The season-opening United States Football League game in
Tempe, Arizona on February 24, 1985 featured the Arizona Outlaws and the
Portland Breakers, two teams that had undergone transformations over the course
of the offseason.
The Outlaws were a combination of clubs that played as
the Arizona Wranglers and Oklahoma Outlaws in 1984. From Oklahoma came QB Doug
Williams, previously of the NFL Buccaneers, who performed well until knocked
out of action by a knee injury. WR Alphonso Williams and TE Ron Wheeler were
capable receivers. From the previous Arizona franchise that had reached the
USFL Championship game came such savvy veterans as RB Kevi n Long, DT Kit
Lathrop, and DE Karl Lorch (although they were missing WR Trumaine Johnson, who
held out). One newcomer was rookie PK Luis Zendejas out of Arizona State, where
he set a NCAA record with 368 career points. Also new was Head Coach Frank Kush,
long-time coach at ASU who had most recently been with the NFL Colts.
The Breakers, coached by Dick Coury, were in their third
city in three USFL seasons. Originally based in Boston with an inadequate home
venue, they moved to New Orleans for ’84 but, with the announced plan to shift
to a Fall schedule in 1986, the club was forced to move again, this time to
Portland, Oregon. The Breakers had featured an exciting offense led by QB John
Walton, but he was now retired and being replaced by backup Doug Woodward.
Still, there were good receivers in WR Frank Lockett and TE Dan Ross and
capable runners in RBs Buford Jordan and Marcus Dupree. LB Marcus Marek was the
keystone of a solid defense.
There were 20,321 fans in attendance at Sun Devil Stadium
in what would prove to be a low-scoring struggle. The Outlaws scored first eight
minutes into the opening period when Luis Zendejas kicked a 25-yard field goal.
Zendejas added another field goal, from 29 yards, in the second quarter. It was
set up by a pass from Doug Williams to WR William Davis that covered 46 yards
to the Portland nine yard line (it would be the only catch of the year for
Davis). The Outlaws took a 6-0 lead into halftime.
Late in the third quarter, the Breakers drove 80 yards on
15 plays and scored on an 11-yard touchdown carry by Marcus Dupree. Tim
Mazzetti’s extra point put Portland ahead by 7-6.
In the final period, an interception by Arizona CB Carl
Allen gave the Outlaws the ball at the Portland 39, and that set up a Zendejas
field goal from 43 yards with 6:33 remaining to play. The Breakers reached the
Arizona 37 in a last-gasp effort to pull the game out, but Doug Woodward
fumbled the ball away on a fourth down play with 32 seconds left on the clock
and the Outlaws came away with a 9-7 win.
Arizona had more total yards (279 to 210), although only
31 of those yards came on 25 rushing attempts while New Orleans had more
balance on offense (108 rushing, 102 passing). The teams were even with 11
first downs apiece. Each team turned the ball over two times.
Doug Williams completed 16 of 26 passes for 254 yards
with no touchdowns and one interception. Ron Wheeler had three catches for 85
yards while WR John Mistler and RB Allan Clark also contributed three
receptions apiece, for 30 and 28 yards, respectively. Kevin Long led the
miniscule running attack with 18 yards on 11 carries. Luis Zendejas was the
scoring star, with three field goals in as many attempts in his pro debut.
For the Breakers, Doug Woodward was successful on just 11
of 26 throws for 140 yards and had one intercepted. Marcus Dupree ran for 69
yards on 17 carries but had to be carried off the field on a stretcher with
just over two minutes remaining in the contest. TE David Bayle caught three
passes for 33 yards and Dan Ross gained 49 yards on his two receptions.
Dupree’s knee injury proved to be severe and finished him
for the season. It would be a disappointing one for the Breakers, who
were less productive on offense and finished at 6-12 and fifth in the Western
Conference. Arizona ended up not being much better, going 8-10 in placing
fourth in the conference.
Luis Zendejas was the USFL’s seventh-leading scorer (tied
with Danny Miller of Birmingham) as he connected on 24 of 33 field goal
attempts and added 36 extra points, albeit with five misses, in compiling 108
points. He went on to play in the NFL, with the Cowboys and Eagles, as did two
of his brothers, Tony and Max (a cousin, Joaquin, kicked in one game for the
Patriots).
