1983: Last-Minute Field Goal Propels Panthers Past Federals

The Michigan Panthers were fighting for a playoff spot in the inaugural United States Football League season as they hosted the Washington Federals on June 20, 1983. The Federals had defeated Michigan early in the season, but the Panthers had undergone changes that improved their fortunes since then.

Coached by Jim Stanley, Michigan got off to a 1-4 start (including the loss at Washington) before veteran additions to the offensive line helped fuel a turnaround that had the club at 9-6 and a game behind Chicago and Tampa Bay in the USFL’s Central Division. Unheralded rookie QB Bobby Hebert was fast developing into a star and WR Anthony Carter (pictured above), the high-priced first year player out of Michigan, had overcome a slow start to become a potent deep threat. The running game was sound and the defense formidable.

The Federals, under Head Coach Ray Jauch, were far less successful and had won only one other contest thus far to linger at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a league-worst 2-13 record. There was an outstanding rookie in RB Craig James and first-year QB Mike Hohensee was able when healthy, but he was out for the rematch with the Panthers and veteran NFL backup Kim McQuilken was filling in. 

There were 26,418 fans in attendance for the Monday night game at the Pontiac Silverdome. Early in the first quarter, the Panthers advanced into Washington territory and Bobby Hebert threw to Anthony Carter, who split two defenders on the way to a 37-yard touchdown. Novo Bojovic added the extra point.

On their next possession, the Panthers again moved well. Hebert completed passes to Carter for 20 and 10 yards, but after gaining a first down inside the Washington 10, the Federals were able to keep them out of the end zone thanks to good plays by LB Joe Harris and CB Jeff Brown. Michigan had to settle for a 19-yard Bojovic field goal.

Down 10-0, the Federals put together a good drive. McQuilken tossed passes to WR Mike Harris, Craig James, and RB Billy Taylor and, facing third-and-one at the Michigan four, he faked a handoff and threw to a wide-open Taylor in the end zone for a TD. Sandro Vitiello missed the point after but the score was narrowed to 10-6.

Washington’s next series resulted in a punt from deep in its own territory. DE Ronnie Paggett partially blocked the kick and Carter returned it to the Federals’ 14. A pass interference call and throw from Hebert to Carter that covered 10 yards set up a one-yard touchdown carry by RB John Williams. Bojovic converted and the Panthers were ahead by 17-6 with 1:12 remaining in the half. The second quarter scoring was not yet over, however, as the Federals were able to get past midfield and, on the final play before halftime, Vitiello booted a field goal from 51 yards that made it 17-9.

Early in the third quarter, Washington got a break on defense when TE Mike Cobb fumbled after catching a pass from Hebert and SS Doug Greene recovered the loose ball and ran 35 unmolested yards for a TD. A try for a two-point conversion that would have tied the score failed, but Michigan’s lead was narrowed to 17-15.

The Federals pulled off a successful onside kick but turned the ball over on a Taylor fumble three plays later. Michigan took advantage, driving to a one-yard run for a TD by RB Ken Lacy, and Bojovic added the extra point. Washington responded with a 74-yard possession that featured the running of James and RB Curtis Bledsoe and resulted in a one-yard scoring carry by James with 6:48 to go in the period. This time Vitiello made good on the point after to again make it a two-point contest at 24-22.

That was it for the scoring until the fourth quarter when Vitiello came through on a 45-yard field goal that gave the visitors a narrow 25-24 advantage. But with their backs to the wall, the Panthers put together a 73-yard drive. With 18 seconds left on the clock, Bojovic kicked an 18-yard field goal that provided the final margin in Michigan’s 27-25 win.

The Panthers led in total yards (335 to 285) while Washington had the edge in first downs (17 to 16) and time of possession (31:13 to 28:47). Each team turned the ball over twice while Michigan recorded four sacks, to none by the Federals.

Bobby Hebert completed 13 of 21 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown as well as an interception. Anthony Carter had 5 catches for 94 yards and a TD. Ken Lacy rushed for 81 yards on 22 carries that included a touchdown and John Williams added 59 yards on 16 attempts that also included a score.

For the Federals, Kim McQuilken was successful on 19 of 27 throws for 158 yards and a TD without giving up an interception. Craig James (pictured above) gained 89 yards on 13 rushing attempts and also had 7 pass receptions for 63 yards.

The win kept the Panthers even with the Bandits, who lost, and they ultimately finished atop the Central Division at 12-6 (Chicago ended up with the lone Wild Card spot and Tampa Bay finished third and missed the postseason). Michigan handily defeated the Oakland Invaders in the Semifinal playoff round and then edged the Philadelphia Stars to win the initial USFL Championship. The hard-luck Federals managed to win twice more and were 4-14.

