1983: Denver Explodes on Offense to Defeat Wranglers

In the inaugural United States Football League season, the Denver Gold were hardly known for explosive offense. They turned the ball over with great frequency and were at the bottom of the USFL in offensive production. Denver had also experienced the first head coaching change of any team in the new league when Red Miller, formerly of the NFL Broncos, gave way to Craig Morton, an ex-Broncos quarterback. But on June 17, 1983 the Gold exploded against the Arizona Wranglers to not only post their highest point total of the year but also the most yards of total offense by any USFL club in the first season.

To be sure, the Wranglers had their own problems. After getting off to a 4-4 start, Head Coach Doug Shively’s team had lost seven straight. Arizona also had difficulty putting points on the board. While rookie QB Alan Risher showed promise, the club simply couldn’t remain competitive - even in the weak Pacific Division, where the 6-9 Gold were still mathematically in the hunt for the division title.

The one thing the Gold could do better than any other USFL team was draw fans, and there were 42,621 on hand for the Friday night game at Mile High Stadium, which was also the last home game of the year. The Gold wasted no time, getting on the board less than four minutes into the first quarter by driving 91 yards in six plays that culminated in a 75-yard touchdown pass from QB Craig Penrose (pictured above) to WR John Dirden.

The Wranglers responded with a 76-yard drive into scoring territory, but on a fourth-and-two play TE Phil Denfield fumbled the pitchout from Alan Risher and CB David Dumars recovered at the Denver 17. It was Arizona’s only threat of the first half.

Meanwhile, Denver put together an 82-yard drive in less than two minutes as RB Vincent White had runs of 29, 25, and 11 yards and backup QB Fred Mortensen threw to TE Bob Niziolek for a 12-yard TD. On the extra point attempt, the Gold lined up for a kick but instead the snap went to RB Bo Matthews, who powered into the end zone for two points. The score remained 15-0 at the half.

The Gold took the second half kickoff and drove 80 yards with Penrose completing a five-yard scoring pass to TE Darryl Goosby. Denver, pulling out all of its tricks, added to the lead later in the third quarter with the benefit of a flea-flicker pass from Penrose to WR Richard Matheney that gained 26 yards. It set up a 33-yard Brian Speelman field goal to make the score 25-0.

The Wranglers finally got on the board in the fourth quarter when SS Aaron Mitchell intercepted a Penrose pass and returned it 66 yards to the Denver 11. QB Dan Manucci threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to TE Mark Keel but the try for two points was unsuccessful. The Gold came back to score one more TD, on a Penrose pass to WR Victor James that covered seven yards, and with the successful Speelman point after finished up with a 32-6 win.

Denver rolled up an impressive 509 yards, to just 167 for the Wranglers. The attack was well balanced as the Gold gained 256 yards on the ground and 253 through the air. They also accumulated 22 first downs to Arizona’s 9 and dominated time of possession (35:22 to 24:38). However, Denver was also penalized 15 times, to 9 flags thrown on the visitors. There were remarkably few turnovers, with each club suffering one apiece.

Craig Penrose, a former teammate of Morton’s with the Broncos who joined the club after he became head coach, completed 12 of 21 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Vincent White  (pictured below) had a big day as he rushed for 159 yards on 20 carries. Victor James caught four passes for 60 yards while Bob Niziolek gained 93 yards on three receptions. John Dirden’s 75-yard scoring catch was his only one of the game.

For the Wranglers, Alan Risher was successful on just 10 of 25 throws for 105 yards and replacement Dan Manucci went 5-for-14 and 52 yards with one TD. Mark Keel caught 4 passes for 57 yards and a TD to pace the club. The running game that produced just 25 yards overall on 18 attempts was led by RB Darryl Clark’s 10 yards on 6 carries.

The Gold returned to their losing ways, finished the season at 7-11 and third in the Pacific Division. Arizona did likewise, ending up at the bottom of the division with a 4-14 record. 

Vincent White, like Penrose a late addition to the team, had by far his most productive game against the Wranglers. For the year, he ended up rushing for 291 yards on 52 carries for an impressive 5.6-yard average gain. He would see far more action in 1984.

1983: Bandits Beat Wranglers as Anderson Scores Clinching TD in Debut

The Tampa Bay Bandits had gotten off to a good start in the United States Football League’s inaugural season. Head Coach Steve Spurrier’s team had an outstanding passing offense and was 7-3 in the highly-competitive Central Division. 

