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Game Articles, Statistics, and Photographs |
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Preseason |
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San Antonio Bulls at Shreveport Americans
05/14/1983
San Antonio: Glenn Inverso (??) |
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Florida Statesmen (National Football Association) at Shreveport
Americans
05/21/1983
Shreveport: Clarence Odum (24), John Lewis (49) |
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Regular Season |
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Americans rough up
Red Wings in opener, 66-0 |
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Randy Waters -
Shreveport Times |
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Veteran Shreveport quarterback Ken Smith connected on 14 of
18 passes for 203 yards and four touchdowns as the Americans
crushed the Baton Rouge Red Wings, 66-0, in the American
Football Association opener for both teams here Saturday night.
A crowd estimated as just over a 100 watched the game at Olympia
Stadium.
Smith came out with the hot hand early, completing 9-of-11
passes in the first half on the dimly lit field. In the first
half, only half of the lights on one side of the stadium were
working.
The lighting didn't bother Smith, however, as he found Edwin
Scott for a 6-yard scoring toss with 8:43 left in first quarter.
Kicker Jerry Pope was true on the first of eight straight extra
points for a 7-0 lead. Smith's strike to Scott climaxed a
54-yard march in five plays.
Just 20 seconds later, Shreveport was on the board again. On the
first play of their next possession, Smith rifled a 28-yard
strike to Vernon Wells for another score. Pope added the PAT for
a 14-0 lead with 8:23 left in the initial period.
Shreveport added another score in the opening quarter as
running back Kevin McLee |
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scampered 9 yards off right tackle for
the TD
with 3:41 left. That made it 21-0.
After a scoreless second period, the Americans took a 21-0
lead at intermission.
The second half was the same story as the Shreveporters
almost scored at will. Even though both sides of the lights were
working in the second half, the Americans kept knocking Baton
Rouge's lights out on the gridiron.
Smith hurled his third TD strike to Wells from 14 yards
away at 10:37 in the third and Pope tacked on a 42-yard field
goal to send it to 31-0.
Smith again cranked up his passing arm, firing a 13-yard
strike to Wells for another TD. It was for all-AFA Wells' third
scoring reception of the evening and came with 5:22 left in the
third for a 38-0 advantage.
"They weren't in our league tonight and we kinda had our
way with them," said Americans' first-year head coach Gerald
Kimble.
"We hope to improve each game and we're very proud of Ken
Smith's passing. He did a great job, except for throwing two
interceptions."
A fumble recovery by Shreveport nose guard Artis McCann,
who made 18 tackles for the night, set up the Americans' next
score, a one- |
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yard run by Patrick Markray.
Pope booted it to 45-0 with 4:03 showing in
the third quarter.
McCann was clearly a stalwart on defense, making 13
unassisted stops, five assisted while recovering two fumbles.
Shreveport tacked on one more score before the third stanza
ended, this one a 22-yard sprint by Ed Powell. The score had
ballooned to 52-0 by that time.
Running back Clarence Odum tallied the Americans' final two
scores in the fourth quarter, going 1 and 23 yards on pitchouts.
Shreveport missed on only one scoring opportunity as Pope
missed a 25-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter. His
kick was ruled wide.
The Americans had to punt only once in the game and Pope
boomed a 65-yarder on that one.
Wells latched onto five passes for 74 yards and three
scores and Scott pulled in three for 59 and one score.
In other AFA openers last night, Carolina mashed
Pittsburgh, 58-7 and San Antonio crashed Shreveport's next
opponent, Oklahoma, 76-0. |
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| Score by Quarters |
| Shreveport |
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21 |
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0 |
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31 |
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14 |
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66 |
| Baton Rouge |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
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- |
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0 |
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| Statistics |
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SH |
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BR |
| First downs |
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23 |
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5 |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
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? -173 |
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? - 37 |
| Passing yards |
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239 |
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61 |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
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18 -
22 - 2 |
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4 -
11 - 2 |
| Punts - avg |
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6 - 65 |
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5 - 42 |
| Fumbles - lost |
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2 - 1 |
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7 - 6 |
| Penalties - yards |
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6 - 60 |
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7 - 85 |
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| Scoring Summary |
| SH |
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Scott 6 pass from Smith (Pope
kick) |
| SH |
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Wells 28 pass from Smith
(Pope kick) |
| SH |
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McLee 9 run (Pope kick) |
| SH |
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Wells 14
pass from Smith (Pope kick) |
| SH |
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Pope 42 field goal |
| SH |
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Wells 13
pass from Smith (Pope kick) |
| SH |
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Merkray 1 run (Pope kick) |
| SH |
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Powell 22 run (Pope kick) |
| SH |
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Odum 1 run (Pope kick) |
| SH |
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Odom 23 run (Pope kick) |
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| Familiar names
lead Bulldog victory |
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| Jack Patterson
- Akron Beacon Journal |
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Ex-Summit County and Kent State University players played
the key roles as the Canton Bulldogs opened their American
Football Association season with an 11-0 victory over the
Charleston, W. Va., Rockets at Canton's Fawcett Stadium Saturday
night.
As an estimated crowd of 1,500 looked on, Canton quarterback
Bert Vaughn, a former Michigan State player from Mogadore, threw
a 19-yard second-period pass to wide receiver Terry Creech for
the game's only touchdown.
Creech is a former University of Akron player.
Ron Roper, an ex-Kent State player, returned a third period punt
36 yards to set up a 22-yard field goal for the Bulldogs by Les
Petroff.
And in the final period, Scott Hernandez, another former Kent
Stater, joined Mike Collins in dumping Charleston's Kevin
Rollins in the end zone for a safety.
The safety came after Vaughn had hit |
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Creech with a 27-yard pass to the Rockets' 1-yard line, almost
producing another touchdown.
But Creech fumbled the ball as he drove toward the goal and
Charleston recovered.
Coach Bob Commings' Bulldogs, who beat Charleston 16-0 in
an exhibition game last week, had a little more trouble Saturday
as their offense sputtered.
But Canton generally controlled the game, especially in the
first half although squandering scoring chances after gaining
control of the ball five times inside Charleston territory on an
assortment of errors by the Rockets.
Charleston threatened only once in the game, that in the
final two seconds of the half when it reached the 2-yard line
after a pass interception at the Bulldogs' 30. But as the clock
ran out, a halfback option pass fell incomplete. |
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Vaughn, although under a heavy rush all night, picked
Charleston apart with short slants and flare passes. He
completed 14 of 311 attempts, with one interception, for 177
yards.
Creech was his top receiver with three catches for 62 yards
while Mark Novell, an Akron U grad from Mogadore, caught four
for 35 yards.
Neither team had much luck on the ground. The Bulldogs
mustering 68 yards to the Rockets' 50. Ron Pittman, still
another Kent State grad, led Canton with 40 yards in 16 carries.
Kevin Bradley, a recent cut from the New England Patriots'
rookie camp, quarterbacked Charleston but had little success. He
completed just 9 of 31 attempts for 74 yards and had three
intercepted.
Canton plays at Pittsburgh Saturday and returns to Fawcett
Stadium to play Gary, Ind., the following Saturday. |
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| Score by Quarters |
| Charleston |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
| Canton |
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0 |
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6 |
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3 |
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2 |
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11 |
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| Statistics |
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CH |
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CA |
| First downs |
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? |
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| Rushing (att - yards) |
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? - ? |
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? - ? |
| Passing yards |
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? |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
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? - ? - ? |
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? - ? - ? |
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Punts - avg |
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? - ? |
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? - ? |
| Fumbles - lost |
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? - ? |
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? - ? |
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Penalties - yards |
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? - ? |
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? - ? |
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| Scoring Summary |
| CA |
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Creech 19 pass from Vaughn
(kick failed) |
| CA |
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Petroff 22 field goal |
| CA |
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Safety Rollins tackled in end
zone |
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NO LOGO
AVAILABLE |
Pittsburgh Colts
at
Carolina Storm
May 28, 1983
- Memorial Stadium - |
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| Storm opens new
season just like it closed last |
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| David Scott -
Charlotte Observer |
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The Carolina Storm checked in for its 1983 American
Football Association season Saturday afternoon in Memorial
Stadium, trouncing the Pittsburgh Colts 58-6.
Anyone thinking the Storm had changed much from 1982 is wrong.
Very wrong. There's nothing new to report on the Storm, and its
dominance of the AFA.
Carolina went about its normal-looking business of whipping the
Colts with the same style it had last season, when it was
unbeaten and won the AFA title.
The only difference? Carolina used some different weapons this
time. The results were the same.
There was, as usual, an eye-popping passing game and a bruising
defense, each a Storm trademark. There also was a strong second
half, when Carolina's depth and endurance surfaced to bury
Pittsburgh. That kind of second-half effort also happened a lot
in 1982.
Storm quarterback Ed Lett completed completed 18 of 28 passes
for two touchdowns. His 345 yards is a Storm single-game record.
Not a bad start.
Lett, a rookie from Jacksonville (Ala.) State, was playing his
first game for Carolina. Lett replaces Ellsworth Turner, the
AFA's all-time leading passer, who retired earlier this year.
"Ed showed he's as good a quarterback as the people of Charlotte
are going to see," said Storm coach Steve Patton. "I really.
thought he did a great job."
Lett threw a touchdown pass to Alex Prince, a newcomer who
played last season for the AFA's Alabama Magic, the team Patton |
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coached in 1982. Prince also caught two second-half scoring
passes from John Coatta, a Catawba alumnus.
Kicker Eddie Leopard, who played at South Carolina, was
busy. He made all eight extra points, although he missed two
field goals. Something had to go wrong with somebody.
Then there was the Storm defense, which has all-AFA
performers at many positions. Carolina allowed Pittsburgh, which
won the Ohio State League championship last season, 27 yards
rushing. The Storm also intercepted four passes. Dennis Colt had
two of them.
"Same old thing," said Storm nose guard Ken Tillman. "We're
more together than ever. And besides, we've got a rule here:
Never lose at home."
Pittsburgh quarterback Jeff Beer did throw for 189 yards,
although most of them came early, when the Colts were fresh.
Beer, in fact, helped Pittsburgh take a quick lead. The
Colts, on the game's first possession, went ahead 6-0 on a
34-yard pass from Beer to Averill Harris. The extra point was
missed.
"We weren't worried about that," said Tillman. "We came out
pretty intense. But then we just started to play ball."
Said Patton: "We were probably a little too intense early.
We were doing some little bitty things wrong. Then they had that
pass. But our offense got us back in it, especially after they
had seen Pittsburgh came to play."
The Storm got a touchdown the first time it had the ball.
After driving to the Colts' 4, Emmett Hamilton took it in. Then
came the first of the interceptions, this one by James |
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Drake. Six plays later, Lett threw a 25-yard scoring pass to
Prince and the Storm led 14-6.
