By Roch Eric Kubatko 
Baltimore Sun, Aug. 27, 1995

   The Stallions were rested and ready, and the opposition hadn't scored an offensive touchdown in more than a month. Baltimore came into yesterday's game with what looked to be a huge advantage over the reeling Toronto Argonauts. And the Stallions departed with an even bigger win, scoring on their first four possessions and taking a 41-14 victory before 27,853 at Memorial Stadium. Toronto's defense had been more than respectable, allowing 20 points or fewer in four of its past five games. But the Stallions, given great field position by their special teams and effectively mixing the running of Mike Pringle and the passing of Tracy Ham, raced to a 20-7 lead at half-time. 
   Ham connected with Chris Armstrong on a 25-yard touchdown pass on Baltimore's opening possession of the third quarter. The Stallions then put together their longest drive in franchise history, covering 104 yards in 11 plays and aided by a fake punt when Robert Drummond picked up 11 yards and a first down. Pringle ran for 23 yards, then went the last four to pad Baltimore's lead. The rest was easy. Wasn't it about time? 
   "Points always give a group confidence," said Ham, who completed 13 of 19 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns. "We haven't been putting the ball in the end zone like we should."
   This was Baltimore's first win by more than seven points in nearly a month, and its second straight victory after a two-game losing streak. The Argonauts (2-7) have dropped four in a row and are tied for last place in the North Division. It also was the first time the Stallions (7-3) had scored more than 19 points since July 29, when they defeated Birmingham, 36-8. "We needed that kind of game," said coach Don Matthews. "We needed to come out and do some things offensively, get some things done. We needed a consistent offensive performance." 
   "It was important for us just to come out and win," Armstrong said. "The margin of victory doesn't really make a difference, as long as you get a W. But it was a big win for us. If you don't do well at this time of the season, then you're not going to be successful." Matthews said Friday that his team had enjoyed an excellent week of practice, was rested and there was "no reason for us not to play well." The Stallions did better than that, though they allowed Toronto's first offensive touchdown in 19 quarters. 
   A 49-yard field goal by Carlos Huerta after Pringle had returned the opening kickoff 67 yards gave Baltimore a 3-0 lead. Toronto's Mike "Pinball" Clemons then took a swing pass from Kent Austin and, with no one near him, scored easily from five yards for a 7-3 lead with 10:07 left in the first quarter. Three plays earlier, Paul Masotti had caught a pass over the middle and rambled 66 yards before being dragged down from behind by Ken Watson at the Baltimore 17. That was one of the few long gains from scrimmage by the Argonauts. Austin put up some impressive numbers, completing 21 of 29 passes for two touchdowns and 215 yards. But, he also was sacked three times by Elfrid Payton, had two interceptions and rarely threw downfield against Baltimore's zone. "We got two touchdowns. There's the good news," said Toronto coach Mike Faragalli. "We did some things that we wanted to do, but we just got so far behind that they went into their zone coverage and started laying everybody deep, and you just have to nit-pick at that point." 
   Another long kickoff return, this one by Chris Wright for 36 yards, began a seven-play, 56-yard drive for the Stallions that culminated in a 17-yard field goal by Huerta that reduced Toronto's lead to 7-6 with 6:26 remaining in the first quarter. Matt Goodwin intercepted Austin after the Argonauts had moved to the Stallions' 30, and Ham later rolled to his left and found Shannon Culver wide open in the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown. Armstrong raised his arms to celebrate before the ball even reached Culver. There would be lots more for the Stallions to celebrate in the half. 
   Ham faked a hand-off to Pringle and scored from a yard out on Baltimore's opening possession of the second quarter. Wright returned a Toronto punt 57 yards - he gained 159 on seven returns - and the Argonauts came up empty on their next six drives before intermission. Toronto was silent until Jock Climie caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Austin with 52 seconds left in the third quarter. 
   "We're finding that offenses change when they play us," Matthews said. "I think it's because of the pass rush. We're playing way more zone than we normally would because they're trying to get rid of the ball quick and we have to try to make them hold the ball so we can get our pass rush up the field."
   Both teams pulled their starting quarterbacks in the fourth quarter, and Payton dumped Toronto's Marvin Graves for an eight-yard loss and his franchise-record fourth sack. "We needed a big game like this offensively, and that allowed me to get a lot of sacks because they had to drop back and throw the ball, Payton said. "There was an urgency, where we were up by so many points and they had to throw the ball. And more times than not, I'm going to beat my man."

