1984: Gunslingers Edge Invaders for First Win

The United States Football League game in San Antonio on March 24, 1984 featured two teams seeking their first win of the season. The Oakland Invaders and San Antonio Gunslingers were both at 0-4 and struggling to put points on the board.

The Gunslingers were one of six expansion teams for the USFL’s second year, and all of the others had recorded at least one win in the early going (two of them were off to 3-1 starts). The club was underfinanced but well coached by Gil Steinke and featured a scrappy defense, although the offense, directed by promising rookie QB Rick Neuheisel (pictured at right), was less impressive.  

Oakland topped the weak Pacific Division in 1983 but was off to a dreadful start in ’84, having scored a mere 14 points thus far. Head Coach John Ralston was dismissed after three games and Chuck Hutchison, the Director of Player Personnel, was now in command. QB Fred Besana, who performed ably the previous year, was ineffective thus far although he had a standout in WR Gordon Banks for his passes. Like the Gunslingers, the defense was the better unit, but the failure of the offense to generate points was too damaging.

There was a small but enthusiastic crowd of 11,012 fans at Alamo Stadium. In the first quarter, the Invaders methodically advanced 65 yards in seven plays that concluded with a pass from Fred Besana to Gordon Banks down the middle for a 19-yard touchdown. Kevin Shea added the extra point for the 7-0 advantage.

Good gains on passes by Rick Neuheisel to TE Joey Hackett and WR Danny Buggs moved San Antonio into Oakland territory at the end of the opening period. But the drive finally stalled at the 20 and Nick Mike-Mayer’s 37-yard field goal attempt was blocked.

A short punt by the Invaders gave the Gunslingers the ball in good field position. The offense couldn’t move but LB Putt Choate ran 25 yards on a fake punt for a first down at the Oakland 22. Shortly thereafter, Neuheisel threw to Hackett for a nine-yard TD and Mike-Mayer converted to tie the score.

There was no further scoring in the first half as Shea was far off the mark on a 51-yard try for a field goal on the final play before halftime.

Oakland moved back into the lead midway through the third quarter on a 36-yard Shea field goal, his first of the season. The Gunslingers had a drive that featured a 32-yard gain thanks to a pass from Neuheisel to Buggs that had 15 yards tacked on to the end due to a roughing-the-passer penalty. RB Scott Stamper ran for 10 yards and San Antonio reached the Oakland 11, but a pass attempt on a fourth-and-one play was batted down.

The teams exchanged punts as the game headed into the fourth quarter. With time running down to less than two minutes, the Gunslingers put together an eight-play, 42-yard drive that concluded with RB Al Penn-White punching in for a touchdown from a yard out. Mike-Mayer added the point after to make it a four-point game. The fired-up San Antonio defense then stopped the Invaders in four downs to win by a final score of 14-10.

The Gunslingers led in total yards (270 to 201), first downs (17 to 12), and time of possession (34:23 to 25:37). However, Oakland recorded four sacks, to two by the Gunslingers, and San Antonio was penalized eight times, at a cost of 55 yards, to five penalties for 35 yards on the Invaders. There were no turnovers by either club.

Rick Neuheisel completed 13 of 26 passes for 156 yards with one touchdown. Scott Stamper led San Antonio’s rushers with 46 yards on 17 carries and RB Marcus Bonner and Joey Hackett (pictured at left) were the top receivers with 45 yards on four and three catches, respectively, and Hackett scored a TD.

For the Invaders, Fred Besana was successful on 19 of 34 throws for 154 yards and a TD. Gordon Banks caught 6 of those passes for 81 yards and a touchdown. RB Arthur Whittington gained 43 yards on 13 rushing attempts. On defense, LB Randy McClanahan accounted for two sacks.

The Gunslingers didn’t immediately build upon their initial victory as they lost twice more before winning three of four games on the way to a 7-11 record that placed third in the Central Division. Oakland’s losing streak reached nine games, and a third head coach, Charlie Sumner, was in charge before the Invaders abruptly turned around and reeled off seven straight wins to move into contention in the still-mediocre Pacific Division. They ultimately fell short and also finished at 7-11.

1985: Reaves Leads Bandits to Win Against Gunslingers

The Tampa Bay Bandits and San Antonio Gunslingers both had 1-1 records as they met in a United States Football League game on March 10, 1985.

