The teams meeting for the championship of the United
States Football League’s Western Conference on July 7, 1984 both had 10-8
regular season records and had recently been hot, winning six of their previous
seven games. But beyond that, there were significant differences in the
composition and style of the two clubs.
The Arizona Wranglers were coached by George Allen, a
66-year-old veteran of 12 NFL head coaching seasons and one in the USFL’s
inaugural year. As was typical of Allen’s teams, the Wranglers relied on
veteran pro talent, with strong defense that ranked at the top of the league complemented
by a conservative, ball-control offense. 37-year-old QB Greg Landry (pictured above) directed
the attack that featured two thousand-yard rushers in Tim Spencer (1212 yards)
and Kevin Long (1010 yards) as well as a talented wide receiver in Trumaine
Johnson. Still, Arizona got off to a slow start before coming on strong to
conclude the season and, qualifying for the playoffs as a Wild Card team after
finishing second in the Pacific Division, came from behind to defeat the
high-powered Houston Gamblers by a 17-16 score in the Quarterfinal round.
The Express, on the other hand, consisted of a large
number of first- and second-year players and had an offensive-minded first-year
head coach in John Hadl, a former AFL and NFL quarterback. Following a 2-3
start, the offense benefited from the arrival of rookie QB Steve Young, with
talent that matched a huge contract. An effective left-handed passer with
outstanding mobility, Young had second-year WR JoJo Townsell leading the receiving
corps plus a group of three effective rookie running backs in Kevin Nelson, Mel
Gray, and Kevin Mack to handle the ground game. The Express won the Pacific
Division and then eliminated the defending-champion Michigan Panthers the
previous week in a game that wasn’t settled until the third overtime period.
Unfortunately, Gray, in scoring the winning touchdown, also suffered a broken
leg.
There had been controversy in the week leading up to the
game when Hadl accused Allen of putting a bounty on Steve Young. Beyond that, there
was bad feeling between the two teams, and numerous scuffles broke out during
the contest.
There were 33,188 fans in attendance at Sun Devil Stadium,
as the Express had forfeited home field advantage due to lack of an available
venue (although lack of fan support may have been the bigger consideration). USFL
Commissioner Chet Simmons moved the starting time back by eight hours due to
concerns about the intense daytime heat, but it was still 100 degrees at the
8:30 pm kickoff, mitigated somewhat by a light breeze.
Los Angeles took the opening kickoff and methodically drove
73 yards down the field, with running backs Kevin Nelson and Kevin Mack, who
had a 34-yard carry, running effectively. The series stalled at the Arizona
seven yard line and Tony Zendejas kicked a 25-yard field goal for the first
score of the game.
Following a short series and punt by the Wranglers, Young
threw a pass that was intercepted by FS Luther Bradley, thus giving Arizona
good field position. The Wranglers took advantage of it, driving 36 yards in
four plays culminating in a four-yard touchdown run by Tim Spencer. Frank
Corral added the extra point and the tally remained 7-3 at the end of the
opening period.
Early in the second quarter, the Express took advantage
of a pass interference penalty to retake the lead on an 11-yard run by Nelson. On
their next possession, the visitors again drove 62 yards to a score, once again
on a Nelson carry, this time from a yard out. Zendejas successfully added both
extra points for a 17-7 lead.
A promising Arizona drive came to naught when DB Darrell
Pattillo picked off a Landry pass. However, up by ten points and with time
running down in the first half, the Express attempted a fake punt, with Jeff
Partridge trying to throw to DB Troy West, but the pass was broken up. Taking
possession at the LA 35, the Wranglers were able to score a touchdown on a
six-yard run by Spencer followed by a Corral PAT that narrowed the margin to
three points going into halftime.
The defenses dominated the third quarter as the teams
traded punts. Young had difficulty completing passes, not helped by injuries to
his receivers, and Los Angeles, which was already missing Mel Gray, lost Kevin
Nelson, who left the game in the third quarter with a sprained neck.
Still, the Express held a three-point lead and got a
break when CB Wymon Henderson intercepted a Landry pass and returned it 28
yards to gain possession in Arizona territory. But, with the partisan crowd
roaring, the Wranglers sacked Young on successive plays to force a punt from
midfield.
Arizona responded with a long scoring series. A pass to RB
Allan Clark picked up 44 yards and, on the second play of the fourth quarter,
Kevin Long ran for a touchdown from a yard out. Corral’s extra point gave the
home team a 21-17 lead.
A short LA possession that ended in a punt gave the
Wranglers good starting field position at the Express 45 and they again drove
to a score, this time with Landry throwing to Tim Spencer for a five-yard TD
that extended the lead to 28-17.
Any prospect for a comeback by the Express, now being
thoroughly dominated by the Wranglers, was snuffed out a few plays later when LB
Jim Fahnhorst intercepted a pass by Young. Arizona moved methodically 36 yards
down the field in eight plays and FB Mack Boatner finished off the spree of
three touchdowns in 11 minutes by rushing five yards for a score. With less
than three minutes left on the clock, the Wranglers were up by 18 points.
The Express came alive to score once, with a scrambling
Young connecting with a leaping TE David Hersey in the end zone for a 20-yard
touchdown. But the try for a two-point conversion failed, as did the attempted
onside kick. Time ran out on LA and the Wranglers advanced by a final score of
35-23.
The Wranglers overcame a significant deficit in the first
half to lead in total yards (329 to 283) although Los Angeles maintained the
edge in first downs (19 to 18). Each team turned the ball over twice, but the
Wranglers recorded four sacks, for a loss of 36 yards, to just one by LA. Both
teams were also penalized ten times apiece.
Greg Landry completed 10 of 21 passes for 158 yards and a
touchdown along with two interceptions, but was at his best during the fourth
quarter surge. Tim Spencer (pictured at right) rushed for 94 yards on 18 carries that included two
TDs and Kevin Long contributed 60 yards on 13 attempts. WR Lenny Willis topped
the receivers with three catches for 60 yards.
For the Express, Steve Young had his worst statistical
game of the season, succeeding on only 7 of 23 throws for 126 yards and a TD,
but with two picked off. Kevin Mack ran the ball 14 times for 88 yards and
Kevin Nelson added 72 yards on 18 attempts that included two for scores before
having to leave the game, with most of that production coming in the first
half. David Hersey was the only LA receiver to catch two passes, for 27 yards
and the one late TD, while WR Freddie Scott gained 39 yards on his lone
reception.
“We never really got going,” said Steve Young in defeat.
“It’s my job to make things happen. I’m the guy who’s supposed to be the
catalyst, and unfortunately I didn’t do that. I’ve got to take the blame.”
The Wranglers were beaten the next week for the USFL
Championship by the Philadelphia Stars, which proved to be the end of the line
for George Allen, who stepped down as head coach. Arizona was merged with the
Oklahoma Outlaws for 1985 and went 8-10 to finish fourth in the revamped
Western Conference. Things got much worse for the financially strapped Express,
who fell to the bottom of the conference at 3-15.
