COLUMBIA MISSOURIAN, Sunday, Dec. 20, 1981 Page 11A

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Lucchesi surprise star in bowl win

ByRobYencik. Missouriansportswriter I

ORLANDO, Fla. Missouri placekicker f Bob Lucchesi, who earlier in the season jj made extra-poi- nt kicks an adventure, kicked I four field goals to lead the Tigers to a 19-1- 7 I victory over Southern Mississippi Saturday I night in the 36th annual Tangerine Bowl, the I Tigers' third victory in the last four years. Lucchesi's four field goals tied the Tan- - j gerine Bowl record and the Missouri school j record for most field goals kicked in a game. For his performance, Lucchesi also was named the most valuable offensive player in the game. 'It's got to be the best game of my ca- reer," said the ecstatic Lucchesi after the game. "I was a little inconsistent earlier in the year; I got a little excited and didn't han- dle the pressure." Lucchesi's field goals were not the only reasons for Missouri's victory. The Missouri defense which was led by Tangerine Bowl Most Valuable Player Jeff Gaylord also played a leading role. The Tigers limited Southern Mississippi to 133 yards rushing on 52 attempts in the game. Missouri also held the Golden Eagles to 128 yards passing in the game 74 of those yards on a touchdown pass with one minute remaining in the game.

Futhermore, the Tigers, now 8-- 4, held Southern Mississippi Reggie Collier who in 1981 became the first quar- terback in NCAA history to rush and pass for more than 1,000 yards in each category in the same season to 16 yards rushing and 54 yards passing.

The game's first half was almost even sta- Robert Rogers tistically. However, Missouri appeared to be 25-yar- first-quart- er controlling the game, and it was the Tigers Missouri Bob Meyer bursts through the Southern Mississippi line for a d gain in action. who scored first. With less than three minutes left to play in the first quarter, Missouri's James Caver fielded Bruce Thompson's 15-ya- rd punt at - the Missouri 41-ya- rd line 'and returned it 8 t$SB5ffi8fSr BM?fei.'flSffir- - tHBt j fc SHSSsSSSBil 1 J SrVfnPlfllnTff "jffr" . yards. From there, MssoiSfi drove yards in five plays to take a 7--0 leaii.

The key play in the drive was a 38-ya- rd pass play from quarterback Brad Perry to tight end Andy Gibler. On a first-dow- n play at the Southern Mississippi 41-ya- rd line, Per- ry faked a handoff , dropped back and com- pleted a short oass to Gibler over the middle. Gibler rumbled to the 3-y- ard line before he was dragged down by Golden Eagle safety Danny Jackson.

