8 0)6 PCNOUIUM
SPORTS
Central Florida Tops Elon
By Jeff Marcin
Sports Writer
Elon opened the 1987 football
season in the “Sunshine State” of
Florida, but found it to be
anything but sunny, as the Chris
tians fell to the University of Cen
tral Florida, 34-10, in Orlando’s
Florida Citrus Bowl.
The Golden Knights struck ear
ly and never looked back as the
NCAA Division II school dealth
the visitors their first opening
season loss binder coach Macky
Carden.
Elon received the opening kick-
off but could get nowhere and
were forced to put. It took
quarterback Darin Slack three
plays to find receiver, Bernard
Ford, for a 22-yard touchdown
pass, to give the Knights the 7-0
lead.
After another Elon punt, the
Knights needed only five plays to
put points on the board as runn-
ingback Robert Ector scored on a
two-yard run to bring the score to
14-0. The knights added another
touchdown in the first period as
Slack hit Widereceiver Arnell
Spencer for a 27-yard scoring pl^
to increase their lead to 21-0.
The Christians then began an
80-yard drive and ended it II plays
later when back-up tailback
George Dixon scampered for a
touchdoen from 36-yards out.
r^ul Mullen kicked the extra point
and the Christians were on the
scoreboard.
Defensive back Jeff Slade then
picked off a Slack pass and
returned it 26-yards to the Central
Florida 43. Elon drove to the Cen
tral Florida 27, but the drive stall
ed and Mullen booted a 44-yard
field goal to bring the Christians
NFL Players Strike
By Wes Durham
Sports Writer
Although the National Football
League is experiencing it’s second
players’ strike in this decade,
there are some former Fightin’
Christians who went through the
pre-season and short regular
season.
There are no active players, but
some might eventually play key
roles for some I^FL teams. John
Mickens only accumulated 23
tackles in two seasons as a
linebacker. But the Coral Gables,
Florida, native did sign a free
agent deal with the Washington
Redskins.
He was joined at the Skins
training camp by fellow Elon
teammate Tony Settles. Settles
like Mickens signed a free agent
contract with Washington.
Mickens suffered a knee injury
four days before the first pre
season game against Pittsburgh,
and has been listed on injured
reserve since then. His injury
opened the door for Settles, who
had been released on the first cut,
to rejoin the team.
An All-SAC 8, District 26, and
Honorable Mention All-American
at Elon, Settles stayed with the
team through tw pre-season
games before being released.
Mickens continues to be listed
on the >\tehington injured reserve
list. At 6-feet, 225-pounds,
Mickens has all the physical tools
to play in the NFL, and now just
needs the experience.
If he’ll play this year or not is
still up in the air Redskin coaches
have not been able to evaluate
Mickens due to the injury. But
those willing to comment said
they feel he will be a part of the
team after he’s healthy again.
Mickens may spend the season
listed on injured reserve, and
learn the Redskins system. The
same process that a “red-shirt”
player does on the college level.
Two other players from past
seasons at Elon also tried to
return for the ’87 NFL season.
Joey Hackett played for the
Denver Broncos last year after
spending two prior seasons in the
old-USFL.
Hackett caught 3 passes for
48-yards from his tight end spot.
He also started three games, in
cluding the AFC title game at
Cleveland, which the Broncos
won to send them to Super Bowl
XXI.
After appearing in all four pre
season games, Hackett was
released on the last cut before the
within striking distance at 21-10.
Before intermission, Slack hit
Spencer again, this time from
29-yards out and the Knights went
to the dressing room with a 27-10'
lead.
After a scoreless third period,
the Knights began the fourth
quarter with a 12-play drive which
ended on a nine-yard scoring run
by fullback Gilbert Barnes.
The Central Florida touchdown
was the final score fo the game
went on to win 34-10.
This week, the Christians will
travel to Jefferson City, Tenn. to
take on SAC-8 rival Carson-
Newman. The Eagles are coming
off an impressive 42-21 win over
Fairmont State, in which Kenneth
Tyson rushed for 263-yards on
nine carries, in only two quarters
of action.
Last year, Elon defeated
Carson-Newman 15-12, in
Burlington.
George Dixon
Broncos first game against Seat
tle. If the owners elect to try and
play during the strike, its almost
a sure bet that Hackett will be
picked up to play for Denver or
another team.
That opportunity also sets up
the possibility of Tony Settles
returning to the Redskins or
another team in the league.
Another former Elon pl^er, Dar
ren Goode, may be extended an
invitation to play.
Goode played at Elon in ’84
after transferring from Virginia.
He ran for almost 300-yars in 49
carries. He was signed as a free
agent the Super Bowl Champ
New \brk Giants. But Goode was
released after the Giants first cut.
Men’s Soccer Tied
E>oug Gorman
Staff Writer
The Fightin’ Christian soccer
team began conference play last
week on the road against Pfieffer
College and Atlantic Christian
College.
Elon, ranked 19th in the coun
try going into last week played to
2-2 ties in both games.
The Christians were fenced to
come from behind in the game
against Pfieffer. Elon, held
scorless for most of the game,
scored its first goal at the 35
minute mark of the second half
after Mike Wessels took a pass
from Tom Balkus and fired the
ball through the net.
Elon tied the game six minutes
later on Eric Brown’s unassisted
goal sending the game into
overtime.
Neither team was able to score
in the two ten minute overtime
periods.
According to Elon Coach St«“
Ballard, the team missed seven^
good scoring chances.
On Friday night, the teai"
traveled to Wilson, and battle^
Atlantic Christian to a tie.
After last weeks action, tl^
Fightin’ Christian soccer team i
still unbeaten with a recoid
3-0-2.
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