However, there was cause for concern in that veteran QB John Reaves had gone down with a broken wrist in the seventh week and his capable backup, Jimmy Jordan, suffered a shoulder separation in Week 10 at Oakland. Thus, the Bandits would have to go with an untested signal caller, Mike Kelley, in their May 15, 1983 game against the Arizona Wranglers. On the upside, rookie RB Gary Anderson (pictured above) would be making his first appearance of the season, having just signed during the previous week.

A star in college at Arkansas, Anderson was drafted in the first round by the NFL’s San Diego Chargers, but they expressed an inclination to shift him to wide receiver. Anderson thus chose to sign with Tampa Bay, where he could continue to play at running back.

As for the visiting Wranglers, they were 4-6 under Head Coach Doug Shively, which was good enough to remain competitive in the weak Pacific Division. Rookie QB Alan Risher was performing ably and WR Jackie Flowers was among the USFL’s top touchdown scorers.

There were 32,327 fans in attendance at Tampa Stadium and they saw the home team score first on a 49-yard field goal by Zenon Andrusyshyn. However, in their second possession the Bandits drove to the Arizona six but Anderson was stopped short on a fourth-and-one carry and the score remained 3-0 after one quarter.

The Wranglers took the lead in the second quarter when RB Harold Blue ran 25 yards for a touchdown, followed by a successful extra point. After Arizona’s touchdown, the Bandits drove to the Arizona 29 but were backed up by a delay of game penalty and Andrusyshyn was then wide to the left on a 51-yard field goal attempt. Later, Tampa Bay again moved the ball to the Wranglers’ 29 but Kelley was intercepted by LB Sam Norris.

Finally, CB Jeff George intercepted a Risher pass at the Arizona 49 and returned it to the 38 yard line. While he fumbled at the end, FS Glen Edwards recovered and the resulting Tampa Bay possession culminated in Kelley tossing a four-yard touchdown pass to star WR Eric Truvillion. The Bandits, despite the missed opportunities, took a 10-7 lead into halftime.

The margin was extended to 13-7 in the third quarter when Andrusyshyn booted a 46-yard field goal. Then in a pivotal play, CB Warren Hanna intercepted a pass by Risher near midfield (Hanna’s third pickoff of the day). Tampa Bay took advantage on a series that ended with Anderson taking a pitchout and running for a 12-yard TD. The additional score proved to be enough – while Risher connected with WR Neil Balholm for an eight-yard touchdown, Tampa Bay was able to hold on for a 20-14 win.

The Bandits dominated statistically, leading in total yards (340 to 197), first downs (21 to 10), and time of possession (34:56 to 25:04). Still, Tampa Bay was nearly undone by 10 penalties as well as four turnovers and Kelley was sacked seven times. But Arizona turned the ball over six times and struggled against the tough Tampa Bay defense.

Gary Anderson had an impressive debut, rushing for 99 yards on 18 carries with the one TD and catching four passes for 54 more yards. Mike Kelley, also making his first pro start, completed 21 of 39 passes for 239 yards with a touchdown and an interception. WR Danny Buggs had 6 catches for 87 yards.

For the Wranglers, Alan Risher completed 13 of 25 throws for 126 yards and a TD, but with four interceptions. TE Mark Keel topped the team with 45 yards on three receptions, and Neil Balholm also caught three passes, for 26 yards, while Jackie Flowers was limited to just two catches for 38 yards. RB Calvin Murray led the ground game with 57 yards on 16 carries.

Tampa Bay ended up going 11-7 and finishing third in the Central Division and just out of the playoffs. The Wranglers completely collapsed, never winning again the rest of the way to finish at 4-14.

In eight games, Gary Anderson continued to play impressively and gained 516 yards on 97 carries for a solid 5.3-yard average while catching 29 passes for 347 yards and a 12.0 average out of the backfield. Mike Kelley won a second straight start and ended up appearing in a total of six games, passing for 1003 yards with four touchdowns against five interceptions. 

1983: Breakers Pull Away in Second Half to Beat Wranglers

The United States Football League Week 7 contest at Tempe, Arizona on April 17, 1983 featured the Boston Breakers, a 4-2 team that was in contention in the Atlantic Division, against the Arizona Wranglers, 3-3 along with the other three clubs in the Pacific Division.