1983: Walker & Generals Hold Off Late Rally to Defeat Gilliam & Federals

The New Jersey Generals had made the biggest player signing heading into the inaugural United States Football League season, but were struggling at 1-6 as they hosted the Washington Federals on April 17, 1983. RB Herschel Walker (pictured above), who left Georgia after a Heisman-winning junior year in ’82 to sign with the new Spring league, overcame a slow start to rank among the top rushers, but Head Coach Chuck Fairbanks’ team as a whole was lacking. QB Bobby Scott, longtime NFL backup to Archie Manning in New Orleans, was mediocre and the defense was no better.

The Federals also came into the game with a 1-6 record. Coached by Ray Jauch, the club had some talent but suffered many injuries and was prone to losing close contests. Two rookies on offense, QB Mike Hohensee and RB Craig James, showed promise when healthy. The defense was woeful and the effort to find a reliable placekicker was not going well.

There were 35,381 fans in attendance at Giants Stadium in the New Jersey Meadowlands. The only score of the first quarter came as a result of a safety on New Jersey’s opening possession when punter Dave Jacobs ran out of his end zone. Washington was ahead by a 2-0 margin.

The Generals took control in the second quarter. A 40-yard pass play from Bobby Scott to TE Victor Hicks was good for a touchdown although an attempted two-point conversion was unsuccessful. Midway through the period, a 46-yard New Jersey possession was capped by a two-yard Herschel Walker touchdown carry. This time Scott threw to FB Maurice Carthon to add two points and make the score 14-2.

With the Federals down by twelve points, Joe Gilliam entered the game at quarterback. The 32-year-old Gilliam had experience as a starting quarterback with the NFL Steelers, but had fallen on hard times in the intervening years due to off-field problems. He had started in place of Hohensee the previous week and now guided the visitors to their first offensive score, tossing an 18-yard TD pass to WR Mike Holmes. The the extra point attempt was missed, however, and New Jersey later added a 32-yard Jacobs field goal to take a 17-8 lead into halftime.

The third quarter was scoreless, but on the first play of the fourth quarter, Walker breezed into the end zone from eight yards out for a touchdown. The try for extra point failed, but the home team’s 23-8 lead appeared to be secure.

At this point, Washington began to mount a comeback. On a drive highlighted by two pass interference calls on Generals SS Dana Noel, Gilliam connected with WR Joey Walters for a nine-yard touchdown. Gilliam again threw to Walters for two points and New Jersey’s lead was narrowed to 23-16.

The Federals scored once more on a spectacular play when Gilliam passed to Craig James, who caught it at the New Jersey 35, was spun around at the 28, regained his balance, and sped the rest of the way for a 52-yard touchdown. However, down by a point and trying to take the lead, Washington attempted a two-point conversion that failed when Gilliam’s pass was knocked down by FS Keith Moody.

Still, there were eight minutes remaining. In the final minute, Gilliam drove the Federals down the field, starting at their own 13 and reaching the New Jersey 16 with a 26-yard completion to WR Vince Kinney highlighting the series. The Federals lined up for a field goal attempt with eight seconds left, but Ken Olson missed from 33 yards and New Jersey came away with a 23-22 win.

The Generals had the edge in total yards (389 to 312) and first downs (24 to 18). However, New Jersey also turned the ball over three times, to one by the Federals, and Washington accumulated three sacks, to two by the Generals. The Federals punted seven times, to two by New Jersey, while also drawing eight penalties to six flags thrown on the Generals.

Herschel Walker rushed for 143 yards on 28 carries that included two touchdowns, and his longest gain was for 38 yards. Maurice Carthon contributed 57 yards on 18 rushing attempts. Bobby Scott completed 13 of 25 passes for 206 yards with one TD but also three interceptions. Victor Hicks had four catches for 72 yards and a score.

For the Federals, Joe Gilliam was successful on 10 of 22 throws for 199 yards and three touchdowns, giving up one interception, in relief of Mike Hohensee, who was three-of-seven for 21 yards. RB Billy Taylor gained 85 yards on 17 carries and added four pass receptions for 26 yards while Craig James rushed for 28 yards on 10 attempts and gained 77 yards on his three catches that included a TD.

New Jersey lost a close game in overtime the next week on the way to a 6-12 finish, which placed a distant third in the Atlantic Division. Washington ended up in the cellar at 4-14.