Coit opened the second quarter with his first interception,
and the Storm turned that into a touchdown when Lett hit tight
end Jeff Thompson from 5 yards. The score was 21-6 at halftime.
"It really was still anybody's game then," said Patton.
"But the second half was when our depth and conditioning really
came into play. It was the big difference, especially in the
fourth quarter."
The Storm iced it on its first possession of the third
quarter. Carolina drove 85 yards for the touchdown, a 16-yard
run by Larry Brown. The key play in the drive, though, was a
49-yard screen pass from Lett to Michael Morrison.
Then the Storm started piling it on. Lonnie Harris returned
a punt 90 yards midway through the third quarter, making it
35-6. Then Tillman tackled Colts' backup quarterback Frank Rocco
in the end zone, and it was 37-6 at the end of the third
quarter.
The Storm mopped up in the last period, with Prince
catching two touchdown passes from Coatta and Charles Woods
returning an interception 20 yards for another touchdown.
The Storm plays next Saturday in Charleston, W. Va.,
against the West Virginia Rockets.
Attendance at Saturday's game was low, with about 1,500 on
hand in the first half. The number increased to approximately
2,500 by game's end because of a country music show starring
Hank Williams Jr. at 7 p.m. By the time the concert began, about
3,500 were there. |
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| Score by Quarters |
| Pittsburgh |
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6 |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
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6 |
| Carolina |
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14 |
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7 |
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16 |
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21 |
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58 |
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| Statistics |
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PI |
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CA |
| First downs |
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12 |
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21 |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
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? - 22 |
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? - 124 |
| Passing yards |
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197 |
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416 |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
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15 - 33 - 4 |
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22 - 35 - 1 |
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Punts - avg |
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7 - 48 |
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1 - 58 |
| Fumbles - lost |
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1 - 0 |
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3 - 2 |
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Penalties - yards |
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10 - 88 |
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9 - 50 |
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| Scoring Summary |
| PI |
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Harris 35 pass from Beer (kick
failed) |
| CA |
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Hamilton 4 run (Leopard kick) |
| CA |
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Prince 26 pass from Lett
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
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Thompson 5 pass from Lett
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
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Brown 17 run
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
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Harris 90 punt return
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
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Safety Rocco tackled in end
zone |
| CA |
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Prince 6 pass from Coatta
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
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Woods 20 interception return
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
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Prince 20 interception return
(Leopard kick) |
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| Carolina: Jeff Thompson (88) |
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| Carolina: Jeff Thompson (88) |
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Texas Wranglers
at
Houston Mustangs
May 28, 1983
- Dyer Stadium - |
NO LOGO
AVAILABLE |
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| Wranglers win
season opener |
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| Linda Dailey -
Mesquite News |
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Norman Jett's first win as a professional football coach,
as head man of the Texas Wranglers and 200th career win came
Saturday in Houston, as the Wranglers defeated the Houston
Mustangs 20-12 in the season opener for both teams.
After seven days of mental preparation and three days of tough
practice, the Wrangler team, led by quarterback Garry Murry,
surprised the Mustangs in the first period. After failing to
score on interceptions by Glen Prentiss and Anthony Baker, the
Wranglers held the Mustangs until a blocked punt and a 75-yard
touchdown runback put the Mustangs in the lead 6-0. The
Wranglers knotted the score after lineman Dave Pippin jolted the
ball loose in Wrangler territory and Tom Jones recovered in the
end zone for the score. |
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Kicker Robert Stringer missed the PAT.
Wrangler lineman Ed Shears reinjured a knee during first
quarter play and is expected to be sidelined for a couple of
weeks. Houston tried to gain ground in the second quarter, after
scoring on Gerald Sears' 74-yard pass to John Farrell. Houston's
Kevin McDonough missed the PAT, but put Houston 12-6.
The Wranglers scored on yet another blitz, this time on the
Houston seven. Fullback Fred Alexander made a diving catch in
the end zone to tie the score again at 12-12.
In the first possession after the half, Murry passed to
Mike Milton, who then pitched back to Paul Rice for a flea
flicker to put the Wranglers in scoring range. Murry scrambled
and hit an unprotected Milton in the end zone to push the
Wranglers in front 18-12. Rice |
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scored on a conversion to put the Wranglers ahead and score the
game's final points.
The fourth was scoreless due to good defensive play on both
sides, especially by down linemen. Jones, Steve Jackson and Doug
Bell were stand- outs for the Wranglers. Bell jolted the Houston
quarterback near the Wranglers' seven and recovered a subsequent
fumble to give the ball back to the Wrangler offense and stop
the Houston threat.
The first home game for the Wranglers will be Saturday at
Mesquite Memorial Stadium, when they face the San Antonio Bulls
at 8 p.m. Team-Pro Night is also scheduled for Saturday night,
with all children 14 and under wearing a football uniform to be
admitted free when accompanied by an adult. |
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| Score by Quarters |
| Texas |
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20 |
| Houston |
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12 |
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| Statistics |
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TX |
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HO |
| First downs |
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| Rushing (att - yards) |
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| Passing yards |
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| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
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? - ? - ? |
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? - ? - ? |
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Punts - avg |
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? - ? |
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? - ? |
| Fumbles - lost |
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? - ? |
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? - ? |
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Penalties - yards |
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| Scoring Summary |
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Not available |
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| S.A. Bulls drill
Oklahoma City |
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| Jerry Briggs -
San Antonio Light |
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When defensive end Baron Mosley intercepted a pass on the
third play from scrimmage and wandered into the end zone for a
touchdown, the rout was on. In a mismatch played before 200 fans
last night, the San Antonio Bulls went on to clobber the
Oklahoma City Drillers 76-0 at Harlandale Stadium.
It was the second-highest point total and the second-biggest
point spread in American Football Association history, and it
raised some interesting questions.
Is San Antonio, 1-0 in the young AFA season, really that good?
Or is 0-1 Oklahoma City really that bad?
Only once before in the seven-year AFA has a team been
humiliated like the expansion Drillers were last night. In 1977,
the San Antonio Charros wiped out Fort Worth, 77-0.
Bulls' head coach Roger Gill watched the slaughter from the
press box. Afterwards, Gill, one of the investors in South Texas
Sports Inc., |
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reported that owner Clinton Manges was scheduled to meet with
United States Football League officials in New York City
Wednesday, and that an announcement on San Antonio's 1984 USFL
team would be made June 15.
Last night, the Bulls scored 11 touchdowns in almost every
conceivable fashion, including five on Oklahoma City turnovers.
San Antonio limited the visitors to minus 36 yards total offense
and made Drillers coach Dennis McAllister wonder, who were those
guys out there disguised as his offensive linemen?
The game was sole property of the home team only 10 minutes
into the first quarter. In that time, San Antonio's defense had
scored three touchdowns as the Bulls surged ahead 28-0.
Mosley intercepted Oklahoma City quarterback Roger Baker at
the Drillers' four and waltzed in untouched for the game's first
touchdown. Billy "Sure" Schott booted the first |
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of 10 extra points for a 7-0 San Antonio lead.
The Bulls made it 14-0 just three minutes later when
tailback Henry Bush scored the first of his two touchdowns, this
one from four yards out.
Linebacker L.C. Cole recovered a fumble in the end zone and
safety Marc Allen returned a Baker pass 30 yards for another
score. Suddenly, it was 28-0 Bulls with 5:01 showing in the
opening period.
In the second quarter, San Antonio hiked the margin to 42-0
by halftime with a 10-yard sweep around right end by Bush and a
four-yard sprint by Larry Collins to the left.
By the end of three quarters, Oklahoma City was on the
south end of a 63-0 count. Bulls' quarterback Mark Inverso
rifled a 23-yard scoring strike to Steve Pasterchick, cornerback
Ricky Williams returned an interception 26 yards and fullback
Bon Dunn rumbled six yards up the middle. |
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| Score by Quarters |
| Oklahoma City |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
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0 |
| San Antonio |
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28 |
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14 |
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21 |
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13 |
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- |
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76 |
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| Statistics |
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OK |
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SA |
| First downs |
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3 |
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15 |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
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34 - (-18) |
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34 - 204 |
| Passing yards |
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(-18) |
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88 |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
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1 - 16 - 4 |
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5 - 15 - 0 |
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Punts - avg |
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7 - 28.2 |
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0 - 0 |
| Fumbles - lost |
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8 - 5 |
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0 - 0 |
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Penalties - yards |
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5 - 32 |
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6 - 55 |
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| Scoring Summary |
| SA |
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Mosley 4 interception return
(Schott kick) |
| SA |
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Bush 4 run
(Schott kick) |
| SA |
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Cole recovers fumble in end
zone
(Schott kick) |
| SA |
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Allen 30 interception return
(Schott kick) |
| SA |
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Bush 10 run
(Schott kick) |
| SA |
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Collins 4 run
(Schott kick) |
| SA |
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Pasterchick 23 pass from
Inverso
(Schott kick) |
| SA |
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Williams 26 interception
return
(Schott kick) |
| SA |
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Dunn 6 run
(Schott kick) |
| SA |
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Mosley recovers fumble in end
zone (pass failed) |
| SA |
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McClain 35 pass from Ezell
(Schott kick) |
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San Antonio: Mark Allen (??)
Oklahoma City: Roger Baker (7) |
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Canton Bulldogs
at
Pittsburgh Colts
June 4, 1983
- J. C. Stone Field - |
NO LOGO
AVAILABLE |
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| Colts suffer
second loss, bow to Canton, 27-21 |
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| Pittsburgh
Press |
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The Pittsburgh Colts are winless after two games in the
American Football Association, bowing to the Canton (Ohio)
Bulldogs, 27-21, last night at Stone Field, North Park.
Trailing 17-0, the Colts got on the board |
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before halftime on a 2-yard run by Dom DeCiccio. In the second
half, the Colts cut it to 17-14 on a 1-yard run by Bill Legard
and Jeff Beers' two-point conversion run.
But Canton (2-0) broke the Colts with a field |
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goal and a TD on a 48-yard interception return.
