1974: Last-Play TD Pass Propels Sun Past Sharks

In the third week of World Football League action in 1974, the Southern California Sun traveled to Florida to face the Jacksonville Sharks on July 24. Both teams had split their first two contests in the new league’s early going.

The Sun were coached by Tom Fears, a Hall of Fame player with the Rams who had been the first head coach of the NFL Saints. They had made preseason headlines by signing highly-touted rookie running backs James McAlister and Kermit Johnson out of UCLA as well as USC tackle Booker Brown. There was a good mix of veteran and new talent on the team. QB Tony Adams (pictured above), who had failed to catch on with the NFL Chargers the previous year, had proven veteran WR Dave Williams to throw to and Brown was joined on the offensive line by 13-year veteran OT Joe Carollo. After losing a close contest to Birmingham in their opening game, the Sun had won a shootout over The Hawaiians.

Jacksonville hired an ex-high school coach, Bud Asher, to direct the club but had plenty of players with NFL experience. QB Kay Stephenson was a backup with the Chargers and Bills. RB Tommy Durrance, a local college star out of Florida, led the running attack. The defensive line was anchored by seasoned veterans in DE Ike Lassiter and DT Bob Taterak. The club had won its opening nationally-televised game against the New York Stars but lost on a last-second field goal to the Chicago Fire the next week.

There was a big crowd of 46,780 in attendance at the Gator Bowl for the Wednesday night contest (although the number that had actually paid to attend was reportedly at least 15,000 less). Southern California had difficulty mounting an offensive threat in the first half as Tony Adams faced significant pressure from Jacksonville’s tough defensive line, tossing two interceptions, and McAlister and Johnson were held to just two rushing yards. Additionally, punter Steve Schroder bobbled two snaps and WR Terry Lindsey fumbled a punt return. The explosion and fire on a cargo ship on the nearby St. John’s River created far more excitement than the visiting team’s offense.

The Sharks used four Grant Guthrie field goals to take a 12-0 lead – the first, from 23 yards, provided the only points in the first quarter and the other three came from 29, 27, and 42 yards. Still, after dominating the first half, the home team had yet to penetrate the end zone and the visitors were still within striking distance.

Tony Adams and the Sun offense came alive in the third quarter and drives of 44 and 62 yards put them ahead by 15-12. The first ended with Adams throwing to Dave Williams for a 20-yard TD, but the action point attempt, a running play, failed (in the WFL, touchdowns counted for seven points and were followed by an action point, which could not be kicked). The second came on a one-yard run by RB Ralph Nelson and Adams threw to James McAlister to add the action point.

An eight-play, 68-yard series put the Sharks back in front on the first play of the fourth quarter. Kay Stephenson threw to WR Tony Lomax for a 16-yard touchdown. The pass for the action point was unsuccessful but the home team was ahead by 19-15.

Twice the Sharks stopped Southern California drives in the final period and, buoyed by the enthusiastic crowd, appeared to be in command. With 2 ½ minutes remaining, the Sun got the ball back and mounted a drive from their own 20. Short passes to McAlister and Williams moved the ball to midfield. On a fourth-and-six play Adams completed a pass to Kermit Johnson to the Jacksonville 40 for a first down but with only seven seconds left on the clock.

Following a timeout, and with the crowd in a frenzy, Adams threw deep into the end zone from 40 yards out and Williams made a leaping catch for a touchdown. Williams, a seven-year NFL veteran, made use of his four-inch height advantage to out-leap 5’10” Jacksonville CB Jerry Davis. The action point attempt failed, but it didn’t matter as the Sun came away with a stunning 22-19 win.

The Sharks outgained the Sun (271 yards to 258) although the visitors had the edge in first downs (17 to 16). However, Jacksonville also turned the ball over three times, to two by the Sun.

Despite a rough start, Tony Adams completed 18 of 31 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns as well as two interceptions. Kermit Johnson rushed for 88 yards on 15 carries while James McAlister, who ran for 18 yards on 6 attempts, led the club with 9 pass receptions for 74 yards. Dave Williams (pictured below) had 5 catches for 99 yards and the two TDs.

For the Sharks, Kay Stephenson was successful on 12 of 21 throws for 127 yards and a touchdown with one picked off. Tommy Durrance ran for 73 yards on 22 carries and RB Ricky Lake added another 60 yards on 9 attempts. WR Drew Buie topped the team’s receivers with four receptions for 51 yards.

