DATE: Wednesday, October 15, 1997           TAG: 9710150684

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: ASHBURN, VA.                      LENGTH:   76 lines

DAVIS AND THE DEFENSE DAZZLED BUT SKINS LOSE ALLEN FOR 2 GAMES AND WESTBROOK WILL LIKELY BE OUT FOR 3-5 WEEKS

The best decision Washington Redskins coach Norv Turner made in his team's 21-16 victory over NFC East rival Dallas Monday night came a couple of hours before kickoff.

That's when Turner decided that he'd put second-year running back Stephen Davis on the active roster, not veteran fullback Marc Logan. Logan wasn't 100 percent recovered from a pulled groin, so Turner went with Davis.

``I didn't know what to expect before the game,'' Davis said. ``I walked in with Larry Bowie and we were laughing. I looked over at my locker and there was my uniform. And somebody said, `Get ready, you're going.' ''

Davis entered the game after Terry Allen sprained his left knee on Washington's fifth offensive play and rushed 22 times for 94 yards and two touchdowns. His play was the primary reason Washington stands alone in first-place in the NFC East with a 4-2 mark, half a game ahead of the Giants, one game ahead of Dallas, and two games in front of Philadelphia and Arizona.

``Right now, I imagine a lot of America is saying, `Gosh, where did they find him?' But we knew last summer he was a guy who could make plays,'' Turner said.

Davis, a second-year pro from Auburn, is going to have to make a bunch more the next few weeks. An MRI on Allen's left knee Tuesday revealed a Grade 1 sprain. Allen will miss at least the next two weeks, with Turner saying Tuesday it's possible Washington will bring in a running back to fill Allen's spot on the roster.

The news on receiver Michael Westbrook's MRI was slightly worse. He, too, has a Grade 1 sprain of the left knee, but the third-year pro from Colorado is expected to miss between three and five weeks. Fourth-round draft pick Albert Connell should take Westbrook's spot on the roster.

The Redskins suffered two other major injuries against the Cowboys. Defensive tackle Chris Mims re-aggravated his abdominal strain. Strong safety Jesse Campbell fractured his left thumb and was fitted with a cast Tuesday. Both are listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Tennessee.

Meanwhile, there were nothing but kudos for the Redskins' defense, which played its best game of the season in containing running back Emmitt Smith (61 yards) and receivers Michael Irvin and Anthony Miller (8 catches, 106 yards combined).

``Our defensive line played so well,'' said cornerback Cris Dishman, who battled Irvin play after play, allowing just five receptions. ``They were so excited to be facing a guy like Emmitt. The talk all week was about Emmitt, Emmitt, Emmitt, how he's coming in here and licking his chops about facing our defensive line. Our guys stepped up.''

Smith, who began the game with runs of 16 and 11 yards, finished the first half with 54 yards rushing. But in the second half, Smith ran six time for seven yards.

The defense essentially gave the offense the touchdown that pushed Washington's lead to 21-3. Linebacker Ken Harvey's first sack of the season jarred the ball from Troy Aikman's hand and end Rich Owens recovered at the Cowboys' 25. Six straight rushes landed Davis in the end zone.

Then Brian Mitchell fumbled when hit by Kevin Smith, with rookie linebacker Dexter Coakley retrieving the ball and taking it 16 yards for the touchdown that made it 21-9 with 4:24 to play in the third quarter.

From that point on, the Cowboys took possession at their 35, their 27 (touchdown), their 38 and the Washington 49. On the drives that didn't end in a score, the Cowboys gained a total of 27 yards - 9 each drive.

``Our defense just battled and battled,'' Turner said. ``They took the game over. We kept getting in a hole on offense with penalties, but the defense rose to the challenge.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

NAT MEYER/The Virginian-Pilot

Stephen Davis scores the first of his two touchdowns Monday. He

entered the game after Terry Allen sprained his knee and rushed 22

times for 94 yards.

Color Photo by Nhat Meyer/The Virginian-Pilot

Washington's Darrell Green upends the Cowboys' Emmitt Smith late in

the game. The Redskins held Smith to just 61 yards rushing Monday.

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