The Colts led in total yards, 416-272, and first downs,
22-11. |
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| Score by Quarters |
| Canton |
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7 |
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10 |
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0 |
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10 |
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- |
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27 |
| Pittsburgh |
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0 |
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6 |
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8 |
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7 |
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- |
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21 |
| |
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| Statistics |
| |
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CA |
|
PI |
| First downs |
|
? |
|
? |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| Passing yards |
|
? |
|
? |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
|
? - ? - ? |
|
? - ? - ? |
|
Punts - avg |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| Fumbles - lost |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
|
Penalties - yards |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| |
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|
|
|
|
| Scoring Summary |
| CA |
|
Jenkins 13 run (Petroff kick) |
| CA |
|
Petroff 44 field goal |
| CA |
|
Jenkins 45 pass from Vaughn
(Petroff kick) |
| PI |
|
DecCiccio 2 passfrom Rocco
(kick failed) |
| PI |
|
Legard 1 run (Beers run) |
| CA |
|
Petroff 10 field goal |
| CA |
|
Roper 48 interception return
(Petroff kick) |
| PI |
|
Harris 15 pass from Rocco
(Litier kick) |
| |
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| |
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| |
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NO LOGO
AVAILABLE |
Houston Mustangs
at
Shreveport Americans
June 4, 1983
- Independence Stadium - |
 |
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| |
| Americans rip
Houston |
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| Bruce Hunter -
Shreveport Times |
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| |
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The Shreveport Americans made short
work of their second regular-season foe - the Houston Mustangs -
in a 54-14 rout Saturday night and were already making plans for
their rematch with the San Antonio Bulls.
"Overall, I'm satisfied with the win," said Americans coach
Gerald Kimble after the Americans' home opener, played before
1,306 fans in Independence Stadium. "But I'm not pleased with
the way we executed. We will have to execute better next week to
beat San Antonio."
Kimble said the win over the Mustangs, coupled with last week's
66-0 blowout of the Baton Rouge Red Wings, "may build false
impressions in the kids' minds" but he said they know it won't
be fun and games in San Antonio Saturday night. The Bulls beat
the Americans 14-13 in an exhibition game in Shreveport three
weeks ago.
"They have as good talent as we do, if not better," said Kimble.
"It will be an altogether new situation. It will be a good test
for us."
Linebacker Keith Alexander, who helped the Americans hold the
Mustangs to minus 38 yards rushing, echoed his coach's words
about the Bulls.
"We know how good San Antonio is," he said. "We kinda play
according to the way our opponents play. When we go up against a
hard-hitting team, we play above them. We |
|
don't take anybody too lightly. I can see the championship in
front of us."
In Saturday's game, the Americans, 2-0,
performed well enough to dominate the Mustangs but it was
obvious they weren't overjoyed with the quality of play.
The Mustangs fumbled away the ball
three times and also threw three interceptions, and the
Americans turned it over four times on a fumble and three
interceptions.
But the most costly mistakes of the
evening came when Houston, 0-2, gambled twice on fourth-down
plays deep in its own territory in the first half. Both the
times the gamble was unsuccessful.
"It was a little unorthodox," said
Kimble. "I don't know what they were trying to do. They knew we
were ready for it. I wouldn't have done it but who am I to say?
I think it was a turning point because we scored both times.
The Mustangs surprisingly marched down
to score the first points of the game on a 9-yard touchdown pass
from Herbert Gilbert to Russell Raska, who pulled the ball down
in a crowd of white Americans jerseys with only 5 1/2 minutes
gone in the game. It turned out to be the only offensive
touchdown of the night for Houston.
The Americans weren't behind for long
as Kevin McLee took a screen pass from Ken Smith and scampered
76 yards down the right |
|
sidelines for the tying touchdown, coming only 26 seconds after
the Mustangs' score.
Before the first quarter ended, Smith
had added a pair of touchdown passes to Michael Moore and the
rout was on its way. The Americans led 20-7 at the end of the
first quarter and carried a 27-14 lead into the locker room at
halftime.
Smith, who also rushed for a touchdown,
was 13-of-19 for 168 yards and four touchdowns.
"Our line has played real well after we
lost to San Antonio," said Smith. "They've really come together.
"We have quality receivers and we've
been working together for three years. If we get the time, we
can beat anybody."
Smith said the Mustangs' defense was
"undisciplined" and the Americans "could have won by a bigger
score."
In the second half, the Americans'
offense didn't get its hands on the ball until the final two
minutes of the third quarter but the defense chalked up two
touchdowns to make it 41-14 at the end of the third period.
Smith hurled 16 yards to shifty Vernon
Wells for a fourth-period touch- down and Jerry Pope added field
goals of 29 and 41 yards in the final period to close out
Shreveport's scoring. |
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| Score by Quarters |
| Houston |
|
? |
|
? |
|
? |
|
? |
|
- |
|
14 |
| Shreveport |
|
? |
|
? |
|
? |
|
? |
|
- |
|
54 |
| |
|
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|
|
| Statistics |
| |
|
HO |
|
SH |
| First downs |
|
? |
|
? |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| Passing yards |
|
? |
|
? |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
|
? - ? - ? |
|
? - ? - ? |
|
Punts - avg |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| Fumbles - lost |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
|
Penalties - yards |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| |
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| Scoring Summary |
| |
|
Not available |
| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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|
 |
| Shreveport: Clarence Odom (24) |
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| |
| Bulls triumph |
|
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|
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| Bart Hubbuch -
San Antonio Light |
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| |
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The San Antonio Bulls pulled off their
second win of the season with a 14-10 triumph over the Texas
Wranglers in American Football Association action last night.
San Antonio won it when Mark Williams leaped in from one yard
with 9:14 left. The |
|
touchdown followed an interception by Jim Szczebaniuk at the
Texas 22.
San Antonio scored first on its second
possession when Henry Bush took it in from 10 yards out at 8:46.
Three plays earlier, Wrangler Steve Beck was called for pass
interference |
|
against tight end Tony Armstrong at the Texas 17. Billy Schott
added the PAT.
Eight plays after Wrangler Richard
Evans intercepted a Peter Raeford pass at the Bulls' 48, Welby
Ina threw a 10-yard scoring pass to Paul Rice to give Texas a
10-7 lead at 10:46. |
|
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|
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| Score by Quarters |
| San Antonio |
|
7 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
7 |
|
- |
|
14 |
| Texas |
|
3 |
|
7 |
|
0 |
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0 |
|
- |
|
10 |
| |
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| Statistics |
| |
|
SA |
|
TX |
| First downs |
|
13 |
|
9 |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
|
? - 123 |
|
? - 17 |
| Passing yards |
|
35 |
|
129 |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
|
6 - 14 - 3 |
|
19 - 34 - 3 |
|
Punts - avg |
|
6 - 43.5 |
|
6 - 43.0 |
| Fumbles - lost |
|
3 - 3 |
|
2 - 1 |
|
Penalties - yards |
|
4 - 20 |
|
9 - 81 |
| |
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| Scoring Summary |
| SA |
|
Bush 10 run (Schott kick) |
| TX |
|
Stringer 37 field goal |
| TX |
|
Rice 10 pass from Ina
(Stringer kick) |
| SA |
|
Williams 1 run (Schott kick) |
| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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|
 |
| Texas: Paul Rice (41) |
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| |
| Storm tops W.
Virginia |
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| Charlotte
Observer |
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| |
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The Carolina Storm scored nine third-quarter points and
held off the West Virginia Rockets in the fourth quarter for a
33-30 American Football Association victory Saturday night.
The Storm (2-0) jumped to a 7-0 lead when Bobby Hedrick scored
on a 15-yard run.
West Virginia (0-2) tied it on Kevin Rollins's 2-yard run, then
went ahead 10-7 on Jim Fogler's field goal.
Carolina made it 10-9 when Charles Wood blocked a Rocket
punt out of the end zone for a safety. |
|
In the second quarter, the Storm scored two touchdowns,
gaining a 24-16 halftime lead. The scores came on a 16-yard pass
from Ed Lett to Darrell Jones and a 20-yard pass from Lett to
Jeff Thompson. Bernie Bertus picked off a Lett pass and returned
it 30 yards for a Rockets touchdown.
The Storm padded its advantage in the third quarter as Lett
hit Alex Prince with a 9-yard scoring pass and Leopard kicked a
33-yard field goal for a 33-14 lead.
The Carolina defense yielded two |
|
touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but held off the Rockets' late
charges.
Lett completed 21 of 40 passes for 228 yards and three
touchdowns. He was intercepted twice and sacked nine times,
including five by the Rockets' Milton Spradley.
Carolina's defensive standouts included Wally Smojver and
Greg Rutherford, who each had three sacks. Linebacker Joe Crosby
had one sack, an interception and a fumble recovery. |
|
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|
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| Score by Quarters |
| Carolina |
|
9 |
|
15 |
|
9 |
|
0 |
|
- |
|
33 |
| Charleston |
|
10 |
|
6 |
|
0 |
|
14 |
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- |
|
30 |
| |
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| Statistics |
| |
|
CA |
|
CH |
| First downs |
|
13 |
|
8 |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
|
? - 40 |
|
? - 66 |
| Passing yards |
|
228 |
|
110 |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
|
20 - 43 - 3 |
|
10 - 21 - 1 |
|
Punts - avg |
|
8 - 24 |
|
10 - 34 |
| Fumbles - lost |
|
1 - 1 |
|
2 - 1 |
|
Penalties - yards |
|
13 - 87 |
|
7 - 41 |
| |
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|
|
| Scoring Summary |
| CA |
|
Hedrick 15 run (Leopard kick) |
| CH |
|
Rollins 2 run (Fogler kick) |
| CH |
|
Fogler 37 field goal |
| CA |
|
Safety Wood blocked punt out
of end zone |
| CA |
|
Jones 16 pass from Lett
(Hedrick run) |
| CH |
|
Bertus 25 interception return
(kick blocked) |
| CA |
|
Thompson 20 pass from Lett
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Prince 9 pass from Lett (kick
failed) |
| CA |
|
Leopard 33 field goal |
| CH |
|
Safety Monroe blocked punt out
of end zone |
| CH |
|
Spradley 25 interception
return (???) |
| CH |
|
Ivy 25 pass from Smith (pass
failed) |
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NO LOGO
AVAILABLE |
Houston Mustangs
at
Baton Rouge Red Wings
June 11, 1983
- Olympia Stadium - |
 |
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NO ARTICLE
OR
PHOTOGRAPHS AVAILABLE |
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NO LOGO
AVAILABLE |
Gary Golden Bears
(Northern States Football League)
at
Canton Bulldogs
- EXHIBITION -
June 11, 1983
- Fawcett Stadium - |
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| Bulldogs defeat
Golden Bears |
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| Bob Nold -
Akron Beacon Journal |
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The Canton Bulldogs obviously were in tune with their
universe Saturday night. The legend lives on, as they like to
say, and the Gary, Ind., Golden Bears are sure to take that
message back home with them.
The Bulldogs won 27-6 before an estimated 1,000 fans at Fawcett
Stadium to remain unbeaten in the American Football Association.
They are now 3-0 with a showdown coming up here next Saturday
evening against the defending champion Carolina Storm.
The Golden Bears were playing their first regular-season league
game.
Canton had plenty of local athletes in the spotlight - plenty of
Kent State and University of Akron stars.
The Bulldogs led 14-0 at halftime.
Quarterback Bert Vaughn from Mogadore and Michigan State and
tight end Mark Novell from Akron U teamed on the first touchdown
after cornerback Joe Krumpak made a diving, sliding interception
of a Les Varner pass. Krumpak slid past midfield, but bounced up
and ran the football back to the Golden Bears' 22-yard line.
