1974 Season Book - Week 3

Sports Daily

July 24, 1974

64,719 See Bell and Stars; WFL Officials In Awe

The World Football League again celebrated in a Hollywood-like atmosphere as 64,719 fans attended the WFL's nationally televised game between the New York Stars and the Philadelphia Bell in Philadelphia's JFK Stadium. WFL officials continued to be overwhelmed by the fan support in the major markets and many felt the acceptance of the league secured its success. The WFL averaged 36,347 fans for its week three contests, but certainly no one expected 64,000 in Philadelphia or 61,000 in Birmingham. In Orlando, only 15,000 attended the Blazers second home game and reports out of Detroit had the Wheels, and their 33 owners searching for support in a town 35 miles from downtown Detroit. In Hawaii, only 10,000 showed up in the rain for the debut of the Hawaiians. Through three weeks of play Tommy Durrance of the Jacksonville Sharks led the WFL in rushing with 257 yards, James Scott of the Chicago Fire led the league in receptions with 17 for 215 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Bubba Wyche of the Detroit Wheels was the WFL's leading passer with 45 completions out of 91 attempts for 630 yards and three touchdowns.

Hawaiians Flatten Wheels 36-16; Weese Passes For Two Touchdowns

July 21, 1974

Hawaiians 36, Detroit Wheels 16.

honolulu, hw.; Norris Weese passed for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Hawaiians to a 36-16 win over the Detroit Wheels before 10,080 fans in Hawaii. Weese, a rookie, hit Jerry Powell on a 21-yard scoring strike in the third quarter to put the Hawaiians ahead for good. The Wheels, who have lost three straight, had leads of 8-7 and 16-14 but couldn't hold off the Hawaiians. Wheels' quarterback Bubba Wyche hit Hubie Bryant on a 27 yard scoring play in the first quarter and then sneaked over from the one for another score but it wasn't enough for the win. Hawaiians rookie defensive back, John Moseley returned a 66-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth-quarter. The Hawaiians scheduled their home games on Sunday afternoons. (Pictured above, running back Ernie O'Leary cuts through the Detroit line).

Hawaiians: Passing- N. Weese 12-23-223-2t-2i, D. Dummit 1-1-8-1t-0i; Rushing- R. Preston 6-27, P. Taggares 7-26, D. Williams 5-21, H. Copeland 3-14, N. Weese 3-13-1t, L. Brice 1-12; Receiving- J. Powell 4-76-2t, D. Williams 4-27, T. Boyer 3-84-1t, T. Delaney 2-44.

Detroit Wheels: S. Wyche 15-32-183-1t-3i; Rushing- J. Mims 11-41, B. Sadler 7-33, J. Rathje 7-13, S. Wyche 3-18-1t, S. Scarber 1-1; Receiving- H. Bryant 4-72-1t, J. Mims 4-24, B. Sadler 2-26, J. Scales 2-21, J. Rathje 2-9, J. Embree 1-31.

Ams Win, Rout Memphis 58-33

July 24, 1974

Birmingham Americans 58, Memphis Southmen 33.

birmingham, al.; George Mira, and rookie quarterback Matthew Reed, shocked Memphis with five scoring passes to lead the undefeated Birmingham Americans to a 58-33 win over the Southmen. 61,319 fans packed Legion Field as one fan carried a banner that read "NFL Strikes. Legion Field sold out!!" Americans quarterback George Mira threw two strikes to Alfred Jenkins, for 38 and 74 yards, and a touchdown to Dennis Homan for 12 yards as the Americans built a 28-11 lead en route to the win. (Pictured above, running back Art Cantrelle follows Joe O'Donnell against the Southmen).

Birmingham Americans: Passing- G. Mira 11-17-251-3t-1i, M. Reed 7-12-127-2t-0i; Rushing- P. Robinson 18-93-1t, J. Edwards 6-45-1t, C. Bartles 15-25-1t, C. Harraway 3-7, A. Cantrelle 3-0; Receiving- D. Homan 6-59-1t, A. Jenkins 5-200-3t, J. Bishop 5-95-1t, P. Robinson 1-13, A. Cantrelle 1-11.

Memphis Southmen: Passing- J. Huarte 18-37-224-1t-4i, D. White 4-5-62-0t-0i; Rushing- J. Harvey 16-126-2t, J. Jennings 4-2-1t, P. Miles 2-3, J. Huarte 1-3; Receiving- E. Marshall 6-114, R. Wallace 5-61, G. Shirk 4-72-1t, J. Harvey 3-15, J. Jennings 2-2, J. Ettinger 1-13, P. Miles 1-9.

Reamon Runs Wild, Blazers Defeat Houston 15-3

Florida Blazers 15, Houston Texans 3.

orlando, fla.; A crowd of 15,729 turned out in the rain as rookie running back Tommy Reamon (pictured above) scored on a 15-yard run and caught the action point to lead the Blazers over Houston 15-3. Florida (3-0) also scored when tight end Greg Latta, another Florida rookie, caught a 28-yard pass from Bob Davis. Davis completed 7 of 17 for 60 yards and a touchdown to lead the Blazers.

Florida Blazers: Passing- B. Davis 7-17-60-1t-1i; Rushing- T. Reamon 17-73-1t, J. Strong 13-56, A. Whitfield 6-11, B. Davis 1-1; Receiving- G. Latta 3-41-1t, T. Reamon 3-4, L. Crittenden 1-12, A. Whitfield 1-3.

