{ title: 'The Spectrum (Buffalo, N.Y.) 1955-current, November 28, 1979, Page 16, Image 16', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/np00130006/1979-11-28/ed-1/seq-16/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/np00130006/1979-11-28/ed-1/seq-16.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/np00130006/1979-11-28/ed-1/seq-16/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/np00130006/1979-11-28/ed-1/seq-16/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
Image provided by: University at Buffalo
In double sudden death overtime Checkers edges Tolchok in patriotic intramural final by Dean S. Barron Spectrum Stuff Writer possession, he almost sprung loose for a touchdown, but a dubious call by the referee ruled that he had been tagged. It appeared as though the tag was administered by a diving Tolchok player—a diving tag does not count. I Thanksgiving was the second feast for Checkers. Their first was on Sunday (November 18) when they defeated Tolchok II 12-6 in double sudden-death overtime to capture the UB intramural football championship. Mike Sostowski ended the game when he caught a pass from Dennis Burns in the end zone. “Why, heck, it was a great game,” Bums, the Checkers’ quarterback, commented after the winning touchdown. First points Meassick was not to be denied. He intercepted the ball on Tolchok’s subsequent possession and scored the game’s first touchdown three plays later. Tolchok II foiled Checkers’ bid for the point after. Late in the half, when it looked as if Checkers would hang on for a shut-out victory, Tolchok wrested the initiative with three successive long gains. Ken Keas stopped a Tolchok completion for no gain on fourth down, but quarterback Oanny Clabeaux completed a touchdown pass to Brian Frazier on fifth down.' The contest almost ended in Tolchok’s favor. Early in the first overtime, it appeared as though Tolchok had scored on a short pass. But a referee’s whistle had called the play dead for illegal procedure—a call that even one of the referees deemed “controversial.” “I thought it was all over,” commented one Checkers’ player. “Shit, I hoped there was\ a penalty.” “They tried to play me man-to -man,” Frazier noted, “but the ball was there.” An American flag posted just off the field waved throughout the game. “A championship game deserves a flag,” asserted Checkers’ Chuck Meassick. “It shows our support of the American hostages in Iran. It was agreed upon by both teams.” A solid pass rush by Checkers prevented Tolchok from scoring what would have been the winning point after, forcing overtime. Checkers erupted the instaht the winning points were scored. Tolchok withdrew dejectedly as the Checkers’ players mobbed each other on the muddy field.' “We tried every play—with no stops,” a jubilant Meassick recounted. “The flag inspired us.” “They played one hell of a game,” he continued, having caught his breath. “I’d be willing to take these two teams and play the rest of the league.” Shortly before the game Tolchok II chanted, “Iran sucks! Iran sucks! . . as Checkers and roughly 30 spectators cheered. A similar -incident occurred at Rich Stadium that same day—a banner was displayed with the words “Iran Sucks” on it. Tolchok’s defense was awesome. The unit sacked Burns seven times and intercepted him four times. Checkers’ defense was also excellent, recording three sacks and as many-interceptions. The difference between the two finalists was that Checkers had Meassick. He turned in a remarkable two-way effort, scoring a touchdown, intercepting two passes, and blocking three —not to mention five other pass receptions. Mike Vintiture made an important catch in the final Checkers’ drive, shaking off an inconsistent game. Defensively, Bill Shoe turned in an outstanding performance. Had it not been for the great pressure Tolchok’s defensive linemen Bob Sasl&wsky and Mike Viscosi' applied, the first half might not have ended in a scoreless tie. Checkers consistently beat Tolchok on long pass routes, but Bums was not given the time to fire accurately. “There’s only one strategy change we will have in the second half,” Checkers’ Tom VanGordcr indicated during halftime,” —we’ll get points.” Checkers then transferred its early Thanksgiving celebration to Main Street’s Checkers bar. Meassick took control in the second half. On Checkers’ first - * * 4th ANNUAL HOLIDAY EXHIBIT and SALE POTTERY '* JEWELRY * CANDLES WEAVING - BATIK - PHOTOGRAPHS WEDNESDAY S THURSDAY (Nov. 28th and 29th) 1:00 — 5:00 pm CREATIVE CRAFT CENTER 120 MFAC Ellicott Complex Amherst Campus 636-2201 * * } . I *’kir-kirit-kir-k-kiririr.irk'kirkirkirk'k'k*'**'k'k*'k'kirifirkirkirkirk-k-k-k'kirk-kirkirkirkitifirkirkitirkirkitirkirkirifkirkirirkirkirk J kirkirk'i r