Evening star., 1961-01-03
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW By FRANCIS s1AAA
One Game Too Many

NAVY AND JOE BELLINo played one game too many.
Or putting it another way they played the wrong team
Missouri simply had too many hard-hittng runners and
too strong defensive line.
There were flashes of the Bellno skill in the Orange
Bowl notably when he made that shoulder catch
of Hal Spooners long in the final quarter Not even
a superior team such Mssouris could black out the
versatility of the mosthonored player in Navy history
But there opportunity for Belino to show his
footwork in open field The Tigers line too rugged
and the nebackers too swift When Joe tried to turn
corner Missouris men turned it with him. And Belino
couldn't gain the groundand the first time this
season he conained-it follows that other Navy
back could.
Mssouri's offensive line was sight to see, too. When
the Tigers sent Mel West Ed Mehrer Norris Steven
son errand with the ball they also sent waves Of
bockers ahead Watching teevison viewer wisfully
summed it up "How I'd like to Belno carrying behind
those Missouri blockers."
CONSIDERING THAT NAVY had no ground attack,
defense that could stop the Tigers running game,
it remarkable that it should have turned out to be
21l4 game with Navy still in it at the final gun.
True, Navy's first touchdown tainted. With Mis-
souri, the 2yard line third down. Donnie Smith hit
the line, stopped and seemingly thinking of
laterang Out of the pack came Greg Maher Navy end
to grab the ball and run 98 yards for 60 lead.
But the Big Eight teams own first score in that hectic
opening period 90yarder result Of an inter-
cepton and at a time when the Middies were down on
the Tigers a. Normal Bea defensive stckou all after
noon picked off pass by Hal Spooner and got lost
This was the kind Of game wherein both teams were
invited to despondent etdowns First Missouri Instead
OF amost-certan touchdown the Tigers found them
selves trailing 60 Then Navy Beals intercepon and
for most of the rest of the game when it evident
the Middle line could not stop the Missouri runners.
~
"IF THERE'S ANYTHING that will discourage team
it's the other side driving the ball down your throat
Paul Christman, an ex-MisSouri AI-America had re-
marked the Channel network. This was after Mis-
souri, had driven 80 yards to make 46 and while the
Tigers going "a yards for their final score.
But the Middes, If anything, dangerous
at the end than at any other time. They roaring
back in that final period after it became 2l-6 Out Of
respect for Belinos everpresent threat to back
kick all the way Missouri kicked off with the ball fiat
Anything to keep 1t away from Belino.
Navy, taking its At, marvellous in the
next three minutes Spooner hit John Prchard three times
with short passes to the sdenes then oated that home
run aerial to Bellino.
1t was Joes head and the wrong shoulder
too But Bellino outrunning the ball the way Mays
and Mantle do in centerfield He grabbed 1t with his
hngertps in the end and it plain right there
why he everybodys All-America.
1T HAD BEEN SUSPECTED all along that Navy, with
out Belino. would have been run-of mill team, not
ranking No in the country The Orange Bowl thriller
did nothing to wipe out the suspicion. When Beino
bottled up Navy had no alternative but to pass.
Spooner did about all college quarterback could dc
under the circumstances When the Tigers rushed him
which often Halls were intercepted he ate
the ball. The Tigers made three key nterceptions in thu
first half good for and the others choking
off Navy threats on the 81 and 80.
Missouri bowl failure in six previous tries was
overdue to win and Navy overdue to lose, but the
law Of averages played part in the 9th Orange Bow
classic Missouri the better squad and proved 1t BY
checking Bellno No other team was able to do it, mo-
even Duke. r
All the Blue Devils could do in handing Navy it
only regularseason defeat keep Joe from scoring
They didn't stop him from being the games leading
ground gamer Missouri did it better way The Tiger
watched him but to that when Belno carrie
the ball he didn't 60 anywhere.
And neither did Navy.