Bloomsburg University - Obiter Yearbook (Bloomsburg, PA)

Page 33 text:

Ausprich 29

Page 32 text:

28 Ausprlch

Page 34 text:

HOW BOUT THEM HUSKIES 1985 may be Bloomsburg University ' s most unforgettable football season ever. When head coach George Landls came to Bloomsburg in 1981, he predicted the Huskies would reach the playoffs by 1985. Three years later, 1984, BU was represent- ing the Eastern Division in a 21-14 Pennsylvania Conference State Game loss to California (PA). However his target year of 1985 must have exceeded even Landls ' greatest expectations. Not only did BU down Indiana (PA) 3 1 -9 for the school ' s first-ever State Game victory, the Huskies also advanced to the NCAA Divi- sion 11 post season playoffs as one of the top eight teams in the nation. Add to that a 12- record after a 38-28 first round playoff victory over Hampton (Va.) and the band- wagon was fuU. Bloomsburg supporters were uttering phrases like We ' re going to Alabama! as if the entire town was going to be somehow shipped to Florence, Ala., when the Huskies took on North Alabama in the playoffs second round. For most though, they were relegated to their living rooms to listen to the call by Jim Doyle on WHLM. And a bitter call it was. The Lions trounced BU 34-0 to hand the Huskies their first loss of 1985, and end the dreams not Just of one football team, but of an entire community that had been caught up m How ' bout them Huskies! fever. Bloomsburg rolled through the early part of the regular season, recording wins over Shippensburg, Lock Haven, East Stroudsburg, Cheyney, Mansfield, and Millersville. Tied at 10-10 with California (PA) in the season ' s seventh game, Derrick HiU returned a punt 75 yards to the Cal two- yard line, setting up Tom Martins winning one-yard plunge in the fourth quarter. The foUowing week, Bloomsburg trailed 1-80 rival Kutztown 23-14 entering the fourth quarter. With an unblemished record on the Une, BU rallied for two fourth quarter touchdowns -and a 29-23 victory. Tom Martin starred for the Huskies, rush- ing for a school record 259 yards on 42 carries, also a school record. A 51-7 romp over Buffalo St. in week 9 set up the team ' s biggest game of the regular season. West Chester invaded Redman Stadium with the PC Eastern Division title on the Une. The winner would advance to the State Game while the loser ' s season was finished. Bloomsburg won the contest 8-6 as both teams were hampered by sloppy field conditions due to two solid days of rain and a continuous downpour during the game. The Rams scored first as Andre McFadden fell on a blocked Ed Jankowski punt in the end zone. The extra point snap faUed and West Chester led 6-0. With less than one minute left in the first half, BU moved to the Ram one yard Une but three successive runs failed and West Chester took over. On the first play. Ram quarter- back Al Nimla slipped and noseguard tackled him in the end zone for a safety. On their first possession of the second half, the Huskies moved to the Ram 42 where quarterback Jay Dedea found tight- end John Rockmore all alone of the left sideline. Rockmore caught the pass and raced untouched into the end zone for what would prove to be the winning score. West Chester threatened midway through the third quarter but a Ram receiver, after getting behind the BU secondary, dropped a pass in the endzone. Neither team threatened the rest of the game. With 1:30 remaining and Bloomsburg about to punt from its own 30 after failing to run out the clock the Rams appeared to be getting the ball in good field position. However, West Chester return man Brian Goldsworthy dropped Jim Noye ' s punt and Jim Tyson re- covered, seaJin the BU Victory and sending the Huskies to their second straight State Game with a 10-0 regular season mark. The State Game was heralded as a quarterback contest between Dedea and Rich Ingold. Dedea didn ' t have stats equal to Ingold ' s because Dedea missed half the season due to a knee injury. During that time, senior Mike Glovas fiUed in and the Husky offense didn ' t miss a beat. Combined, Glovas and Dedea were slightly overshadowed by Ingold. But on game day, Dedea and the BU defense stole the show. The BU quarterback was 14 of 21 for 267 yards and four touchdowns. Ingold was 15 of 31 for 218 yards and two interceptions. Following a thumb injury to Ingold, replacement Tom Rhodes was intercepted three times. Free safety Randy Bullock notched four of BU ' s find interceptions while Indiana rushed for only 66 net yards on 26 attempts. Being the only undefeated Division II team, BU was chosen to host the first round of playoffs. Hampton traveled to Blooms- burg and brought its big-play offense along. The Pirates scored four times on plays of 80, 77, 77, and 63 yards while net- ting just 37 yards the rest of the game. Meanwhile Tom Martin was racking up 203 yards rushing and three touchdowns as Bloomsburg methodically worked to a 38-28 victory. Hampton ' s Carl Painter went 80 yards on the first play from scrimmage to put the visitors up 7-0. Following a five yard touch- down reception by Joe Dowd, the Pirates ' Marco Stacey hit Darryl Skinner for a 77 yard scoring strike. Tom Martin ' s first score gave BU a 14-13 lead, but Hampton answered with a field goal and another 77- yard scoring connection, this time from Stacey to Painter. Todd Sullivan ' s field goal made it 22-17 at intermission. Neither team scored in the third quarter. The Huskies owned the fourth period, record- ing three scores, (two by Martin) and tak- ing a 38-22 lead before Hampton ' s fmal strike. The victory over Hampton allowed the Huskies to travel to Rorence, Alabama, to take on the Lions of North Alabama, set- ting the stage for a UNA ' s victory. Despite the sudden ending to a dream season, Bloomsburg was blessed with many memorable moments on and off the field as numerous team and individual awards were bestowed on the university and the players. Many of 1985 ' s achievements wiU linger In BU memories for years to come although Landls has left to coach at Buck- neU. Who win forget names like Sheptock, Woods, Martin, Dedea, Dowd, or Landls? How about Tony Woods ' 26 career in- terceptions, a BU and PC record? And Tom Martin ' s two 200-yard rushing games . . . Joe Dowd ' s 94 yard touchdown reception against Indiana . . . Derrick Hill ' s 75 yard punt return at California . . . Paul Fisher ' s 28-yard interception return for a touch- down . . . Mike Glovas ' stellar substitution for the injured Dedea . . . Everyone ' s dreams of a national championship . . . Jim Doyle ' s calls every Saturday on WHLM . . . How ' bout them Huskies . . . Tony Woods waiting to be drafted . . . Frank Sheptock ' s third All-American honor . . . The Lambert Meadowlands Cup . . . The ECAC Team of the Year award . . . The . . . WHO CAN FORGET? 30 Huskies