1974 Season Book - Week 7

Sports Daily

August 21, 1974

Blazers to remain in Orlando

The World Football League moved into its seventh week of games August 21st-27th. In Orlando, Rommie Loudd circulated a memo through the crowd at the Tangerine Bowl thanking the fans and promising that the Blazers would remain in the central Florida city. Loudd, claimed that Atlanta had offered $400,000 in immediate funds but Georgia Tech voted down the use of Grant Field. Encouraged by the turnout against Jacksonville, Loudd and partner David Williams decided to remain in Orlando. Bud Asher became the WFL's first coaching casualty when Fran Monaco fired him after the Sharks slipped to 2-4. The Sharks were considered to be a contender for the Eastern Division. The Sharks named Charlie Tate as their new coach. Detroit became the only city in the country with brothers at quarterback for competing pro teams. The Lions had Sam Wyche and the Wheels had his brother Bubba. The rash of "sale" talks that struck the WFL in mid-August seemed to die down as the media and WFL officials focused on the field. The Florida Blazers remained the WFL's premier defense. Led by linebackers Larry Ely, Louis Ross, Paul Vellano, Billy Hobbs and secondary specialists Billy Hayes, Rickie Harris and Miller Farr the Blazers had only given up 85 points in seven games. Philadelphia's "King" Corcoran continued to lead the WFL in passing with 112 completions in 203 attempts for 1,409 yards and 15 touchdowns. Tim Delaney of Hawaii hit the 30 reception mark and accounted for 424 yards and three touchdowns. Tommy Durrance of Jacksonville and Mark Kellar of Chicago battled for the number one rushing spot in the WFL with Durrance leading 485 yards to 461.

New York routs Houston 43-10; Gladieux scores four touchdowns

New York Stars 43, Houston Texans 10.

new york, ny.; New York Star running back Bob Gladieux scored four touchdowns and ran for 84 yards as New York routed Houston 43-10. A crowd of 12,042 watched the former Notre Dame star run for three scores and catch another from quarterback Tom Sherman to lead the Stars' to their fifth straight victory. The Stars wasted no time humbling the Texans, who came into Downing Stadium with the best running defense in the league, allowing just 112 yards a game. Led by Gladieux, New York, boasting the WFL's best rushing attack, ran for 231 yards and had 130 in the first half. (pictured above, Bob Gladieux runs for daylight against Houston).

New York Stars; Passing � Sherman 10-20-135-2t, Danielson 2-2-39-0; Rushing � Gladieux 20-84-3t, White 16-69, Richards 14-63, Sherman 4-14, Danielson 2-1-1t; Receiving � Young 5-63, Kapitan 4-64-1t, Spinks 1-23, Parson 1-20, Gladieux 1-4-1t.

Houston Texans; Passing � Taliaferro 12-25-81-0-2i; Rushing � Richardson 11-26-1t, Nance 4-26, McVea 6-20, Blackney 2-14, Taliaferro 1-11; Receiving � Eber 3-39, D. Davis 2-18, Richardson 2-5, Maynard 1-17, Zaeske 1-6, Blackney 1-1, Nance 1-0, W. Frazier 1/-5.

Fire Trounces Wheels On 2nd-Quarter Burst

Chicago Fire 35, Detroit Wheels 23.

chicago, il.; Walter Rhone's 90-yard kickoff return highlighted a four-touchdown burst in the second quarter that carried the Chicago Fire to a 35-23 win over the Detroit Wheels in Thursday�s WFL TVS Game of the Week played on August 22, 1974. 10,300 watched at Rynearson Stadium watched the Wheels lose their seventh consecutive game, while Chicago raised their record to 6-1. Chicago's attack featured the running of Mark Kellar and Cyril Pinder and the passing of Virgil Carter who threw two touchdown passes to wide receiver Jim Seymour and tight end Don Burchfield. Chicago led 35-8 before Detroit added two late scores. (Pictured above, Wheels' running back Billy Sadler dives for a touchdown against Chicago).

Detroit Wheels; Passing- Guthrie 2-9-6-1t-2i, Shaw 5-7-44-1t; Rushing � Scarber 10-80, Ratcliff 13-50, Rathje 6-17-1t, Guthrie 3-13, Bryant 1-13, Shaw 1-3, Sadler 2/-2; Receiving � Henderson 3-39-1t, Sadler 3-8, Rathje 1-3-1t

Chicago Fire; Passing � Carter 14-20-176-2t-2i, Daigneau 0-1-0; Rushing � Kellar 17-85-1t, Pinder 15-75-1t, Carter 3-18, Wyatt 5-14, Calip 3-10; Receiving � Kellar 4-55, Seymour 4-43-1t, Dolbin 2-31, Wyatt 2-10, Scott 1-28, Burchfield 1-9-1t.

Americans Rally, Stay Unbeaten

Birmingham Americans 15, Jacksonville Sharks 14.

jacksonville, fla.; 27,140 fans in Jacksonville saw rookie quarterback Matthew Reed step in for the injured George Mira and lead the Birmingham Americans to two fourth-quarter touchdowns and a 15-14 win. Reed, hit receiver Alfred Jenkins for a 27-yard touchdown pass to put Birmingham ahead 7-6 in the fourth quarter. The Sharks then drove to the Birmingham 5-yard line where running back Tommy Durrance scored to put Jacksonville ahead 13-7. Jacksonville made it 14-7 when Reggie Oliver hit Keith Krepfle with a action point pass. The Americans, led by Reed, drove down the field in the final minutes and Charley Harraway ran 1-yard to tie the game at 14-14. On the action point attempt Matthew Reed ran a bootleg and ran into the end zone for the victory. (Pictured above, Charley Harraway runs for a one yard touchdown against the Sharks).

