THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 23, 1995 TAG: 9510230133
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Give Redskins receiver Henry Ellard credit: He knows how to celebrate a milestone.
Ellard and quarterback Gus Frerotte combined for a 13-yard touchdown with 5:26 remaining in regulation of Washington's 36-30 overtime victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
The catch was the 700th of Ellard's 13-season career, good for sixth place on the NFL's all-time list. Only ex-Redskin Art Monk, San Francisco's Jerry Rice, Steve Largent, Charlie Joiner and James Lofton have more, and Lofton, Joiner and Largent have retired, while Monk is out of the game.
The catch gave the Redskins a 27-23 lead and came when the Lions attempted the unusual and single-covered Ellard with Robert Massey. Ellard faked as if to go across the middle, then broke for the front corner of the end zone.
``Once I saw him leaning inside, I knew he was going to break clean inside,'' Frerotte said. ``I just put it out there and he went up and got it. He made a great catch.''
Typical of Ellard, he downplayed the importance of his accomplishment.
``It's something I'll appreciate more when I retire,'' he said. ``Right now, it's all about winning games.
``Because it was a touchdown in a crucial situation, it's really more special.''
Ellard finished the game as Washington's leading receiver with six receptions for 112 yards. For his career, he has 701 catches.
ANOTHER MILESTONE: Redskins kicker Eddie Murray, who spent the bulk of his career with the Lions, had a big hand in helping defeat his old team. Murray kicked three field goals, including one from 39 yards that sent the game into overtime.
He also connected on three of three extra points, giving him 213 straight points-after, an NFL record since the goalposts were moved from the goal line to the end line in 1974. Murray broke the old mark held by ex-Redskins kicker Chip Lohmiller from 1988-93. The overall record for most successful consecutive PATs is 234, set by San Francisco's Tommy Davis from 1959-65.
After Murray's game-tying field goal Sunday, he pointed at the Detroit bench as he trotted off the field. The Lions had called timeout moments before the ball was to be snapped to ``freeze'' Murray.
The kicker immediately left the huddle, walked over near the Redskins sideline, but away from everyone. When the referee whistled play to begin again, Murray trotted over to where the ball would be spotted, then rammed home the 39-yard kick.
``After I kicked, someone rolled up on my leg and I didn't see it,'' Murray said. ``Then I heard the roar and I knew it must have been good.
``There was definitely a lot of emotion and I was just trying to keep them in check. I prepare myself in practice for pressure situations, so I'm ready mentally.''
THIS 'N' THAT: The Lions still have never beaten the Redskins anywhere but Detroit since 1935, when the Redskins were playing in Boston and known as the Braves. . . . Sunday was Norv Turner's first come-from-behind victory as Redskins coach. by CNB