1975 Season Book - Week 10

Sports Daily

October 4, 1975

Southmen, Wings Win WFL's Summer Season Playoff Spots

The first half of the 1975 World Football League schedule is completed with the Memphis Southmen and the San Antonio Wings winning the Summer Season playoff spots. The Southmen are guaranteed a playoff spot in the Eastern division and the Wings hold a spot in the Western Division.

In week 10 WFL action, Memphis quarterback Danny White threw three touchdowns as the Southmen came from behind to defeat the Southern California Sun 37-33. Ed Marshall caught the winning touchdown pass for Memphis. The Philadelphia Bell defeated San Antonio Wings 42-38. The Bell and Wings have won all of their games in their home stadiums. Both teams are winless on the road. The Birmingham Vulcans traveled to the islands and defeated the Hawaiians 29-16. If Memphis had lost to the Sun the Vulcans could have won the summer season pennant. The Charlotte Hornets swarmed the Steamer in Shreveport 39-14 as Hornets quarterback Tom Sherman completed 17 of 20 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns. The Jacksonville Express edged the Portland Thunder. Express quarterback George Mira threw a screen pass to Alfred Haywood with six minutes remaining in the game. The Express have whipped the Vulcans twice this year, but still finished a game back of Birmingham in the summer season standings.

Edd Hargett, Danny White and Johnnie Walton have all played better then expected and George Mira is in the running for the WFL MVP award.

Anthony Davis scored two touchdowns against the Memphis Southmen, but hurt his ankle in the third quarter. Some consider Davis the Sun's one man team. Jim Nance has had a great season, but Anthony Davis should win the rushing title unless his injury in Memphis is more serious then suspected. Larry Csonka who has missed three games isn't listed in the top ten rushers. Southmen wide receiver Paul Warfield is tenth in receiving in the WFL.

Bell Shocks San Antonio, 42-38

RB John Land runs through the Wings' defense

philadelphia, pa.; Claude Watts ran for 111 yards and three touchdowns, Bob Cooper kicked four field goals and Howard Strickland returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown as the Philadelphia Bell upset the San Antonio Wings 42-38. On the field, the Bell exploded for 25 second quarter points and took a 28-15 lead into the locker room at halftime. San Antonio managed two quick third quarter touchdowns but the Bell fought back and helf off the Wings with two Bob Cooper field goals. 2,357 fans at Franklin Field watched as the Bell defensive line of Louis Ross, Doug Olson, Tom Gipson and Don Ratliff held the Wings' runners to only 27 yards on 19 carries. Bell quarterback Bob Davis completed 13 of 28 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown to lead the Bell, and kicker Bob Cooper's four field goals tied a WFL record. Johnnie Walton tossed four touchdowns for the Wings in a losing cause.

Philadelphia Bell: Passing- B. Davis 15-28-187-1i.; Rushing- C. Watts 15-111-3t, J. Land 22-54. H. Strickland 2-9, B. Davis 2-2; Receiving- B. Hawkins 4-96, T. Kwalick 3-28, C. Watts 2-16, J. Land 2-9, R. Holiday 1-24, H. Strickland 1-14.

San Antonio Wings: Passing- J. Walton 15-36-240-4t-2i.; Rushing- J. Strong 7-15, D. James 9-7-1t, J. Walton 3-5; Receiving- J. Strong 5-77, W. Frazier 4-72-1t, Ed. Richardson 2-45-1t, D. Yaege 2-31, L. Palmer 1-8-1t, D. James 1-7-1t.

Express Stays On Track In East

Express RB Alfred Haywood runs over Thunder defender

jacksonville, fla.; The Jacksonville Express, led by quarterback George Mira, defeated the Portland Thunder on a fourth-quarter, 37-yard touchdown pass from Mira to Alfred Haywood 32-29. Mira's pass brought the crowd of 8,119 fans to their feet at the Gator Bowl. The Thunder silenced the crowd in the first quarter as Joe Wylie burst through the Express kick return team for 41 yards and the games' first score. Portland held a 29-18 lead in the third quarter but failed to hold the lead as the Express scored on a Brian Duncan 4-yard run and the Mira pass. Express quarterback George Mira ended the game completing only 5 of 16 passes for 85 yards, but the game winning pass was enough to defeat Portland. Thunder quarterback Don Horn completed 14 of 27 for 192 yards and one touchdown.

Jacksonville Express: Passing- G. Mira 5-16-85-2t-1i; Rushing- A. Haywood 11-87, B. Duncan 10-37-1t; T. Reamon 16-28-1t, S. Johns 6-28, G. Mira 1-2; Receiving- A. Haywood 2-40-1t, B. Duncan 1-18, D. Hughes 1-16, S. Barrios 1-11.

Portland Thunder: Passing- D. Horn 14-27-192-1t-1i; Rushing- B. Wyatt 16-110-1t, R. Ferguson 13-74-1t, I. Hammon 4-7; Receiving- J. Krieg 3-52, J. Wylie 3-39, B. Wyatt 3-32, B. Christiansen 2-37-1t, J. Thorpe 1-19, I. Hammon 1-11, R. Ferguson 1-1.