A clipping penalty put the ball back on the 44, but Vaughn and
Novell picked up 34 yards on the first play, with Novell
catching the pass down the left sideline at the 24 and racing to
the 10. Two downs later, Vaughn rolled right, found Novell
cutting that way and hit him for the touchdown with 5:51 left in
the first quarter. Les Petroff's extra-point kick made it |
|
7-0.
The second touchdown was different, except that it, too,
came after an interception, this one by Ricky Holman from Akron
U at the Canton 19.
The Bulldogs went 81 yards - 86 counting 5 yards they were
penalized, with Vaughn throwing only twice. The first pass was
crucial - an 11-yarder on third-and-10 that wide receiver Terry
Creech of Akron U grabbed at the Canton 30-yard line just before
going out of bounds.
Vaughn's only other pass, also to Creech, resulted in a
26-yard gain to the Gary 33 because of an interference call on
defensive back Russ Catlett.
Otherwise the drive was all on the ground - 13 running
plays with Ron Pittman of Kent State carrying eight times for 25
yards. Doug West, also of Kent State, gained 11 in two
consecutive carries, and fullback Tony Iliano picked up 13 in
three tries. Pittman got the final 2 yards with 4:07 left in the
half, ramming over the right side, and Petroff converted again.
It didn't take Canton long to score again when the second
half started. Punter Frank Johnson kicked one almost straight up
into the air for Gary, and the Bulldogs took over at the Golden
Bears' 30.
Vaughn and Creech teamed on a 20-yard pass play to the 10,
and Lou King of Akron U later scored from the 5. Petroff's kick
was wide this time, and the score was 20-0 with 10:16 left in
the third quarter. |
|
With Don Dunning of Western Michigan at quarterback, Gary
battled back with its longest drive of the game, from its own 20
to a second-and-1 at the Bulldogs' 8. But Canton's defense was
equal to the threat. Linebacker Charles Sampson threw Milt
Sivels for a 2-yard loss, Rashad Jamall from Akron U and Charlie
Swann helped break up a pass to Johnson in the end zone; and
cornerback Melvin Weatherspoon, a Canton McKinley product,
stopped Dunning at the 9 on fourth down.
Vaughn was intercepted three plays later by Cobb again, and
Cobb ran the ball back to the 10. The Bulldogs stiffened again,
though, with defensive end Amos Mims from Muskingum,
Weatherspoon, Krumpak and Joe Richard making the big plays.
Gary wouldn't give up, though. It turned again to Varner,
and he began throwing in earnest - 25 yards down the middle to
running back Mike Bey on the first play, and subsequently a
38-yard pass to wide receiver Douglas Hill at the 1.
Two plays later, Varner finished the eight-play, 85-yard
drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ren Moore.
Varner also tried a conversion pass, but failed.
The Bulldogs then went 72 yards for their last touchdown,
quarterback Mark Rohaley of Kent State hitting Lindsay Lat- son,
a Hoban product, in the end zone for the final 20 yards. Petroff
converted with only 27 seconds remaining. |
|
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|
|
| Score by Quarters |
| Gary |
|
? |
|
? |
|
? |
|
? |
|
- |
|
6 |
| Canton |
|
? |
|
? |
|
? |
|
? |
|
- |
|
27 |
| |
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|
|
| Statistics |
| |
|
GA |
|
CA |
| First downs |
|
? |
|
? |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| Passing yards |
|
? |
|
? |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
|
? - ? - ? |
|
? - ? - ? |
|
Punts - avg |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| Fumbles - lost |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
|
Penalties - yards |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Scoring Summary |
| |
|
Not available |
| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
| Storm rips Texas
52-0 |
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|
|
| David Scott -
Charlotte Observer |
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| |
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|
|
Another American Football Association team tried - and
failed - to give the Carolina Storm some kind of competition
Saturday in Memorial Stadium. This time it was the Dallas-based
Texas Wranglers, and they were whipped by the Storm 52-0.
"I think it's gonna be tough for us on the road," said Storm
defensive end Ed Thomas, whose 30-yard fumble recovery for a
second-quarter touchdown sparked Carolina (3-0). "But we've got
this thing going here. We just don't lose here."
Or anywhere else, he might have added.
The Storm, which won last season's AFA title with a 13-0 record,
still hasn't lost a game in its two-season history. Home or
away.
And whether Memorial Stadium has anything to do with it is
another question. Carolina beat Texas (1-2) before 2,009 people,
not exactly an intimidating crowd for the Wranglers to overcome. |
|
The Storm, though, was its usual overpowering self,
especially defensively. Carolina's defense made up for some
early offensive shakiness with Thomas's second-quarter touchdown
and an 55-yard interception return by James Drake that ran the
score to 24-0 at halftime.
"This defense has so many veterans," said Thomas, 34. "The
offense has a ways to go. The line is young and the quarterback
(rookie Ed Lett) is new. They're coming around, but the defense
is picking the team up."
Thomas said he didn't remember the last time he had scored
a touchdown. But with the Storm leading 7-0 early in the second
quarter, he helped chase Texas quarterback Welby Ina out of the
pocket. Ina fumbled, Thomas scooped it up and went 30 yards
untouched.
"Somebody knocked the ball out of his (Ina's) hands,"
Thomas said. "I didn't know whether to go after the ball or nail
the |
|
quarterback. Then it bounced up into my hands."
Thomas's touchdown opened things up for the Storm. Moments
later, Eddie Leopard kicked a 53-yard field goal. Then Drake
stepped in front of a Wrangler receiver and picked off Ina's
pass. He streaked the 55 yards with only the wind as his escort.
"This is the defense I thought we could have," said Storm
coach Steve Patton. "Our offense was cold and didn't get the
ball much in the second quarter, so the defense did what it
needed to get us points."
Storm quarterback Ed Lett, who missed some practices last
week because of bruised ribs suffered in a 33-30 victory over
the West Virginia Rockets last Saturday, was rusty in the early
going. He ended up throwing for 165 yards and two touchdowns,
completing 11 of 34 passes. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Score by Quarters |
| Texas |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
- |
|
0 |
| Carolina |
|
7 |
|
17 |
|
14 |
|
14 |
|
- |
|
52 |
| |
|
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|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
| Statistics |
| |
|
TX |
|
CA |
| First downs |
|
8 |
|
17 |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
|
? - 39 |
|
? - 197 |
| Passing yards |
|
132 |
|
207 |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
|
12 - 33 - 2 |
|
13 - 37 - 3 |
|
Punts - avg |
|
11 - 46 |
|
2 - 48 |
| Fumbles - lost |
|
1 - 1 |
|
1 - 0 |
|
Penalties - yards |
|
7 - 54 |
|
1 - 15 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Scoring Summary |
| CA |
|
Thompson 9 pass from Lett
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Thomas 30 fumble recovery
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Leopard 53 field goal |
| CA |
|
Drake 55 interception return
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Reed 1 run
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Prince 18 pass from Lett
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Jones 32 pass from Coatta
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Brown 4 run
(Leopard kick) |
| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
|
|
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|
 |
| Carolina: Eddie Jones (14) |
| |
 |
Texas: Welby Ina (7)
Carolina: Kevin Parks (80) |
|
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|
|
NO LOGO
AVAILABLE |
Pittsburgh Colts
at
Charleston Rockets
June 11, 1983
- Laidley Field - |
 |
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|
|
NO ARTICLE
OR
PHOTOGRAPHS AVAILABLE |
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|
| |
| S.A. Bulls
outdistance Americans |
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|
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| Joe Alexander -
San Antonio Light |
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| |
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|
|
In the few areas where the Bulls fell short of outstanding
in their 28-6 stampede of the Shreveport Americans last night,
San Antonio coach Roger Gill saw reason for optimism.
The Bulls rolled up 303 yards in total offense while holding the
previously unbeaten Americans to 183 yards and a lone touchdown.
Quarterback Glen Inverson, not known for his running ability,
scrambled for 43 yards on for carries and passed for 126 yards
and the Bulls' first tally.
The score culminated the local squads first possession when San
Antonio drove 63 yards on 10 plays while burning up nearly six
minutes in the process. Inverson picked up 11 yards on a
scramble to the 10 to set up the scoring play, an 11-yard aerial
to Tony Armstrong.
One kickoff and one play later Bull cornerback Peter Raeford
picked off a Kenny Smith pass sending the 2,000 plus fans at
Harlandale into a frenzy.
That possession ended in a San Antonio punt but another
interception, this time by linebacker Jim Szczebaniuk set the
Bulls up on the American 33. It took only five plays before
tailback Henry Bush took it in from seven yards |
|
out, dragging Shreveport strong safety Keith Alexander across
the goal line with him. Billy Schott booted his second
conversion of the contest to make the score 14-0 with 13:25 left
in the half.
The Americans nearly closed the gap the following
possession when they drove 59 yards in just under five minutes.
Raeford deflected what would have otherwise been a certain
touchdown completion in the corner of the end zone on fourth
down to kill the threat.
Inverson connected for 37 yards with Chris Patterson the
following play to move the ball into American territory. It was
Patterson's fourth and final reception of the game good for 76
yards. Patterson had gone without a reception in the Bulls'
initial two victories.
Another pass to Armstrong accounted for 17 more and moved
the ball to the Shreveport 13. Two plays later Bush took a
handoff straight ahead then bounced outside to the left and went
10 yards untouched for the tally.
The American's put their points on the board via the air
route with less than two minutes left before intermission.
Shreveport moved 89 yards in 10 plays with 76 yards of |
|
that coming on six passes. Smith hit Clarence Tolliver from
seven yards out for the tally. Juan Castillo blocked the PAT to
leave the score 21-6 at the half.
Skip Ezell came into direct the San Antonio offense in the
second half but failed to have the success that Inverso found.
Ezell managed only one completion on 11 attempts but did get the
final Bull points on the scoreboard.
"He's got a world of ability," San Antonio coach Roger Gill
said of Ezell. "He was pressing tonight. At times he has shown
the potential for greatness. It will come.
"He (Inverso) did an excellent job," Gill continued. "We
put in some new plays to compliment his abilities. We were real
pleased. He was the last quarterback the Bears cut last year. He
and Patterson were teammates in college at Liberty Baptist."
An example of Ezell's potential came through on the scoring
play when the Bull quarterback fumbled the snap and yet still
managed to pick up the ball and plough through from a yard out.
