From the opening kickoff, it has been apparent that the new Hall of Fame Game is a greater whole than the sum of its parts (the old Pro Bowl and College All-Star Game). Cris Collinsworth, a lanky former Florida wide receiver now with the Bengals, whalloped NFC returner Rickey Watts--jarring a fumble that Watts's new Packer teammate, rookie Rickey Jackson from Pitt, scrambled to recover.
Each team has had a scoreless possession thus far. Charger Fred Dean had a sack and third-down pressure to snuff the NFC's first go. Ram Rusty Jackson punted the AFC back to its 6, but Dan Pastorini passed out of the jam with completions of 15, 17, 6 and 20 to his Oiler receivers Kellen Winslow, Ken Burrough and Billy Johnson. With a sack and pressure of his own, however, Packer Gary Jeter kept the AFC from penetrating any deeper than the 38.
The NFC takes over at its own 20, with about five minutes to go in the first quarter ...
Glenn Doughty has taken over the game, now led by the AFC, 7-0, after one quarter. The former Baltimore Colt isn't playing like a doddering, old retiree--his 73-yard punt return, set up by rookie Dexter Manley's forcing Jackson into a quick, line-drive punt, is the Hall of Fame Game's first touchdown. Now, a 45-yard Doughty return of another Jackson live drive--this time rushed by rookie Hugh Green--has the AFC at midfield as the second quarter opens ...
Doughty played wingback at the University of Michigan but earned a starting spot as a wide receiver for the 1972 College All-Star Game. This is where he spent his entire career with the Colts, before escaping the Baltimore craziness via surprise retirement this past offseason.
After being hemmed in its own territory for most of the first half, the NFC mounts a drive midway through the second quarter--49er Delvin Williams grinding out yards inside and out, Cardinal Jimmy Hart spraying passes among Lion Ron Jessie, Ram Charley Young and Cowboy Drew Pearson. On third and 1 at the AFC 30, Hart reads the defense in a tight, short-yardage formation and audibles to a deep pass over the middle. Chief Gary Barbaro is not fooled, deflecting the pass and forcing the NFC into a 47-yard 49er Steve Mike-Mayer field-goal attempt that falls short under pressure from Raider rookie George Rogers.
The AFC quickly takes advantage of the shift in momentum. Pastorini correctly anticipates a maximum blitz and deftly flips to Bronco Jon Keyworth. The big fullback barrels 46 yards to the NFC 18, and, two plays later, Pastorini and Johnson connect on a button hook for a score. Oiler Skip Butler's PAT makes it 14-0, AFC, with time running out in the first half ...
Hart rallies the NFC late in the first half, alternating throws between Cowboy Pearson and Ram Jessie to reach the AFC 6 with less than a minute to go. Williams sprints in, to get the NFC on the board.
Inventive Arnsparger strikes the iron and calls for an onside kick, which rookie Howie Long pounces on. Hart gets the NFC to the AFC 23 but can't get Mike-Mayer on the field before the halftime gun.
Retired Jet Joe Namath saunters onto the field for his last NFL appearance and promptly throws an interception to Cowboy Lawrence Johnson at the opening of the second half. Alas, the AFC returns the favor on a halfback-option pass by Eagle Ricky Bell. Bronco Tom Jackson returns to the NFC 12, and Namath finds Oiler Johnson for a scoring buttonhook on the next play.
Each team adds another touchdown--a Bell 38-yard run for the NFC, a Namath-to-Seahawk John Sawyer 7-yard hookup for the AFC--and the score is 28-13, AFC, with time running out in the third quarter ...
Namath hits Darryl Stingley on a perfectly executed 16-yard squareout on third-and-1 from the NFC43 and comes off the field to a massive ovation. The retiring Jet hero--perhaps no single individual is more responsible for the NFL's phenomenal spike in popularity--is replaced by Neil Lomax, the Browns' top draft choice out of Portland State ...