The Breakers, coached by Dick Coury, had a potent offense directed by 35-year-old QB John Walton, who came out of retirement following previous stints in the Continental, World, and National football leagues. WR Charlie Smith, formerly of the NFL Eagles, combined with rookie wide receivers Nolan Franz and Frank Lockett to provide good targets and the running game was paced by HB Richard “Fast” Crump (pictured above). A solid linebacker corps, led by rookie Marcus Marek, anchored the defense. Boston was a game behind the division-leading Philadelphia Stars coming into the contest in Arizona.

Head Coach Doug Shively’s Wranglers had less talent across the board. The roster was undistinguished, but the team was holding its own in a mediocre division and had put together two exciting come-from-behind wins in doing so. Rookie QB Alan Risher played well and had a big-play wide receiver available in Jackie Flowers. Another ex-Eagle, Calvin Murray, was the top running back.

There were 20,911 in attendance at Sun Devil Stadium, and they had little to cheer about. Boston got the first big break early in the first quarter as Arizona punter Jim Asmus fumbled a snap and was tackled at his own two yard line. Walton promptly fired a pass to Crump for a touchdown.

The Wranglers immediately turned the ball over again thanks to a fumble on the ensuing kickoff. The Breakers came away with a 38-yard Tim Mazzetti field goal and the score was 10-0 with 7:21 left in the opening period.

Arizona finally got on the board halfway through the second quarter when Risher tossed a four-yard scoring pass to Flowers. With 31 seconds remaining before halftime, Mazzetti booted a 20-yard field goal and the score was 13-7 at the intermission.

In the third quarter, Boston put together a seven-play, 58-yard drive that resulted in FB Tony Davis running for a six-yard TD. The score was 20-7 with just under nine minutes remaining in the period. It got worse for the home team three minutes later when Breakers safety Joe Restic intercepted a Risher pass which resulted in Mazzetti adding to the margin with a 50-yard field goal.

Before the period was over, Arizona scored again, this time on a one-yard touchdown run by Murray that was followed by a successful two-point conversion on a throw from Risher to WR Neil Balholm. It was 23-15 after three quarters of play and Arizona was still within striking range.

However, there would be no late-game heroics for the mistake-prone Wranglers in this contest. The Breakers put it away with three fourth quarter touchdowns, the first two on four-yard runs by Crump and the last a fumble recovery by Lockett in the end zone. Arizona scored once more on a two-yard pass from backup QB Todd Krueger to Balholm, and the two connected again on a successful two-point conversion, but by then the outcome had long been decided. Boston came away with a convincing 44-23 win.

The Breakers outgained Arizona, 325 yards to 253, while the Wranglers had the edge with 19 first downs to Boston’s 18. Time of possession was nearly equal – the Breakers held the ball for 30:26 to Arizona’s 29:34. However, turnovers put the Wranglers in an early hole and sealed their fate – they gave up the ball five times to Boston’s one.

John Walton had an efficient day, completing 20 of 26 passes for 183 yards with one touchdown and none intercepted. Richard Crump rushed for an even 100 yards on 21 carries that included two TDs and caught 5 passes for 17 yards and one score. Nolan Franz had 6 receptions for 63 yards and Charlie Smith gained 66 yards on his 4 catches. Tim Mazzetti’s three field goals gave him 12 straight and, together with five extra points, he took over as the USFL’s scoring leader with 56 points.

For the Wranglers, Alan Risher was successful on 13 of 26 throws for 123 yards with a TD but two intercepted; Todd Krueger tossed 11 passes in relief and completed 6 for 55 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Calvin Murray was the leading rusher with 77 yards on 19 attempts and a TD. Neil Balholm pulled in 7 passes for 81 yards and a touchdown while Jackie Flowers caught 5 for 35 yards.

The Breakers remained in contention throughout the season, finishing second in the division with an 11-7 record and barely missing a wild card spot in the postseason. Arizona, however, completely collapsed, winning one more game the rest of the way and ending up tying Washington for the USFL’s worst record at 4-14.

John Walton missed time due to injury but still managed to throw more passes (589) than any other USFL quarterback and completed 56 percent of them for 3772 yards with 20 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Richard Crump was the league’s seventh-ranked rusher with 990 yards on 190 carries, giving him a 5.2-yard average. He also scored a total of 12 TDs. The ex-Falcon Tim Mazzetti (pictured below) ended up second in scoring (119 points) and field goals (27).