PRINGLE KICKS OFF STALLIONS' OFFENSIVE CHARGE

By Kevin Eck 
Baltimore Sun, Aug. 27, 1995

   The first time Mike Pringle touched the ball yesterday, he returned the opening kickoff 67 yards to set up the Stallions' initial scoring drive. It was going to be that kind of day for Pringle - and the Stallions. He rushed for a season-high 166 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries and finished with 281 all-purpose yards in the Stallions' 41-14 rout of the Toronto Argonauts. Not coincidentally, the Stallions - who are 11-1 when Pringle rushes for 100 or more yards - had their best offensive output since a 43-7 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on July 22.
   The Stallions averaged 16.3 points in their previous four contests. In two of these games, Pringle rushed for a combined 78 yards. "We needed a game like this, but I knew it was coming," said Pringle, who set CFL records last season for rushing (1,972) and yards from scrimmage (2,414). "It was just a matter of us all being on the same page. When we play together for 60 minutes, we can be a dangerous team." 
   "As the season goes on, we get better. It was just a matter of us fine-tuning the offense. It may have seemed like it was long in coming, but offense is a timing thing and we have to adjust to each other." Pringle, who leads the CFL in rushing with 1,031 yards, returned two kickoffs for 89 yards and also caught four passes for 26 yards. "It's always good to get back there early in the game and make something happen," Pringle said of his opening kickoff return. "It gets me into the flow of the game." 
   Pringle was especially in the flow of the game in the second half when he rushed for 106 yards, including a four-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter that extended the Stallions' lead to 34-7. Pringle had set up the touchdown with a 23-yard run on the previous play. That 11-play, 104-yard drive - the longest in the Stallions' history - kept the Argonauts' defense on the field for 5:07. Pringle had 39 yards on four carries during the drive. 
   "We didn't get a lot of tacklers on the guy with the ball," Argonauts coach Mike Faragalli said. "[Pringle] is a touch running back and you just can't bring him down with one or two guys. You have to get after him, get off blocks and get to the ball." Pringle's performance not only rejuvenated a sputtering offense, it also helped teammate Tracy Ham. "It takes a lot of pressure off me as a quarterback when people are really concerned about stopping Mike," said Ham. "And the offensive line really did a good job." 
   Despite the offense's recent struggles, however, Pringle said that no one was panicking. "Every week there's an urgency for us to perform well," said Pringle. "But next week's game has just as much urgency. We treat every game with some urgency."

PLAYING TO TOUGH CROWD, HAM'S DELIVERY IS EXCELLENT

By Roch Eric Kubatko 
Baltimore Sun, Aug. 27, 1995

   He was the last player from the Baltimore Stallions to be introduced yesterday, and his name drew a smattering of boos from the crowd at Memorial Stadium. The weather was warm, but the reception for quarterback Tracy Ham was chilly, at best. Ham silenced many of his critics, though, by accounting for three touchdowns in Baltimore's 41-14 win over Toronto. Playing with a sore groin, Ham proved mobile enough to roll away from the pressure and complete 13 of 19 passes for 166 yards and two scores. He also rushed five times for 46 yards and a touchdown. He came into the game with 603 fewer yards passing than at the midway point last year. In his four previous games, he had thrown seven interceptions without a touchdown pass. The Stallions were averaging 214.1 yards passing, compared to 319.9 the previous season, and Ham was shouldering much of the blame. He deserved much of the credit yesterday, though he was passing it around with the same ease that he moved the football. "We understand that the only way we're going to get it done is we do it as a group, not by one individual," he said. "I certainly have to continue to try to pick my play up, continue to move people around and take some pressure off my guys up front."