And on his first NFL play, Lomax is intercepted. Packer Dave Pureifory rushes Lomax's shotgun throw, and Lion James Hunter is there to intercept and keep the NFC breathing ...
But on the second, Lomax withstands the furious rush of Packer Gary Jeter and connects on a sideline route with Stingley for a 42-yard pickup to the NFC7 ...
TOUCHDOWN! Lomax shows key confidence on this possession, completing from five yards out to Johnson (for the Oiler's third score of the game!). It's 35-13, AFC ...
Well, it's getting interesting. A couple of special-teams turnovers and Greg Landry touchdown tosses have the NFC suddenly back into the game. Cowboy Drew Pearson recovered Colt Doughty's punt fumble deep in AFC territory, setting up Landry's nine-yard touchdown toss to Giant rookie HB James Wilder. Then, two plays after Packer Willie Buchanon recovered an onside kick, Landry flung 47 yards to Packer Charlie Brown, a rookie free agent out of South Carolina State, and Steve Mike-Mayer's extra point has the NFC back to within 35-27 late ...
But, alas, Cowboys rookie Everson Walls deflects Lomax's third-down attempt, and the AFC is lining up to punt with about 30 seconds and the clock ticking ...
Oh, my ... Raider Ray Guy freaking nearly landed a punt at the NFC2. Packer Rickey Watts was prepared to let it roll into the end zone, but the ball didn't appear it was to make it that far. He picked it up and advanced five yards. The NFC will get one, maybe two plays, and Landry needs to move his team 93 yards ...
The AFC holds on, 35-27. The MVP is Oiler Billy Johnson--who, ironically, was also MVP of the last NFL Pro Bowl, after NFL75. Congratulations again, "White Shoes."
From the opening kickoff, it has been apparent that the new Hall of Fame Game is a greater whole than the sum of its parts (the old Pro Bowl and College All-Star Game). Cris Collinsworth, a lanky former Florida wide receiver now with the Bengals, whalloped NFC returner Rickey Watts--jarring a fumble that Watts's new Packer teammate, rookie Rickey Jackson from Pitt, scrambled to recover.
ReplyDeleteEach team has had a scoreless possession thus far. Charger Fred Dean had a sack and third-down pressure to snuff the NFC's first go. Ram Rusty Jackson punted the AFC back to its 6, but Dan Pastorini passed out of the jam with completions of 15, 17, 6 and 20 to his Oiler receivers Kellen Winslow, Ken Burrough and Billy Johnson. With a sack and pressure of his own, however, Packer Gary Jeter kept the AFC from penetrating any deeper than the 38.
The NFC takes over at its own 20, with about five minutes to go in the first quarter ...
Glenn Doughty has taken over the game, now led by the AFC, 7-0, after one quarter. The former Baltimore Colt isn't playing like a doddering, old retiree--his 73-yard punt return, set up by rookie Dexter Manley's forcing Jackson into a quick, line-drive punt, is the Hall of Fame Game's first touchdown. Now, a 45-yard Doughty return of another Jackson live drive--this time rushed by rookie Hugh Green--has the AFC at midfield as the second quarter opens ...
ReplyDeleteDoughty played wingback at the University of Michigan but earned a starting spot as a wide receiver for the 1972 College All-Star Game. This is where he spent his entire career with the Colts, before escaping the Baltimore craziness via surprise retirement this past offseason.
ReplyDeleteAfter being hemmed in its own territory for most of the first half, the NFC mounts a drive midway through the second quarter--49er Delvin Williams grinding out yards inside and out, Cardinal Jimmy Hart spraying passes among Lion Ron Jessie, Ram Charley Young and Cowboy Drew Pearson. On third and 1 at the AFC 30, Hart reads the defense in a tight, short-yardage formation and audibles to a deep pass over the middle. Chief Gary Barbaro is not fooled, deflecting the pass and forcing the NFC into a 47-yard 49er Steve Mike-Mayer field-goal attempt that falls short under pressure from Raider rookie George Rogers.