White to Marshall TD Pass Gives Southmen 37-33 Win

Southmen RB Willie Spencer runs through Sun defense

memphis, tn.; Danny White threw a touchdown pass to Ed Marshall with :32 remaining to play to give the Memphis Southmen a 37-33 win over the Southern California Sun and a spot in the WFL playoffs. The win, before a crowd of 18,129 improved Memphis' record to 7-2 and gave the Southmen the Eastern Division title for the Summer Season, and assures the Southmen a playoff spot. Southern California, after a 4-1 start, fell to 5-5. The loss over-shadowed another brilliant performance by rookie running back Anthony Davis, the WFL's leading rusher. Davis, who left the game with an ankle injury in the third quarter, scored on runs of two and 30 yards and caught an 11-yard pass for his third touchdown of the game. Southmen running back Willie Spencer ran for 89 yards, and John Harvey added 39 in the win. Larry Csonka missed his third regular season game and Jim Kiick carried the ball one time for one yard. Paul Warfield, the other former Miami Dolphin caught three passes and one for a touchdown. This game was played on Sunday, October 5, 1975.

Southern California Sun; Passing - M. Ernst 26-45-289-2t-3i, A. Davis 0-1-0-0t-0i; Rushing - A. Davis 10-59- 2t, B Ferrell 9-57, G. Dixon 8-38, B. Kramer 2-12; Receiving - A. Davis 9-75-1t, T. Lindsey 5-71-1t, J. McKay 4-49, B. Ferrell 4-40, K. Denson 2-32, G. Dixon 2-14.

Memphis Southmen; Passing - D. White 13-24-177-3t-2i; Rushing - W. Spencer 15-89-1t, J. Harvey 15-39-1t, E. Marshall 1-18, J. Kiick 1-1, D. White 2-0; Receiving - E. Marshall 5-68-2t, P. Warfield 3-34-1t, W. Spencer 3-15, J. Kiick 1-25, J. Harvey 1-20, R. Wallace 1-15.

Cantrelle Scores Two Touchdowns As Vulcans Beat Hawaiians

Vulcan RB Art Cantrelle dives for TD against the Hawaiians

Honolulu, Hw.; The Birmingham Vulcans staged a relentless comeback and defeated the Hawaiians 29-16. A crowd of 18,894 saw the Hawaiians dominate the first half, then give way to a Vulcan running attack led by Art Cantrelle's two touchdowns. The game was closer than the score indicated. With Birmingham leading 21-16, Hawaiian cornerback Hal Stringert intercepted a Matthew Reed pass and ran it back to the Hawaii 33. Sonny Sixkiller bobbled a snap on a crucial fourth down and running back Clayton Heath was tackled for a loss. Birmingham then drove for their final score- a Johnny Musso 1-yard run. (pictured above, Art Cantrelle is up-ended by Hawaiians defenders Jim Sniadecki and Lem Burnham).

Birmingham Vulcans; Passing - M. Reed 9-19-92-0t-3i; Rushing - A. Cantrelle 20-93-2t, J. Musso 20-70-1t, M. Reed 5-18-1t, B. Rudder 1-7, R. Evans 1-6, L. Gascienica 1-5; Receiving - D. Homan 4-57, T. Powell 2-23, A. Cantrelle 2-5, J. Bishop 1-7.

Hawaiians; Passing - R. Cassata 11-24-122-1t-2i, S. Sixkiller 2-5-22-0t-2i, A. Davis 0-2-0-0t-0i; Rushing - W. Wingard 10-41, C. Heath 15-38-1t, M. Haggerty 1-12, R. Cassata 2-6, A. Davis 1-4, V. Clements 1-2; Receiving - A. Davis 5-64, T. Delaney 4-39, M. Haggerty 1-15.

Sherman, Hornets Put Sting on Steamer

Charlotte Hornets 39, Shreveport Steamer 14

shreveport, la.; Charlotte quarterback Tom Sherman completed 17 of 20 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns (to Tim George) to lead the visiting Hornets to a 39-14 rout of the Shreveport Steamer. With the score 15-7 going into the fourth quarter, the Steamer fans (20,470 of them) watched as Sherman hit George for a 22-7 Charlotte lead, and safety Randy Rhino ran back an interception of a D.C. Nobles pass for 84 yards and a touchdown to end the night for the Steamer. The Rhino interception for a touchdown set a WFL record. This game was played on Sunday, October 5. (pictured above, Steamer LB Garland Boyette making tackle on Hornets Don Highsmith).

Charlotte Hornets: Passing- T. Sherman 17-20-154-2t-0i, B. Dowling 1-4-23-0t-0i; Rushing- M. McGee 7-40, D. Highsmith 15-26-1t, L. Jolley 10-20, J. Sykes 1-2; Receiving- J. Thompson 8-123, R. Parsons 3-14, T. George 2-13-2t, M. McGee 2-1, L. Jolley 1-4, D. Highsmith 1-1.

Shreveport Steamer: Passing- E. Hargett 14-26-221-1t-2i., D. Nobles 4-12-62-1t-2i; Rushing- D. Nobles 1-53, J. Edwards 13-47, J. Nance 11-36, V. Robinson 10-36, E. Hargett 1-0, R. Scales 1-0, H. Brandon 2-1; Receiving- R. Eber 5-82, R. Scales 3-43, J. Odom 3-41, J. Edwards 2-8, D. Davis 1-15, M. Burnop 1-11, D. Winslow 1-10-1t, R. Thompson 1-8, J. Nance 1-3.

Week Ten Top MVPs:

Claude Watts, Philadelphia Bell

WFL Week Ten Top Performers:

Passing - Tom Sherman, Charlotte Hornets 17-20-154-2 touchdowns

Rushing - Claude Watts, Philadelphia Bell 15 carries, 111 yards, 3 touchdowns

Receiving -James Thompson, Charlotte Hornets 8 receptions, 123 yards

WFL Standings:

*Suspended Operations

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. The Memphis Southmen game photo is courtesy of Johnny Wofford.