The Bandits, coached for the third year by Steve Spurrier, blew out Orlando in the first week but gave up 50 points in a loss to Houston in Week 2. They featured a potent offense directed by QB John Reaves, who had just turned 35, and the all-around skills of RB Gary Anderson, who was adept both as a runner from scrimmage and receiver out of the backfield. But the defense that recorded eight sacks against the Renegades fared poorly against the explosive Gamblers, not helped by the special teams giving up two kick return TDs.

San Antonio, a low-budget operation coached by Jim Bates, was defeated by the Memphis Showboats in their opening contest but narrowly prevailed over Arizona in the next contest in which QB Rick Neuheisel played well, as did the tough defense in successfully coming from behind.

There were 21,822 fans in attendance at Alamo Stadium. On John Reaves’ second pass of the game, CB Charles Armstead intercepted for San Antonio and returned it 28 yards to the Tampa Bay 34. The Gunslingers weren’t able to move on offense, with a pass deflected on first down, the next broken up, and the third falling incomplete. They settled for a 40-yard Nick Mike-Mayer field goal for the early 3-0 lead.

The Bandits came back to go ahead on a Reaves pass to WR Eric Truvillion that covered 32 yards and Zenon Andrusyshyn added the extra point. Still in the opening period, San Antonio responded with another Mike-Mayer field goal, this time from 30 yards that narrowed the margin to 7-6.

In the second quarter, Reaves, who was consistently hitting his receivers, went long to WR Steve Carter for a 54-yard TD. Andrusyshyn again converted to make the score 14-6. The Gunslingers put together a drive that concluded with RB Scott Stamper diving into the end zone from a yard out. They tried to pass for a two-point conversion but failed and the Bandits remained in front by 14-12.

Late in the perioed, Tampa Bay put together a long drive of 63 yards in 13 plays. With ten seconds remaining on the clock, Andrusyshyn booted a 22-yard field goal and the Bandits took a 17-12 lead over the tenacious Gunslingers into halftime.

San Antonio had managed to keep the game close in the first half, but the Bandits finally took control midway through the third quarter when CB Warren Hanna intercepted a Neuheisel sideline pass and returned it 78 yards for a touchdown. Andrusyshyn’s point after made the score 24-12.

Fred Mortensen relieved Neuheisel at quarterback, but with not much more success on offense. The visitors added to their lead early in the fourth quarter when Reaves again connected on a scoring pass to Truvillion, this time from three yards out, and Andrusyshyn’s extra point gave the Bandits a comfortable 31-12 advantage.

San Antonio finally got on the board again with 6:48 left in the contest as Mortensen ran 10 yards for a touchdown. Once again the home team tried for a two-point conversion, and again they failed, but it was of no consequence as the Bandits won by a final score of 31-18.

Tampa Bay had the edge in total yards (409 to 277) and first downs (21 to 14). The Bandits also had two sacks, to San Antonio’s one, but also turned the ball over four times, to three suffered by the Gunslingers.

John Reaves, who completed 12 straight passes at one point, was 25 of 31 for 298 yards and three touchdowns while giving up the one early interception. Eric Truvillion had 8 catches for 130 yards and two of the TDs. RB Gary Anderson rushed for 80 yards on 20 carries and also accumulated 5 pass receptions for 31 more yards.

For the Gunslingers, Rick Neuheisel was successful on just 8 of 22 throws for 101 yards and gave up two interceptions. Fred Mortensen had about the same level of success, completing 8 of 14 passes for 85 yards with one picked off. RB Don Roberts was the leading receiver by far with 7 receptions for 124 yards. Scott Stamper topped the rushers with a modest 24 yards on 9 attempts.  

The Bandits won four of their next five games on the way to a 10-8 record that placed fifth in the Eastern Conference and earned a spot in the playoffs. They lost a close contest to Oakland in the Quarterfinal round. San Antonio lost its next two contests and, mired in organizational problems, finished at 5-13 to rank sixth in the Western Conference.

John Reaves had a highly productive season, completing 56 percent of his passes for 4193 yards, which ranked second in the USFL, and 25 touchdowns, but he also gave up a league-leading 29 interceptions. Gary Anderson ended up leading the club both in rushing with 1207 yards but in pass receiving with 72 catches, for 678 yards, and scored a total of 20 touchdowns.

1984: Fourth Quarter FGs Give Express Narrow Win Over Gunslingers

Two United States Football League teams that were having difficulty generating offense in the early going met on March 17, 1984 in San Antonio. The visiting Los Angeles Express were off to a 1-2 start while the San Antonio Gunslingers remained winless at 0-3.

