The Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League were making their home debut as they hosted the New Jersey Generals on March 13, 1983. They had won their opening game of the league’s inaugural season in a closely-fought contest at Denver while the Generals lost theirs at Los Angeles.
Things had gotten off to a rocky start for the Stars when
George Perles, originally hired to coach the team, left for Michigan State
instead and Jim Mora, previously an assistant with the New England Patriots,
was brought in with only weeks to prepare for the regular season. RB Kelvin
Bryant (pictured above) had been signed out of North Carolina and was the club’s prize rookie
and key to the conservative, ball-control offense that was directed by QB Chuck
Fusina. The defense had shown its toughness in the opening win.
New Jersey was coached by Chuck Fairbanks and made the
biggest splash in the run-up to the first season by signing Heisman
Trophy-winning RB Herschel Walker, who left Georgia with a year of eligibility
remaining to turn pro. Walker rushed for 65 yards in his debut against the
Express the previous week following a short preparation period. QB Bobby Scott
was a veteran NFL backup but had given up three interceptions in the opener.
It was a sunny day with a brisk wind in the 50s at
Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium with 38,205 fans in attendance. The Stars had
the first possession and moved effectively down the field, mixing passes and
runs by Kelvin Bryant, who also had a catch. However, the drive stalled at the
New Jersey 24 and David Trout’s 41-yard field goal into the wind was
unsuccessful.
The Generals moved well in response, but a fumble by
Herschel Walker was recovered at the Philadelphia 46. Following a punt by the
Stars, the next New Jersey possession ended with CB Antonio Gibson intercepting
a pass by Bobby Scott at his own 32. The Stars had the ball as the game headed
into the second quarter and, converting a fourth down along the way, they put
together a drive that ended with an eight-yard pass from Chuck Fusina, rolling
to his right under pressure, to WR Scott Fitzkee in the back of the end zone for
a touchdown. Trout missed the try for extra point, hitting the left upright,
but the home team was in front by 6-0.
The Stars got the ball back on an interception by LB
George Cooper and he returned it to the New Jersey 32. With Bryant and FB
Booker Russell running well, they advanced to the seven but, after being backed
up five yards due to a delay of game penalty, Fusina scrambled to the two for a
first down. From there, Bryant hurtled into the end zone for a TD to complete
the six-play possession. The pass attempt for a two-point conversion failed,
but Philadelphia held a 12-0 lead.
That remained the score at halftime. Scott threw another
interception, this time picked off by FS Mike Lush, and while the Stars
advanced quickly into New Jersey territory, CB Terry Daniels picked off a
Fusina pass with the clock down to just over a minute remaining.
The Generals had turned the ball over to conclude all
four of their first half possessions, and the trend continued on the first
series of the third quarter as Walker fumbled after catching a swing pass and
the Stars recovered at the New Jersey 31. Philadelphia turned that into three
points and a 15-0 lead as Trout was successful on a 26-yard field goal attempt.
Yet another turnover gave the ball to Philadelphia in New
Jersey territory, but this time the home team came up empty when Trout was wide
to the right on a 34-yard try for a field goal. Dave Boisture was the
quarterback when the Generals next had the ball and the results were no better
as he quickly tossed an interception, grabbed by LB Sam Mills. The Stars moved
methodically but, after getting inside the ten, it was their turn to fumble the
ball away. The visitors punted for the first time from deep in their territory
and Philadelphia again had good starting field position. This time, as the game
headed into the final period, the Stars didn’t come up empty as Trout kicked a
31-yard field goal.
The remainder of the game brought no surprises. The
Generals were unable to reach the end zone and Philadelphia, utilizing the
formidable ground attack, drove to a clinching touchdown on a one-foot
quarterback sneak by Fusina. Trout added the point after and that provided the
final margin in the 25-0 win.
The Stars easily led in total yards (395 to 215), first
downs (22 to 13), and time of possession (35:27 to 24:33). They also recorded
five sacks, two of them by DE Don Fielder, to none by New Jersey. The Generals
turned the ball over a debilitating seven times against three suffered by
Philadelphia. There were only two punts, one by each club.
Chuck Fusina was efficient, completing 14 of 22 passes
for 173 yards and a touchdown while giving up one interception. Kelvin Bryant rushed
for 114 yards on 24 carries and also caught two passes for 22 yards. TE Steve
Folsom topped the Philadelphia receivers with four catches for 60 yards.
For the Generals, Herschel Walker was held to 60 yards on
13 rushing attempts. Bobby Scott was successful on 12 of 20 throws for 103
yards with three interceptions and Dave Boisture was five-of-12 for 46 yards
and was picked off once. FB Dwight Sullivan caught 6 passes, although for just
17 yards, while WR Larry Brodsky gained a team-leading 46 yards on his three
receptions.
The Stars made it three straight wins to start the season
the following week before losing to Tampa Bay, but remained consistent
throughout the year in topping the Atlantic Division with a league-best 15-3
record. They advanced to the USFL Championship game before losing a close
contest to the Michigan Panthers. New Jersey continued to struggle and ended up
at 6-12 and third in the division.
Kelvin Bryant received All-League honors as he rushed for
1442 yards and 16 touchdowns and pulled in 53 pass receptions for 410 more
yards and another score. His rushing total placed second to Herschel Walker,
who finally got on track (even if his team didn’t) and gained 1812 yards on 412
attempts (4.4 avg.) with 17 TDs. He also received All-League recognition.