On the --next play, running back Bobby Meyer, who led all rushers in the game with 96 yards on 20 carries, slithered through a small hole for the touchdown, i A short kick led to Southern Mississippis' first points in the game, too. After Tiger 34-ya- M. punter Eric Schmidt's rd punt, the Qino Breodlove Golden Eagles took possession of the ball at 10-ya-rd the Missouri 48-ya-rd line, midway through fumble by Collier at the Southern Mississippi A punt by Thompson on Southern the second quarter. 25-ya- rd line with two minutes left in the half. Mississippi's next possession led to Lucche- half-tim- e fea- records-tyin- g Thomp- up After a extravaganza, which si's field goal. After Southern Mississippi was able to pick tured bands from both universities, a mock son's punt went out of bounds at the Southern the drive stalled at the 34-ya- two first downs, but Civil War battle, the Mississippi rd line, the Tigers drove to 21-ya- rd on to Steve Clark came 12-ya- line. Kicker Cheerleaders and a fireworks display the rd line, where Lucchesi came into 37-ya- rd made the score 28-ya- boot a field goal, and Southern Mississippi capitalized on the first the game to kick a rd field goal. 7--3. Missouri turnover of the game and cut the After Lucchesi's fourth field goal, which The ensuing kickoff came to Missouri's Tiger' lead to 3. came with 10:44 remaining to play, the 19-1- 0 "" 4-y- Midway through the third quarter, Golden was entrusted to Missouri defense. Jeff Smith at the ard line. Smith fumbled lead the ' Robert Rogers the picked up, broke toward the right Eagles cornerback Miller intercepted a pass The Tiger defense did not allow the Golden ball, it 40-ya- sideline and returned it 56 yards before Gold- Perry had intended for Caver at the Missouri Eagles to penetrate the Missouri rd line Things were going right for Missouri's defense most of the game Taft Sales, 30-ya- rd line. down the sideline Mississippi quar- en Eagle Bruce Miller made a touchdown-savin- g Miller raced until backup ' Southern above, leads a Tiger swarm in stopping Southern Mississippi's Sammy 40-ya- until Perry knocked him out of bounds at the Davy Sellers who entered the tackle at the rd line. terback Reggie fails on own. above 8-y- Winder. Golden Eagle quarterback Collier his ard line. game after Collier suffered a pinched nerve After the Tigers were able to pick up only Two plays later, tailback Sammy Wynder in his neck hit flanker Louis Lipps with a left, as Tiger Ken Judd helps the officials spot the ball. one first down, Lucchesi entered the game to went into the end zone untouched from 4 74-ya-rd touchdown pass with 1:03 remaining attempt a 45-ya- rd field goal. Lucchesi's kick yards out to make the score 13-1- 0. m the game. cleared the crossbar by inches, and Missouri Missouri took the ensuing kickoff and Missouri covered the onside kickoff and had a 10--3 lead. drove 75 yards to set up another Lucchesi was unable to make the first down.

41-ya- field goal. The drive, which was aided by Bill Schmidt's punt went out of the end zone, and Lucchesi added a rd field goal with 7-y- ard run down on a Mississippi could not advance five seconds remaining to play in the first White's for a first Southern ck punt, consumed almost seven minutes defense. MVP Gaylord half. The kick came after Missouri cor-nerba- faked against the Tiger had 30-ya- rd field goal. two of game. Demetrious Johnson recovered a and culminated in a the final tackles the Youngstown coach faces challenge with humor