“We just threw up a prayer and hoped someone would answer,” said Dave Williams of the climactic touchdown play.

It was the second straight game in which the Sharks had lost on the last play of the game and Coach Asher could only shake his head afterward and say “I can’t tell you how much this hurts – losing two in a row like that.” They lost again the next week and then scandal would hit the team – and the whole league – when it was revealed that robust attendance figures were inflated by the handing out of free tickets. Asher lasted six weeks before being fired and the financially troubled club failed to last the full season, ending up with a 4-10 record.

The Sun also had financial problems but completed the schedule, topping the Western Division with a 13-7 tally and reaching the playoffs. They lost dismally to The Hawaiians in the first round, however, after the star rookies McAlister, Johnson, and Brown chose to sit out the contest due to a missed payroll.

Tony Adams ended up being one of the WFL’s three Co-MVPs as he led the league in passing yards (3905). Dave Williams caught 59 passes for a team-leading 979 yards (16.6 avg.) and 11 TDs. 

Grant Guthrie went to the Birmingham Americans, who won the league title, after the Sharks folded and received All-League honors from both the WFL and The Sporting News. A veteran of two NFL seasons with the Buffalo Bills, his 18 field goals topped the WFL. 

1975: Sun Defeat Bell in Highest-Scoring WFL Game

The Southern California Sun were off to a 3-1 start in the second World Football League season as they hosted the Philadelphia Bell on August 29, 1975. Under the guidance of Head Coach Tom Fears, the Sun were benefiting from the presence of rookie RB Anthony Davis, a local star out of USC who had spurned the New York Jets to become the troubled WFL’s lone high-profile rookie signing for ’75. It had been anticipated that ex-Raider Daryle Lamonica would take over at quarterback for departed 1974 co-MVP Tony Adams, but injuries kept him off the field and another rookie from Southern Cal, Pat Haden (pictured at right), stepped into the starting role after overcoming a preseason injury. But while the offense could put points on the board, there were concerns about the defense, especially when star DT Dave Roller was knocked out of action with an injury the previous week.

Philadelphia had undergone coaching turmoil during the preseason, but was now guided by ex-Green Bay Hall of Famer Willie Wood, a pioneering African-American head coach. The Bell had also picked up QB Bob Davis from the Florida Blazers, who beat out the flamboyant Jim “King” Corcoran for the starting job, as well as RB J.J. Jennings from Memphis and TE Ted Kwalick from the NFL 49ers. The Bell came into the contest at 2-2.

There was a paltry crowd of 17,811 on hand at Anaheim Stadium for the Friday night game. Philadelphia had the first scoring opportunity, but a 38-yard field goal by Bob Cooper was nullified by a penalty and the follow-up attempt was blocked.

On Southern California’s first play, Anthony Davis threw an option pass to wide-open WR Dave Williams that resulted in a 51-yard touchdown. Davis successfully ran for the action point (in the WFL, touchdowns were good for seven points and were then followed up by an “action point” that could not be kicked). It was the beginning of a big first half for the 10^th-year veteran Williams.

The Bell evened the score when RB John Land ran for a two-yard TD to cap a seven-play, 54-yard drive, followed by Bob Davis throwing to Land for the action point, but the Sun came right back when Anthony Davis returned the ensuing kickoff 84 yards for another touchdown. While they failed to convert the action point attempt, the Sun had a 15-8 lead – and had run just one play from scrimmage.

Before the first quarter was over, Williams scored again to cap a 72-yard drive, this time on a pass from Haden that covered 37 yards. The Sun again failed to add the action point but still held a 22-8 lead.

The Sun poured it on in the second quarter, with FB Greg Herd scoring on a one-yard carry set up by a pass interference call in the end zone (followed by a successful action point conversion on a run by backup QB Mike Ernst), and Williams adding two more TD catches from Haden on plays that covered 15 and 38 yards. Ted Kwalick caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Bob Davis (and caught another pass to convert the action point), but Southern California maintained a solid 44-16 lead at the half.

The Bell didn’t give up as Davis tossed three more touchdown passes in the second half, of eight yards to WR Ron Holliday in the third quarter and, in the final period, of 13 yards to ex-Eagles veteran WR Ben Hawkins and 49 yards to a future Eagles special teams star, WR Vince Papale. Two of the action point attempts were successful.

