10
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday. December 18, 1968
Colt's Morall claims passing championship
NEW YORK (UPI)-Don Meredith was frozen out in his bid for his first National Football League passing championship last weekend.
Meredith, the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, led the NFL passers going into the final game of the regular season. But Meredith went one for nine and had one interception on a freezing, snowy day in New York Sunday before he asked to come out of the game and Earl Morrall of the Baltimore Colts took the passing title.
Morrall, who played only the first half of the Colts' 28-24 victory over the Rams in Los Angeles, didn't have one of his best days as he was only five of 14 for 95 yards—but it was still enough to overtake Meredith.
In the eight statistical categories, only one other leader besides Meredith lost the crown in the final game. That was in the interception department—and Meredith had a hand in that. Willie Williams of the Giants intercepted two passes—one thrown by Meredith and the other by Craig Morton, to take the crown with 10 interceptions.
Ben Davis of Cleveland, the leader going into the final week, finished third with eight interceptions and Kermit Alexander wound up second with nine interceptions.
The other six leaders remained on top. Leroy Kelly of Cleveland took both the rushing and scoring championships. Clifton McNeil was the best pass receiver while Bob Hayes of Dallas was the punt return leader and Preston Pearson of Baltimore was the leading kickoff return man.
Billy Lothridge of Atlanta was the top punter but Chuck Lautorette of St. Louis deserves a special citation. He was the third leading punter and also the third leading punt returner. Lautorette also finished fourth in kickoff returns.
Morrall, who guided Baltimore to a 13-1 record, finished with 182 completions in 317 attempts for 2,909 yards and 26 TD passes. Meredith completed 171 of 309 passes for 2,500 yards and 21 TD passes. John Brodie of San Francisco, Bart Starr of Green Bay and Fran Tarkenton of New York rounded out the top five.
Sonny Jurgensen of Washington, the leader last season, was eighth. Starr was the leader 1962, 64 and 66.
Kelly wound up with 1,239 yards rushing to win his second straight rushing title. He's the fifth player in NFL history to win two straight. He also took
his first scoring title on 120 points on 20 TDs.
Ken Willard of San Francisco was second in rushing with 967 yards and Tom Woodeshick, Dick Hoak of Pittsburgh and Gale Sayers, who sat out the last third of the season with an injured knee, rounded out the top five.
Mike Clark of Dallas, a kicking specialist, was second in scoring with 105 points and three other kickers, Lou Michaela of Baltimore, Don Cockroft of Cleveland and Mack Percival of Chicago complete the top five.
McNeil caught 71 passes for 994 yards and Roy Jefferson of Pittsburgh was second with 58 catches for 1,074 yards. Lance Rentzel of Dallas, Dan Abramowicz of New Orleans, and Hayes of Dallas completed the top five.
Hayes returned 15 punts for 312 yards and 20.8 average while Alvin Haymond of Philadelphia returned 15 for 201 yards and a 13.4 average.
Lothridge punted 75 times for a 44.3 average and Mike Bragv of Washington was second with a 43.3 average for 76 kicks.
Pearson ran back 15 kicks for 527 yards and a 35.1 average while Ron Smith of the Rams returned 26 for 718 yards and a 27.6 average.
Roving Reed
NEW YORK (UPI) — Willis Reed of the New York Knicks is the only player in the National Basketball Association ever to be named to the All-Star team at two different positions. Reed was chosen as a center in his rookie year, 1964, and has been named to the squad as a forward the last three years.
With the exception of the capybara of South America, the beaver is the largest rodent in the world.
the brightest star on your christmas tree
By United Press International
REGISTERED
Keepsake®
DIAMOND RINGS
Colorado's young, but towering basketball team sounded its biggest warning of the season to other Big Eight teams Monday night by whipping sixth-ranked and previously unbeaten New Mexico. 79-72.
Colorado sounds warning
Keepsake is the world's most wanted diamond ring. . . A gift that will be treasured forever. Make your selection now from our special holiday collection
The victory gave the Buffs a 7-1 record for the season and put them within two wins of last year's dismal record of 9-16.
Sophomore center Ron Smith, a towering 7-2 giant, and junior college transfer Cliff Meeley, a powerful 6-7 sophomore forward led the Buffs attack against the Lobos.
Meeley scored 26 points while Smith added 18 and made it tough for New Mexico on the inside.
Ninth-ranked Kansas, meanwhile, easily beat also previously undefeated Murray State 72-59, and Nebraska coasted past Michigan State 73-59 as Big Eight teams won three and lost two against outside competition.
The losers were Kansas State, 87-84, to 15th-ranked Houston in overtime, and Iowa State, 78-65, to Northern Illinois.
No games were scheduled for conference teams yesterday.
The Buffs threatened to break the game wide-open in each half against the Lobos. Colorado took an 11-point lead at 32-21, but New Mexico roared back to score 14 points and hold the Buffs to only one for a 35-33 Lobo advantage at the half.
Buffs then pulled away to a 73-60 advantage and were never in danger.
The game was tight through most of the second half until Colorado went into a stall under a full-court Lobo press. The
Nebraska scored 10 straight points midway through the second half to break open its game against Michigan State. The Huskers, now 5-1, were never in danger after that. Sophomore guard Marv Stewart topped the Nebraska attack with 22 points.
Iowa State, after winning its first five games, fell to 5-2 in the standings with the loss to Northern Illinois. The Cyclones' Bill Cain topped all scorers with
24 points but Northern Illinois placed four men in double figures.
The taller Huskies outrebounded Iowa State 60-38.
Kansas State, the defending Big Eight champion, dropped to the bottom of the non-league standings with its defeat. The Wildcats are now 2-4.
The Wildcats had a chance to win it when Steve Honeycutt was fouled at the buzzer. However, Honeycutt missed the charity toss as Houston fans jeered and threw paper cups.