Texas Feels Pain in Shrine Loss

It had already been a rigorous week for the Texas all-star team facing California in the 45th Shrine game here Saturday.

At least it was for Coach Smitty Hill’s staff. One assistant coach, Bob Frederick, sustained a broken leg when he was knocked down during a Monday passing drill. Another, Gene Bates, was flattened during running drills, although he was unhurt.

But the real pain occurred when California defeated Texas for the second year in a row, 27-12, before an estimated 6,500 at Cal State Fullerton.

California Coach John Barnes figured to have an advantage with three key players from his Los Alamitos team--quarterback Kevin Feterik and receivers Tony Hartley and Stan Guyness.

Hartley and Guyness did their parts. Each caught a touchdown pass, and Guyness’ grab--a 42-yarder from Feterik with 2:07 left in the third quarter--gave the game its final margin.

Quarterback Scott Towne, who was 12 for 15 for 159 yards and two touchdowns, sparked the 14-point second half California needed to pull away from Texas.

Towne, from Stockton St. Mary’s High and headed to Sacramento State University, put California ahead for good late in the second quarter with a six-yard touchdown pass to Hartley. Towne whistled a 62-yard touchdown pass to Fontana’s Rodney Soward on a fake reverse in the third quarter, which expanded California’s 13-12 halftime lead to 20-12.

“I didn’t come here thinking about awards,” Towne said. “I just wanted to do the best I could. I got to throw to the best receivers in California, and got great blocking from the offensive line.”

Hill agreed the fake reverse play was the only thing Texas did not prepare for.

The game was close in the first half, primarily because California’s mistakes kept Texas in the game with five fumbles and a crucial interception.

California took a 13-9 lead in the second quarter when Towne lofted a six-yard touchdown pass to Hartley.

But after California’s fifth fumble, on the Texas 49 with seconds left in the half, David Leaverton kicked a 46-yard field goal to bring Texas within 13-12.