The two World Football League teams facing off for the
nationally televised Thursday-night game on September 5, 1974 were sporting
losing records and trying hard to stay in the playoff hunt.
The Jacksonville Sharks were at 3-6 and having trouble
with missed payrolls and dwindling attendance. They were on their second head
coach, Charlie Tate, after original coach Bud Asher was let go six weeks into
the schedule. They also changed quarterbacks with rookie Reggie Oliver (pictured above) from
Marshall replacing Kay Stephenson behind center. RB Tommy Durrance, a former
college star at Florida, was a stalwart on offense, but one of the better
defensive players, SS Ron Coppenbarger, was out with an injured knee.
The visiting Philadelphia Bell had a 4-5 record and Head
Coach Ron Waller’s team was known for its intricate offense directed by
colorful QB Jim “King” Corcoran, the WFL’s current leader in scoring passes
with 18. Running backs John Land and Claude Watts were also key contributors. But
large crowds in their early home games proved to have been padded with free or
heavily discounted tickets (which also happened to some extent in Jacksonville)
and fan support dwindled thereafter.
There were 17,851 fans in attendance on a rainy night at
the Gator Bowl. Jacksonville scored on the first play from scrimmage as Reggie
Oliver connected with WR Edgar Scott for a 45-yard touchdown. Tommy Durrance
ran for the action point (in the WFL, touchdowns counted for seven points and
were followed by an action point that could not be kicked). The Bell put
together a 67-yard drive that ended with QB Frank Dimaggio running three yards
for a TD. The try for the action point failed and the Sharks remained in front
by 8-7.
Still in the opening period, Philadelphia took the lead
when CB Bernard Chapman returned a blocked field goal try by the Sharks 59
yards for a touchdown. A pass to RB Alan Thompson added the action point and
the Bell took a 15-8 lead into the second quarter. Grant Guthrie kicked a
21-yard field goal for the Sharks to make the score 15-11 at the half.
In the third quarter, the Bell blocked a second field
goal attempt that was returned for a touchdown. This time it was for 77 yards
by LB George Chatlos and John Land ran for the action point that extended
Philadelphia’s margin to 23-11. Jacksonville’s defense was putting heavy
pressure on Corcoran, but the two blocked field goal returns had the Bell in
front.
The Sharks came back with two scoring carries by
Durrance, both covering eight yards. The first made the score 23-18 and was
followed by a run for the action point that fell short. The second put
Jacksonville in front by 26-23 as Durrance then ran for the action point. Both
drives were helped along by Oliver’s effective passing and the Sharks added
another touchdown in the fourth quarter as Oliver threw to WR Drew Buie from 13
yards out. Kay Stephenson completed a pass to RB Wayne Jones for the action
point.
In the closing minutes the Bell put together a 67-yard
drive that led to a one-yard plunge by Land for a touchdown. It was a case of
too-little, too-late. Philadelphia had squandered scoring opportunities on two
missed field goal attempts, a fumble, and a bad snap on another field goal try
and the Sharks came out on top by a final score of 34-30.
Jacksonville outgained the Bell (454 yards to 334) and
had more first downs (24 to 17). Philadelphia also turned the ball over three
times, to one by the Sharks, although the two blocked field goals were costly
to Jacksonville.
Reggie Oliver completed 14 of 24 passes for 321 yards and
two touchdowns with one intercepted. Tommy Durrance (pictured below) rushed for 72 yards on 20
carries that included two TDs. Edgar Scott caught four passes for 107 yards and
a TD and TE Dennis Hughes added 101 yards on his three receptions. Drew Buie
also caught four passes, for 71 yards and a score.
For the Bell, “King” Corcoran was successful on just 13
of 30 throws for 174 yards and had no TDs while being picked off once. John
Land ran for 88 yards on 17 attempts and also led the receivers with 6 catches
for 66 yards
“I wasn’t sacked once,” exclaimed a jubilant Reggie
Oliver. “Our offensive line gave me the best protection of the year and blocked
so well for our running game that the passes opened up.”
“I wish I had the time that other fellow had,” said
Corcoran in defeat about Oliver. “He looked like All-Pro and they blitzed me
all night.”
The Bell got their revenge the next week with a
resounding 41-22 win in Philadelphia. Beset by increasing money woes, the
Sharks went 4-10 before folding. The Bell made it to the end of the season and,
while finishing with a losing 9-11 record, managed to make it to the playoffs
where they lost in the first round.
Overall, Reggie Oliver ended up passing for 1415 yards
and 7 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. Tommy Durrance ran for 658 yards on
218 carries (3.0 avg.) and scored five TDs. The demise of the Sharks marked the
end of both of their brief pro careers, but the win over the Bell was a
significant highlight for each.
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