The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, October 27, 1978, Image 12
Page 12 THE BATTALION J FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1978 Minnesota defeats Dallas United Press International IRVING — How many times through the years have the Min nesota Vikings fed on enemy errors to set up easy touchdowns while playing flawless football them selves? How many times has Fran Tar- kenton nibbled and chipped away at the opposition’s defense until total frustration set in? How many times has the Vikings defense, even in years when it was considered suspect, blotted out a foe? Well, how ever many times it has been up to now, add one more to it, and label it Minnesota 21, Dallas 10. All of these things happened one more time on a clear, crisp Thursday evening at Texas Stadium — a night on which the Dallas Cowboys would much rather have been home watch ing television instead of being on it. The only thing different about the Vikings Thursday night was that they chose to spread out their for mation, often using just one running back, thus surprising the Cowboys and giving Tarkenton better targets. That plan worked nicely enough, but the Cowboys helped the Vikings along by turning the ball over four times. The win boosted Minnesota’s record to 5-4 and kept them in close pursuit of NFC Central leader Green Bay. Dallas slumped to 6-3 and fell out of a tie for its division lead. “This was the first time we have used this offense and our offensive coaches deserve a lot of credit,” Minnesota Coach Bud Grant said. “We only had two days to work out and the guys worked hard. “It’s a lot like the Cowboys use except they put (Roger) Staubach back in the shotgun. With Fran we don’t have to because he can get back fast enough. ” Tarkenton threw 32 times, com pleted 18 and tossed two touchdown passes, leaving the Cowboys secon dary reeling. “Dallas gives so many different looks,” said Tarkenton, the 18-year veteran who has thrown for more than 45,000 yards worth of passes, “I thought it would be to our advan tage to give them a different look. Our offense was running hard to night and for the first time this year the whole team played a real good game. ” Dallas’ Larry Brinson fumbled the opening kickoff and Tony Dor- sett fumbled the next time the Cowboys had the ball and Tarken ton converted both those mistakes into first quarter touchdowns. He marched the Vikings 28 yards after the first fumble, throwing a 4- yard touchdown pass to Chuck Fore man, who also rushed for 101 yards on 23 carries. Minnesota drove 37 yards after the second turnover, Ricky Young getting the score on a 4-yard run. Then, with time running out in the first half, the Vikings moved 60 yards for a third touchdown — Tar kenton hitting Sammy White for the last 12 yards with 34 seconds to go. “Even a good team has a hard time coming back from a two touchdown deficit,” Grant said. Dallas tried to come back. Rafael Septien kicked a 25-yard field goal in the second period and Robert Newhouse ended a 63-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown leap in the third quarter. But just when it looked as if the Cowboys might have a chance to get back in the game the Vikings stop ped them on a third-and-1 situation at the Dallas 29 and then, when the Cowboys regained possession mid way through the fourth quarter, Staubach threw the first of his two interceptions. The pickoff by Minnesota strong safety Phil Wise with 7:40 to play decided the issue. Dorsett not only fumbled but he gained just 38 yards in 11 carries (he has now gained 86 yards in his last three games) and Staubach had a poor night throwing the ball as well. The Vikings were rated 13th in NFC rushing defense coming into the game, but the Cowboys gained only 94 ground yards. “Dallas is a big-play team and we didn’t let them have one big play,” Grant said. Cowboys Coach Tom Landry sounded a little gloomy afterwards. “We didn’t stop them on de fense,” he said, “and it was a hit and miss situation with our offense. It was just one of those nights when we didn’t play well anyplace. “Everybody is shooting at us and we haven’t put it together.” But the pieces looked like they are starting to fit in place pretty well for the Minnesota Vikings. jTHEAIC CLAjfJf BACKING THE AGS! 1 Horns, Coogs highlight action K United Press International The Texas Longhorns and Hous ton Cougars will be trying to protect their share of the Southwest Con ference lead Saturday in the high light attractions, but for emotional impact the game in College Station will be hard to beat. Texas A&M, playing its first game in more than six years without Emory Bellard on the sidelines, will host the lowly Rice Owls. And just how the Aggies will react will be one of the most watched facets of this weekend’s SWC activity. While Rice and A&M are going at it in College Station, the seventh- ranked Texas Longhorns, unde feated in three SWC games, will l>e hosting the pass-minded SMU Mus tangs. Houston Cougars — tied for the conference lead. The other league gameli and TCU — both winnersli but with only three wimlj them for the year- Worth. And a little Liter in the evening the 11th rated Arkansas Razor backs must invade the Astrodome to do battle with the high flying No. 10 Wins by SMU and Satunla\ certainly noloi question — would leave ltd ence race in one ofitsmof scrambles in years. I I Batt Pix Week 8 David Boggan GAME Rice-Texas A&M Texas A&M by 16 SMU-Texas Texas by 6 Baylor-TCU Baylor by 22 Arkansas-Houston Houston by 4 Pittsburgh-Navy Pitt by 13 Arizona St.-Washington Arizona St. by 6 New York Jets-New England New England by 10 Houston-Cincinnati Houston by 12 Miami-Baltimore . Miami by 7 Denver-Seattle Seattle by 9 Last week’s record 4-6 Season’s percentage 714 Mark Patterson . .Texas A&M by 35 Texas by 9 Baylor by 24 Arkansas by 7 Navy by 8 Arizona St. 6 New England by 14 Houston by 13 Miami by 6 Seattle by 9 8-2 700 Seal Petti .Texas A&Ml | Teusl Baylod | Housta Pit 1 I . .Arizona St I . New EngW .... Houston! Mian. . Seattle! MONDAY MORNING GET YOUR AGGIE-SMU TICKETS EARLY The M iet oppo Is for ar (ruction The R< lent disa; ion of d mmitte The co % admii tudent u The pi uused i 'avillion 'ceanogr ie unioi dev( msist of uitable f 'lan said located #11 Mike Mosley #22 Curtis Dickey A&M VERSUS SMU SATURDAY NOVEMBER 4 1:30 P.M COTTON BOWL - DALLAS TEXAS For Ticket Information Call The Ticket Office 845-2311 Spend An Action-Packed Weekend In Big thep lelp the ; v 'ities thi iall will b The M5 lend theii °hn Koh lervices. The pn uuncil re lorps, RI Nation £ In addi jWould be MSC dire administr: chairman, from the { sentative The rej dr ns, RH, ^Present Ron Wi Nation f< °nly conn or staff, s ; discoi Station. HE sa: J ot heani 'fecide po Serv e as a, People fr c During 0us coun ?° m mittei e a lmost