1975 Season Book - Week 4

Sports Daily

August 23, 1975

Philadelphia Bell File Suit Over Duane Thomas as "Big Three" Arrive In Town

Hawaiians sign former NFL star running back Duane Thomas

The World Football League dealt with a possible lawsuit from the Philadelphia Bell. Richard Iannarella, Philadelphia Bell General Manager, levied a lawsuit at the WFL when the Hawaiians signed former Washington Redskins running back Duane Thomas. The Hawaiians, desperate for a running back and a gate attraction after Calvin Hill tore his knee up, signed the former NFL back whose rights belonged to Philadelphia. Iannarella told the press, "If Thomas plays for Hawaii we will sue if Hemmeter doesn't arrange some sort of compensation. We'll give the President an opportunity to straighten it out, but we aren't going to take this lying down." The "Big Three" were in Philly and Larry Csonka was attacking the Philadelphia sports media. Csonka, who watched his Memphis Southmen fall to the Bell 22-18 before 5,051 fans, tore into the Philadelphia media, "It is the responsibility of the press to let people know when a city has a team. The WFL is here to stay. Philadelphia seems to be the only problem in this respect."

On the field, Southern California quarterback Pat Haden continued to lead the WFL in passing with 901 yards and 59 of 96 completions for 10 touchdowns. San Antonio's Johnnie Walton became the first WFL passer to surpass the 1,000-yard mark in the 1975 season with 1,094 yards. Anthony Davis of the Southern California Sun led the league in rushing with 451 yards and a 4.4 yards-per-carry average. Davis had scored four touchdowns. The Chicago Winds' John Gilliam continued to lead the WFL in receptions with 20 for 390 yards and two touchdowns. Southern California led the league in total offense with a 384.4 yard average to second place Memphis (356.8). Memphis led the league in defense with 264.3 yard average.

Hawaiians Defeat Chicago 28-17, Sixkiller Throws 3 TDs

Winds' K Randy Haddox has a field goal blocked by Hawaii

honolulu, hi.; The Hawaiians, trailing Chicago 17-13, rallied on the arm of Sonny Sixkiller, who threw three touchdown passes, two in the fourth quarter, as the Hawaiians defeated the Chicago Winds 28-17. 10,313 fans bid farewell to Honolulu's ancient Honolulu Stadium. The Winds took a 17-3 lead after running back Mark Kellar scored on a 3-yard run, and quarterback Pete Bethard hit wide receiver Margene Adkins with a 5-yard touchdown pass. In the fourth quarter, Hawaiian quarterback Sonny Sixkiller went to work throwing a 31-yard touchdown pass to Dave Atkinson for a 20-17 lead, and then hit Tim Delaney with a 31-yard touchdown pass to finish off Chicago. The win lifted Hawaii to 2-2, and dropped the Chicago Winds to 1-3.

Chicago Winds; Passing - P. Beathard 9-24-136-1t-0i, G. Danielson 5-7-58-0t-1i; Rushing - B. Wyatt 13-45, M. Kellar7-14-1t, P. Beathard 1-9, D. Gagnon 3-2; Receiving - J. Gilliam 5-117, D. Gagnon 3-34, M. Kellar 2-22. M. Adkins 1-5-1t, F. Pagac 1-7. B. Wyatt 1-3, T. Gillespie 1-2.

Hawaiians; Passing - S. Sixkiller 12-18-186-3t-1i, W. Estabrook 7-15-51-0t-0i; Rushing - C. Heath 23-120, D. Thomas 5-17, Al Davis 4-13, D. Atkinson 1-10, R. Cassata 1-5, D. Atkins 1-2, S. Sixkiller 1-3, W. Estabrook 1-4; Receiving - T. Delaney 6-103-2t, D. Atkinson 4-61-1t, Al Davis 4-19, G. Richardson 2-55, T. Boyer 1-4, C. Heath 1-0, D. Thomas 1-5.

Davis Leads Sun Past Vulcans, 35-25

birmingham, al.; Quarterback Pat Haden recovered from a concussion and passed 35 yards to Keith Denson for a touchdown to clinch the Sun's 35-25 win over Birmingham. The loss marked the first time Birmingham has ever lost at Legion Field in league play. The teams scored a total of 36 combined points in the second quarter, but then the Sun defense shut down the Vulcans for the last two quarters. 32,000 fans attended the game in Birmingham. (Pictured above, Anthony Davis is wrestled down by Vulcans defensive tackle Jesse Wolf).

Southern California Sun; Passing - P. Haden 10-16-204-2t-2i, M. Ernst 1-5-10-0t-0i; Rushing - A. Davis 22-71-2t, G. Herd 3-28-1t, G. Dixon 6-27, B. Kramer 5-17, M. Ernst 1-17; Receiving - A. Davis 5-51, C. Bradley 2-68, T. Lindsey 2-53, K. Denson 1-35-1t, D. Williams 1-7-1t.

Birmingham Vulcans; Passing - D. Duron 8-22-122-1t-2i, M. Reed 0-7-0-0t-0i; Rushing - J. Musso 11-31, D. Duron 4-26, J. Profit 8-24, A. Cantrelle 9-13-1t, B. Brown 1/-3; Receiving - B. Brown 3-42, T. Powell 2-19, A. Allen 1-40, J. Musso 1-13-1t, B. Rudder 1-8.

