1974 Season Book - Week 2

Sports Daily

July 17, 1974

WFL draws good crowds in second week of play, N.Y. Stars debut at Downing

The World Football League, celebrating its successful opening schedule of games welcomed the fans of Houston, Detroit, New York and Southern California with open arms. In Anaheim, California, the Sun drew over 30,000 for a shoot out against the Hawaiians. The WFL averaged 42,000 customers its first week but saw that figure drop to an average of 24,569 for the week of July 17th. In Ypsilanti, Michigan, only 10,000 paying customers came out to see the debut of the Wheels- reports cited rumors that the game was sold out and misreport of the starting time kept the crowd low. In New York, over 17,000 fans in Downing Stadium had a harder time just seeing the game due to horrible the lighting system. One New York reporter claimed that at times the fans didn't even know who had the ball, and that players kept disappearing into the shadows on the field. WFL officials were encouraged by large crowds in Chicago, Southern California and Memphis.

Ramsey Field Goal Gives Fire Win 25-22

Chicago Fire 25, Jacksonville Sharks 22.

chicago,il.; Fire kicker Chuck Ramsey split the uprights with a 26-yard field goal with six seconds left to play to give the Chicago Fire a 25-22 victory over the Jacksonville Sharks. A crowd of 29,308 sat in suspense as Fire quarterback Virgil Carter directed an 86-yard drive in less than four minutes to set up the field goal that gave Chicago its second win of the season and sent the Sharks to 1-1. Jacksonville went ahead 22-15 in the fourth quarter when Kay Stephenson hit wide receiver Bubba Thornton with a 20 yard pass, but Chicago came back on Mark Kellar's one yard touchdown run (pictured above).

Chicago Fire: Passing- V. Carter 12-28-187-1t-1i; Rushing- C. Pinder 16-62, M. Kellar 11-29-1t, B. Wyatt 8-38, V. Carter 2-5, J. Womack 1-1-1t; Receiving- J. Scott 4-50, D. Burchfield 2-44, M. Kellar 2-46-1t , L. Palmer 2-35, J. Dolbin 1-9, C. Pinder 1-3.

Jacksonville Sharks: Passing- K. Stephenson 8-16-108-1t-2i; Rushing- T. Durrance 27-104, R. Lake 6-23-2t, E. Scott 3-19, R. Lamb 3-8, K. Stephenson 1-2; Receiving- D. Buie 3-46, B. Thornton 2-34-1t, D. Hughes 1-14, T. Lomax 1-8, R. Lake 1-6.

Texans Shut Out Philadelphia 11-0

Defense Dominates

Daryl Johnson interception game breaker

Houston Texans 11, Philadelphia Bell 0.

houston, tx; Texan Daryl Johnson intercepted a pass from Bell quarterback "King" Corcoran and returned it 57 yards down the sidelines early in the first quarter to lead Houston to a 11-0 win over Philadelphia. The Astrodome crowd of 26,227 saw 20 punts in the game as each team struggled to move the ball. The Bell gained only 60 yards rushing, and Houston 87. Texans kicker Charlie Durkee added a 28 yard field goal in the winning effort for Houston. (Pictured above, Texans Jim Nance is tackled by Philadelphia Bell linebacker Curt Kral).

Houston Texans: Passing- M. Taliaferro 6-17-32-0t-1i; Rushing- P. Gipson 18-63, J. Nance 13-37, S. Blanks 5-15, H. Theofiledes 4-21; Receiving- J. Nance 2-25, C. Frazier 2-11, W. Frasier 1-2, S. Blanks 1-(-7).

Philadelphia Bell: Passing- J. Corcoran 8-24-88-0t-2i, M. Yancheff 3-5-69-0t-2i, J. Land 0-1-0-0-0t-0i; Rushing- J. Land 11-28, C. Watts 7-13, A. Thompson 3-11, M. Yancheff 2-6, D. Shanklin 2-2, V. Papale 1-0; Receiving- M. Carter 3-51, L. Hill 2-29, V. Papale 2-18, D. Shanklin 1-21, L. Cole 1-29, C. Watts 1-4, J. Land 1-(-2).

Blazers' Goal Line Stand Defeats Detroit 18-14

Florida Blazers 18, Detroit Wheels 14.

ypsilanti, mi; Florida Blazers rookie running back, Tommy Reamon, scored on a 5-yard run with 1:37 remaining in the game, and then the Florida defense stopped Detroit on the one-yard line to post a 18-14 win. An opening night crowd of 10,631 came out to Rynearson Stadium on the campus of Eastern Michigan University. Reamon's touchdown capped an 18-play, 82 yard drive that gave Florida its second straight win. In a losing effort, Wheels quarterback Bubba Wyche completed 14 of 29 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown. (pictured above is Wheels running back Sam Scarber picking up yards as the Blazers Miller Farr closes in.)

Florida Blazers: Passing- Davis 14-20-107; Rushing- Strong 18-89, Reamon 16-65, Whitefield 6-26, Davis 2-9, Latta 1-12; Receiving- Strong 4-29, Whitfield 4-18, Reamon 2-19, Maslowski 2-17, Hilton 1-17, Trapp 1-7.

Detroit Wheels: Passing- B. Wyche 14-29-221-1t-0i; Rushing- S. Scarber 11-74-1t, B. Sadler 8-20, J. Rathje 3-10, B. Wyche 1-18, J. Mims 2-4; Receiving- C. McKee 3-69, H. Bryant 2-26, J. Embree 2-26, J. Scales 2-25, J. Rathje 1-41-1t, S. Joppru 1-8, B. Sadler 1-7.

