WFL Exhibition Season

The World Football League embarked on its second season with a schedule of exhibition games slated for July 5th thru July 27th.

July 5th: Southern California Sun 36, San Antonio Wings 31.

July 12th: Jacksonville Express 34, Chicago Winds 23.

The Jacksonville Express scored a 34-23 exhibition victory over the Chicago Winds before 2,500 in the pouring rain at Soldier Field, Chicago. Running back Alfred Haywood bulled his way to a 100 yard game and quarterback George Mira threw touchdown passes to Witt Beckman and Tommy Reamon to lead the Express. The Winds offense was throttled throughout the game as the only offense was off the throwing of Chicago quarterback Pete Beathard.

July 12th: Hawaiians 32, Charlotte Hornets 14.

The Hawaiians made a successful debut at Honolulu Stadium defeating the Charlotte Hornets 32-14 before 16,000 fans. Former NFL running back Calvin Hill scored the first touchdown of the game for the Hawaiians on a two yard run, and finished the game with 46 yards on 10 carries. The Hawaiians exploded for 22 second quarter points on the strength of the running game- also fueled by Vince Clements- and a number of Charlotte fumbles. The Hawaiian defense closed out the game's scoring when linebacker John Ketchoyian intercepted a Gary Danielson pass and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown.

July 12th: Birmingham Vulcans 25, Portland Thunder 9.

July 14th: Southern California Sun 47, Memphis Southmen 16.

Sun running back Anthony Davis scored 30 points as the Southern California Sun routed the highly-touted Memphis Southmen 47-16 before 22,705 fans in Anaheim. Davis out shined Memphis' "Big Three" of Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and Paul Warfield scoring touchdowns from 4 yards, 3 yards, 1 yard and catching a 17-yard pass from quarterback Mike Ernst. The Sun defense limited Memphis to only 55 yards rushing as quarterback Daryle Lamonica completed 7 of 15 for 99 yards and Mike Ernst hit 10 of 14 for 155 yards for the Sun.

July 19th: Charlotte Hornets 22, Chicago Winds 21.

Charlotte QB Brian Dowling hit WR David Thompson with a 42-yard touchdown pass with 1:16 remaining to complete a comeback and give the Hornets a 22-21 win over Chicago at Greensboro, North Carolina. An estimated crowd of 8,000 watched as the Chicago Winds opened up a 21-8 lead as QB Pete Beathard hit WR John Gilliam with a TD pass and Bob Wyatt ran for a touchdown. Charlotte came roaring back. Dowling and the running of Don Highsmith put the Hornets in good field position for the winning score.

July 19th: San Antonio Wings 7, Memphis Southmen 0.

J.V. Cain returned a kickoff for a touchdown as the San Antonio Wings defeated the Memphis Southmen 7-0 before 19,000 fans at Alamo Stadium. Southmen stars, Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and Paul Warfield were held to minimal yardage by a tough Wing defense led by Lonnie Warwick, Paul Vellano, Billy Hobbs and Billy Hayes.

July 19th: Birmingham Vulcans 31, Shreveport Steamer 30.

13,214 paying customers came out to State Fair Coliseum as the Birmingham Vulcans defeated the Shreveport Steamer 31-30. With eight minutes remaining in the game, Steamer quarterback Edd Hargett was blindsided and fumbled the ball on the Shreveport 27. The Vulcans, led by quarterback Matthew Reed, charged downfield and sent running back Art Cantrelle through the middle of the Steamer line for the go-ahead touchdown. Cantrelle finished the game with 80 yards on 18 carries.

July 19th: Southern California 23, Philadelphia Bell 8.

July 26th: Jacksonville Express 19, Hawaiians 7.

The Jacksonville Express defeated the Hawaiians 19-7 in a torrential downpour in northern Florida. Led by former Birmingham quarterback, George Mira, the Express used a strong running game and a short passing game to over take the Hawaiians. Express running back, and former Florida Blazer, Tommy Reamon rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown to lead the team. 8,200 braved the weather conditions to get a glimpse of former NFL running back Calvin Hill.

July 26th: Memphis Southmen 14, Shreveport Steamer 7.

Quarterback John Huarte threw two touchdown passes to Paul Warfield for a 14-7 triumph by the Memphis Southmen over the Shreveport Steamer. The winning score came with only 24 seconds left in the third period after a fumble by Shreveport's Arthur James. Huarte passed 8 yards to Warfield for the touchdown. Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick, who defected with Warfield from the NFL's Miami Dolphins, rushed for 73 and 115 yards, respectively.

July 27th: Philadelphia Bell 30, Portland Thunder 21.

Long returns of a punt and an interception by Marv Pettaway and two pass coverage breakdowns by the Portland Thunder defensive backfield gave the Philadelphia Bell a 30-21 win. 5,076 fans at Civic Stadium watched as Pettaway returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown, and then repeated his performance with a 59 yard interception for a touchdown. Portland, led by quarterback Don Horn and running back Rufus Ferguson, stalled on three drives inside the Philadelphia 20.

WFL Exhibition Standings

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.