Schott booted his 16th consecutive PAT of the season to close
out the scoring at 13:12 of the final period. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Score by Quarters |
| Shreveport |
|
0 |
|
6 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
- |
|
6 |
| San Antonio |
|
7 |
|
14 |
|
0 |
|
7 |
|
- |
|
28 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Statistics |
| |
|
SH |
|
SA |
| First downs |
|
15 |
|
21 |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
|
17 - 29 |
|
40 - 184 |
| Passing yards |
|
154 |
|
119 |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
|
15 - 35 - 2 |
|
10 - 28 - 0 |
|
Punts - avg |
|
4 - 40.5 |
|
3 - 41.0 |
| Fumbles - lost |
|
4 - 2 |
|
3 - 0 |
|
Penalties - yards |
|
10 - 60 |
|
10 - 86 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Scoring Summary |
| SA |
|
Armstrong 11 pass from Inverso
(Schott kick) |
| SA |
|
Bush 7 run
(Schott kick) |
| SA |
|
Bush 10 run
(Schott kick) |
| SH |
|
Tolliver 7 pass from Smith
(kick failed) |
| SA |
|
Ezell 1 run
(Schott kick) |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
| San Antonio: Henry Bush (44) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Bulls crush Wings,
remain undefeated |
|
|
|
|
|
| San Antonio
Light |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
The San Antonio Bulls, now 4-0 in American Football League
action, crushed the Baton Rouge Red Wings, 55-0, last night.
Keith Nelms returned the opening kickoff 88 yards to start the
runaway. Tailback Dave Smith, who rushed for 83 yards on nine
carries, bolted 43 yards to give the Bulls a 14-0 lead at |
|
the end of the first quarter.
Bon Dunn ploughed through from three yards out and Wayland
Gay pulled in a 6-yard scoring pass from Skip Ezell to up the
margin to 28 points by intermission.
Tony Armstrong, San Antonio's leading receiver, collected a
56-yard aerial from Glen |
|
Inverso to make the score 35-0 early in the third period. Nelms,
who normally plays defensive back, ran one in from three yards
out and Anton Niles scored from nine yards away to make the
score 48-0 going into the final stanza. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Score by Quarters |
| San Antonio |
|
14 |
|
14 |
|
20 |
|
7 |
|
- |
|
55 |
| Baton Rouge |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
- |
|
0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Statistics |
| |
|
SA |
|
BR |
| First downs |
|
13 |
|
4 |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
|
27 - 209 |
|
12 - (-9) |
| Passing yards |
|
96 |
|
6 |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
|
8 - 19 - 2 |
|
6 - 28 - 6 |
|
Punts - avg |
|
1 - 41 |
|
4 - 40.5 |
| Fumbles - lost |
|
2 - 2 |
|
5 - 2 |
|
Penalties - yards |
|
8 - 45 |
|
5 - 75 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Scoring Summary |
| SA |
|
Nelms 88 kickoff return
(Schott kick) |
| SA |
|
Smith 43 run
(Schott kick) |
| SA |
|
Dunn 3 run
(Schott kick) |
| SA |
|
Gay 6 pass from Ezell
(Schott kick) |
| SA |
|
Armstrong 56 pass from Inverso
(Schott kick) |
| SA |
|
Nelms 3 run (pass failed) |
| SA |
|
Niles 9 run
(Schott kick) |
| SA |
|
Smith 2 run
(Schott kick) |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Carolina defeats
Bulldogs 35-7 in battle for first place |
|
|
|
|
|
| Roland Queen -
Akron Beacon Journal |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
At best it was a bittersweet evening Saturday for the
Canton Bulldogs at Fawcett Stadium.
The day began on a promising note. The Bulldogs' management
announced the team will join the new professional International
Football League next year along with 11 other teams from as far
away as Hawaii.
It also was to be a big day for the Bulldogs on the field. First
place in the Mid-Atlantic Division of the American Football
Association was at stake against the Carolina Storm, the
defending league champion. Both teams entered the game with 3-0
records.
But the Storm unleashed an awesome passing attack with
quarterback Ed Leet, formerly of Jacksonville State, throwing
for three touchdowns en route to a 35-7 thrashing of the
Bulldogs.
Canton coach Bob Commings said before the game that this was his
team's chance to see how it stacked up against the Storm, the
class of the AFA, which now owns a 17-game winning streak over
two seasons.
"To beat this team we've got to run the football and mount
a pass rush," Commings |
|
said. "The word we got on the Storm is they're not invincible,
but they are the best team in the league by far. This is as big
a game as any this team has played."
Actually, the first half was entertaining, with crisp
defensive play on both sides. But with the score tied 7-7 just
before halftime, the Storm put together a 13-play drive which
ended in a 5-yard touchdown pass from Leet to tight end Jeff
Thompson with 27 seconds left for a 14-7 lead.
The key play in the drive was a fake punt on fourth down
from the Carolina 43-yard line which fullback Emmett Hamilton
turned Into a first down. Hamilton had scored the first Storm
touchdown on a 5-yard run in the first quarter.
The touchdown pass to Thompson seemed to take the bite out
of the Bulldogs for the second half and ignite the Storm.
Carolina scored the first time it had the ball in the third
quarter after the Storm's Joe Crosby intercepted a Bert Vaughn
pass on Canton's 33-yard line. After a first-down completion to
Frank Carr, Leet hit wide receiver Darrell Jones with a 20-yard
touchdown pass for a 21-7 lead.
The next series was the crusher for the |
|
Bulldogs. On first down at the Bulldogs' 35-yard line,
Carolina's Joe Clyburn intercepted another Vaughn pass on the 45
and raced untouched into the end zone for a 28-7 lead with 10:28
remaining in the third period.
But Leet was not through yet. Following a Bulldogs' punt
with just over two minutes left in the period, Leet hit Jones
again, this time for a 48-yard score to put the game away.
The Bulldogs only score came in the first quarter on a
31-yard pass from Vaughn to Terry Creech.
Leet completed 16 of 27 passes for 180 yards and three
touchdowns. He was intercepted once. His leading receiver was
Jones, who caught five passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns,
and Carr, who caught five for 73 yards.
Canton quarterbacks Vaughn and Mark Rohaley combined for 13
completions in 26 attempts for 171 yards and two interceptions.
Tight end Mark Novell was the leading receiver with four catches
for 38 yards. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Score by Quarters |
| Carolina |
|
? |
|
? |
|
? |
|
? |
|
- |
|
35 |
| Canton |
|
? |
|
? |
|
? |
|
? |
|
- |
|
7 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Statistics |
| |
|
CAR |
|
CAN |
| First downs |
|
? |
|
? |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| Passing yards |
|
? |
|
? |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
|
? - ? - ? |
|
? - ? - ? |
|
Punts - avg |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| Fumbles - lost |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
|
Penalties - yards |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Scoring Summary |
| |
|
Not available |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charleston Rockets
at
Pittsburgh Colts
June 18, 1983
- J. C. Stone Field - |
NO LOGO
AVAILABLE |
|
|
|
NO ARTICLE
OR
PHOTOGRAPHS AVAILABLE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Americans get wins
on and off the field |
|
|
|
|
|
| Bruce Hunter -
Shreveport Times |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
The Shreveport Americans scored victories on and off the
field Saturday night at Independence Stadium.
First, the mere fact that the play-for-no-pay Shreveport pro
football team showed up in full force was a major triumph for
the financially strapped organization. The Texas Wranglers were
also on hand for the American Football Association contest,
which was another plus.
And the Americans apparently scored a knockout victory with
their loyal fans, who turned out in numbers estimated to be
1,400. That would be a season-high, although no official
attendance figure was available.
Finally, the team clicked offensively in the air and on the
ground in the second half while the defense controlled Texas'
dangerous quarterback, Welby Ina. It all came together for a
14-10 victory.
"I'm very proud of the way we played tonight," said head coach
Gerald Kimble. "We played a talented ballclub and came from
behind to win. After all we've been through this week, we played
a great game."
It wouldn't have been such a sparkling evening for the
Americans, 3-1, if not for the fourth-quarter heroics of
quarterback Ken Smith.
With the Wranglers, 1-3, holding on to a 10-7 lead, Smith led
the Americans on a march from their own 30 down for the winning
score. |
|
Running back Larry Smith got the drive started with back-to-back
runs of 8 and 18 yards to set up a first down at the Texas 44.
From there, Smith and wide receiver Isaac Hagins went to
work on the Wranglers' secondary. Smith threw a pass to Hagins
near the goal line but Hagins was unable to hold on. Two plays
later, Smith went back to the air and connected with tight end
Michael Moore for a first down at the 27.
Three plays later, it was back to the Smith-Hagins com-
bination and this time, Hagins had no problem hanging onto the
ball. Smith lofted a 28-yard pass into the left corner of the
end zone and Hagins had the Wranglers beat by five yards. He
took in the pass for the eventual winning points with 6:33 left
in the game.
"It was just a corner route," said Smith. "They had been
covering the outside well all night so we tried to go to the
middle and that's how I got those two interceptions. Ike took it
to the middle and broke it outside and was wide open."
Smith, who was 17 for 33 for 208 yards, also accounted for
the Americans' first touchdown by connecting with Vernon Wells
for a 16-yarder to open the game's scoring in the first quarter.
The Wranglers came back to tie the game before halftime on
a 18-yard TD pass from Ina to Rory Henning. They took their only
lead of |
|
the game on a 35-yard field goal by Robert Stringer with 10:42
left in the game.
Wells was the game's leading receiver with seven catches
for 80 yards.
"We try to do basically what the defense allows us to do,"
said Kimble. "Late in the game, they overshifted to the outside
because they knew we were going to throw. But that opened up the
middle and we got some gains on the ground."
Mike Back led the Americans' defense with eight tackles and
a fumble recovery that set up their first touchdown. John Kelley
picked off a pair of passes, too.
Until the Americans' scoring drive in the final period, it.
looked like Smith may be the goat rather than the hero. In the
third quarter, he drew a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and
was yanked from the game by Kimble. The penalty came after Smith
was sacked for a 13-yard loss.
"It was legitimate because you can't tackle above the
shoulders and they grabbed him by the helmet," said Kimble. "It
doesn't have a bad effect on the team but every time he losses
his cool it's been in a key situation. He's our field general
and he has to keep his head."