Thunder QB Don Horn Throws 3 TDs, Portland Defeats Shreveport 33-24

Thunder WR Jim Krieg holds up TD catch

portland, ore.; A Civic Stadium crowd of 6,576 saw Thunder quarterback Don Horn throw three touchdown passes to lead Portland to a 33-24 win over the Shreveport Steamer. Shreveport scored first on Paul Gipson's 73-yard touchdown return with the opening kickoff, but Portland equalized that on Rufus Ferguson's 5-yard touchdown run after Joe Wylie's 60-yard kickoff return that put the Thunder deep in Shreveport territory. The Thunder, leading 18-13 at halftime, scored 15 unanswered points as Horn passed to Jim McCullough for a 4-yard touchdown, and to Jim Krieg for a 13-yard score. Shreveport never recovered from the attack managing a late touchdown on Paul Gipson's 1-yard run.

Shreveport Steamer; Passing - E. Hargett 15-29-151-0t-1i; Rushing - V. Robinson 15-59, J. Nance 10-56, G. smith 4-46, H. Brandon 1-3, P. Gipson 1-1-1t; Receiving - J. Nance 4-32, D. Winslow 2-29, V. Robinson 2-23, H. Brandon 1-6.

Portland Thunder; Passing - D. Horn 17-24-210-3t-0i; Rushing - R. Ferguson 18-131-1t, J. Evenson 19-78; Receiving - R. Ferguson 5-49, B. Christiansen 4-55, E. McCullouch 3-32-1t, J. Krieg 3-30-2t, J. Thorpe 1-39, J. Evenson 1-5.

Express Derail Wings In Overtime, 26-19

San Antonio RB Jim Strong is tackled by Danny Jackson and Rich Thomann

jacksonville, fla.; Express running back Alfred Haywood ran 15 yards for a touchdown 3:21 in sudden death overtime to give the Jacksonville Express a 26-19 win over the San Antonio Wings. 16,133 watched in suspense as Express kicker Charlie Durkee booted a 26-yard field with: 32 remaining in the fourth quarter to force the overtime. Willie Jackson's 28-yard punt return and quarterback George Mira's 11-yard run set up Haywood's winning touchdown. Durkee, who played in 1974 with the Houston Texans, kicked field goals of 42, 44, 46 and 26 yards during regulation time. Jacksonville's only touchdown of the game during regulation came from a George Mira 11-yard pass to tight end Dennis Hughes. The game marked the second time this season the WFL had an overtime contest.

San Antonio Wings; Passing - J. Walton 19-37-163-0t-2i; Rushing - B. Sadler 15-57-1t, J. Strong 12-54, B. Gatti 6-20, J. Walton 4-19-1t; Receiving - W. Frazier 4-71, D. Morris 3-31, Ed. Richardson 3-16, B. Sadler 3-7, J. Strong 2017, B. Gatti 2-8, L. Palmer 1-7, D. Yaege 1-6.

Jacksonville Express; Passing - G. Mira 13-31-153-1t-1i; Rushing - A. Haywood 15-61-1t, T. Reamon 12-29, G. Mira 2-12, J. Poulos 2-3; Receiving - D. Hughes 5-59-1t, W. Beckman 3-50, S. Barrios 2-20, A. Haywood 1-12, J. Poulos 1-11, T. Reamon 1-1.

Bell Shocks Memphis, 22-18

QB Bob Davis leads Philadelphia to victory over Csonka and company

Bell QB Bob Davis scrambles for winning TD against Southmen

philadelphia, pa.; Bell quarterback Bob Davis passed for one touchdown and scored on a 1-yard run in the final two minutes as Philadelphia upset the Memphis Southmen 22-18 before 5,051 fans at Philadelphia's Franklin Field. Davis' winning score came one play after Southmen defensive back Gary Powell was called for pass interference against Philadelphia's Ben Hawkins in the end zone. The Southmen took the lead 18-15 on Jim Kiick's 1-yard run to cap a 91-yard drive with 4:20 left to play. Philadelphia then marched from its own 38 yard line in nine plays. The key play in the scoring drive was a pass interference call in the end zone against Memphis. Philadelphia received the ball on the Southmen one yard line where Davis ran for the winning score. Bell quarterback Bob Davis completed 19 of 23 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown. Davis made his first start of the 1975 season. He had been out with a broken cheek bone and wore a special twelve pound helmet during the game. Larry Csonka rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown for the Southmen, but was upset with his performance. Csonka said; "I only got 75 yards on 21 carries. I can't be happy with that."

Memphis Southmen; Passing - J. Huarte 13-27-173-0t-1i, D. White 2-7-34-0t-1i; Rushing - L. Csonka 21-75-1t, J. Kiick 9-28-1t, J. Huarte 2-23, W. Spencer 4-19; Receiving - J. Kiick 4-34, P. Warfield 3-74, G. Shirk 3-51, W. Spencer 3-23, E. Marshall 2-25.

Philadelphia Bell; Passing - B. Davis 19-23-164-1t-0i; Rushing - J. Land 14-53-1t, J. Jennings 11-41, J. Rackley 1-6, B. Davis 8-3-1t, C. Watts 2-3, R. Holliday 1/-6; Receiving - B. Hawkins 5-77-1t, J. Land 4-36, R. Holliday 3-20. J. Rackley 3-17, T. Kwalick 3-11, J. Jennings 1-3.

WFL Week Four MVP:

Bob Davis, Phladelphia Bell

WFL Week Four MVPs:

Passing - Don Horn, Portland Thunder 17-24-210-3t-0i

Rushing - Clayton Heath, Hawaiians 23 carries, 120 yards

Receiving - Tim Delaney, Hawaiians 6 receptions, 103 yards, 2 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 Web site and is used with permission. The WFL transactions were researched and compiled by Mark Speck and Tod Maher.