Ams Overcome 29-3 Deficit, Win 32-29 On Mira Touchdown Pass To Homan

Birmingham Americans 32, New York Stars 29.

new york, ny; The Birmingham Americans, led by 11-year veteran quarterback George Mira rallied from a 29-3 half time deficit to defeat the New York Stars 32-29 before 17,943 fans at dimly lit Downing Stadium on Randall's Island. The Stars racked up a 29 point lead at half time, out gaining the Americans 315 yards to 10 and 18 first downs to none. Finally Birmingham found their offense and cut the New York lead to 29-15 by the third quarter. Late in the game, Mira dropped back and fired a perfect pass to wide receiver Dennis Homan, who split the Stars' secondary for the winning score. (pictured above, Stars quarterback Tom Sherman hands off to running back Bob Gladieux).

Birmingham Americans: Passing- G. Mira 14-28-213-3t-0i, Duron 0-1-0-0t-0i; Rushing- A. Cantrelle 5-15, C. Bartles 4-8, J. Edwards 2-10, P. Robinson 6-8, C. Harraway 3-4, G. Mira 3-1-1t; Receiving- D. Homan 3-94-1t, A. Cantrelle 3-50, T. Powell 2-28-1t, A. Jenkins 2-20-1t, J. Bishop 2-9, C. Bartles 1-15, P. Robinson 1-(-3).

New York Stars: Passing- T. Sherman 10-21-171-0t-1i; Rushing- A. Huff 21-106-1t, J. Ford 11-71, B. Gladieux 13-51-1t, T. Sherman 8-31-1t, D. Richards 3-13, B. Hermanni 1-13; Receiving- G. Sauer 4-71, B. Askson 3-56, T. Spinks 2-22, D. Richards 1-22.

Sun Wins Shootout 38-31

Southern California Sun 38, Hawaiians 31.

anahiem, ca; The Southern California Sun held off a late rally to beat the Hawaiians 38-31 before 32,018 fans at the “Big A.” The Sun took a 23-0 lead into the third quarter on the passing of rookie quarterback Tony Adams, who also had touchdown runs of 1 and 14 yards, and the running of James McAllister (pictured above). The Hawaiians cut the lead to 23-15 on touchdown passes by rookie quarterback Norris Weese. The Sun held off the charge when backup quarterback Gary Valbuena hit Terry Lindsey with a 17-yard touchdown pass to win the game. Sun rookie Alonzo Emery ran a 76-yard kickoff for a touchdown in the second half.

Southern California Sun: Passing- T. Adams 13-19-208-1t-0i, Valbuena 4-4-52-1t-0i; Rushing- T. Adams 5-48-2t, J. McAlister 7-31, K. Johnson 18-29, R. Nelson 5-13, C. Jeffries 2-7, I. Harris 1-(-3); Receiving- I. Harris 5-69, D. Williams 3-55-1t, J. McAlister 3-45, T. Lindsey 3-40-1t, K. Johnson 3-14, J. MacKinnon 1-37.

Hawaiians: Passing- N. Weese 22-32-207-2t-2i, D. Dummit 3-4-64-1t-0i; Rushing- D. Williams 8-9, T. Boyer 1-7, P. Taggares 3-7, R. Preston 3-4, N. Weese 1-2-1t, L. Brice 1-(-8); Receiving- J. Powell 6-38, T. Delaney 5-73-1t, D. Williams 4-21, T. Boyer 3-67, R. Preston 3-28, J. Kelsey 2-28-1t, G. Richardson 1-8-1t, P. Taggares 1-8.

Southmen Win Second In A Row, 16-8 Over Storm

July 18, 1974

Memphis Southmen 16, Portland Storm 8.

memphis, tn; Southmen quarterback John Huarte threw two touchdown passes and guided the Memphis Southmen to a 16-8 win over the Portland Storm. The Memphis crowd of 31,088 exploded as Huarte hit wide receiver Jack Ettinger on a 42-yard scoring play on the Southmen's first possession. The former Heisman Trophy winner then completed a 14-yard pass to flanker Ed Marshall for a 16-8 win.

Memphis Southmen: Passing- J. Huarte 15-24-197-2t-0i; Rushing- J. Harvey 19-64, J. Jennings 20-63, P. Miles 5-20, J. Huarte 3-10; Receiving- G. Shirk 5-62, E. Marshall 3-39-1t, J. Jennings 3-10, Jack Ettinger 2-64-1t, J. Harvey 2-22.

Portland Storm: Passing- G. Barton 11-23-163-1t-2i; Rushing- M. Kendricks 17-45, C. Turner 7-50, P. Williams 1-(-13); Receiving- S. Dickerson 4-98-1t, C. Turner 3-30, G. Specht 2-18, M. Kendricks 2-17.

WFL Week Two MVP:

George Mira, Birmingham Americans

WFL Week Two Top Performers:

Passing - John Huarte, Memphis Southmen 15 of 24, 197 yards, 2 touchdowns

Rushing - Andy Huff, New York Stars 21 carries, 106 yards, 1 touchdown

Receiving - Dennis Homan, Birmingham Americans 3 receptions, 94 yards, 1 touchdown

WFL Standings:

WFL Transactions:

NOTE: This page was researched and written by Jim Cusano and Richie Franklin. This page appeared on the former World Football League Hall of Fame Website and is used with permission. The WFL transactions were researched and compiled by Mark Speck and Tod Maher.