The Express, under Head Coach John Hadl, had made a change at quarterback from Tom Ramsey to Frank Seurer and there was hope for the future in rookie Steve Young out of Brigham Young, who had recently signed a mammoth $40 million contract. However, Young was not yet ready to play and would not be suiting up against the Gunslingers.

San Antonio, one of six expansion teams for the USFL’s second season and coached by Gil Steinke, had quarterback problems of its own. The Gunslingers were without their prize rookie, QB Rick Neuheisel, as well as backup QB Mike Ford due to injuries. 34-year-old Karl Douglas was behind center for the game against the Express.

There were 9821 fans in attendance for the Saturday contest at Alamo Stadium. As could be expected, they didn’t see much scoring, especially in the first half. The Express got on the board when Frank Seurer threw to WR Ricky Ellis for a 15-yard touchdown. Tony Zendejas added the extra point, and that was it for the scoring in the first thirty minutes.

San Antonio’s offense may have been feeble, but the defense was tough and in the third quarter LB Putt Choate intercepted a Seurer pass and returned it 45 yards for a TD. However, Nick Mike-Mayer’s extra point attempt was blocked by LB Howard Carson and the Express remained ahead by 7-6.

Later in the period, a blocked punt led to points for San Antonio. DB Peter Raeford blocked the kick by Jeff Partridge and DB Maurice Tyler recovered for the Gunslingers at the LA 32 and returned it to the six yard line. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Gunslingers scored when RB Scott Stamper ran two yards for a TD. But once again San Antonio failed to add points after a touchdown when the pass for a two-point conversion failed.

With just under nine minutes on the clock, Zendejas booted a 36-yard field goal to make it a 12-10 contest. The Express got a break as time was running down when a poor punt by San Antonio’s Ken Hartley into a stiff wind gave them good field position. Zendejas kicked another field goal, this time from 39 yards with 1:09 remaining to play to put LA ahead by a point. It was enough as the Express held on to win by a final score of 13-12.

In a game in which both offenses struggled, Los Angeles led in total yards (287 to 227) and first downs (15 to 12). The Gunslingers managed only 52 net yards through the air and were penalized 10 times, at a cost of 66 yards, to 7 flags thrown on the Express. San Antonio also turned the ball over three times, to two suffered by the Express. The failure to convert, by kicking or passing, following the two touchdowns ultimately proved fatal to the Gunslingers.

Frank Seurer completed 11 of 17 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown while giving up one interception. Tom Ramsey saw action and was 8-of-12 for 83 yards and also tossed an interception. RB Kevin Nelson rushed for 43 yards on 19 carries. Ricky Ellis had four catches for 32 yards and a TD and WR Malcolm Moore also had four receptions, gaining 30 yards. WR Anthony Allen led in receiving yards with 83 on his three catches. Tony Zendejas made the two key field goals in the fourth quarter that produced the win.

For the Gunslingers, Scott Stamper (pictured at left) was the star on offense with 87 yards on 20 carries that included a touchdown. Karl Douglas was successful on only three of ten throws for 25 yards, giving up two interceptions, while his replacement J Torchio was three-of-nine for 52 yards and was intercepted once. WR Jerry Gordon was the top receiver with three catches for 31 yards.

The Express lost another low-scoring game the next week, but Steve Young took over at quarterback two weeks later, and the results were beneficial. Los Angeles topped the Pacific Division with a 10-8 record and reached the Western Conference title game.

As for the Gunslingers, Rick Neuheisel was back in action the following week and they won for the first time. The pattern of weak offense offsetting a solid defense continued as they went on to finish third in the Central Division at 7-11.

1984: Late TD Pass Propels Gold Over Gunslingers

The Denver Gold of the United States Football League had gotten off to a 7-1 start during the 1984 season, but were in the midst of a five-game losing streak as they faced the San Antonio Gunslingers on May 25. At 7-6 Denver was still on top of the mediocre Pacific Division, but Head Coach Craig Morton’s club desperately needed a win and was without injured starting QB Craig Penrose.

The Gunslingers, in their first season in the USFL, were 5-8 despite coming off a win at Washington the previous week and had their own difficulties. Poorly managed, the Gunslingers, who were coached by Gil Steinke, were respectable on the field and had overcome a 0-4 start. Rookie QB Rick Neuheisel showed considerable promise, but it was the young-but-tough defense that fueled the improvement.

