UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, October 11, 1995
5B
Steve Bono passes out of Joe's shadow
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — He doesn't look like Joe Montana or talk like Joe Montana.
Monday night against San Diego, with 1:12 remaining and the Chiefs trailing by seven points. Bono delivered an eight-play.
He doesn't even walk like Joe Montana. But when the game's on the line and only Montana-like heroes can twist defeat into victory, the Chiefs are learning that Steve Bono plays like Joe Montana.
79-yard drive capped by an 18- yard touchdown pass to tight end Derrick Walker.
Lin Elliott's extra point tied the game and Tamarick
Vanover's 86-yard punt return won it 29-23 in overtime, yanking Bono right out of Joe Montana's shadow.
"As much respect as I have for No. 19 (Montana), I don't think he could have done it as well," said center Tim Grunhard. "He was cool and collected. For a guy who was living in the shadow of a legend, for him to come out like this on Monday night, it was a great thrill for all of us."
"I had confidence in Bono all the time," said linebacker Derrick Thomas. "I hope that other people are beginning to see he's a legitimate NFL quarterback. He can captain this team to victory."
Against a San Diego defense ranked No.1.
in pass defense, Bono hit 27 of 41 attempted passes for 329 yards.
Of his game-saving drive, Bono had little to say.
"Other than to say a lot of guys did a lot of good jobs," he said. "It worked out for us. We were able to get it to the right people at the right time. Guys up front did a great job. Guys catching the ball, making what they could, getting out of bounds. Then at the end Derrick makes a great catch."
With the Chargers' defense concentrating on preventing a long-gainer, Bono got the drive started with a 27-year completion to Lake Dawson. A few minutes later, Webster Slaughter caught a Bono pass and stepped out of bounds on the San Diego 23.
Then with 20 seconds left on the clock, the play was called.
Bono spoke to Walker in the huddle.
"Earlier in the game we had a chance to hit the same play, and Steve came off me early and threw underneath," Walker said. "This time he told me he was going to stay with me. He put the ball right where it needed to be.
"I knew once that ball touched my hands, I was going to come down with it."
In 17 starts, Bono has directed his team to five fourth-quarter comebacks, three with the Chiefs.
Does he feel vindicated after so many experts dismissed him as a career backup?
"No, because I really haven't paid that much attention to it," he said. "These are the kind of things that we get paid to do."
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Tom Coughlin said that he would keep practicing the victory formation in case his Jacksonville Jaguars needed it again.
The Associated Press
Jaguars ponder playoff chances
Such a comment by the Jacksonville coach would have seemed ludicrous two weeks ago. The Jaguars were just another bad expansion team with an 0-4 record.
If the Jaguars (2-4) could beat Chicago on Sunday, they would equal the record for wins by a first-year team in the NFL's modern era and become the first team to win three consecutive games in its initial season.
Then the unexpected happened: Jacksonville rallied in the final two minutes to win 17-16 at Houston in Week 5. That was followed by a 20-16 victory Sunday against fourtime Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh, the team with the best record in the AFC last season.
The Jaguars are pondering the improbable. On the message board in the locker room Monday, there was a reminder to the players about an upcoming seminar on managing finances.
Suddenly, the Jaguars are within one game of the AFC Central lead and starting to believe they won't be hindered by expansion.
"I think a lot of that is just kind of the character that's been developed on this team," said quarterback Mark Brunell, who guided the Jaguars to both victories. "You know, we've been together since March. When you put so much time into that and so much time into this, you start to reap the benefits from all the hard work.
"But obviously, I think it goes deeper than that. We're starting to believe in ourselves. The guys are realizing that the guy next to them is going to do his job."
"Learn what to do with your playoff money," someone had scribbled next to the notice.
"We looked like a playoff-calibre team," said receiver Willie Jackson, who caught six passes for 94 yards against the Steelers.
It was only a joke — or maybe not.
"I think anything is possible," running back Randy Jordan said. "We don't have the premier players. I think what we bring to the table is the enthusiasm that a young team has. We're going to make mistakes mentally and that kind of thing. But we don't have anything to lose. That's what makes us even more dangerous."
Other players tried to downplay the soaring expectations.
"Obviously, your goal is to make the play-offs and go to the Super Bowl," defensive end Joel Smeege said. "But that's so far off, it's not even entering our minds. We've got to concentrate on the Chicago Bears before we think about any of that."
Still, with emerging players like Jackson, Brunell and three rookie starters on offense, it was hard to conceal the excitement in the locker room Monday.
Coughlin's decision to bench quarterback Steve Beuerlein, an eight-year veteran, was justified by the play of the 25-year-old Brunell, who threw for 189 yards and rushed for 44 against Pittsburgh while absorbing several brutal hits.
Jackson, 24, leads the team with 21 receptions and must have the Dallas Cowboys wondering why they let him go in the expansion draft. The top three draft picks, tackles Tony Boselli and Brian DeMarco and running back James Stewart, all are in the lineup.
The defense, loaded with veterans like Jeff Lageman and Vinny Clark, limited the Steelers to two field goals on three trips inside the 10 in the second half.
While the victory against Houston wasn't secure until the Oilers missed a field goal as time expired, Jacksonville savored its upset against Pittsburgh for three plays.
NATURALWAY
- NATURAL BODY CARE
- NATURAL FIBER
CLOTHING
- 820-822 MASS. * 841-0100*
1995 KANSAS VOLLEYBALL
Red Lyon Tavern
A touch of Irish in downtown Lawrence
944 Massachusetts
832-8228
KU vs. Missouri
Wed. Oct. 11 • 7:30pm Allen Fieldhouse STUDENTS FREE WITH KUID
We Buy, Sell, Trade & Consign USED & New Sports Equipment
Don't wait for system failure.
In the life of your PC you do routine hardware and software maintenance, but not all at one time. Treat yourself like your PC—and don't wait until system failure!
Dee Ann DeRoin
Make Watkins part of your personal health maintenance with these services:
$ \bullet $ physicians for routine check-ups or urgent care $ \bullet $ registered dietitian $ \bullet $ health educators for information about health issues
$ \bullet $ pharmacy for over-the-counter medications and prescriptions at a low price.
M. D. Stanford University, 1978 Board Certified in Family Practice
864-9500
THE UNIVERSITY
TREATRE
University of Kannada
The University of Kansas Theatre presents one of the most outrageously funny plays of the century
841-PLAY
1029 Massachusetts
Wescoe Kansas Union Robinson
STUDENT
SENATE
To Sign Up! 1995 Fall Blood Drive Tables Located At:
ASSOCIATION
Of University of Bristol Music
kinko's the copy center
American Red Cross
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SCHOOL OF LAW presents a
PRELAW PROGRAM Tuesday, October 17, 7:00 PM
Green Hall, Room 104
To help you plan a career in the legal profession, law school professors and students will be available to discuss with you your law school plans and answer questions about:
Law School Curriculum Joint Degree Programs Law Placement
Prelaw Education Admissions Process Financial Aid
They'll Never Know It's You
Keep It Clean