to Divi- part-tun- e ivlissouri, but maybe By the Ohio Valley. Having play "It was a small, deal," uiaiue ctgdiiibt Tom Friend you a much deep- tough. We not. We beat Pitt when they were Missourian sportswriter sion I schools gives Missouri vs. Youngstown State he said. "Scheduling was er challenge than before. had a hard time getting decent tough. They took us for granted." a on. Big Rosselli said he would like to 37 of coaching the . "I understand that Missouri has 8:05 p.m. Hearrtes Center schedules. We got picked have After years a player of Missouri center Steve Sti- same team, Youngstown State's home vanning streak record on the Lineups schools wouldn't mind playing jou The only thing I can had a big win. panovich 's sue. The Penguins are to hold line Monday. following a uo-- i . , CM because they Dom Rosselli managed smic ..ww w.e 6-foo- has u t-7, Moc-rehe-ad with a of what's say is that we're coming out there to tucky Thursday night The Penguins hosted were commuting school. We small, starting front line onto his enthusiasm. But Missouri "We a 6-- 6-- "But State Saturday. Missouri is off to its best 5 and 6. Their leading he added, laughing. 6--4 5-- stay- more important, he has managed to deny it," P 22 Marvin McCrary, Sr. start since the 197JW30 season with a 0 record never had dorms. People were I Tigers are ranked In the top ten lor the first scorer is sophomore forward Art Mc- keep his sense of humor. you better deny said it." F 32 Ricky Frazier, 6--6 Sr. The ing in rooming houses, working to be time since Decemberof last year Cullough, who averages 14.8 points Rosselli's sense of humor might 6-1- 1 was true with , And it's a good thing he has. C 40 Steve Stipanovich, Jr. THE COACHES: Youngstown State coach Oom pay tuitions. But that a per game. to pull himself and his team 6-- 38th year Penguin skipper years, Penguins the thing G 20 Jon Sundvold, 2 Jr. Rosselli is in his as and lot of schools." many 533-37- 0 For the He will start two owns a record o' He recently posted his Ironically, Stipanovich's father is power- through hard times. G 15 Prince Bridges, 6--1 So. were a NCAA Division II Mon- 1.000th career coaching victory when the Pen Winning changed the situation. from Youngstown, Ohio. 85-5- 7 Mid-Contine- freshmen (and two sophomores guins Cannon College, However house in the nt Confer- defeated "As went on, the fact was nightj and most of his team is 418 of those victories came as coach of the time "He's from Chaney High School," ence. They reached the NAIA play- day Youngstown Stale Youngstown baseball team Tiger coach Norm you win under con- of that if could those Rosselli said. "The family moved This made up underclassmen. F Dave Klenovich, 6--7, Fr. Stewart continues to reach milestones with each offs City tunes. 6-foot-- in Kansas four winning makes 10" in Missouri victory This season he has collected his 250th win ditions, well, a team out, and I lost a kid. He Divi- "We hope the weather Art McCullough, 6-- 5, year, however, Youngstown is want a F So. as Missouri coach and 350th as a basketball get richer," said Rosselli. "The com- would of played high school ball we'll 6-- 6, 254-14- here sion and has entered the compet- is pleasant, because C Steve Martin, So. coach He's 2 at Missouri and 351 184 over winning I said. "It'll all munity likes to see and then and gone to Michigan or a school Rossel-h'-s short trip home," Rosselli G 6--2, itive Ohio Valley Conference. Rob Carter, Sr. THE SERIES: This is the first meeting ever be- the school says, 'let's give him (the looking ng near here, though." are is-goi- challenge. The kids 6-- 2, team could face some long be a G Kevin Cherry, Fr. tween the two schools Youngstown State coach) some help.' We became a ro--, to it. We'll be playing a ranked team, through Its first season as a Division I school and Rosselli laughed. He seemed to nights. But doesn't faze the Valley university, and things im- that we're looking forward to playing TV and RADIO The game can be heard begin- its Initial campaign In the Ohio Conference state thrive on jokes. bust Rosselli, who says he'll be "68 but ning at 805 on KFRU (1400 AM) and KCMQ (97 INJURIES: Missouri does not report any injuries, proved." big-ti- me teams. FM) but Youngstown State will be without its top "I think my size has always been

one 5-foo- of these t-3. days." put it down as an up- TICKETS: A small crowd Is expected. Good scorer of a year ago. Bruce Alexander Alexander, But have things improved enough against he said. 1 5-fo- me,' "I'm al-- "But dont ot "I don't know if moving up is we seats are available a 11 senior is averaging 8 3 points but is so Youngstown can compete "Say 3--3 was do," said set," he added, laughing. RECORDS. Youngstown State was Saturday nursing a pulled abdominal muscle that afraid of smoking when I was ways what you want to legitimately." with Missouri on the road? small. I was afraid it would stunt my all-tim- e basketball beat them Rosselli, whose Youngstown State is not the bad "I think we'll have trouble all growth. Not smoking didn't help, coaching record at Youngstown is team that Rosselli jokes about. Ros- ley Conference power Murray State, Salle and Toledo. over," Rosselli said. "Well have to though. I can hide in holes and ev- 583-3- 70 with his baseball coach- and, 3-- 14-poi- disciplined-typ- e is 3, with wins over 67-6- 3, blowing nt lead. But when began at Young- play a game. By erything." ing over 1,000 total selli's team after a .Rosselli victories, has Kentucky and Austin Peay de- stown 38 years ago, things that, I don't mean slowing it up. We But Rosselli won't be. able to you can compete, it's OK, Eastern In past season's, Youngstown has State hide wins. "If narrow loss to Ohio Val-- schools as La-- weren't so great. have the shooters. We're restricted from his competition this year. but it's a challenge, particularly in State and a feated such Division I i