There were 20,077 in attendance for the Friday night game at Alamo Stadium. The Gunslingers took a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter on a 32-yard field goal by Nick Mike-Mayer. Brian Speelman tied the score less than five minutes into the second quarter with a 23-yard field goal and then backup QB Fred Mortensen (pictured above) threw to RB Bill Johnson for a 23-yard touchdown with 4:20 remaining in the first half. It was 10-3 in favor of the visitors at the intermission.

In the third quarter, San Antonio took advantage of a fumble recovery at the Denver 7. RB George Works ran for a TD from two yards out and, with the successful extra point, the game was tied at 10-10. Speelman added another field goal later in the period to make it 13-10 and, before the quarter was over, Denver got a break when the Gunslingers failed to convert a fourth down, allowing the Gold to take over at the San Antonio 29. Four plays later, and now in the final quarter, RB Harry Sydney ran for a three-yard touchdown and Denver was ahead by 20-10.

The Gunslingers got within seven points as the 34-year-old veteran Mike-Mayer kicked his ninth straight field goal, from 33 yards out four minutes later. A blocked punt by LB Reggie Oliver then set up another score for San Antonio. Works scored his second touchdown from a yard out and Mike-Mayer booted the tying extra point. But the decisive play of the game came with 1:52 left on the clock as Mortensen tossed a pass to RB Dave Preston that was good for a 32-yard touchdown. It was enough to give the Gold a 27-20 win.

Denver outgained the Gunslingers (394 yards to 252) and had more first downs (16 to 10). However, they also turned the ball over twice, to one by San Antonio.

In his relief role, Fred Mortensen completed 19 of 27 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns with none intercepted. WR Elmer Bailey led the Denver receivers with 4 catches for 82 yards while WR Leonard Harris was right behind with three receptions and 81 yards. Harry Sydney rushed for 42 yards on 9 carries.

For the Gunslingers, Rick Neuheisel was successful on 11 of 20 throws for 148 yards and no TDs or interceptions. RB Marcus Bonner had 43 rushing yards on 6 attempts and also caught 4 passes for 29 yards. WR Danny Buggs gained the most receiving yards with 50 that all came on a single reception. George Works (pictured at left), who scored two touchdowns, gained 37 yards on 10 carries.

Ending the losing streak did not mark a turnaround for Denver. The Gold lost the following week and won just once more the rest of the way, finishing at 9-9 and in third place in the Pacific Division – although, in a week division, they remained in contention until the season finale. San Antonio also finished third in the Central Division with a 7-11 record.

Fred Mortensen appeared in seven games and completed 64 of 100 passes for 994 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions. Released by the Gold following the season, he was picked up by San Antonio for 1985.

Past Venue: Alamo Stadium

San Antonio, TX

Year opened: 1940

Capacity: 23,000

Names:

Alamo Stadium, 1940 to date

Pro football tenants:

San Antonio Toros (TFL/ContFL), 1968, 1970
San Antonio Wings (WFL), 1975

San Antonio Gunslingers (USFL), 1984-85

San Antonio Riders (WLAF), 1991

Postseason games hosted:

TFL Championship, Toros 21 Texarkana 16, Dec. 7, 1968
ContFL Western Conf. Playoff, Toros 21 Las Vegas 17, Dec. 7, 1969
TFL Championship, Toros 21 Fort Worth 17, Nov. 21, 1970

Other tenants of note:

San Antonio high school teams, 1940 to date

Notes: Served as home field for the San Antonio Matadors of the short-lived Spring Football League, 2000.  In addition to seasons indicated, Toros used venue for one Texas Football League home game in 1967 and the one Continental Football League postseason game in 1969. Hosted US Army All-American Bowl, 2002. A WPA project that was primarily constructed of limestone and concrete and nicknamed “the Rock Pile”. Owned and operated by San Antonio Independent School District and currently the home venue for several area high schools and is the largest high school football stadium in Texas. Venue was added to National Register of Historic Places in 2011.

Fate: Still in use.

