Bowers on verge of NCAA rushing record

GROVE CITY, Pa. (AP) - He's a football player who once preferred baseball, a fullback with a tailback's mentality, a big man running up big yardage against small schools.

R.J. Bowers, who needs 149 yards tomorrow against Westminster to become the leading rusher ever in college football, seems to be as much a contradiction as he is a cause for celebration at tiny Grove City College.

He's a player with Division I-A talent hidden among the non-scholarship performers of Division III, a potential pro who has built his reputation and resume against those who don't get a dime of financial aid to play.

In 1998, Bowers led the nation with 2,283 yards rushing and 34 rushing touchdowns despite fracturing an ankle in his final game. Now, he owns NCAA all-division records with 32 consecutive 100-yard games, 84 rushing touchdowns and is tied with 15 200-yard games.

He is coming off a 266-yard game in a four-overtime, 32-28 victory over Waynesburg. He needs slightly more than half that Saturday to break Brian Shay's record of 6,958 career rushing yards at Division II Emporia State from 1995-98.

Chelios joins Yzerman as latest fallen Red Wing

DETROIT (AP) - Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios will be the second Detroit player to have knee surgery this week.

Chelios is expected to have the arthroscopic procedure on his right knee today, Red Wings spokesman John Hahn said. He twisted it in the third period of Tuesday's 2-1 victory over St. Louis.

Steve Yzerman had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Monday and will be on crutches four weeks, Hahn said. He worked out with the team yesterday.

Detroit called up defenseman Todd Gill from Cincinnati on Wednesday and have scratched Chelios from the lineup for now.

"We have no estimate on how long he will be out," Hahn said yesterday. "Hopefully tomorrow we'll know," after doctors determine the seriousness of the injury.

Chelios, 38, is in his 14th NHL season. He was traded to the Red Wings from Chicago in March 1999. In his first full season with Detroit, he scored three goals and 31 assists.