Smith was replaced by Robin Wasson for one series but
returned to the game on the next series, only to throw an
interception. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Score by Quarters |
| Texas |
|
0 |
|
7 |
|
0 |
|
3 |
|
- |
|
10 |
| Shreveport |
|
7 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
7 |
|
- |
|
14 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Statistics |
| |
|
TX |
|
SH |
| First downs |
|
13 |
|
19 |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
|
26 - 74 |
|
33 - 115 |
| Passing yards |
|
181 |
|
208 |
|
Passing (comp -
att - int) |
|
17 - 29 - 2 |
|
17 - 34 - 3 |
|
Punts - avg |
|
5 - 34.0 |
|
6 - 30.3 |
| Fumbles - lost |
|
3 - 2 |
|
0 - 0 |
|
Penalties - yards |
|
9 - 79 |
|
10 - 99 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Scoring Summary |
| SH |
|
Wells 16 pass from Smith (Pope
kick) |
| TX |
|
Henning 18 pass from Ina
(Stringer kick) |
| TX |
|
Stringer 35 field goal |
| SH |
|
Hagins 28 pass from Smith
(Pope kick) |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
| Players unknown |
| |
 |
| Players unknown |
|
|
|
|
NO LOGO
AVAILABLE |
Pittsburgh Colts
at
Canton Bulldogs
June 25, 1983
- Fawcett Stadium - |
|
|
| |
| Late interception
assures Bulldogs of 16-13 victory |
|
|
|
|
|
| Dan Them -
Akron Beacon Journal |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
It was not until former University of Akron defensive back
Ricky Holman intercepted a pass in the last 10 seconds that the
Canton Bulldogs could breathe easy in their American Football
Association game against the Pittsburgh Colts in Fawcett Stadium
Saturday night.
Holman's second interception of the night preserved a 16-13
victory for the Bob Commings-coached Bulldogs and pushed their
Mid-Atlantic Division record to 4-1.
Pittsburgh fell to 1-4.
A crowd of about 750 watched a sloppily played game in which the
Bulldogs took a 16-0 lead before the Colts scored two, fourth
period touchdowns in two minutes and 10 seconds.
There were nine fumbles and seven interceptions in the game.
Canton opened the scoring midway through the second quarter when
quarterback Mark Rohaley threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to tight
end Mark Novell. On the play, running back Gary Wroblewski threw
a block at a blitzing Pittsburgh player to allow Rohaley to get
his pass away.
No Pittsburgh player was defending within 10 yards of
Creech. The Bulldogs had run in the line for three consecutive
plays, and it was |
|
third-and-two. Obviously, Pittsburgh was expecting a running
play.
After kicker Les Petroff made the conversion, the Bulldogs
led 7-0 with 7:42 remaining before halftime.
Canton increased its lead to 10-0 when Petroff kicked a
47-yard field goal with 5:21 left in the third period. Prior to
that, Petroff had missed field-goal attempts of 27 yards early
in the first quarter and 32 yards early in the second half.
The Bulldogs closed their scoring with a 65-yard pass from
Rohaley to running back Dion Jenkins near the end of the third
quarter. Petroff's conversion attempt sailed to the right of the
uprights.
After that it was mostly Pittsburgh.
Colts quarterback Pat Hahey directed an 80-yard scoring
drive that ended with Averill Harris catching a 16-yard
touchdown pass with 7:58 left to play. A two-point conversion
attempt failed when Hahey's pass went off the fingertips of
Harris.
Moments later, Canton quarterback Rick Brindisi fumbled and
Kurt Breckbill recovered for Pittsburgh at the Canton 38.
Three plays later, Harris caught a 26-yard |
|
scoring pass from Hahey. After Larry Littler kicked the
conversion, Canton's lead was cut to 16-13 with 5:48 remaining.
The Bulldogs ran almost five minutes off the clock before
turning the ball over on downs at the Pittsburgh 23. Holman's
interception three plays later sealed the victory for Canton.
Melvin Weatherspoon also intercepted two passes for the
Bulldogs, and Rashad Jamall had the other.
The Canton defense allowed Pittsburgh only 56 yards
rushing. The front line of Mike Collins, Bill Dudash and Steve
Stranan along with linebackers Amos Mims, Joe Richard, Scott
Hernandez, Dave Bouldin and Charles Sampson sacked Hahey eight
times.
Rohaley and Brindisi completed 10 of 21 passes for 155
yards with two interceptions. Hahey completed 18 of 42 passes
for 216 yards with five interceptions.
Former Kent State running back Ron Pittman led the Bulldogs
with 73 yards in 16 carries as Canton had 155 yards on the
ground.
The Bulldogs play West Virginia in Charleston next Saturday
and will be host to Pittsburgh again on July 9. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Score by Quarters |
| Pittsburgh |
|
? |
|
? |
|
? |
|
? |
|
- |
|
13 |
| Canton |
|
? |
|
? |
|
? |
|
? |
|
- |
|
16 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Statistics |
| |
|
PI |
|
CA |
| First downs |
|
? |
|
? |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| Passing yards |
|
? |
|
? |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
|
? - ? - ? |
|
? - ? - ? |
|
Punts - avg |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| Fumbles - lost |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
|
Penalties - yards |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Scoring Summary |
| |
|
Not available |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Storm victimizes
Americans 55-0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Liz Chandler -
Charlotte Observer |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
The Carolina Storm continued its reign over the Eastern
Division of the American Football Association as it washed away
the Shreveport Americans 55-0 Saturday night at Memorial
Stadium.
"We played well," Storm coach Steve Patton said. "The defense
played as well as they have every game. They didn't give them
anything."
Although the defense sparked the storm, the highlight of the
game was Eddie Leopard. Leopard, 23, put the game unquestionably
out of reach with a 62-yard field goal in the third quarter,
setting a AFA record and coming within 1 yard of the NFL record,
a 63-yarder by New |
|
Orleans's Tom Dempsey in 1970.
"I can't kick one that far," Leopard said, looking up at
the sky. "I give all the credit to God."
Leopard scored 13 points for the Storm with two field goals
and seven extra points.
Carolina had its field day because of a hard-nosed defense
that allowed only 50 yards rushing and 13 in the air.
Another Storm spark plug was quarterback Ed Lett, who went
13-26 for 221 yards and four touchdowns.
John Coatta relieved Lett late in the third quarter, and
threw for three touchdowns |
|
himself, with one 24-yarder to Alex Prince in the third quarter.
"The offense did what it was supposed to do," Patton said.
"We capitalized on our possessions and made the most of them."
Emmett Hamilton was the Storm's leading rusher with five
carries for 55 yards.
Jackie Reed had two receptions for 65 yards and added 13
yards rushing on four carries.
Because of a scheduling change, the Storm will not play
next week but will resume July 9 against West Virginia at
Memorial Stadium. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Score by Quarters |
| Shreveport |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
- |
|
0 |
| Carolina |
|
10 |
|
14 |
|
17 |
|
14 |
|
- |
|
55 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Statistics |
| |
|
SH |
|
CA |
| First downs |
|
3 |
|
15 |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
|
? - 50 |
|
? - 116 |
| Passing yards |
|
13 |
|
261 |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
|
20 - 34 - 1 |
|
26 - 30 - 2 |
|
Punts - avg |
|
10 - 33 |
|
3 - 41 |
| Fumbles - lost |
|
1 - 0 |
|
1 - 0 |
|
Penalties - yards |
|
7 - 65 |
|
8 - 60 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Scoring Summary |
| CA |
|
Thompson 8 pass from Lett
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Leopard 45 field goal |
| CA |
|
Parson 1 pass from Lett
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Jones 25 pass from Lett
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Reed 54 pass from Lett
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Leopard 62 field goal |
| CA |
|
Prince 24 pass from Coatta
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Joseph 5 pass from Coatta
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Harris 12 pass from Coatta
(Leopard kick) |
|
|
 |
| Players unknown |
| |
 |
Shreveport: Ed Powell (33)
Carolina: Kevin Parks (??) |
| |
 |
Shreveport: O. B. Lockhart
(41)
Carolina: Frank Carr (??) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Wranglers drub Red
Wings to end 3-game losing streak |
|
|
|
|
|
| Luke Johnson -
Mesquite News |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
The Texas Wranglers put an end to a
three-game losing streak Saturday night at Memorial Stadium, as
they swamped the Baton Rouge Red Wings 51-0.
Quarterback Welby Ina had a hot hand for the Wranglers,
finishing with 10 completions in 13 attempts, for 127 yards and
four touchdowns passes. Ina teamed up with Owen on two of the
scoring passes.
The Wranglers got on the scoreboard in the first quarter when an
Ina keeper moved the ball to the seven and some alert play by
wide receiver Mark Owen got the score. Running back Len Medlock,
carrying from the four-yard line, was hit hard and coughed up
the ball, |
|
which Owen pounced on in the end zone with 2:29 left in the
period. Robert Stringer added the PAT.
Stringer stretched the advantage to
10-0 in the second period with a 32-yard field goal, and Ina
connected with receiver Rory Hennning to make it 17-0 with 7:16
remaining in the half.
The Wranglers' advantage continued to
mount, as Ina hit a wide open Spencer Sunstrum at the goal line,
as the receiver squeezed into the end zone for the touchdown
with 2:29 left on the clock. Ina then found Owen open nine yards
deep in the end zone with a scoring strike as time ran out in
the half. |
|
Not satisfied with a 31-0 lead, the
Wranglers went to work early in second half play. Henning,
taking the opening kickoff of the third period, found daylight
up the middle, broke open at his own 25 and outraced the Baton
Rouge defense all the way to the end zone for a 38-0 cushion.
Another alert defensive play provided
the next Wranglers score, as lineman Dave Pippins took a blocked
punt in for a score, and Ina closed out scoring in the game with
yet another scoring pass to Owen. Ina, forced to scramble out of
the passing pocket, maneuvered himself free and found Owen. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Score by Quarters |
| Baton Rouge |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
- |
|
0 |
| Texas |
|
? |
|
? |
|
? |
|
? |
|
- |
|
51 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Statistics |
| |
|
BA |
|
TX |
| First downs |
|
? |
|
? |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| Passing yards |
|
? |
|
? |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
|
? - ? - ? |
|
? - ? - ? |
|
Punts - avg |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| Fumbles - lost |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
|
Penalties - yards |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Scoring Summary |
| |
|
Not available |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
| Texas: Tony Jackson (??) |
| |
 |
| Texas: Welby Ina (7) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Americans roll to
78-0 victory |
|
|
|
|
|
| Rick Thomas -
Shreveport Times |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
It will be remembered as the massacre at Independence
Stadium.
Try nine fumbles, two interceptions, three blocked punts, 27
penalties, nearly a dozen fights and let the clock run.
The final score: Shreveport Americans 78, Baton Rouge Red Wings
0. Count 'em, 78 to zip.
What's so amazing is the score is closer than the game actually
was. The Red Wings, who lost 66-0 to the Americans in the first
meeting this year, started last night's game with a total of 22
players.
It was believed they finished the melee with about 17.
Meanwhile, Shreveport found its cure for a 55-0 drubbing by
Carolina. It was shoot down the low-flying Red Wings time and
again.
Shreveport turned the ball over on its first possession, giving
the visitors an excellent scoring opportunity at the Americans'
3-yard line.
Center Reggie Delaney had snapped the ball high over the head of
quarterback Ken Smith, who was in the shotgun position.
"We'd worked on the shotgun snap all week and he didn't
miss a snap at all during |
|
practice," Smith said. "It was the same thing that happened to
us last year in the playoffs against Dallas."
