Sanders Has a Feast in Win Over Browns : Lions: Rookie running back rushes for 145 yards, goes past 1,000 for the year, gives team some hope for the future.

Barry Sanders has brought a little gladness to an otherwise dismal season for the Detroit Lions.

Sanders, gaining 145 yards, ran his rookie-season rushing total to more than 1,000 yards, and Eddie Murray kicked two field goals Thursday to lead the Lions to a 13-10 upset of the Cleveland Browns.

The loss, which snapped the Browns’ unbeaten streak at five games, dropped Cleveland (7-4-1) to second place in the AFC Central Division behind the Houston Oilers (7-4). The injury-riddled Lions (3-9) remained at the bottom of the NFC Central.

“With all the players stuck together with tape, with gum and with glue, this shows that our program has come a long way,” Detroit Coach Wayne Fontes said. “We wanted to keep the ball on the ground and keep their offense off the field.

“Barry showed the country today that he should be rookie of the year.”

It was the first time this season anyone rushed for 100 yards against the Browns, who entered the game with the second-best defense in the AFC, giving up an average of 95.8 yards rushing.

Sanders, who has 1,016 yards for the season, is the first Lion to gain 1,000 yards since Billy Sims ran for 1,040 yards in 1983. Sanders, who carried 28 times Thursday, also is only the third Detroit player ever to crack the 1,000-yard mark.

The other two also were Heisman Trophy winners. Sims did it three times and Steve Owens did it once.

“Sanders is a heck of a back,” Cleveland Coach Bud Carson said. “He proved it today. We had him hemmed up a thousand times. More than anyone, he was responsible for them getting on the board.”

Sanders said he was encouraged by Sims, his boyhood hero, during workouts last summer.

“Billy Sims was one of the more amazing backs to come out of Oklahoma,” Sanders said. “He had a lot of encouraging things to say to me. That gave me a lot of incentive to do well. I just hope I’m able to do some of the things he was able to accomplish.”

Al Baker, a Brown who once played with Sims in Detroit echoed that sentiment.

“That Barry Sanders is Billy Sims reincarnated,” Baker said. “He’s an excellent back.”