Houston Texans: M. Taliaferro 12-18-81-0t-1i; Rushing- J. Nance 18-69, M. Richardson 9-28, M. Taliaferro 4-(-3), S. Blanks 3-(-6); Receiving- J. Odom 4-37, M. Richardson 3-21, R. Eber 3-15, C. Frazier 1-8, J. Nance 1-3.

Last Second Touchdown Sends 46,000 Shark Fans Home Disappointed

Sun receiver David Williams catches game winner

Southern California Sun 22, Jacksonville Sharks 19.

jacksonville, fla.; Rookie quarterback Tony Adams threw a 40-yard desperation pass (pictured above) to Dave Williams on the last play of the game to give the Southern California Sun a 22-19 win over the Jacksonville Sharks. Jacksonville had the lead after a 16-yard scoring pass from Kay Stephenson to Tony Lomax, but the Shark fans (46,780) were silenced as Adams threw his strike to win the game. Tony Adams finished the game completing 18 of 31 for 214 yards and two touchdowns. Southern California improved to 2-1 and the Sharks fell to 1-2.

Southern California Sun: Passing- T. Adams 18-31-214-2t-2i; Rushing- K. Johnson 15-88, J. McAlister 6-18, R. Nelson 2-21t, A. Emery 1-3, S. Schroder 2-0, T. Adams 2-(-4) I. Harris 1-(-6); Receiving- J. McAlister 9-74, D. Williams 5-99-2t, K. Johnson 2-18, I. Harris 1-14, R. Nelson 1-9.

Jacksonville Sharks: Passing- K. Stephenson 12-21-127-1t-0i; Rushing- T. Durrance 22-73, R. Lake 9-60, E. Scott 4-14, R. Lamb 2-8, T. Lomax 1-6, K. Stephenson 1-2; Receiving- D. Buie 4-51, T. Lomax 3-37-1t, E. Scott 2-6, D. Hughes 1-18, R. Lake 1-10, K. Krepfle 1-5.

Fire Holds Off Late Rally By Storm, Wins 29-22

Chicago Fire 29, Portland Storm 22

portland, ore.; The Chicago Fire extended their record to 3-0 beating the Storm in Portland 29-22. 19,354 fans attended the Storms' debut at Civic Stadium, as Fire quarterback Virgil Carter completed 10 of 18 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns. Fire running back Mark Kellar ran for 73 yards on 18 carries and also caught a touchdown pass to lead the Fire. The Storm led 7-0 on a Greg Barton to Greg Specht pass, but Chicago then burned Portland for 29 unanswered points. (Pictured above, Fire defenders Barry Ruffner, Rudy Kuechenberg and Joe Womack tackle Storm running back Marv Kendricks).

Chicago Fire: Passing- V. Carter 10-18-206-3t, M. Daigneau 2-2-9-0t-0i; Rushing- M. Kellar 18-73, C. Pinder 15-66-1t, B. Wyatt 4-14 V. Carter 3-9, M. Daigneau 2-4; Receiving- J. Scott 3-81-1t, J. Dolbin 3-58, D. Burchfield 2-16, M. Kellar 1-50-1t, C. Heath 1-9, C. Pinder 1-1-1t, B. Wyatt 1-0.

Portland Storm: Passing- G. Barton 9-14-93-1t-1i, D. Van Galder 5-8-30-1t-0i; Rushing- C. Turner 16-72, R. Ferguson 6-54, M. Kendricks 13-37-1t, G. Barton 1-(-1); Receiving- G. Specht 5-95-1t, C. Turner 3-14, R. Ferguson 3-10-1t, M. Kendricks 3-4.

Stars Defeat Bell 17-15 On Lajterman Field Goal

July 25, 1974

New York Stars 17, Philadelphia Bell 15.

philadelphia, pa.; Moses Lajterman (pictured above), a 21-year old Argentine kicker, who had been cut by both New York and Philadelphia, kicked a fourth quarter, 40-yard field goal that gave the New York Stars a 17-15 victory over the Philadelphia Bell. Lajterman rejoined the Stars after starting kicker Pete Rajecki bruised his ribs against Birmingham in week 2. In the fourth quarter, the Bell had two chances to win the game, but Philadelphia kickers Jack Simcsak and George Chatlos both missed potential game-winning field goals late in the game. Chatlos' kick sailed wide right with only a few seconds remaining. New York defensive end Larry Estes was forced to play offensive center during the second-half after starter Bob Kuziel suffered an injury. A WFL record crowd of 64,719 fans attended the nationally televised game at JFK Stadium.

New York Stars: Passing- Passing- T. Sherman 7-15-121-0t-1i; Rushing- B. Gladieux 21-74-1t, E. White 18-70, T. Sherman 8-27, B. Hermanni 1-25, D. Richards 10-5-1t; Receiving- A. Young 4-74, D. Richards 1-40, G. Sauer 1-5, E. White 1-2.

Philadelphia Bell: Passing- J. Corcoran 14-24-215-2t-2i; Rushing- J. Land 14-59, C. Watts 5-19-1t, D. Shanklin 1-5, A. Thompson 1-3; Receiving- D. Shanklin 3-87, L. Cole 3-55, C. Watts 3-31-1t, A. Thompson 3-21, L. Hill 2-21-1t.

WFL Week Three MVP:

Alfred Jenkins, Birmingham Americans

WFL Week Three Top Performers:

Passing - George Mira, Birmingham Americans 11 of 17, 251 yards, 3 touchdowns

Rushing - John Harvey, Memphis Southmen 16 carries, 126 yards, 2 touchdowns

Receiving - Alfred Jenkins, Birmingham Americans 5 receptions, 200 yards, 3 touchdowns

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.