The Sun added a one-yard TD carry by RB Bill Kramer in the third quarter and an eight-yard run by RB Gary Dixon in the fourth. Both action point attempts failed, but they weren’t needed as Southern California prevailed by a score of 58-39. To add insult to injury for the Bell, the local television station that was showing the game in Philadelphia pulled the plug on the telecast because it was running too late.

The 97 points scored made it the highest-scoring game in the WFL’s brief history. The Sun rolled up 508 total yards – with 233 coming on the ground – to 436 for Philadelphia, trying vainly to play catch-up throughout most of the game. Southern California also had the edge in first downs (25 to 22) while the Bell led in turnovers (3 to 2) and penalties (14, at a cost of 152 yards, to 10 flags for 96 yards thrown on the home team).

Anthony Davis (pictured below) had another noteworthy performance, rushing for 115 yards on 21 carries, throwing a touchdown pass, and returning a kickoff for another TD. Pat Haden completed 13 of 21 passes for 207 yards with three touchdowns and had one intercepted. Dave Williams was the receiving star with 6 catches for 179 yards and four scores.

For the Bell, Bob Davis was successful on 21 of 46 throws for 285 yards and four TDs along with two interceptions. John Land ran for 55 yards on 12 carries that included a touchdown and J.J. Jennings was right behind with 10 attempts for 52 yards. Land and Ben Hawkins each caught 5 passes (for 44 and 42 yards, respectively) and Ted Kwalick gained 93 yards on his four receptions.

“All week we talked about containing (Anthony) Davis,” said a disappointed Coach Willie Wood. “Then the first time the Sun has the ball he goes around end and throws for the 51-yard touchdown. We got flat, we lost concentration because of that play.”

Southern California compiled a 7-5 record and was in first place in the Western Division when the WFL abruptly folded in October. The Bell were at the bottom of the Eastern Division at 4-7.

Anthony Davis was outstanding, comfortably leading the league in rushing (1200 yards), rushing touchdowns (16), and scoring (133 points) after 12 games. He went on to play in the CFL, NFL, and USFL, but never came close to the same level of performance.

Pat Haden was off to Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar before the league folded, but would return to pro football with the NFL’s Rams for six years. Dave Williams finished off his pro career by catching 21 passes, 9 of which were good for touchdowns. He gained 327 yards (15.6 avg.) and the scoring reception from Anthony Davis was his longest of the year. 

1969: Kilmer & Johnson Each Throw 6 TD Passes as Saints Hold Off Cards

The lowly New Orleans Saints were off to a 0-6 start prior to facing the St. Louis Cardinals on November 2, 1969, and it hardly seemed likely that they would do any better in Week 7. The Saints had scored a total of 91 points, an average of 15.2 per game, with a high of 20 in the season-opening contest against the Redskins.

In losing to Philadelphia the previous week, Jim Ninowski had seen action in place of QB Bill Kilmer (pictured at right), but the 30-year-old veteran was back behind center against the Cardinals. In addition, Dave Parks was shifted from wide receiver to tight end with Al Dodd being moved into Parks’ spot as Head Coach Tom Fears sought to generate some offense.


The Cardinals, under Head Coach Charley Winner, were having their own problems. They had started off at 2-1 but came into the game against New Orleans at 2-2-1. Injuries in the defensive backfield were a concern. Both Jim Hart and Charley Johnson (pictured at left) had started at quarterback, with Johnson holding down the job against the Saints.

There were 46,718 in attendance at Busch Memorial Stadium. In the first quarter, the Saints missed a scoring opportunity after CB Gene Howard returned a kickoff 86 yards before being knocked out of bounds. Following a pass interference call on CB Nate Wright, they had a first down at the one. FB Andy Livingston lost a yard, FB Ernie Wheelwright gained it back and then was stopped for no gain on third down. Going for it on fourth down, Kilmer tried to sneak the ball in and was stopped short. However, they were successful on a 25-yard touchdown pass play from Kilmer to Parks, and Johnson had connected with WR Dave Williams on a 32-yard TD throw for the Cardinals. The score was even at 7-7 after the opening period.

The Cardinals took the lead early in the second quarter on Johnson’s second scoring pass to Williams, this one covering 14 yards. Tom Dempsey booted a 43-yard field goal for the Saints to narrow the margin to 14-10.

