Landeta

Lacrosse coaches in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association's A and B conferences have agreed to two changes -- the league's games being governed by NCAA rules and an increase from 10 to 12 minutes per quarter.But the second change has met a "stumbling block," which MIAA director Ricky Diggs hopes to overcome before the next athletic directors' meeting on Sept. 20."The time change means an extra eight minutes per game, and that means an increase in pay for the game officials," said Diggs.

Antonio Freeman will understand if Mike Holmgren leaves the Green Bay Packers this month for the chance to reign over his own organization.That's because Freeman, the Packers' All-Pro wide receiver, says he understands the motivation behind Holmgren's bid for autonomous control as coach and general manager.Business. Strictly business."At our team meeting [Monday], he said, `The only way I'll leave is if I'm granted more power to run my own ship,' " Freeman said. "Which of course means [being]

In the final game of his rookie season in 1989, Barry Sanders the Detroit Lions ran for 158 yards to help his team beat the Atlanta Falcons, 31-24.Sanders was resting on the sidelines in the final minutes when the bench was notified that he was 10 yards behind Christian Okoye of the Kansas City Chiefs in the battle for the NFL rushing title.Sanders declined to go back into the game just to set a record."It's hard for me to go in and compete against numbers," he said last week. "To state the obvious, I compete against people.

Matt Stover is an anomaly in the NFL. In a position that often lends itself to playing for multiple teams, Stover has shattered the stereotype of the vagabond kicker. In a job that can be one misstep away from a shortened career, Stover's durability draws comparison to another, more legendary, Ironman. Maintaining a much lower profile while playing in the same town, Stover has become the Cal Ripken Jr. of NFL kickers. "He's the most reliable and depend- able football player I've had in 45 years," said Art Modell, the majority owner of the Ravens and Cleveland Browns for 43 of them.

Rosters for the AFC and NFC teams in the 1991 NFL Pro Bowl, to be played in Honolulu on Feb. 2 (x-starter; r-rookie):AFCOffenseQuarterbacks: x-Warren Moon, Houston; Jim Kelly, Buffalo.Running backs: x-Thurman Thomas, Buffalo; x-Marion Butts, San Diego; Bobby Humphrey, Denver; Bo Jackson, L.A. Raiders.Wide receivers: x-Andre Reed, Buffalo; x-Anthony Miller, San Diego; Drew Hill, Houston; Ernest Givins, Houston.Tight ends: x-Rodney Holman, Cincinnati; Ferrell Edmunds, Miami.Guards: x-Bruce Matthews, Houston; x-Mike Munchak, Houston;Steve Wisniewski, L.A. Raiders.

The Pittsburgh Steelers still are learning the intricacies of their new defense, but one phase of the game they appear to have mastered is the turnover. After two weeks, they lead the NFL in takeaways (12) and interceptions (nine).Not coincidentally, the 2-0 Steelers are off to their best start since 1982."We're trying to emphasize aggressiveness and turning the ball over," said defensive coordinator Dom Capers, who left the New Orleans Saints to join Bill Cowher's staff in Pittsburgh. "Next to points allowed, that has the second biggest impact on a football game."

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Randall was relaxed. Keith liked Rich's offense. Reggie prayed, and Seth declined to comment. There was no finger-pointing in the Philadelphia Eagles locker room yesterday. No back-stabbing. Not one mud-slinging syllable.Perhaps the Eagles have found out they can't talk their way into the Super Bowl.The Eagles were quite impressive in their 47-34 win over the New York Giants before 68,153 at Giants Stadium yesterday, just in time for their annual November stretch drive.

The dramatic turnaround for the Towson University football team this season will be punctuated by the school's first playoff appearance since becoming a I-AA program in 1987. While many not familiar with the program's history look at it as if the Tigers have come from nowhere, those who were part of the their early days as a small-college Eastern power wonder if the current success can be sustained. When Towson (9-2) hosts Lehigh (10-1) in the second round of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs Saturday at Johnny Unitas Stadium, it will bring back faded snapshots for those who remember when the Tigers were a perennial playoff team.

BaseballBoston Red Sox -- Promoted Lou Gorman from senior vice president and general manager to executive vice president of baseball operations.Chicago White Sox -- Sold their Single-A Florida State League franchise in Sarasota to the Florida Marlins.Colorado Rockies -- Named Bill Hayes manager and Chuck Estrada pitching coach at their Central Valley farm club of the California League (A).Detroit Tigers -- Signed P Storm Davis to a one-year contract.Florida Marlins -- Announced they will move their Single-A Florida State League Sarasota franchise to their new spring training site in Brevard County, Fla., for the 1994 season.

What Norv Turner said: "Coming back on the plane [from New York, after Sunday's 31-10 win] someone mentioned to me that this team [Washington] reminded them of the Dallas Cowboys. That is probably because we are a faster team on defense than we've been in the past. [RE Rich] Owens, [LE Dexter] Nottage, [RT Sean] Gilbert and [LB] Ken Harvey can all run, and we have two good corners [Darrell Green and Tom Carter]. Also, we had so many different people [eight] who caught passes against the Giants."