Returns Crucial For Mcneese

Sun., Dec. 7, 1997

Associated Press

College football playoffs

Jerod Jones’ 69-yard interception return for a touchdown and a punt return for another score was all McNeese State needed to defeat Western Illinois 14-12 Saturday in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs at Macomb, Ill.

Jones intercepted Jeff Hecklinski’s pass with 3:38 left in the first quarter. The Cowboys (12-2) never let the Leathernecks (11-2) take the lead, scoring again on Donnie Ashley’s 39-yard punt return with 3:34 left in the third quarter.

McNeese moves on to the semifinals against the University of Delaware next Saturday.

Delaware 16, Ga. Southern 7

Craig Cummings ran for a score and Sean Leach kicked three field goals as the Blue Hens (12-1) made the I-AA semifinals by defeating the Eagles (10-3) at Newark, Del.

Delaware held Georgia Southern, the fourth-best running team in I-AA, to 49 yards in the first half. The Eagles did not cross the 50-yard line.

NCAA Division II

At Jefferson City, Tenn., Mike Schauer kicked a 26-yard field goal with 1:03 left, giving defending champion Northern Colorado a 30-29 semifinal victory over top-ranked Carson-Newman in a rematch of last year’s title game.

In the other semifinal, three TDs by Adam Roman and a big-play defense that forced four turnovers led New Haven to a 27-25 win over UC Davis in New Haven, Conn.

NCAA Division III

At Alliance, Ohio, Bill Borchert threw for 396 yards and four touchdowns and Steve Evans rushed for 92 yards and three touchdowns to lead defending champion Mount Union (13-0) over Simpson (12-1) 54-7 and into the championship against Lycoming next Saturday at Salem, Va.

Lycoming (12-0) defeated Rowan (11-1) 28-20 at Williamsport, Pa.

NAIA

Tim Blair scored three touchdowns and Willamette (12-0) rushed for a school-record 554 yards in defeating Montana Tech (10-2) 50-24 in a quarterfinal at Corvallis, Ore.

Willamette quarterback Chuck Pinkerton ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns and Rich Rideout added 133 yards and two TDs.

Willamette will apparently host a semifinal game next Saturday against Sioux Falls, S.D. (11-1), which beat Jamestown 29-6 Saturday.

In the other quarterfinals, Findlay, Ohio (12-0), defeated Geneva, Pa., 28-7 and Doane, Neb. (11-0), defeated Evangel, Mo., 59-20.

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Returns Crucial For Mcneese

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