Monday, December 14, 1998

Jeffers gets the call in the second half

By Kevin Lyons and Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- With top receiver Michael Irvin sidelined in the second quarter with a lower back contusion, former Country Day star Patrick Jeffers emerged as the Cowboys' go-to guy late in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jeffers, who had no receptions in the first half, appeared to be an unlikely candidate for the job.

But with Chiefs 5-foot-7 cornerback Mark McMillan guarding the 6-3 Jeffers for much of the second half, the Cowboys figured it was their best matchup.

The plan proved to be good one -- although a tad too late.

Jeffers sparked two touchdown drives with five catches in the second half for 74 yards, including a 28-yard scoring reception.

MIXED RESULTS

Tyrone Hughes, signed two weeks ago as a kickoff returner, contributed to the outcome, in a good way and bad.

The good: Helped by Robert Thomas' big block, Hughes scooted down the left side for a 35-yard punt return in the second quarter.

The play gave the Cowboys the ball at the Chiefs' 32-yard line. Seven plays later, Richie Cunningham kicked a 32-yard field goal to tie the score at 3-3.

The bad: Hughes fumbled after a 12-yard punt return in the third quarter. The Chiefs got the ball at midfield and eventually turned the possession into a 1-yard touchdown run by Bam Morris. This gave the Chiefs a 10-3 lead with 4:01 to go in the third quarter.

The four-point swing may or may not cost Hughes his job. When Hughes was signed, coach Chan Gailey said his longevity with the team would be looked at week-to-week.

IRVIN BANGED UP

Irvin will get X-rays for the lower back contusion he suffered in the first half. Irvin, who missed the second half, landed awkwardly on his buttocks area after he was hit hard by Chiefs cornerback Dale Carter late in the second quarter.

Although he was walking gingerly around the Cowboys locker room, the Cowboys listed him as day-to-day, pending the X-rays.

Team physician Robert Vandermeer said he did not know if Irvin's injury was as serious as that of Kevin Smith's, who has missed the past 2 1/2 games with a similar injury.

SANDERS CAN'T GO

Cornerback Deion Sanders missed his third consecutive game with a sprained left big toe. Sanders wanted to play, but Gailey decided to hold him out one more week.

"He wants to play," Gailey said, "We just felt like at the percentage he was ready to go tonight jeopardized him too much for re-injury. I thought it was best that we not play him."

SPECIAL-TEAMS MISHAP

For the first time this decade, the Cowboys special teams unit allowed a blocked punt in a regular-season game.

That broke a club-record of 611 consecutive punts without having one blocked. The last time they had a punt blocked in a regular-season game was nine years ago to the day. On Dec. 16, 1989 the Giants' Dwayne Jiles managed to block one.

On Sunday, Chiefs tight end Brian Roche raced through the middle of the line to block Toby Gowin's punt. Gowin made a touchdown saving tackle by lowering his head and driving" Tony Richardson, who recovered the ball for the Chiefs, out of bounds with 29 seconds left in the second quarter.

The Cowboys did not allow a point, however, as the Chiefs ran out of time before their field-goal unit could attempt a kick.

BRIEFLY

Sign of the times? Rookie free agent Rob Thomas rotated with Fred Strickland at middle linebacker.

Michael Irvin's one-yard gain on a lateral in the second quarter counted as a handoff, his first since carrying two times for six yards at Arizona on Sept. 19, 1993.

Tony Hutson was in for a few plays at right guard in the first half when Nate Newton sprained his ankle.

(c) 1998, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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