But the Americans' defense, which held the Red Wings (now
black and blue Wings) to minus 43 yards rushing, took over. A
21-yard field goal attempt was blocked and Shreveport's Mike
Back scooped up the ball and rambled 75 yards for a touchdown.
That initial score came with 13:16 left in the opening
quarter and although the extra point was blocked, it was 6-0 and
the Americans had all the scoring they needed.
Smith and the Americans cashed in on eight Baton Rouge
turnovers in the first half. Only once did Shreveport not score
following a miscue.
Smith, who completed 10 of 15 passes for 121 yards during
his short stint at the controls, fired four first-half
touchdowns, including three to Vernon Wells for nine, two and 11
yards. It looked more like target practice for the veterans.
"I really didn't think it would be that easy because I had
heard Baton Rouge had picked up 17 good players and they were a
changed |
|
team," Smith said. "We just ran our usual pass patterns and we
were getting some easy touch- downs."
Wells, who caught five passes for 47 yards, said the Red
Wings' defensive alignments made it easy.
"They were giving us the TDs just by the way they were
lining up," Wells said. "The first touchdown was an audible and
it was just a simple outside call.
"When we got into a slot formation, they didn't know what
to do. We just got our scores quickly and then got out."
Following the second blocked punt, Smith rifled a nine-yard
strike to Wells with 9:33 left. After a Baton Rouge fumble,
Smith and Wells hooked up for a two-yard slant-in on the right
side to made it 18-0 with 8:03 remaining.
Issac Hagins, who had a splendid night with six catches for
151 yards, latched onto his first of two touchdown receptions on
a 20-yarder from Smith with 7:13 left in the initial period.
Hagins performed some ballet steps in the left corner of the end
zone, tip-toeing and keeping both feet in bounds. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Score by Quarters |
| Baton Rouge |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
- |
|
0 |
| Shreveport |
|
31 |
|
25 |
|
9 |
|
13 |
|
- |
|
78 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Statistics |
| |
|
BR |
|
SH |
| First downs |
|
3 |
|
20 |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
|
? - (-41) |
|
? - 95 |
| Passing yards |
|
25 |
|
299 |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
|
6 - 21 - 2 |
|
19 - 31 - 0 |
|
Punts - avg |
|
2 - 28 |
|
0 - 0 |
| Fumbles - lost |
|
9 - 7 |
|
3 - 1 |
|
Penalties - yards |
|
10 - 86 |
|
17 - 117 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Scoring Summary |
| SH |
|
Back 71 fumble recovery (kick
failed) |
| SH |
|
Wells 9 pass from Smith (pass
failed) |
| SH |
|
Wells 2 pass from Smith (pass
failed) |
| SH |
|
Hagins 20 pass from Smith
(Pope kick) |
| SH |
|
Powell 3 run (kick failed) |
| SH |
|
Wells 11 pass from Smith (kick
failed) |
| SH |
|
Smith 2 run (pass failed) |
| SH |
|
Smith 9 run (run failed) |
| SH |
|
Davidson fumble recovery in
end zone
(Pope kick) |
| SH |
|
Safety Holliday tackled in end
zone |
| SH |
|
McCann blocked punt recovered
in end zone (Odom run) |
| SH |
|
Odom 2 run (kick failed) |
| SH |
|
Hagins 51 pass from Mosley
(Wells kick) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Baton Rouge: William Variste (41)
Shreveport: Ron Johnson (56) |
|
|
|
|
NO LOGO
AVAILABLE |
Pittsburgh Colts
at
Carolina Storm
July 9, 1983
- Memorial Stadium - |
|
|
| |
| Defense rests as
Storm rolls past Pittsburgh |
|
|
|
|
|
| Liz Chandler -
Charlotte Observer |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Not even the luckiest horseshoe could
have helped the Pittsburgh Colts beat the Carolina Storm, who
trampled all over the Colts 57-6 Saturday in Memorial Stadium in
an American Football Association game. It was the Storm's final
regular-season game, played before a crowd of 2,133.
Quarterback Ellsworth Turner, who returned to the Storm last
week after a six-month retirement, played the game's final five
minutes. He completed three of six passes for 29 yards and one
touchdown - a 7-yarder to Frank Carr. It was Carr's third
touchdown reception of the game.
A tenacious defense sparked Carolina (6-0), which beat the Colts
58-6 in its season opener in May. The defense came up with eight
interceptions and two fumbles. Pittsburgh (1-6) was held to 191
yards total offense, including 2 yards rushing.
"The defense started off very well and
came up with a couple of big plays, but it got a little sloppy
toward the end of the second quarter," |
|
said Storm coach Steve Patton. "I had a few things to say to
them at halftime that they probably didn't like. But they picked
up intensity again in the third quarter and did a good job."
Highlighting the defense was back
Dennis Coit, who picked off a Colt pass and returned it 69 yards
for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Coit also had an interception which set
up a Storm first-quarter field goal and a fumble recovery which
set up its second touchdown.
The first touchdown also came on a
fumble recovery by Harold Randolph, who grabbed the ball at the
17. Quarterback Ed Lett scored on a 4-yard run.
Dennis Matthews also had two
interceptions for the Storm.
The Storm led 23-0 at the end of the
first quarter. Pittsburgh, though, narrowed it to 23-6 by
halftime on a 1-yard run by Ed Brosky.
The Colt defense continually penetrated
the Storm offensive line, but Lett was able to elude the
bothersome linemen. Lett completed 12 of 17 passes for 170 yards
and three touchdowns, |
|
in addition to his 4-yard touchdown run.
Emmett Hamilton rushed for 93 yards on
nine attempts.
The Storm's second-string quarterback,
John Coatta, replaced Lett early in the third quarter. He
completed six of 12 passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns.
Colts quarterback Pat Hahey, appearing
in his third AFA game, completed 16 of 43 pass attempts for 219
yards - and eight interceptions.
Those eight stray passes gathered up by
the Storm, were as many as Pittsburgh's leading receiver caught.
Averill Harris totaled 119 yards on eight catches for the Colts.
The Storm plays an exhibition next
Sunday in Memorial Stadium against the Chambersburg (Pa.)
Cardinals, last season's Minor Professional Football Association
champions.
"That game will prove whether we're a
minor or major league team." said Patton.
The Storm is scheduled to host the San
Antonio Bulls in the American Bowl on July 23. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Score by Quarters |
| Pittsburgh |
|
0 |
|
6 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
- |
|
6 |
| Carolina |
|
23 |
|
0 |
|
20 |
|
14 |
|
- |
|
57 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Statistics |
| |
|
PI |
|
CA |
| First downs |
|
? |
|
? |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| Passing yards |
|
? |
|
? |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
|
? - ? - ? |
|
? - ? - ? |
|
Punts - avg |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
| Fumbles - lost |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
|
Penalties - yards |
|
? - ? |
|
? - ? |
|
|
| Scoring Summary |
| CA |
|
Lett 4 run (Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Carr 6 pass from Lett
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Leopard 29 field goal |
| CA |
|
Carr 14 pass from Lett
(Leopard kick) |
| PI |
|
Brosky 1 run (pass failed) |
| CA |
|
Colt 69 interception return
(kick failed) |
| CA |
|
Jones 7 pass from Lett
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Prince 17 pass from Lett
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Parsons 23 pass from Coatta
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Carr 7 pass from Turner
(Leopard kick) |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Carolina: Joe Crosby (??), Ed
Thomas (72)
Pittsburgh: Pat Hahey (14) |
| |
 |
Pittsburgh: Pat Hahey (14)
Carolina: Ed Thomas (72) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Texas Wranglers
at
San Antonio Bulls
July 9, 1983
- Harlandale Memorial Stadium - |
 |
|
| |
| S.A. Bulls pounce
on Texas, 45-27, to remain unbeaten |
|
|
|
|
|
| Bobby Clay -
San Antonio Light |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
The undefeated San Antonio Bulls
continue to get the last laugh on a world of skeptics.
After being embarrassed by an 84-yard touchdown pass on the
first play of scrimmage last night, the team bounced back to
defeat the Texas Wranglers, 45-27, at Harlandale Memorial
Stadium.
The contest, viewed by 4,506, was an aerial circus with limited
defensive appearances. San Antonio starting quarterback Skip
Ezell stole the spotlight with 12-of-16 passing for 187 yards
and one touchdown, offsetting a gutsy effort by the Wranglers'
Welby Ina, who completed 23-of-41, throwing for two touchdowns
and running for another.
Ina's 84-yard strike to Rory Henning set the stage for a high
flying act that would see both teams combine for 674 total yards
in passing. Three arms and a balanced ground game proved better
than one, however, as San Antonio got a 7-of-10 performance out
of its other two quarterbacks, while Bon Dunn and Henry Bush
ground out two touchdowns each on the ground. |
|
The only quarter in which the Bulls did
not score was the third, and that because of a fumble at the
Wrangler 9-yard line and an interception at their 10. Texas
capitalized to the extent of closing a 35-21 halftime deficit by
six and were outscored 10-0 in the final period.
Billy Schott, who ran his string of
consecutive PAT's to 35 with six boots last night, kicked a
41-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter as the Bulls
started to pull away. Tony Armstrong later hauled in a 39-yard
touchdown pass from backup Glen Iverso to cap the onslaught.
The game was knotted up twice in a wild
first quarter. The Bulls answered Ina's opening bomb with a
65-yard drive that ended with Dunn going over from one yard out.
A fumble recovery on the ensuing kickoff by Reggie Alexander led
to a short 31-yard drive in three plays with Bush taking the
honors from five yards out.
The big-play Wranglers, displaying the
trademark of their coach Mel Renfro, came right back, however,
with a 62-yard TD pass from Ina to Mark Owen. The five-play
drive |
|
covered 97 yards and came with 2:16 left in the first quarter.
Ezell produced his only touchdown pass
of the night in breaking the 14-14 tie. He spotted Greg McClain
behind a pair of Texas defenders and hit him with a 51-yard bomb
with no time left on the first quarter clock.
The Bulls then sandwiched an 11-yard TD
run by Bush and a one-yard plunge by Dunn around an 11-yard TD
run by the Wranglers Bob Daniels in taking their 35-21 halftime
advantage.
Texas' only points in the second half
came after Ina and Mike Milton combined for a 45-yard pass play
which ended with the latter fumbling the ball out-of-bounds at
the Bulls' 1. Ina took it over on the next play but the PAT was
wide to the left, leaving the score at 35-27.
Jim Szezebaniuk, whose fumble recovery
in the second quarter led to a Bull touchdown, added an
interception to his list in the fourth quarter, ending a
threatening Wrangler drive at the 3-yard line.
