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FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK

The Weapon of the Future?

By John B. Trainer, Crimson Staff Writer

With four of the five starters in the offensive backfield graduating this year, junior quarterback Mike Giardi might feel a little lonely next season.

Or maybe not. Saturday's game introduced junior halfback Esan Simon as a weapon Giardi can depend upon in the future.

Simon started the first game of his career against Lafayette, replacing injured senior halfback Kendrick Joyce. Simon carried 10 times for 34 yards and two touchdowns, scoring on runs of six and eight yards. He also caught one pass for a two-yard gain.

"I got some good runs in there," Simon said after the game. "But the blocking was just superb. [Senior fullback] Mike Hill was tremendous."

At 5'7," 170 pounds, the junior is clearly not a goal-line pile mover. But Simon, who runs track during the offseason, is the speedy burner the Crimson hasn't had for most of the season.

Simon is most effective when he can get outside. Both of his touchdown runs were runs to the right side, where Simon was able to accelerate around and past the Leopard defense untouched.

Unfortunately, seven of Simon's 10 carries were handoffs up the middle, totaling 27 yards. Why Coach Joe Restic decided to send his burner up the middle that often is his own business.

At any rate, Simon earned his stripes. He sprained a ligament in his right thumb and sported an impressive bandage after the game.

But he'll be back, long after Joyce, Hill and Captain Robb Hirsch are gone.

I Wanna Be Like Mike: It's almost heresy to say that Giardi is not getting his due. But if not for superquarterback Jay Fiedler of Dartmouth, Giardi would be--no contest--the best quarterback in the Ivy League.

Against the Leopards, Giardi completed 15 of 18 passes for 220 yards and a TD. In the second half, the Mather junior was 10-of-10 for 111 yards.

Giardi also led the team in carries with 18 (for 39 yards). But that number is abnormally high: Because he is under pressure so much, designed pass plays all too frequently turn into helter-skelter scrambles for survival.

Just think of what he could do with protection.

Without the comfort zone most signal-callers enjoy, Giardi takes it upon himself to move the ball no matter what the cost is to his body. Unfortunately, Giardi's high-risk playing style makes him, well, a high risk.

He has a curious penchant for fumbling at the worst times. Lafayette in the fourth quarter last Saturday. Army last year.

But the Salem, Mass. native makes up for his mistakes--and more.

For those who think Giardi is in a slump or that junior David Morgan might be the better man for the job, just remember: Giardi does more with less than any quarterback in the Ivies. With one of the worst offensive lines in the Ancient Eight, Giardi continues to run and move the team any way he can.

Besides, nobody knows the Multiflex like Mike. Restic will never take him out. "I would put you [pointing at this reporter, actually] in there before I took Mike out," Restic said after the Holy Cross game. Just admire the guy's work and keep quiet.

Fiedler on the Roof: Fiedler was Offensive Player of the Week for the second straight week with a 20-of-31 for 419 yards and fourtouchdown stat line against Yale's tough defense.

Fiedler set three school records on Saturday: first 400-yard performance ever by a Dartmouth quarterback, most total offense in a game (398 yards) and most career touchdown passes (28). And the guy's still a junior. Fiedler will bring the Big Green to town on October 31. Won't that be pretty.

The GAME: The deadline for student tickets to the Yale game is Friday, October 23 at 5 p.m. Applications can be dropped through the class slots in the basement of Harvard Hall. Call 495-2211 for more information. PASSING

Name C/Att Pct Yds TD In t Mike Glardi 48/92 522 699 3 1 David Morgan 4/5 800 52 3 0 RUSHING

Name Att Yds Avg TD Lng Robb Hirsch 56 220 3.9 1 15 Mike Hill 47 199 4.2 1 23 Esan Simon 16 77 4.8 3 15 Kendrick Joyce 27 74 2.7 0 11 Mike Giardi 86 46 .5 3 26 Chris Taylor 3 12 4.0 0 13 Mike Wallace 5 4 .8 0 1 Colby Maher 1 2 2.0 0 2 RECEIVING

Name Rec Yds Avg Td Lng Read Hubbard 13 255 19.6 0 50 Colby Maher 8 98 12.3 0 22 Kendrick Joyce 8 98 12.3 1 42 Robb Hirsch 7 55 7.9 1 14 Chris Taylor 6 100 16.7 0 30 Mark Begert 5 68 13.6 0 17 Michael Hill 2 64 32.0 1 49 Esan Simon 2 2 1.0 0 2 Frank Lilly 1 11 11.0 0 11 INTERCEPTIONS

Name Int Yds Avg Td Lng Brian Ramer 2 24 12.0 0 24 Rob Santos 2 13 6.5 0 13 Chris Andre 1 13 13.0 0 13 Rob Sonne 1 0 0.0 0 0 KICKOFF RETURNS

Name Ret Yds Avg Td Lng James Ellis 13 270 20.8 0 46 Colby Maher 9 216 24.0 0 36 Esan Simon 2 28 14.0 0 14 Jon Ponusuk 1 22 22.0 0 22 PUNTING