A new twist
   The Stallions' version of line dancing took another turn yesterday when Mike Withycombe started at left tackle for Shar Pourdanesh, who reinjured both ankles in last week's 16-13 win at Memphis. John James moved from right guard into Withycombe's vacated left guard spot, and John Earle returned to right guard after sitting out last week with a biceps injury. Baltimore's offensive line has had a different starting combination in five straight games. Center Nick Subis started for the third straight game after missing four with a rib injury. Withycombe handled the snaps until Subis' return, and yesterday started at this third position. Right tackle Neal Fort is the only Stallions offensive lineman to start at the same position for 10 games. Pourdanesh had been at left tackle for the first nine. Yesterday, the unit received a passing grade from coach Don Matthews. Ham wasn't sacked, and running back Mike Pringle had room.

A hard fall
   Nine months ago, Kent Austin was in the champagne-soaked locker room of the B.C. Lions, celebrating his team's 26-23 win over Baltimore in the Grey Cup. The nine-year CFL veteran had reinjured his shoulder in the second quarter and was replaced by Danny McManus, who rallied the Lions. But Austin still had his second championship ring. Austin was traded to Toronto on April 21, and little has gone right for him since. Injuries continue to be a problem - he's missed two games and was knocked out after two series of another - and his team, expected to contend for a playoff berth, is 2-7 and locked in a three-way tie for last place in the North Division. "I've reached my frustration limit," said Austin, who played in Saskatchewan for seven years before going to B.C. last season. "I don't think I could be any more frustrated than I am right now." Austin, who went 21-29 for 215 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions yesterday, has six interceptions in his past three games.

Et cetera
   The teams combined for 517 yards in punt and kickoff returns. But Toronto's Mike "Pinball" Clemons was held to 38 yards on six returns....In their first nine games, the Stallions had broken 10 team records and tied five others....Toronto defensive line coach Joe Moss and Leo Speros, the father of Stallions owner Jim Speros, were teammates at the University of Maryland from 1949 to 1952.

STALLIONS' OFFENSIVE PROFICIENCY, LACK OF INJURIES SPELL GOOD NEWS

By Roch Eric Kubatko 
Baltimore Sun, Aug. 28, 1995

   The passing game clicked. The kickoff and punt returns were dazzling. The defense dominated. And Mike Pringle was his usual self, running around and over tacklers while racking up 281 all-purpose yards. And just as important, none of the Stallions was seriously hurt in Saturday's 41-14 romp over the Toronto Argonauts at Memorial Stadium. Coach Don Matthews had removed Pringle in the fourth quarter, but put him back into the game because replacements Chris Wright and Robert Drummond had minor ailments. But that's as serious as it got on the injury front, more good news as the Stallions (7-3) head to Hamilton for Saturday's game against the Tiger-Cats (6-3). "We just have to get some nicks and bruises cleaned up," Matthews said. "We got Chris off the cover teams because he said his hamstring or something was tight. And Drummond cramped up, but he should be healthy." 
   Only three players sought treatment at the stadium yesterday: quarterback Tracy Ham (groin) and defensive backs Courtney Griffin (groin) and Charles Anthony (back). All three will be ready for the Tiger-Cats, who have been one of the CFL's bigger surprises this year. They were 4-14 last season, including two losses to Baltimore by a combined 26 points, and weren't expected to present much of a challenge in the North Division. But they have won four in a row and are only two games out of first place after defeating Winnipeg in overtime, 36-33, Friday.
   Hamilton quarterbacks Anthony Calvillo and Steve Taylor better keep a watch on Stallions rush end Elfrid Payton, who set a franchise record and tied a league record with five sacks Saturday. He originally was credited with four, but a review of the game film showed that he should have been given another when he dropped Toronto quarterback Kent Austin for a 1-yard loss. Payton also made six tackles and knocked down a pass. O.J. Brigance had five tackles and one sack, which also was awarded after reviewing the film. The Tiger-Cats also could see Baltimore's sixth starting combination on the offensive line in as many games if left tackle Shar Pourdanesh returns, as expected, from injuries to both ankles. Mike Withycombe would move back to left guard in place of John James, but the changes wouldn't be due to ineffectiveness. The line didn't allow a sack against Toronto. "I thought [the line] was very good," Matthews said. So was Ham, who threw for 166 yards and two touchdowns, without an interception. He also ran for a score. The Stallions were off yesterday and won't practice today, and Ham will sit out tomorrow, as well, before resuming work.