San Antonio closes out the regular
season at Shreveport next week. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Score by Quarters |
| Texas |
|
14 |
|
7 |
|
6 |
|
0 |
|
- |
|
27 |
| San Antonio |
|
21 |
|
14 |
|
0 |
|
10 |
|
- |
|
45 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Statistics |
| |
|
TX |
|
SA |
| First downs |
|
19 |
|
26 |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
|
10 - 21 |
|
41 - 236 |
| Passing yards |
|
409 |
|
301 |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
|
23 - 42 - 1 |
|
21 - 26 - 1 |
|
Punts - avg |
|
6 - 37.5 |
|
1 - 40.0 |
| Return yards |
|
9 |
|
39 |
| Fumbles - lost |
|
2 - 2 |
|
2 - 2 |
|
Penalties - yards |
|
5 - 27 |
|
6 - 56 |
|
|
| Scoring Summary |
| |
|
Not available |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
San Antonio: Johnny Martinez (65), Henry Bush (44) |
| |
 |
|
San Antonio: Johnny Martinez (65) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Americans win
battle, 19-6, but lose war |
|
|
|
|
|
| Rick Thomas -
Shreveport Times |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
The Shreveport Americans won the
battle, but lost the war against the San Antonio Bulls Saturday
night at Independence Stadium.
The Americans won the game, 19-6, but failed to win the crucial
showdown by the needed 23 points, allowing San Antonio to
represent the West Division in next week's American Football
Association championship American Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.
Had Shreveport beaten by Bulls by 23 points, the Americans would
be traveling to Carolina for a rematch with the defending AFA
champions. But instead, the Americans will be open this coming
week and then close out the season against Houston on July 30 at
Independence Stadium.
"I'm satisfied with the way we played tonight and we really beat
them good," said Americans' head coach Gerald Kimble. "I thought
we played exceptionally on defense although we had a few
problems here and there on offense, Our defense really shut them
down and that was the key to the victory."
San Antonio, falling to 5-1 in the West Division, scored its
only touchdown against the Americans' specialty teams. Speedy
Marcus Bonner fielded a Jerry Pope punt and raced 98 yards down
the left sideline for the game's first score with 3:17 left in
the second quarter. That was the only scoring of the first half.
Shreveport, knowing it had to win by 23 points after losing 28-6
to the Bulls in San Antonio, came out fighting in the second
half. But three Bulls' turnovers helped out, too.
Americans' defensive halfback Keith
Alexander recovered a fumbled snap at the |
|
Bulls' 17-yard line to set the stage for Shreveport's first
score.
After two running plays netted five
yards, quarterback Ken Smith, who passed for 219 yards for the
night, cranked it up and hit tight end Willie Jernigan between
two San Antonio defenders for a touchdown with 12:29 left in the
third period.
However, a high snap and an attempted
run by Pope ended up two yards shy, leaving the score tied at
6-6.
The Bulls opened the turnover gate
again on the ensuing kickoff, with Derrick Battle recovering for
the Americans at the San Antonio 22.
One play and 20 seconds later, Smith
hit a wide open Issac Hagins for the 22-yard touchdown in the
left corner of the end zone. After a good snap, Pope converted
to put the hosts up for good at 13-6 with 12:09 left in the
period.
Things really began to unfold for the
Bulls when quarterback Thomas "Skippy" Ezell, a former Grambling
standout, fumbled when being chased by Americans' noseguard
Ardis McCann.
McCann recovered the ball and rambled
seven yards to the Bulls' four-yard line.
The 23-point victory margin would
appear within reach with another score, but Shreveport fumbled
right back on the next play with Smith attempting a handoff to
Kevin McLee.
"That was just a miscue we shouldn't
have had and we were trying to go on the second count instead of
going on the quick count like we had most of the night," Kimble
said. "Those |
|
things happen and we should have just stayed with our normal
count and took it in."
The Americans, 5-1 in the West Division
and 5-2 overall, wouldn't score again until the fourth quarter.
Shreveport put together an 87-yard, 8-play drive with running
back Ed Powell crashing in from the three with 6:51 left to
play.
Big plays in the drive were 39- and
22-yard receptions by Jernigan and a 15-yard catch by Vernon
Wells. All were Smith passes.
When the pass for two failed, the
Americans had a 19-6 lead, needing 10 more points to win the
division.
The Americans had only one other real
opportunity when defensive back John Kelly intercepted his third
pass of the game at the San Antonio 46. However, a 15-yard
clipping penalty moved the ball back to the Americans' 40 and a
Smith pass off his receiver's shoulders was picked off by Peter
Raeford near midfield.
The Americans' defense, which allowed
145 yards passing and 94 rushing, was lauded by Kimble.
"Keith Alexander must have made at
least 15 tackles and he was all over the field," Kimble said.
"Everybody on our defense played really well, but I thought
Keith played a great game."
Harold Moore, Americans' president,
allowed Kimble and the players to vote whether to play their
last game in two weeks against Houston.
"I wouldn't blame them if they didn't
want to play," Moore said following the game. "I don't think I'd
want to play." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Score by Quarters |
| San Antonio |
|
0 |
|
6 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
- |
|
6 |
| Shreveport |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
13 |
|
6 |
|
- |
|
19 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Statistics |
| |
|
SA |
|
SH |
| First downs |
|
12 |
|
13 |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
|
? - 94 |
|
? - 11 |
| Passing yards |
|
128 |
|
216 |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
|
17 - 32 - 4 |
|
15 - 32 - 3 |
|
Punts - avg |
|
5 - 35 |
|
6 - 42 |
| Fumbles - lost |
|
7 - 4 |
|
3 - 3 |
|
Penalties - yards |
|
7 - 68 |
|
11 - 89 |
|
|
| Scoring Summary |
| SA |
|
Bonner 98 punt return (run
failed) |
| SH |
|
Jernigan 12 pass from Smith
(run failed) |
| SH |
|
Hagins 22 pass from Smith
(Pope kick) |
| SH |
|
Powell 3 run (pass failed) |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
San Antonio: George Franklin (44) |
| |
|
American Bowl V |
| |
|
|
| |
| Storm rolls to
victory |
|
|
|
|
|
| Kate Boylan -
Charlotte Observer |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
The Carolina Storm presented a fitting and flashy finale
Saturday to its affiliation with the American Football
Association, shutting out San Antonio 39-0 in the American Bowl
at Memorial Stadium.
With the victory, Carolina ends its two-year AFA tenure with a
20-0 record and two victories in the American Bowl, the AFA's
championship game.
Next spring, the Storm will return as an International Football
League franchise, and Saturday's game had all the fixings to
keep fans waiting for more.
San Antonio came to Charlotte with a 6-1 record, a new and
well-regarded quarterback in Ken Smith, the biggest defensive
line in the league and a passport for next year into the U.S.
Football League.
But tight end Jeff Thompson reflected many Storm players'
feelings. "Routine," he said of the trouncing. "I expected it.
We're as good as any of the USFL teams. and we proved it by
beating the pants off them. Our defense is as good as any USFL
team."
Ed Lett started at quarterback. as he had done all year. He
threw two touchdown passes to Darrell Jones, who was double- and
triple-teamed. "Me and a couple guys just went up for the ball."
Jones said.
Lett was shaken up in the second quarter. He did not return to
the game, but was OK by the second half. John Coatta picked up
Lett's |
|
responsibilities and completed an 18-yarder to Alex Prince near
the end of the second quarter, giving the Storm a 20-0 lead.
Then it was Dennis Matthews's turn to entertain. He
recovered a fumble in San Antonio territory. Matthews, a
five-year veteran of the Carolina Chargers and the Storm, also
intercepted two passes and broke up several others.
After Matthews's recovery, the Storm moved the ball from
the 32 to the 1 after a fake field-goal attempt. But on
first-and-goal, Carolina fumbled.
But did the momentum change? No. The halftime buzzer let
the team go into the locker room and think of more ways to
score.
Which it did. Jackie Reed returned the second half's
opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown. With the second failed
extra point attempt, the Storm was up 26-0.
And yes, of course, you can't have an AFA championship
without quarterback Ellsworth Turner, last season's star who
rejoined the team three weeks ago. To fans' chants of "E.T..
E.T.. " Turner entered the game.
"Ellsworth has been a dynasty here." Jones said. "It's not
like they're going to leave him out of the championship game."
Turner promptly passed to Frank Carr for 16 yards. Three
plays later at the 10, Turner arched a pass over Bulls' defender
Casterdale Green and found Carr in the end zone. The run |
|
failed, and the score was 32-0.
Carr kept up his momentum and threw a key block for Emmett
Hamilton on the Storm's next possession. Hamilton gained 47
yards on a pass-run play.
Lonnie Harris, trailing lineman Andre Howard, rushed 24
yards for the Storm's sixth and final touchdown. with 7:51
remaining In the third quarter.
It was all fun and games, passing and running by the Storm
after that. And that's exactly as Storm players had planned it.
Almost as Carr had planned it, too. He predicted a 56-14
score. He thought the Bulls would score "once on luck and once
on a good scoring drive."
But the defense prevented that. Which allowed the game to
become an AFA bon voyage party. "The coaches got a little bit
happy and they decided to mess around," Carr said. "Especially
when Lonnie Harris ran the reverse (for his touchdown) and we
took the chance (fake punt attempts) on fourth down."
Of course, with festivities and happy endings go
sentimental quotations from star players. "I'm happy they gave
me a chance to play," Turner said. "Ed Lett did a helluva job.
"It felt good to be in a championship game again. It felt
good to win one for the people of Charlotte." |
|
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|
|
|
| Score by Quarters |
| San Antonio |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
|
- |
|
0 |
| Carolina |
|
7 |
|
13 |
|
12 |
|
7 |
|
- |
|
39 |
| |
|
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|
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| Statistics |
| |
|
SA |
|
CA |
| First downs |
|
10 |
|
19 |
| Rushing (att - yards) |
|
14 - 42 |
|
21 - 170 |
| Passing yards |
|
141 |
|
348 |
| Passing (comp -
att - int) |
|
13 -
32 - 3 |
|
20 -
39 - 2 |
|
Punts - avg |
|
9 - 35.5 |
|
4 - 37.7 |
| Fumbles - lost |
|
1 - 0 |
|
2 - 1 |
| Penalties - yards |
|
11 - 77 |
|
3 - 10 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Scoring Summary |
| CA |
|
Jones 40 pass from lett
(Leopard kick) |
| CA |
|
Prince 18 pass from Coatta
(kick failed) |
| CA |
|
Reed 89 kickoff return (kick
failed) |
| CA |
|
Carr 10 pass from Turner (run
failed) |
| CA |
|
Harris 24 run (Leopard kick) |
| |
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| |
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|
 |
| courtesy of Reid Squires |
|
|
Carolina: Reid Squires (66), Ed Thomas (72), Joe Crosby (52) |
|
|
 |
San Antonio: Ken Smith (17)
Carolina: Greg Wright (??) |
|
|
 |
|
Carolina: Head coach Steve Patton |
| |
| |