ReplyDeleteThe AFC quickly takes advantage of the shift in momentum. Pastorini correctly anticipates a maximum blitz and deftly flips to Bronco Jon Keyworth. The big fullback barrels 46 yards to the NFC 18, and, two plays later, Pastorini and Johnson connect on a button hook for a score. Oiler Skip Butler's PAT makes it 14-0, AFC, with time running out in the first half ...
Keyworth's a busy guy. In the offseason he works for a mortgage company, and, on the side, he does a little country-and-western singing!
ReplyDeleteHart rallies the NFC late in the first half, alternating throws between Cowboy Pearson and Ram Jessie to reach the AFC 6 with less than a minute to go. Williams sprints in, to get the NFC on the board.
ReplyDeleteInventive Arnsparger strikes the iron and calls for an onside kick, which rookie Howie Long pounces on. Hart gets the NFC to the AFC 23 but can't get Mike-Mayer on the field before the halftime gun.
Retired Jet Joe Namath saunters onto the field for his last NFL appearance and promptly throws an interception to Cowboy Lawrence Johnson at the opening of the second half. Alas, the AFC returns the favor on a halfback-option pass by Eagle Ricky Bell. Bronco Tom Jackson returns to the NFC 12, and Namath finds Oiler Johnson for a scoring buttonhook on the next play.
Each team adds another touchdown--a Bell 38-yard run for the NFC, a Namath-to-Seahawk John Sawyer 7-yard hookup for the AFC--and the score is 28-13, AFC, with time running out in the third quarter ...
Namath hits Darryl Stingley on a perfectly executed 16-yard squareout on third-and-1 from the NFC43 and comes off the field to a massive ovation. The retiring Jet hero--perhaps no single individual is more responsible for the NFL's phenomenal spike in popularity--is replaced by Neil Lomax, the Browns' top draft choice out of Portland State ...
ReplyDeleteAnd on his first NFL play, Lomax is intercepted. Packer Dave Pureifory rushes Lomax's shotgun throw, and Lion James Hunter is there to intercept and keep the NFC breathing ...
ReplyDeleteBut on the second, Lomax withstands the furious rush of Packer Gary Jeter and connects on a sideline route with Stingley for a 42-yard pickup to the NFC7 ...
ReplyDeleteTOUCHDOWN! Lomax shows key confidence on this possession, completing from five yards out to Johnson (for the Oiler's third score of the game!). It's 35-13, AFC ...
ReplyDeleteWell, it's getting interesting. A couple of special-teams turnovers and Greg Landry touchdown tosses have the NFC suddenly back into the game. Cowboy Drew Pearson recovered Colt Doughty's punt fumble deep in AFC territory, setting up Landry's nine-yard touchdown toss to Giant rookie HB James Wilder. Then, two plays after Packer Willie Buchanon recovered an onside kick, Landry flung 47 yards to Packer Charlie Brown, a rookie free agent out of South Carolina State, and Steve Mike-Mayer's extra point has the NFC back to within 35-27 late ...
ReplyDeleteJet Ken Schroy recovers the NFC's fourth onside-kick attempt of the game, and it appears the AFC has this one locked up ...
ReplyDeleteBut, alas, Cowboys rookie Everson Walls deflects Lomax's third-down attempt, and the AFC is lining up to punt with about 30 seconds and the clock ticking ...
ReplyDeleteOh, my ... Raider Ray Guy freaking nearly landed a punt at the NFC2. Packer Rickey Watts was prepared to let it roll into the end zone, but the ball didn't appear it was to make it that far. He picked it up and advanced five yards. The NFC will get one, maybe two plays, and Landry needs to move his team 93 yards ...
ReplyDeleteThe AFC holds on, 35-27. The MVP is Oiler Billy Johnson--who, ironically, was also MVP of the last NFL Pro Bowl, after NFL75. Congratulations again, "White Shoes."
ReplyDelete