[Updated 2/3/14]
[Updated 5/11/15]

1985: Gunslingers Beat Outlaws with Late Safety to Cap 4th Quarter Surge

The San Antonio Gunslingers had gone 7-11 in 1984, their inaugural United States Football League season, and played poorly in losing their 1985 season-opening game to Memphis by a score of 20-3. There did not appear to be much reason for optimism for the team coached by 38-year-old Jim Bates. The offense averaged just 17.2 points per outing in ’84, but QB Rick Neuheisel (pictured at right), a rookie out of UCLA in the team’s first year, at least now had a season of experience under his belt although his supporting cast was largely the same. It was the “Bounty Hunter” defense that kept the team competitive. However, the organization seemed shaky as owner Clinton Manges, an oil man, had difficulty paying its bills and presented a fly-by-night front with its offices housed in a double-wide trailer that was kept in the Alamo Stadium parking lot.

On March 3, 1985 the Gunslingers hosted the Arizona Outlaws before a small crowd of 11,151. Coached by Frank Kush, the Outlaws were a combination of 1984’s Arizona Wranglers and Oklahoma Outlaws. Several of the veterans who had been with the Wranglers under retired Head Coach George Allen supplemented the Outlaws squad that featured ex-Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Doug Williams.

The Outlaws get off to a fast start, scoring on their first possession. They went 71 yards in 13 plays capped by RB Kevin Long’s one-yard scoring carry to take a 7-0 lead that held up until the final period. San Antonio threatened once in the second quarter, reaching the Arizona nine yard line after a 46-yard drive, but a 33-yard field goal attempt by Nick Mike-Mayer was aborted when Neuheisel fumbled the snap.

Arizona missed out on opportunities to extend the lead as Luis Zendejas failed on field goal attempts of 42 and 51 yards. Still, it seemed as though the one-touchdown lead might be enough against San Antonio’s weak offense.

In the fourth quarter the Gunslingers finally got on the board following a bad snap on an Arizona punt. Punter Case de Bruijn dropped the ball, recovered, but was tackled at his two yard line. Two plays later RB Scott Stamper scored a one-yard TD and, with the successful extra point, it was a tie game.

However, the Outlaws came right back, driving 75 yards in 12 plays that was again completed by Long on a one-yard scoring dive. But on the first play of San Antonio’s ensuing possession, Neuheisel came up with a big play as he threw to WR Danny Buggs for a 69-yard touchdown. The successful extra point again tied the game at 14-14.

There were more problems on special teams for Arizona as San Antonio LB Reggie Mathis blocked the punt following the next series and DB Jim Bob Morris recovered at the Arizona two. But the Outlaws kept the Gunslingers out of the end zone and, following yet another bad snap on a field goal attempt on fourth down, Neuheisel threw an incomplete pass.

The Outlaws had dodged a bullet but also had the ball deep in their own territory. On the second play, DE Jeff Chaffin sacked Doug Williams in the end zone with just over a minute remaining in the contest to provide the winning margin. San Antonio, having scored all of its points in the final period, came away with a 16-14 win.

Arizona outgained the Gunslingers (304 to 168) and had more first downs (16 to 10). The Outlaws sacked Neuheisel seven times, giving up two (although one was the game-deciding safety), and punted only twice, while San Antonio had to kick the ball away on six occasions. But they only managed to score the two touchdowns, and sloppy special teams play had a huge effect (although both clubs were so afflicted).

Rick Neuheisel completed 10 of 22 passes for 155 yards, with 69 of that total coming on his one touchdown pass, along with one interception. It was also the only reception for Danny Buggs, who nevertheless led the team in receiving yards, while RB Don Roberts and TE James Hadnot each caught two passes, for 15 and 12 yards, respectively. The Gunslingers gained just 54 rushing yards, and Scott Stamper led the way with 22 yards on 8 carries.

For Arizona, Doug Williams was successful on 24 of 34 throws for 211 yards with no TDs but two interceptions. TE Ron Wheeler caught 6 of those passes for 61 yards. Kevin Long led the team with 36 rushing yards on 12 attempts that included the two short TDs and also contributed 5 pass receptions for 49 more.


Coach Kush (pictured at left) expressed understandable disappointment with his club’s special teams play. Special teams “had to be the difference in the game,” said Kush. He added “San Antonio should get credit, though, because they hung in there.”

The tough defense that went on to score a total of four safeties over the course of the season wasn’t enough to carry the Gunslingers to many victories – they ended up with a 5-13 record for sixth place in the Western Conference. The off-field ineptness continued to distract the team, with missed paydays causing Coach Bates to quit before it was over. Arizona was 8-10, two places above San Antonio. The Outlaws won the rematch between the teams by a 13-3 score.

