FOOTBALL'S NINTH WEEK
THE MIDWEST
Even as disappointed Minnesota winced painfully under a 23-14 defeat by Purdue, Iowa took advantage of the Gophers' misfortune to whip Ohio State 35-12 and take the Big Ten lead. The young Hawk-eyes can win the title if Minnesota stumbles against Wisconsin next Saturday. Bogged down in a nose-to-nose battle in the first quarter, Iowa suddenly trapped a too adventurous Ohio State lineman, sent Fullback Joe Williams crashing through the hole on the way to a 49-yard touchdown run. From that point on the Hawkeyes rarely faltered. It was a fitting departure for Iowa's retiring Coach Forest Evashevski. Said Evy: "I have a real friendly feeling for Purdue."
Meanwhile, other Big Ten also-rans were maneuvering for position. Michigan State's Duffy Daugherty cannily shifted assignments to improve his line's gap blocking, and the Spartans pulled off three trap plays for long touchdown runs by Fullback Ron Hatcher (51 and 32 yards) and Halfback Gary Ballman (74 yards), added three extra points by Art Brandstatter to beat Northwestern 21-18 Illinois turned a recovered fumble and an intercepted pass into touchdowns, went on to trounce Wisconsin 35-14. Michigan beat helpless Indiana 29-7.
All season long it had been apparent that Oklahoma's days of dominance in the Big Eight were at an end. Now there was no doubt about it. Unbeaten Missouri demonstrated that even the once-dreaded "Norman snake pit" (Owen Field), where the Sooners had not lost a conference game in 18 years, was no longer inviolable. Pushing their attack up the middle instead of to the outside, as expected, the Tigers shot Halfback Donnie Smith through for two touchdowns, then turned to the flanks, swept loose Halfback Norris Stevenson for 77- and 60-yard scoring runs. Oklahoma fought back stubbornly, but Missouri beat the Sooners for the first time in 15 years, 41-19. Coach Dan Devine, who had earlier described Missouri as "little ol' humpty dumpties who aren't impressive looking," had to admit his Tigers were something special: "This is wonderful. We kept our poise. We beat a good, fired-up team."
But Missouri still must beat Kansas Saturday for the title. The Jayhawks had Coach Jack Mitchell nervously pacing the sidelines like an expectant father during the first half against Colorado. However, they perked up in the third quarter as Halfbacks Hugh Smith and Bert Coan ran 46 and 74 yards for touchdowns, easily beat the Buffs 34-6. The top three:
1. MISSOURI (9-0)
2. MINNESOTA (7-1)
3. IOWA (7-1)
THE EAST
While Pitt Coach Johnny Michelosen fearfully clutched a rabbit's foot on the sidelines, Army made his Panthers look like a bunch of tabby cats. Quarterback Tom Blanda, after a disconcerting moment in the first quarter when Ed Sharockman ran one of his passes back 39 yards for a touchdown, completed 24 of 35 for 235 yards but couldn't get Army into the end zone. Finally, Fullback Al Rushatz plunged over from the one in the third quarter, and Blanda kicked the tying point. Still Blanda kept trying, but his 33-yard field-goal attempt with 29 seconds to go hit the crossbar, and the lucky Panthers slunk off with a 7-7 tie.
Navy's Joe Bellino ran for four touchdowns to lead the Middies past Virginia 41-6. Halfback Pete Brokaw scored three times as Syracuse clobbered old rival Colgate 46-6. Penn State ran over Holy Cross 33-8. Boston College rallied to beat Boston U. 23-14. Rutgers shut out Delaware 22-0 to win the Middle Atlantic championship. Amherst beat Williams 21-6 for the Little Three title.
Among the Ivies, all eyes were on New Haven where Yale polished off Princeton 43-22 (see page 16). In other games Harvard warmed up for the Elis by beating Brown 22-8; Dartmouth romped against Cornell 20-0; Columbia defeated Penn 16-6 for the first time in 23 years. The top three:
1. NAVY (8-1)
2. ARMY (6-2-1)
3. PITT (4-2-3) and YALE (8-0)
THE SOUTH
Not since 1920 had Mississippi won in Knoxville. But this time it was different. Ole Miss marched the opening kickoff back 76 yards for a touchdown and never let up until Tennessee was beaten 24-3. Quarterback Jake Gibbs spread the defense with his wonderful passing (11 of 13 for 112 yards) while Fullback Jim Anderson battered the Tennessee line for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Now only Mississippi State stands between the Rebels and the SEC title.
Georgia Tech piled up a 15-0 lead in the first half but unwisely chose to sit on it. Soon Alabama began to catch up, finally overhauled the cautious Jackets 16-15 on Richard O'Dell's 24-yard field goal as time ran out. Auburn's Ed Dyas, the country's best field-goal kicker, got off his third of the game with 46 seconds to play—from the 22-yard line—to give the Tigers a 9-6 victory over Georgia. Florida, enjoying its finest SEC season, whipped Tulane 21-6, earned an invitation to the Gator Bowl.
Versatile Duke punched away at the Wake Forest line for 234 yards, passed sparingly but effectively for 100 more while stopping the Deacons' long-throwing Norm Snead, won 34-7 to clinch a tie for the Atlantic Coast title. Maryland made the most of a pass interference penalty in the closing 65 seconds, defeated North Carolina 22-19 when Quarterback Dale Betty tossed a three-yard pass to Gary Collins. Clemson beat South Carolina 12-2.