Midway through the second quarter, Howard leaped and knocked away a Johnson pass that was intended for Williams, who was in the clear at the New Orleans 20. Following the thwarted scoring throw, FB Cid Edwards caught a pass from Johnson for a 14-yard gain but fumbled and CB Elijah Nevett recovered for the Saints at the St. Louis 43. Two passes to Dodd moved the ball to the 20 and then Kilmer hit Wheelwright for a touchdown that put New Orleans ahead at 17-14.

Late in the second quarter, Kilmer had an apparent 50-yard scoring pass called back when he scrambled before throwing to HB Don Shy. However, he had crossed the line of scrimmage before launching his pass. Still, the Saints extended their lead before halftime when Kilmer completed his third touchdown toss of the game of five yards to WR Dan Abramowicz. While Dempsey’s extra point attempt failed, New Orleans was up by 23-14 at the intermission and would never relinquish the lead – although there was still plenty of scoring to go.

In the third quarter, the Saints poured it on when Kilmer connected with Shy on a 28-yard scoring play and then capped another possession with a one-yard touchdown run by Wheelwright. Johnson threw a TD pass to WR John Gilliam, but Kilmer hit Abramowicz for another touchdown, from 11 yards out, and New Orleans held a 44-21 lead going into the final period.

Kilmer threw his sixth and last scoring pass less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, to Parks for 13 yards, and then St. Louis played catch-up with the score at 51-21. First came two Johnson scoring passes to Williams that covered 31 and 26 yards, respectively. After FS Larry Wilson returned a blocked field goal attempt by Dempsey late in the game, Johnson tossed his sixth touchdown pass to HB Roy Shivers that covered 14 yards. Time ran out on St. Louis, however, and the Saints held on to win the improbably wild offensive show by a score of 51-42.

It was the most points the Cardinals had given up since moving to St. Louis in 1960, and the 12 combined touchdown passes broke the NFL record of 11 first set by the Giants and Redskins in 1962.

Both teams piled up plenty of yardage, with New Orleans outgaining the Cardinals, 508 to 478. The Saints also led in first downs by 26 to 19. St. Louis was hurt by four turnovers, to one by New Orleans, and 10 penalties (as opposed to five flags thrown on the Saints).


Bill Kilmer completed 22 of 32 passes for 345 yards and a club-record 6 touchdowns and had one intercepted. Al Dodd (pictured at right) caught 7 passes for 145 yards and Dan Abramowicz and Dave Parks each caught 5 passes and scored two TDs (Abramowicz outgained Parks, 72 yards to 64). RB Tony Baker rushed for 110 yards on 14 carries.

For the Cardinals, Charley Johnson tied a franchise record with 6 touchdown passes (originally set by Jim Hardy in 1950, Johnson had matched it previously in 1965) while completing 20 of his 37 throws for 374 yards and giving up two interceptions. Dave Williams was the chief beneficiary as he caught 8 passes for 164 yards and 4 TDs. John Gilliam gained 106 yards on his 5 receptions that included one score. HB Johnny Roland was the team’s leading rusher with 44 yards on 10 attempts and Cid Edwards was right behind with 42 yards on 5 carries.

“There really isn’t any key to what happened,” said Kilmer afterward. “The receivers were getting open and I had great protection. When you get that, it makes it easy.”

“I was just disappointed in our defensive showing,” said a frustrated Charley Winner. “I just never thought a Cardinal defense would permit that many points.”

After a loss to the Cowboys the next week, the resurgent Saints won three straight games and ended up at 5-9 and in third place in the Capitol Division of the Eastern Conference. St. Louis rebounded with a big win over the Giants but won only once more and finished with a 4-9-1 record that ranked third in the Century Division.

Bill Kilmer, better known for his leadership ability than passing prowess, ended up throwing for 2532 yards with 20 touchdown passes and 17 interceptions. Charley Johnson, in the meantime still splitting time with Jim Hart, passed for 1847 yards with 13 TDs and 13 interceptions apiece (he was dealt to Houston in the offseason, thus resolving the quarterback dilemma in St. Louis).


Dave Williams (pictured at left) caught a career-high 56 passes for 702 yards, but caught just three more touchdown passes over the course of the season to give him a total of seven. John Gilliam was the Cards’ more accomplished receiver overall with a fourth-ranked 997 yards on 52 receptions for a 19.2 average and 10 TDs. Dan Abramowicz of the Saints led the NFL with 73 catches and ranked third with 1015 yards.