1984: Panthers Rally Behind Backup QB to Beat Gunslingers in Overtime

The Michigan Panthers, defending champions of the United States Football League, looked likely to repeat when they started off at a 6-0 pace in 1984. However, losing star WR Anthony Carter to a season-ending injury sent Head Coach Jim Stanley’s team into a downward spiral. By the time they took on the expansion San Antonio Gunslingers on June 1, they were 7-7 and in danger of falling out of contention.

The Gunslingers, coached by Gil Steinke and one of six new teams in the USFL for ’84, came into the contest with a 5-9 record. The offense had a rookie starting at quarterback, Rick Neuheisel out of UCLA, and had difficulty scoring either through the air or on the ground. The defense, which came to be known as The Bounty Hunters, was better and kept the team competitive.

There were 16,384 fans in attendance at Alamo Stadium for the Friday night game. They witnessed a first half that was almost scoreless. The only points came very late in the opening period as San Antonio’s Nick Mike-Mayer booted a 26-yard field goal to give the Gunslingers a 3-0 lead, capping a 60-yard drive that ended at the Michigan three yard line.

The Panthers’ Novo Bojovic had a chance to tie the game midway threw the second quarter, but he missed a 22-yard field goal attempt, and that was the closest the defending champions came to scoring before halftime. It was the first time during the 1984 season, and the second time ever, that Michigan was shut out in the first half.

San Antonio extended its lead on the club’s first possession of the second half that culminated in Neuheisel passing to WR Jerry Gordon for a 22-yard touchdown. Michigan’s quarterback, Bobby Hebert, left the game due to injury after completing just two of his eight passes for 35 yards, and backup QB Whit Taylor (pictured at top) came into the game. With just under four minutes left in the third quarter, Bojovic was successful with a 28-yard field goal that narrowed San Antonio’s lead to 10-3.

Less than a minute into the fourth quarter, the Panthers tied the game when Taylor threw to TE Mike Cobb for a three-yard touchdown. However, San Antonio went back ahead at 17-10 with 6:28 remaining in regulation as RB George Works dove into the end zone for a TD on a fourth-and-one play.

The Panthers responded with a 14-play, 80-yard drive that resulted in a four-yard scoring pass from Taylor to WR Anthony Allen with 51 seconds left in the fourth quarter, and with Bojovic’s successful PAT, the contest was again tied at 17-17.

The Gunslingers had a chance to win on the last play of the fourth quarter, but Mike-Mayer’s 58-yard field goal attempt hit the crossbar and was no good. The game proceeded into overtime.

With a strong wind blowing, Michigan won the toss and elected to kick off to start the OT period. It didn’t take long for the gamble to pay off. CB Oliver Davis intercepted a Neuheisel pass and returned it for a 27-yard touchdown just 22 seconds into the extra period to win the game for the Panthers by a final score of 23-17.

The Gunslingers outgained Michigan (311 yards to 251) and had a slight edge in first downs (19 to 18), although they also turned the ball over three times, to the Panthers’ one, the last time fatally.

Coming off the bench in the second half, Whit Taylor completed 13 of 23 passes for 139 yards with two touchdowns and none intercepted. Anthony Allen caught 7 passes for 98 yards and a TD. RB Ken Lacy led the running attack with 32 yards on 12 carries, while RB Albert Bentley was right behind at 31 yards on his 10 attempts.


For San Antonio, Rick Neuheisel was successful on 16 of 32 passes for 213 yards that included one TD but also two interceptions. TE Joey Hackett was the top receiver with 4 receptions for 89 yards. RB Mike Hagen rushed for 44 yards on 14 carries.

“We were in double rotation nickel coverage, and I had a short area of responsibility,” said Davis of the play that resulted in the decisive score. “I made a hell of a break for the ball and got to walk it in. My main thing was to make sure I had the ball. I think he (Neuheisel) never really saw me. We disguised the defense to make him think it was a man-to-man.”

“We were in the nickel defense with an extra back,” added Coach Stanley. “This is one of the real good victories for this team. We showed class in the game. I'm proud of this team more than any other.”

The Panthers lost the next week but went on to finish up with two wins in the last four games, just qualifying for the postseason as a wild card with a 10-8 record. They lost to the Los Angeles Express in an epic triple-overtime First Round playoff game. San Antonio ended up at 7-11 and in third place, behind the Panthers, in the Central Division.

The relief performance by Whit Taylor was a highlight of his two seasons with Michigan (ironically, he played for San Antonio in 1985). Overall, he completed 47 of 96 passes for 790 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions.