THE BATTALION Page 15
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1980
Jexas Tech defense ready for Ags j Anniversary Sdle
By KURT ALLEN
l |N ^ Battalion Staff
still early in the season, but a
jfn has already begun to develop
this year’s Texas Tech Red
fers.
ing the last two years. Tech
highly unpredictable. The Raid-
wpund up 7-4 in 1978 after being
§ed to finish eighth, then fell all
Ihemselves in 1979 winding up
sappointing seventh in the
thwest Conference.
~—Ijis year, the Raiders have once
~n returned to their schizophre-
Their 2-2 season has been
of explosive performances alter-
^ N «with showings totally lacking
ffensive punch.
is shown by Tech’s opening
plrushing of the University of
|s at El Paso, a subsequent
B iy-washy 9-3 loss to North Caro-
followed by a 28-17 victory over
CvMexico and last week’s 11-3 dis-
^Klitment at the hands of Baylor,
uckily for Head Coach Rex
•d sc\ :ker y- tkie Raider defense
. j been fairly consistent.
he defensive squad is perhaps
, greatest strength Dockery has to
wo memt* ...
inee against an inconsistent
c . Be and some other potentially
Toy bteraw , 1 J
i 11 Mrous weaknesses.
m Mhe* ke y t0 t ^ le Ra'dcrs defense is
tline, which may be the finest in
azorbacfcH 11 ^ 61106 ' ^ e * r ^ ne P resses a
■ 1 which could mean extra pressure
, 1 j Aggie quarterback David Beal
ery 0 '■ay-
he defensive line is anchored by
lat we m it
.,,, homore
Wed. Oct. 1
1 Thurs. Oct. 2
'■'ffy*
i tMLj
J “Your NewJ'
* 10% off fall merchandise
for
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(10 a.m.-6 p.m.)
^ Champagne and Cake (6 s p.m.)
Introductory Showing Of Patty Woodward's
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* 10% Off Fall Merchandise
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aid Holti
lard as i
noseguard Gabriel
ig Foods
; Tax.
era (6-3, 280), who is corn-
rented by senior tackles Jamie
foSjr 1,265) and Jim Verden (6 ' 3 ’
he reason the line can blitz so
n is the fact that the Tech secon-
^ 1111 * 'has provided excellent cover-
The Raiders have an outstand-
i player in senior free safety Ted
11 1 " ts. He is also used on punt re-
,c t<) " (sand has 8.1 yard return average
P'^'^eyen punts.
the secondary which has
1 d Witll'd Tech give up only 102 passing
jsper game, which is second best
w conference. The Raiders are
J overall in defense. Last week,
gave up only 89 yards passing to
or which still leads the confer-
P if in all offensive categories.
7.UU r.^ntrasted with its defense, the
1 Offense is wildly inconsistent,
Jugh more balanced than last
)DAY ‘ ^ s * n 8 a split-back veer, the
. lers no longer enjoy the benefits
PECIAL ow-departed fullback James
ret, who racked up 1,371 yards
stesKfli ’
^ istead, they must depend on
jravy jr quarterback Ron Reeves (6-2,
atoesar t 0 coordinate and execute the
ie other isive attack. As a result, Tech is
ble wing the ball a good deal more
id and Biyear.
Tea i far, Reeves seems to be having
verage year, somewhere be-
jn his legendary freshman per-
iance in 1978 and last year’s bout
i the sophomore jinx. At the
;ht of his problems in 1979,
Reeves threw 10 interceptions in the
first four games.
Nonetheless, his marksmanship
has been helped greatly by an able
receiving corps. Junior transfer Re-
nie Baker (6-0, 165) is currently
fourth in conference receiving statis
tics with 14 catches for 226 yards or a
16.1 yards-per-catch average.
Baker also doubles up on kickoff
returns. So far, he has returned five
kicks for 107 yards and ranks second
in that conference category.
Even with improved passing, the
Tech offense is still sputtering from a
lack of yardage production at the tail
back position. Against Baylor last
week, the Raider’s leading ground
gainer was fullback Wes Hightower
with 30 yards on 12 carries. Tailback
Greg Tyler only got to carry the ball
three times, but did rack up 25 yards
in the process.
In 1979, four tailbacks accounted
for only 259 yards, while Hadnot
racked up 1,371 yards and Reeves
chipped in 363 scrambling on busted
plays.
The second strength Tech has
going for it is the punting game. As
Texas A&M Head Coach com
mented on Monday, few teams pos
sess a weapon like the Raiders have
in junior punter Maury Buford.
After the first four games this sea
son, Buford ranks second in confer
ence punting stats with a 44.3 yard
average on 26 kicks. He was even
more impressive against the Bears,
kers, Texas upset
ith officials' calls
United Press International
JSTIN — Texas coach Fred Ak-
>ECIAL>ys his Longhorns were guilty of
l/FNlNC ,ing a ^ ew fi mes against Oregon
, but not on the occasions the
YDlN^ st . hought
don t want to get into criticizing
ffilcials, but some of those penal-
sauce ;ere just blown by the officials,”
ressing i said early this week.
id - Bu^nalties erased three sparkling
fea returns by Herkie Walls Satur-
avy but Akers said Texas coaches
:e of anyiaing films of the Longhorns’
a ble victory over the Beavers failed
' lips on any of the runbacks.
t criticize our players for the
A |they threw,” he said.
B officials just missed it, I
BK Bvhich happens, and it’s more
is in the kicking game. We had
pie of times we clipped some-
C (id they didn’t call it in the regu-
(I w urse of the game.
n fom what I’ve seen, I don’t
ithey (officials) were seeing the
ifthing. I think they were just
% contact all of a sudden and
g it. It’s unfortunate that those
,returns were called back, be-
■hey shouldn’t have been.”
Although Texas easily won the in
tersectional game, Akers said the
erased punt returns could have been
crucial in a close game.
Akers was pleased overall with his
team’s first shutout of the season and
said both the offense and defense
played well against Oregon State.
The Longhorns, 1-0 in Southwest
Conference play after an opening
game victory over Arkansas, play
Rice Saturday in another SWC
battle.
The Owls broke a 11-game losing
streak Saturday by upsetting LSU
17-7.
Akers said the Owls are an im
proved team this year.
“The most distinctive thing about
them is they are more aggressive.
They’re bigger, stronger, and they
go after people. ”
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averaging 47 yards on 10 kicks.
Ironically, Buford was also fea
tured in one of Tech’s weak spots
which surfaced against Baylor.
Twice wild center snaps on punts
led to Baylor safeties, enabling the
Bears to take a 4-0 nothing halftime
lead. However, the fault was not
Buford’s, but entirely that of centers
Danny Whisenhunt and Jim Verden.
With the ball on the Red Raider
26-yard line in the second quarter,
Whisenhunt snapped the ball almost
out of the end zone. Finally, as
Buford tried to retrieve it, the ball
trickled out of the end zone.
Later on, with just three minutes
to go before halftime, Verden ex
citedly snapped the ball over
Buford’s head and completely out of
the end zone.
Considering that, and looking at
the Aggie’s special teams perform
ance this year, the outcome of Satur
day’s contest could very well rest on
who has the best kicking game.
Texas A&M is still trying to shape
up its own punting game, with fresh
man Kyle Stuard and walk-on Rock
King in a duel for the punter’s job.
The Ags are also looking for better
blocking and downfield coverage on
punts as well.
Until the events of last week, the
two teams might have been consi
dered even on defense, but there is
some doubt now that the Aggies are
having to shuffle people around.
yL, October 8th Wednesday 5 P.M. k,
^ Harrington 108 "yC
*
yf
All international students are expected
"Unity is our goal"
k
&>V
mSf
There’s a spirit
in the woods!
Come shop with the spirit of excitement at
Woodstone Commerce Center. Find the un
usual .. . the extraordinary . . . the remarkable.
Woodstone Commerce Center has lots of spe
cialty stores so you can shop with pizzazz.
And Woodstone is a natural meeting place
with restaurants, shaded walks and luscious
courtyards.
Come spend the day with the spirit in the
woods. The spirit of good things at Woodstone
Commerce Center.
WOODSTONE
commerce center
Hwy 30 (Harvey Road) in College Station
AiCfHA 11113 O'MHtftiA'S'
FOOTBALL MUMS!
FREE DELIVERY
ON CAMPUS & TO TWO OFF
CAMPUS DIST. CENTERS!!
many styles and prices
On Sale Monday - Friday :
MSC : 9-5
bi sa, commons: 11-1,4-6
APO...
e Deliver!!
Pooh’s Skating Rink
is Closing!
Scuse our mess —
we’re remodeling!
\./i
'w-’V y./ ^
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Vi-)
H, A '
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We’ll reopen with
NEW SKATING FLOOR
NEW PARTY ROOMS & NEW CONCESSION STAND
*
Close for remodeling — Thursday, Oct 2
OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES WILL REMAIN OPEN
FOR REGULAR ACTIVITIES
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lolleman
Watch for our new 8 LANE
BOWLING ALLEY opening in October!
The new Pooh’s Park entrance
will be off Holloman
(exit off Texas Ave. at the light)
for your safety!
Watch for our GRAND RE-OPENING!
1907 Texas Ave.
693-5737
College Sta.
693-5736