University Daily Kansan / Monday, November 10, 1986
Sports Monday
7
KC wins, closes in on 1st playoff spot in 15 years
Seahawks defeated by Chiefs
United Press International
KANSAS CITY, Mo — The Kansas City Chiefs improved their postseason prospects yesterday by playing the type of defense it takes to win in the playoffs.
Warner entered yesterday's game with a conference leading 815 yards, but the Chiefs smothered him. Warner carried 11 times as Seattle, trying to come from behind, went to a pass defense without success in the half.
Kansas City has an outside chance of overtaking Denver to win the AFC West, but the Chiefs are in no position to win. The Bengals, led by the lead, his thrust straight to fall to 5-5.
- More football scores p. 8.
The Chiefs held Curt Warner to 16 yards, and Bill Kenney threw three touchdown passes lifting Kansas City in victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
"He's their offense," Kansas City linebacker Dino Hustoski said of Nathaniel Jones.
Kenney helps Kansas City see the light
United Press International
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Bill Kenney has gone from the darkness of the Kansas City Chiefs' early fall, into the shadows of the autumn light and is now basking in the sun of a 7-3 record.
Basking cautiously, though, as he has started only three times in the Chiefs' four-game winning streak after replacing Todd Blackledge, who was pulled after several poor performances.
Kansas City's record is the best 10-game start the Chiefs have had since 1971, when they were 7-2-1. That year was also the last time Kansas City appeared in the playoffs, a fact not lost on coaches, players, fans and, most of all, owner Lamar Hunt.
The Chiefs, second place in the AFC Western Division, will meet the conference-leading Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium next week, in the first of two matchups.
The promising win-loss record provokes Kenney, head coach John Mackovic and the rest of the team to entertain, in the very outside corner, thoughts, the possibility of a playoff spot this year.
"Everytime we win now, it just keeps us in the playoff chase for, not only one more week, but every other week."
Yesterday, Kenney added the mortar to who had been several strong but separate offensive blocks for Kansas City this season, and built the team a 27-7 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Kenney has been with the Chiefs since 1980 and was the starter most of last season before he was iniured and Blackledge was brought in.
Working behind a very strong defensive game, Kenney threw to 10 different receivers against Seattle, completing 22 of 41 attempts for 256 vards and three touchdowns.
His season totals on the three starts and fillin's for quarterback Blackledge are 67 of 119 for 909 yards and 7 touchdowns, compared with Blackledge's 77 of 169 for 998 and 8 TD's in 7 start this year.
"Everybody in our offense has a chance to catch the ball," Kenney said. "That's the way it's designed, to mix it up and keep a defense off balance.
"It's evident they (the tight ends) did an excellent job."
Midway through the first half Kenney completed nine consecutive passes — one a 2-yard touch to Walt Arnold for a 7-0 lead — and ended up with three yards in the air, two touchdowns and a 17-0 lead.
"At last, this season we were able to get going
in the first half," he said. "Our offensive line did such a good job in the first half, I was able to pick my receivers."
Kenney's passing game was based on quick, short hits to a variety of receivers.
"We rotated it so much, it was nice for all of us to play," Walt Arnold, tight end, said. "It ites good to catch some passes, but I don't believe it (using tight ends to such an extent) will last all season.
"It's hard to get to the tight end when the team is struggling, right now we're getting to the tight end."
Seattle defensive end Randy Edwards testified to the Chiefs' offensive juggling act.
"Kenney mixed things up pretty well, because we fell we had a pretty good game plan," he said. "I was nervous."
"They're as good as any . . . they've got two games left with Denver so we'll see how they fare against them."
Although Denver looms across the Great Plains west of Arrowhead Stadium, Mackovic is, perhaps the most confident in meeting the Broncos next week as he has ever been.
"We know going out there to play them will be a different game," he said. "But we've got the tools."
ense was about as poor as you can get."
Kenney completed 22 of 41 passes for 256 yards and three interceptions. Two of those interceptions were by players with 50 career interceptions, players with 50 career interceptions,
Kenney completed 4 of his first 12 passes before sparking the Chiefs to a 17-point second quarter. He threw 30 touchdowns and Arno, and it would be Stainville Bean's
Largest midway through the fourth quarter, capping a 68-yard drive. Largest caught the TD pass after Kansas City's Albert Lewis tipped the ball from another receiver. Seattle had three first downs before the scoring drive.
The Chiefs forced three turnovers, including a vicious hit by Kevin Ross on Gilbert that forced a fumble with 3:30 left and allowed Kansas City to
keep the first scoring drive alive. His quick 2-yard pass to Arnold at the back of the end zone made it 7-0 1:20 into the second half
Seattle 0 0 0 7 7
Kansas City 17 7 3 27
Kansas City made it 10-0 with a 35-yard field goal by Lowery the next time it had the ball Kenney completed all four passes in the drive for 46 yards. The Chiefs settled for the field goal after safety Kenny Easley sacked Kenney at the 18 on third
Second quarter
KC — Arnold 2-yard pass from Kenney (Lowery kick)
KC — FG Lowery 35 yards
KC — Cliff 38-yard pass from Kenney (Lowery kick)
Third quarter
KC — Carson 25-yard pass from Kenney (Lowery kick)
Fourth quarter
KC — FG Lowery 37 yards
SEA — Largent 38-yard pass from Gilbert Johnson kick
A: 53,268
individual statistic
Monday, November 10, 1986 A3
Buffaloes avert upset by 'Hawks
Erwart Rantowski/KANSAN
BOULDER. Cole. — Left Kansas running back Arnold Shell snijelz Colorado defensive back Cole Hayes and gains 19 yards. Lower left. Colorado runningback Ench Kissick runs up the middle for a seven-yard gain with Kansas free safety Wayne Ziegler moving in for the tackle. Below, Kansas quarterback, Kelly Donioo, escapes Colorado defensive tackle Cole Hayes for a one-yard gain in the fourth quarter of the Jayhawks game Saturday.
Fred Sadowski/KANSAN
San Diego hands loss to Broncos
United Press International
DENVER — The Denver Broncos hardly recognized Tom Flick yesterday.
"It was fun to be out there today." Flick said. "One week makes a big difference. It's like a new season. We're 1-1 now and we can finish strong in the second half."
While watching films during the week, the Broncos saw Flick complete four of 17 passes in his first NFL start last week. But yesterday, Flick completed 16 of 22 passes and engineered time-consuming drives guiding the San Diego Chargers to a 9-3 upset over the Broncos.
The Chargers, 2-8, snapped an eight-game losing streak and won their first game since Al Saunders became head coach a week ago.
"This is the biggest thrill of my life," Saunders said. "Coming into the game we thought Denver was the best team in the NFL."
Rolf Bennirschke kicked three field goals and safety Jeff Dale had two interceptions helping the Chargers; who were 15-point underdogs.
The Broncos fell to 8-2 and saw their AFC West lead cut to one game, as the Chargers
"It looks like we can't stand prosperity." Denver Coach Dan Reeves
enmirsch connected from 25,40
21 yards and Dale intercepted
ver quarterback John Elway
e thwarting good Broncos scor-
1. "As I've said many times, you 't afford to play poorly in this sion."
See CHARGERS, p. 10, col. 1
ts writer
ANNE LUSCOMBE
club gives wo losses Ravens
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at the half, we felt like we were in better position because we had a substitutes and they only had "Jones said." "In the second half really got together and got our tentum going."
nass dominated the second half scale Haustermann, Kansas back, and Jane Lillis, Kansas elder, hit the ball at the same to put it into the net. About ten tes later, Varzaly scored again, g Kansas a comfortable lead.
we got the third goal we just of sat on it," Jones said. "We if we could contain them, then uuld win."
itherday was Kansas' last home The club travels to Oklahoma on Saturday.
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