Jacksonville Sharks; Passing � Oliver 7-17-108-0-2i; Rushing � Durrance 16-42-1t, Lake 13-35, Lamb 5-11, Oliver 7-2, Davis 2-2; Receiving � Whittier 3-61, Hughes 2-23, Buie 1-16, Lake 1-8.

Birmingham Americans; Passing � Mira 6-17-68-0-1i, Reed 7-12-97-1t; Rushing � Edwards 9-62, Harraway 13-60-1t, Cantrelle 4-14, Robinson 7-11, Jenkins 1-7, Reed 1-4; Receiving � Homan 4-55, Jenkins 3-48-1t, Robinson 2-15, Bishop 1-19, Edwards 1-13, Duron 1-11, Cantrelle 1-4.

Sun Squeak By Bell 31-28

Southern California Sun 31, Philadelphia Bell 28.

philadelphia, pa.; Alonzo Emery scored his third touchdown with :52 remaining to give the Sun a 31-28 victory over the Philadelphia Bell. Sun quarterback Tony Adams set up Emery's winning 1-yard plunge with a 29-yard pass to Greg Moses. Philadelphia led the Sun 28-24 when quarterback "King" Corcoran hit Mike Carter with a 27-yard touchdown pass, but the lead was short lived as 14,600 Bell fans went home disappointed. (Claude Watts is brought down by the Sun).

Philadelphia Bell; Passing � Corcoran 18-33-241-3t-2i; Rushing � Land 10-51, Watts 11-44, Shanklin 2-37, Thompson 3-15-1t, Corcoran 4-11; Receiving � Watts 5-50, Dunn 4-79-1t, Carter 4-71-1t, Land 2-17-1t, Shanklin 2-9, Cole 1-15.

Southern California Sun; Passing � Adams 21-40-318-1t; Rushing � Nelson 17-49, McAlister 6-35, Adams 3-18, Emery 7-9-3t Herd 1-1; Receiving � McAlister 6-140, Lindsey 4-30, Harris 4-48, Moses 3-60, Williams 3-29-1t, Herd 1-6, Nelson 1-5.

Huarte Leads Memphis Over Hawaiians

Memphis Southmen 60, The Hawaiians 8.

memphis, tn.; Memphis quarterback John Huarte threw four first half touchdown passes to lead the Memphis Southmen to a WFL record 60-8 rout of the Hawaiians. Defensive back Johnny Majors added another score on a 55-yard touchdown interception and Memphis built a 53-8 lead by the end of the third quarter. A crowd of 25,123 at the Liberty Bowl cheered as Memphis improved its record to 5-2. (Pictured above, Hawaii quarterback Norris Weese is tackled by William Stevenson, Tom Beckman and Lucious Selmon)

Memphis Southmen; Passing � Huarte 14-21-264-4t, Jim Ettinger 5-11-103-01i; Rushing � Harvey 13-77, Jennings 9-51-1t, Spencer 8-45, Jim Ettinger 2-9-1t, Miles 1-4; Receiving � Wallace 5-136-1t, Marshall 4-92-1t, Jennings 4-32-1t, Beamer 2-34, Spencer 2-33, Shirk 1-32, Miles 1-8

Hawaiians; Passing � Weese 6-22-72-1t-4i, Fassel 10-24-127-0-1i; Rushing � O�Leary 15-45, Weese 3-30, G. Smith 3-13, Copeland 3-1, J.D. Smith 1/-1, Turner 5/-16; Receiving � O�Leary 4-60, J.D. Smith 3-37, Richardson 2-34, Delaney 2-26-1t, Hutt 3-35, Turner 1-12, G. Smith 1-5.

Blazers Hold Off Storm

Florida Blazers 11, Portland Storm 7.

orlando, fla.; Blazer tight end Greg Latta scored on a 20-yard pass from Bob Davis in the second quarter and Les Perry kicked a 24-yard field goal in the fourth quarter as Florida defeated Portland 11-7. The Storm, winless in seven games, watched as Perry's field goal sailed through the uprights in the rain to clinch the Blazer victory. 15,451 attended the game at the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando. (Pictured above, Bob Davis is tackled by Jerry Inman and fumbles).

Florida Blazers; Passing � Davis 11-20-146-1t-1i; Rushing � Strong 6-38, Reamon 9-35, Whitfield 10-25, James 5-7, Davis 3/-7, Crittenden 1/-7; Receiving � Strong 5-51, Latta 2-43-1t, Hilton 1-20, Maslowski 1-18, James 1-11, Whitfield 1-2.

Portland Storm; Passing � K. Johnson 5-11-90-0-1i, Barton 2-7-17-0; Rushing � Kendricks 23-66, K. Johnson 8-40-1t, Mitchell 3-15, Ferguson 7-11; Receiving � Dickerson 2-72, Mitchell 1-13, Christiansen 1-12, Matthews 1-10, Krieg 1-4, Ferguson 1-4.

Week Seven MVP:

Bob Gladieux, New York Stars

WFL Week Seven Top Performers:

Passing - Tony Adams, Southern California Sun 21 of 40, 318 yards, 1 touchdown

Rushing - Bob Gladieux, New York Stars 20 carries, 84 yards, 3 touchdowns

Receiving - James McAllister, Southern California Sun 6 receptions, 140 yards

WFL Standings:

WFL Transactions:

NOTE: This page was researched and written by Jim Cusano. 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.