Page Four The Pendulum September 23,19iii Spor^ts Gridders crush Liberty Baptist 56-15 and upset Norfolk 3-0 by Gary Spitler Sports Editor The Fighting Christians of Elon College have begun their quest for national recognition by defeating nationally-ranked Norfolk State 3-0 and plastering Liberty Baptist College 56-15 in the first two games of the 1976 season. A strong defense and a determined team turned two games into big victories. The Elon gridders traveled to Norfolk for their opening game to see almost a repeat of last season. The only difference was that the Elon squad came out on top. It was not a rep>eat of the game last season which found Norfolk State slipping past Elon in the final period 33-31. Rather, a tight Elon defense and a freshman kicker, Mitch Rippy, proved that the 76 Christians will be a h£U"d team to beat. The game saw each team have their troubled times, in this opening game for the two schools. But with only four seconds remaining on the clock, an estimated 2,500 Elon fans saw probably one of the best field goal attemps. With four seconds remaining in the first half, freshman Mitch Rippy entered the game to try a 48-yard field goal. 'The spot, the kick, and it’s CX)OD!" That proved to be the happiest minute of the game for Elon fans, and a disappointing minute for the approximately 7,000 Norfolk supporters. Rippy's 48-yard field goal not only won the game for the Christians along with tremendous play by the entire ballclub, but it set a new Elon College record. Rippy's record 48-yarder replaced the old record set by Dave Davis against Newberry and Winston-Salem State in 1973 when he booted a 46-yarder. Then there was the home opener last week. The Christians were favored entering the contest but some folks began to wonder when the Flames of Liberty Baptist came back and tied up the score in the Prince Deese, one of the ”76 co-captains, led the gridders in a surge which ended by a blasting out of Liberty Baptist 56-15 last week. Deese galloped 63 yards to score a touchdown to start the Elon scoring attack. Elon travels to Lock Haven State this Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. game. (News Bureau Photo) Golfers leave to compete in Madison tourney Coach Bill Momingstar and six of his golfers will go into action today, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in a four-day Madison College Invitational tJolf Tournament. The squad will start play today and will begin their goal of matching the success of the team last year. But how do you do better than last ye£ir? That would be a good question considering that Elon ^uad 2 finished second in the nation last season. Participating in the tournament will be six of seven golfers. These include Chuck Scott, Dave Overton, Dave Graham, Mike Ross, Danny Arnold, Rick Fireball, and John Baxter. The Elon team will compete against 24 college and university teams and should be able to tell just what type of squad the 1977 golf team will be. Everyone needs managers and trainers to help with the odds and ends of a football game. This year’s managers are: 1st Raynor, Ernest Steele, Ray Turner. 2nd row: Kyle Udls, Donald Tilley, and Danny Thompson. (News Bureau Photo) Golden Girls to play tonight in Jordan gym opening minutes of play 7-7. But that tied score was the closest the Flames got to winning. Liberty Baptist, looking for their first win with a 0-1-1 mark, watched as the Christians poured on the points from there on. It all got underway when runningback Prince Deese galloped 63-yards to set up the next Elon score. The run failed and left the score 13-7 at the end of the period of play. The second stanza was all Elon. The Christians scored 29 points on a 26-yard run by Howard Ferguson, a three-yarJ run by Phil Beeson, and an 11-yard run by Prince Deese. Rippy booted two PAT's and Kenny W'ashington received a pass from quarterback Phil Beeson to tally a two-point conversion. Then a new look entered the game for the Christians — Mike Currin. The 195-pound Oxford native connected with Phil Hutcherson for two Elon scores, one 30 yards and the other 11 yards. Rippy connected on the two PAT's upping the Elon tally to 56 points. Liberty Baptist picked up their other score in the third period. Elon fans also got to see quarterback Roy Parker for the first time. Parkei', a native of Graham, connected on two of three passes for 26 yards, a 66.6 percentage. The Fighting Christians upped their record to 2-0 while Liberty Baptist slid to 0-2-1. Elon will travel to Lock Haven State College in Pennsylvania this Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. encounter. Anyone not able to attend the game can pick up the game on W'BBB-W'NCB radio to join in with Bill Huff and his broadcast as the Christians try for their third seaison victory. Volley bailers are back in full swing. (News Bureau Photo) The 1976 Volleyball team was a big success last year with the team finishing second in the Carolinas Conference and this year's team is looking at the season with hopes of returning to the playoffs and finishing strong in conference competition. Coach Barbara Yarborough will be entering her seco™'" Golden Girls and she likewi! feels that this season could b,' just as successful as last year '^e lost ^veral good piaye,. last year to N.C. State and Hil Point so last season was one]; mainly rebuilding," commented' Coach Yarborough. Most of he, players are now playing onlr one sport so they have timetoi concentrate. | The Golden Girls will play j, full conference schedule thi year and plan to participate ij the league's championshjpi tournament as well as compete'' against other AlAW schools it their goal to play in the state tournament. At press time, the results of last night's contest were not known. The (Jolden Girls will go into action again TONIGHT at 7 p.m. in Jordan Gym. Sports Clipboard September 23 — Volleyball vs. UNC-G & WSS at Elon - 7 p.m. 23 — Elon golf team at Madison College Invitational (4-day tourney i 25 — Football vs. Lock Haven State at Lock Haven -1:30 p.m. 28 — Volleyball vs. NC Central & Wingate at Elon - 6 p.m. 30 — Volleyball vs. Mars Hill & ACC at Elon - 6 p.m. October 2 — Football vs. Mars Hill at MH - 7:30 p.m. 3 — Soccer vs. High Point ■ Away 5 — Volleyball vs. Western Carolina & St. Aug. - at Elon ■ 3 p.m. 5 — Soccer vs. Belmont Abbey - at Elon 7 — Volleyball vs. Catawba ■ Catawba - 6 p.m. 9, — Football vs. Wofford ■ HOMECOMING ■ at Elon ■ 2 p.m. Elon’s Red Wilson with Burlington sports editor, Bill Hunter,, after Wilson’s 201st football victory last week. (News Bureau. Photo) HOW j THEY; Cheerleaders support Elon College teams The 1976-77 cheerleading squad is boosting Elon College school spirit as the Christians battle other colleges and universities. The cheerleading squad is made up of Catherine Watkins, Kathleen Butler, Gwendolyn Crawford, Karon DeClark, Eve Donahue, Christy Jones, Lynn Nessett, Barry Staton, Larr>’ Swanson, Ann Washburn, and Mary Womber. The new adviser for the spirited group is Coach Barbara Yarborough. Students are urged to support the teams this year and join with the 76 cheerleaders to boost Elon College to many victories this year. South Atlantic Conference W 1. Catawba 2. Newberry 3. Mars Hill 4. Elon College 5. Lenoir Rhyne 6. Presbyterian 7. Gardner Webb 8. Carson Newman STAND! * * I ♦ » It * * (through games of 9-18-76) j notice Anyone interested in wrinne sports news this year is urg contact Gary Spitler, JP® editor, as soon as possible- can be reached at Ext. 3 Campus Box 5349.