Notre Dame tried its luck in the South, found it was no better there and lost to Miami 28-21. VMI first surprised, then bruised The Citadel with its ground game, won 20-6 for its second straight Southern Conference crown. The top three:
1. MISSISSIPPI (8-0-1)
2. DUKE (7-1)
3. AUBURN (7-1)
THE WEST
Washington worked over California 27-7 to win the Big Five title and an automatic bid to the Rose Bowl. The Huskies, who haven't been quite the same since Quarterback Bob Schloredt broke his collarbone, crunched away at the weak Cal line for 254 yards, while Bob Hivner passed just often enough to keep the Bears off balance.
Meanwhile, UCLA was looking better and better. Tailback Bill Kilmer passed for one touchdown, ran 88 yards for a second and plunged for a third as the Bruins beat Air Force 22-0. For a few exhilarating seconds, Stanford Coach Jack Curtice thought his poor Indians had finally won a game. With Oregon State leading 25-21 and one minute to play, Halfback Skip Face hurtled three yards into the State end zone, but officials detected clipping on the play, and the score was nullified. Moaned Curtice: "Somebody up there is interfering with my coaching." Oregon, hoping for a bowl (almost any one will do) invite, trounced winless West Virginia 20-6. Mel Melin threw three touchdown passes, two of them to End Hugh Campbell, college football's No. 1 receiver, and Washington State defeated Idaho 18-7.
Unbeaten Skyline leader Utah State took time off from its title pursuit to wallop COP 45-6 as little Halfback Tom Larscheid ran for 188 yards and four touchdowns. The top three:
1. WASHINGTON (8-1)
2. UCLA (5-1-1)
3. OREGON (7-2)
THE SOUTHWEST
Arkansas, edging closer to the Southwestern Conference championship and the Cotton Bowl, beat SMU 26-3 behind Quarterback George McKinney, who set up all three touchdowns with his running and passing. All Arkansas has to do now is beat Texas Tech, which lost to Wyoming 10-7 when Joe Dempsey kicked a 17-yard field goal with 37 seconds to play. But Rice, Texas and Baylor are still hopeful. Rice managed to hold off Texas A&M 21-14 while Texas, finding TCU's defense unyielding, squeezed past the plodding Horned Frogs on Dan Petty's 25-yard field goal.
Baylor, unable to match USC's heft in the line, resorted to an offense of passes and envelopment, made it pay off for a 35-14 victory over the fumbling Trojans. Quarterbacks Ronnie Stanley and Bobby Ply completed 14 of 20 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns, and Halfback Ronnie Bull ran for three more. Complained USC Coach Johnny McKay: "We lost the ball too much to win. That's the story of our season."
Undefeated New Mexico State pummeled West Texas State 35-15 for its 12th straight, but Arizona State provided the prestige for the Border Conference with a 25-22 victory over North Carolina State. The Sun Devil linemen rushed North Carolina State's efficient passer, Roman Gabriel, to near distraction and, after three quarters, the score was tied 22-22. Then, Halfback Nolan Jones kicked a 25-yard field goal to win for Arizona State. The top three:
1. ARKANSAS (7-2)
2. RICE (6-2)
3. TEXAS (6-3)
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PHOTO
BACK OF THE WEEK: Yale's Tom Singleton enjoyed his finest hour against Princeton, passing for three touchdowns, running for a fourth.
PHOTO
LINEMAN OF THE WEEK: Bob Lilly, TCU tackle, starred in losing cause as he recovered a fumble, blocked a kick and piled up Texas backs.
TWO PHOTOS
NEW FACES: Hugh Smith (left), Kansas halfback, scored on 46-yard dash, ran for 77 yards in all in win over Colorado; Alabama's Richard O'Dell kicked 24-yard field goal on final play of game as Crimson Tide beat Georgia Tech 16-15.
SATURDAY'S TOUGH ONES
Penn state over Pitt. The Nittany Lions have been waiting for a whole year to get even with the chewed-up Panthers. Better offense will win for Penn State.
Yale over Harvard. Celebrated as The Game, this should be just another spirited workout for Tom Singleton and the talented Elis.
Tennessee over Kentucky. The Vols are still in the running for a bowl bid, but they will have to guard their flanks against the free-running Wildcats.
Missouri over Kansas. The winner gets the Big Eight title. The Jayhawks are testy enough to extend unbeaten Missouri to its limit, but the Tigers have too much balance, backfield speed and all-round strength for Kansas.
Minnesota over Wisconsin. Iowa will be praying for a Wisconsin victory, but the Gophers aren't likely to fumble their chance for a share of the Big Ten championship.
Ohio State over Michigan. It has been a good season for the powerful Buckeyes. Michigan's sophomores still make too many costly mistakes.
Rice over TCU. Tenacious defense, led by Tackle Bob Lilly, makes TCU hard to beat, but the Owls are more adept at moving the ball.
Oregon State over Oregon. A close One. Tailback-rich State will have both Don Kasso and Terry Baker ready for the Ducks. They will make the difference.
UCLA over USC. The Trojans have no one to match UCLA's Bill Kilmer, an authentic triple-threater who makes the Bruin single wing so dangerous.
Utah State over Utah. Hopes for the Skyline title and an unbeaten season will give Utah State the incentive it needs to turn back the Utes.
Other games
PRINCETON OVER DARTMOUTH
CLEMSON OVER BOSTON COLLEGE
LSU OVER WAKE FOREST
N. CAROLINA ST. OVER SOUTH CAROLINA
SYRACUSE OVER MIAMI
TULANE OVER VANDERBILT
NORTHWESTERN OVER ILLINOIS
OKLAHOMA OVER NEBRASKA
ARKANSAS OVER TEXAS TECH
CALIFORNIA OVER STANFORD
LAST WEEK'S PREDICTIONS:
13 RIGHT, 6 WRONG, 1 TIE
SEASONS RECORD: 110-62-8