sanders Fontes 18-9 in de Cember and Early january. After the 2-4 Start the Lions have rallied to win four Ina Row and seven of their last nine. A lot of things were being written Anda lot of things were being said when we were 2-4," Fontes said. I kept telling people to wait and see. But nobody wanted to listen to it was the most Points allowed by the Vikings since a 44-38 overtime loss to Washington on nov. 2,1986. I thought we d play better today Roget the division title Vikings linebacker Jack Del Rio said. But we did t get i done. We be been working All year and Well just continue to work. Sanders the nil s leading rusher gained 110 Yards on 17 carries. He needs169 Yards in the Lions final regular sea son game Christmas night at Miami to become the third nil rusher in history to gain 2,000 Yards. We knew it was Early in the season Sanders said. The nil is comparable to a Marathon you just have to stick within. Who cares who gets out of the Gate fast it s How you finish that counts. You know a lot can happen in just a Minnesota wide receiver Cris Carter who had 8 catches for 80 Yards broke the nil record of 112 catches set by Greenbay s Sterling Sharpe in 1993. Carter has 119 catches this season. Viking Cris Carter 80who had just it receding it card accepts congratulations from Lions Bennie Blades right and Pat Swilling. The Vikings played most of the second half without quarterback Warren Moon he went out with a bruised right knee with 7 33 left in the third Quarter. But it doubtful that Moon could have saved the Vikings who trailed 27-13 when he left. Moon was 15-of-22 for 1z6 Yards with one interception. He s one of the finest quarterbacks inthe nil and you want him in the game Vikings coach Dennis Green said Brad Johnson went the rest of the Wain place of Moon. Johnson was 14-of-29 for 104 Yards. Gray selected to his fifth pro Bov a Ca thursday brought the Silver dome crw Dof 73,881 to life Early with his electrifying return. Gray had earlier Given a hint a what was to come Vith a 32- Ard Kic of return to open the game. Mel s just As important As Barry Tous quarterback Dave Krieg said. Not Only did he get us a touchdown but on the first drive of the game he gave i the Ball at mid fled Sheji he comes through like that along with the rest of the special teams it can really make our Job a lot on his touchdown run Grav change direction nine times and hurdles team mate to havoc pc at the Vikings 25 on his Way to the game s first touchdown which gave Detroit a 10-3 Lead with 4 03 left in the flirt Quarter he s the Best returner in he torn Green said. Well i Don t know if you can by that but he s the Best in the 90s.the game a even at that Point a col paled the Vii Iris into a 10-10tfe i h a 20-Yard scoring pass to Jake Reed Early is the second Quarter. But 21 Vai adj Detroit after that Hanics hid a 39-Vard fielder Al i the flu q Carter put Detroit a and to Tay a a 41-Varder. An 18 Yard Corteg to tribe Flora Icieg to Rookie Johr a ii Orton save Detroit a 20-10 Kad Aish 2 49 left 5 the Hilf. Krieg 5-1 As a starter since replacing injured Scott Mitchell was 15-of-20 for160 Yards and two touchdowns. Sanders scored both his ads in the third Quarter. His 18-Yard scamper came with 9 17 left in the Quarter and he went64 Yards with 1 12 remaining for a 34-19 Detroit Lead. That was a stinger Green said. Barry s Long touchdown run was the firs play after the game was reduced to eight Points. He s a magnificent Krieg hit Anthony Carter with a 4-Yard scoring strike 3 46 into the fourth Quarter to finish the scoring. Minnesota s Fuad Reveiz kicked Fiel goals of 34,26,37 and 48 Yards. Gray set a Lions record of three kick off returns for touchdowns in a season breaking Ron Jessie s 1971 Mark of two. He also tied Ohie Matson s nil career records of six Kickoff returns for touch Downs and nine kick returns including punts for scores. Carter s record came with Steep Price Pom Tiff v4r via a to. Kirr �_.ito. I _. J a. Pontiac Mich. A the record was Nice. But the Price was far too Steep to suit Cris Carter. Not Only did Minnesota lose the game the Vikings also lost quarterback Warre Moon on saturday. Carter set an nil record for receiving with his 113th catch Early in the first Quarter of the Vikings 41-19 loss to the Detroit Lions breaking the Mark of 112 set by Green Bay receiver Sterling Sharpe last season. Winning is always first in my mind so i Haven t really thought about it Carter said. There will be a Point but not any time soon. We still have games to the ios left both teams tied atop the pfc Central with 9-6 record. Kings could have clinched the i. Vith Victory. We just did t make enough Pla win the game Carter said. The up better than us. Thai s Carter finished the i h 4 is for &0 Yards. He no 119 . With one game remain ".2. Carter caught a q ick out Frorer. M. For 17 Yard Entha v�ki.7j.i for i from scrim mags to tie the record. The snaps later on third-an-d-5 at Tri l 37, Carter slanted Oer the record breaking Carch b o a uck turned it into another la Yard. That Sot up the of of a 2 Vij Rcv Fua Tif Veltz. Exc a 0.1 a a a bruised of zit Atlanta s Terance Mathis 103 and got for s1co Philadelphia let cf22 for of. V--7c i a he / v i 1� no a Gashy receiver a i "4" a talc aay Speed. Even with All the,.".i,. I " catches Carter entered the game fifth in to "ht7i -.t, ,. R,.r rrv1" it ceh ing Yards. His 10.4- i. I it crr i per catch average is easily the to ". To arg the Harue s top pass catchers. A h the receptions Hae come honors. to a six Star Veteran out of Ohio s tit Ras to the pfc pro by a
