For the third week of the World Football League’s 1974
season, a natural rivalry took center stage on July 25 as the Philadelphia Bell
hosted the New York Stars. There were 64,719 enthusiastic fans in attendance at
JFK Stadium for the nationally-televised Thursday night contest, including
Commissioner Gary Davidson – although the luster would dim weeks later when it
was found out that most of those present had received free or
significantly-discounted tickets.
The Bell were 1-1, having won their opener in front of a
similarly large crowd before bowing to Houston the previous week. Head Coach
Ron Waller’s team featured an exciting offense directed by QB Jim “King”
Corcoran, a colorful veteran of minor league football. The ground game was
strong and featured running backs Claude Watts and John Land, who also were experienced
minor league hands. The most notable player on the defense was LB Tim
Rossovich, a colorful figure in his own right who had played for the NFL
Eagles.
New York was coached by former pro quarterback Babe
Parilli and had yet to win in two hard-fought contests. There were several
ex-Jets on the roster, including WR George Sauer, DE Gerry Philbin, and DT John
Elliott. QB Tom Sherman had spent three years with the Boston Patriots before
toiling in the minor leagues.
The Bell struck first, completing an 89-yard drive in
five plays when Jim Corcoran threw to Claude Watts for an 18-yard touchdown and
then successfully added the action point on a quarterback sneak, following three
offside penalties on New York, to gain an 8-0 lead (in the WFL, touchdowns
counted for seven points and were followed by an action point, which couldn’t
be kicked).
New York got on the board when RB Dave Richards scored on
a one-yard carry to finish off an 85-yard series, but the Stars remained a
point behind when the pass attempt for the action point was unsuccessful.
The Stars took a 14-8 lead just before the end of the
first half when RB Bob Gladieux dove one yard for a touchdown following a
20-yard completion from Tom Sherman to WR Al Young. However, they again failed
to convert on the action point.
Philadelphia moved back in front a little less than six
minutes into the third quarter on a Corcoran pass to TE LeVell Hill that
covered nine yards for a touchdown. The score was set up by a 19-yard
completion to WR Don Shanklin on the previous play. The Bell were unable to add
the action point.
Moses Lajterman (pictured at top), an Argentine kicker out of Montclair
State, booted a 40-yard field goal at 3:12 into the fourth quarter to put the
Stars in front, following an 11-play, 50-yard series. Lajterman was playing in
his first pro game, having earlier been cut from the squad but then re-signed
when PK Pete Rajecki suffered a rib injury, and adding to the drama was the
fact that Larry Butler was making his first snap of the season, having moved
over to center due to an injury to Bob Kuziel.
The Bell had two chances in the last two minutes as
Corcoran effectively passed them down the field, but Jack Simcszak missed to
the right on a 36-yard field goal attempt and George Chatlos failed from 26
yards at the end of the contest. New York won by a final score of 17-15.
The Stars led in total yards (322 to 301) and first downs
(17 to 12). Most of their yardage came on the ground (201) while Philadelphia
was more productive through the air (215 yards). The Bell turned the ball over
four times, to three turnovers suffered by the Stars.
Tom Sherman completed 7 of 15 passes for 121 yards with
no touchdowns and one intercepted. Bob Gladieux rushed for 74 yards on 21
carries that included a TD and RB Ed White was right behind with 70 yards on 18
attempts. Al Young was New York’s top receiver, catching four passes for 74
yards.
For the Bell, “King” Corcoran was successful on 14 of 24
throws for 215 yards and two TDs, but also tossed two interceptions. John Land
gained 59 yards on 14 rushing attempts and Claude Watts was held to 19 yards on
five carries that included a score while also pulling in three passes for 31
yards. WR Don Shanklin had three pass receptions for 87 yards and WR Linzy Cole
added 55 yards on his three catches.
“We played better against Jacksonville and Birmingham,
but I’ll take it,” said Babe Parilli. “This is a tough, competitive league. All
the teams are evenly matched. Nothing could have been bigger for us.”
Having finally broken into the win column, the Stars
proceeded to put together a five-game winning streak. They were 8-5 when the
franchise was shifted to Charlotte, where they were renamed the Hornets, and
finished out the year with a 10-10 record. The Stars won their next two games
but remained inconsistent, going 9-11, although they reached the postseason and
lost in the first round. The revelations that the high early-season attendance
figures were inflated by free and discounted tickets damaged the credibility of
both the WFL and the Bell, which resulted in a dramatic decrease in fan support
for games later in the schedule.
Moses Lajterman went on to kick 7 field goals in 11
attempts in his only pro season. George Chatlos, whose missed field goal
attempt at the end of the game sealed Philadelphia’s fate, never got another
opportunity to try for another, although he did remain with the club as a
linebacker and scored a touchdown. The Bell had trouble with placekicking all
season, with three kickers accounting for eight field goals in all.
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