Herschel Walker was in a virtual dead heat with another rookie, RB Kelvin Bryant of the Philadelphia Stars, in the USFL rushing standings following the win over the Federals and ultimately came out on top with 1812 yards. He also topped the new league with 17 rushing touchdowns and 18 overall. He received consensus All-League recognition.

Joe Gilliam continued to split time with Mike Hohensee and ended up completing 40 of 102 passes (39.2 %) for 673 yards and five TDs while giving up 12 interceptions.  

The missed field goal try at the end was Ken Olson’s first official attempt for the Federals. He had not had any attempts in his debut the previous week and an earlier miss from 37 yards against the Generals was nullified by a roughing-the-kicker penalty. Olson was gone by the next week.

1983: Federals Defeat Panthers for First Win

The Washington Federals had endured tough going in the first three weeks of the inaugural United States Football League season, losing all three of their games, including the most recent thanks to a late field goal. On March 27, 1983 they hosted the Michigan Panthers, who came into the contest at 1-2.

The Federals, coached by Ray Jauch, had a good rookie running back in Craig James, but he was already sidelined with an injury. WR Joey Walters was a dependable receiver, but quarterback was unsettled with another promising first-year play, Mike Hohensee, injured and veteran NFL backup Kim McQuilken taking his place.

Michigan had a big-name rookie of its own, WR Anthony Carter, who was off to a slow start and a less-heralded first-year quarterback in Bobby Hebert. LB John Corker already had five sacks, but Head Coach Jim Stanley’s team was still coming together and, following a low-scoring opening win, was struggling.

There was an extremely disappointing crowd of 11,414 fans in attendance on a rainy day at RFK Stadium. The Federals got on the board first, just three minutes into the contest, with a 32-yard field goal by Obed Ariri.

That was it until midway through the second quarter when Washington extended its lead on a pass from Kim McQuilken to WR Mike Holmes that was good for a 40-yard touchdown. The Panthers responded by driving 81 yards in 12 plays, culminating in a TD pass from Bobby Hebert to Anthony Carter that covered 33 yards. It was Carter’s first pro touchdown and, with Novo Bojovic adding the extra point, Washington’s lead was narrowed to 10-7.

In the waning seconds of the first half, the Federals scored another touchdown on an eight-yard McQuilken toss to Joey Walters. Ariri missed the extra point, but the home team took a 16-7 lead into halftime.

Late in the third quarter, the Panthers came through with a big play to once again cut into Washington’s lead. Hebert connected with WR Derek Holloway for a 69-yard TD, although Bojovic also failed to convert the extra point. Still, it was a three-point contest heading into the fourth quarter. It was almost enough for the Federals, but Bojovic tied the game with a 43-yard field goal as time expired in regulation.

The Federals had the first possession in overtime and drove 72 yards in six plays, the last of which was a pass from McQuilken to Walters, who outdistanced the coverage on a down-and-in pattern for a game-winning 23-yard touchdown at 2:43 into the extra period. Washington finally broke into the win column by a final score of 22-16.

The Panthers had the edge in total yards (326 to 314) and each team recorded 20 first downs. Most of the yards came through the air as neither club mounted much of a ground attack (the Federals had the edge at 48 yards to 42). Michigan recorded six sacks (five of them by John Corker, on his way to leading the USFL in that category) but also turned the ball over seven times (six on fumbles) to just one turnover suffered by Washington.

Kim McQuilken had a big day as he completed 24 of 48 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Mike Holmes caught 6 passes for 124 yards and a TD while Joey Walters also contributed 6 receptions, gaining 99 yards and scoring twice. RB James Mayberry was Washington’s leading ground gainer with 25 yards on 10 carries while RB Eric Robinson was held to just 22 yards on 17 attempts, although he caught 5 passes for 37 yards.

For the Panthers, Bobby Hebert was successful on 22 of 44 throws for 292 yards and two TDs, tossing one interception. WR Frank McClain led the receivers with 6 catches for 76 yards and Anthony Carter added three receptions and 51 yards, including a touchdown. RB Ken Lacy ran for 35 yards on 7 attempts.

The win for the Federals did not signal a turnaround. They were thrashed by the powerful Philadelphia Stars the next week and went on to finish at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a 4-14 record. Michigan’s fortunes did improve dramatically, however. The Panthers lost again to drop into a 1-4 hole before reeling off six straight wins on the way to a 12-6 tally, best in the Central Division. They went on to win the first USFL Championship.

Kim McQuilken saw most of the action at quarterback for the Federals, throwing for 1912 yards with seven touchdowns against 14 interceptions in what would be his last pro season. Joey Walters remained productive as he caught 63 passes for 959 yards (15.2 avg.) and six TDs.