Two teams struggling to remain in contention in the Pacific Division of the United States Football League met in a Saturday contest on May 26, 1984. The visiting Arizona Wranglers and the hosts, the Los Angeles Express, each came into the contest with 6-7 records that put them one behind the division-leading Denver Gold.
Arizona was having trouble with consistency despite being
a veteran-dominated club coached by George Allen. The Wranglers were coming off
a big win against Denver the previous week, but had yet to win consecutive
games. 16-year veteran QB Greg Landry led the ball control offense that also featured
WR Trumaine Johnson and the running back combination of Tim Spencer and Kevin
Long. DE John Lee was leading the USFL in sacks and the defense was stingy. But
the team tended to hurt itself with penalties and turnovers.
The Express was a young club, coached by John Hadl. High-priced
rookie QB Steve Young provided a huge lift once he joined the team in the sixth
week with his passing and mobility. WR
JoJo Townsell led the receiving corps and there was a good group of young
running backs, although injuries were giving rookie Kevin Mack an opportunity
to start.
There was a typically sparse crowd of 11,702 fans in
attendance for the Memorial Day weekend game at the Memorial Coliseum. Following
a punt by the Express, the Wranglers drove 67 yards in nine plays on their
first possession, concluding with a five-yard touchdown carry by Tim Spencer.
Frank Corral added the extra point.
Los Angeles responded by advancing into Arizona territory
with Steve Young passing effectively and running for a first down on a
third-and-short play. A 15-yard carry by
JoJo Townsell got the ball to the five yard line and, from there, Young ran for
a TD. Tony Zendejas tied the score at 7-7 with the successful conversion.
The Express nearly scored on the ensuing kickoff when it
was mishandled, but the ball went out of bounds for a touchback. The game
remained tied as the contest headed into the second quarter. A promising LA
possession ended with CB Carl Allen intercepting a Young throw at the Arizona
12. Following an exchange of punts, the Wranglers moved into LA territory
thanks to a Greg Landry pass to Kevin Long for 27 yards in a third-and-three
situation. Completions to Trumaine Johnson and WR Lenny Willis got the ball to
the 15 but a sack by DE Fletcher Jenkins backed the visitors up and they
settled for a 34-yard Corral field goal with 20 seconds remaining in the first
half. Arizona took a 10-7 lead into halftime.
The teams exchanged punts to start the third quarter
before the Wranglers, taking advantage of good field position, drove 55 yards
in ten plays with Spencer bulling three yards for a touchdown. Corral’s extra
point made it a ten-point advantage for Arizona. The Express came back on a
series highlighted by Young throws to RB Tony Boddie for 32 yards and 20 yards
to Townsell and completed by Mack running for a nine-yard TD on a third down
draw play. It was the rookie’s first pro touchdown and, with Zendejas
converting, the score was 17-14 heading into the final period.
The teams traded punts and a time-consuming drive by the
Wranglers had them in Los Angeles territory, but Spencer fumbled the ball away
at the 24. Young immediately fired to TE Darren Long for 36 yards and the
Express tied the score with a 43-yard field goal by Zendejas.
Arizona had the ball back with two minutes remaining in
regulation and, facing third-and-13, took advantage of back-to-back penalties
to maintain possession and get to near midfield. However, in the key play of
the game, a Landry pass was intercepted by DB Troy West, who sped down the
sideline for 58 yards to the three yard line. RB Kevin Nelson, entering the
game late due to a broken rib, took a pitchout and gained the last three yards
for the touchdown. Zendejas booted the point after and the Express came away
with a 24-17 win.
The Wranglers had the edge in total yards (355 to 282)
and first downs (25 to 15). But the two late turnovers proved to be their
undoing, to one suffered by the Express, and Arizona was also hurt by nine
penalties to four called on LA. The Express accumulated four sacks, to two by
the Wranglers.
Steve Young did not have an impressive completion
percentage, hitting on 11 of 23 passes, but they were good for 184 yards with
one interception. The nimble Young also ran the ball four times for 23 yards
(and avoided several near-sacks) and scored one touchdown. Kevin Mack led the
LA runners with 44 yards on 14 carries. JoJo Townsell had three catches for 38
yards and Darren Long gained 55 yards on his two receptions.
For the Wranglers, Greg Landry was successful on 19 of 37
throws for 232 yards and gave up the one big interception. Trumaine Johnson
caught 12 of those passes for 145 yards and Tim Spencer rushed for 81 yards on
15 attempts, scoring two TDs although also making a costly fumble.
The win put the Express alone in second place and had
Arizona in jeopardy of both not making the playoffs and becoming the first George
Allen-coached team to finish with a losing record. LA won its next two games
while the Wranglers finally caught fire and won three straight, leading to a
final-week rematch that Arizona won. Both teams ended up at 10-8, with
tiebreakers giving the Express the division title and the Wranglers second
place and a Wild Card playoff slot (Denver collapsed, meanwhile, falling to
third place at 9-9). The Express won in dramatic fashion over the Michigan
Panthers in the first postseason round, prevailing in the third overtime
period. Arizona edged the Houston Gamblers, and that set up a third meeting
between Los Angeles and the Wranglers for the Western Conference Championship.
Arizona won to advance to the USFL Championship game, falling to the
Philadelphia Stars.
