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Birmingham Americans Monday, September 2nd 1974 Attendance 36,539Legion FieldBirmingham
The Birmingham Americans came into a Monday night matchup with the Florida Blazers sporting an 8-0 record and sitting atop the WFL Centrlal division, with Memphis and Chicago trailing. When the game was over the Ams were still undefeated and alone atop the Central, but by the barest of margins and it was a narrow escape, 8-7 over the Blazers. QB Matthew Reed once again provided the 11th hour rescue as he raced to a game-tying score then found Jim Bishop for the action point for the winning margin. The game was played on a very, very wet field after torrential rains left the Magic City afloat. Rain continued to fall, albeit not nearly as heavy, during the entire first half. Water was seen cascading down the stadium steps and into the portals, making Legion Field look like a sort of eerie water park.
The game was not a dull event as an 8-7 score might suggest. There was plenty of offense, although both sides struggled inside the 20s and turnovers killed drives. Florida had a chance to take an early lead, but Les Perry missed on a 20-yard field goal attempt. The Blazers did finally light up the scoreboard with a Bob Davis-to-Tommy Reamon pass play. Reamon was stopped shy of the goal line on the AP attempt and the 7-0 score held until late in the 4th period.
Quarterback George Mira, unable to muster any sustained drives against the stingy Blazer defense gave way to Reed who led a drive that culminated with Reed’s sweep to the left, with Reed leaping over a defender at the goal line to score with 5:10 remaining. Reed then found Bishop in the end zone for the AP, to give the Ams a one point lead.
Then the defense rose to the occasion. Blazer QB Davis drove the visitors to the Birmingham 44-yard line, attempting to get into field goal range for Perry. However, Ronald Foxx caught Reamon in the backfield for a one yard loss, then sacked Davis on a safety blitz for a six yard loss. Davis misfired on 3rd & 4th down and the Ams had possession and all that was left was to drain the clock. However, Jimmy Edwards couldn’t hold onto the ball after a ferocious hit and the Blazers recovered. Davis’ first pass was incomplete, and then a screen to A.D. Whitfield was smothered for a one-yard loss by Ross Brupbacher. On third down John Baker roared through to grab Davis and fling him to the turf. However, Davis managed to throw the ball, but the ball skittered away harmlessly, drawing penalty flags for intentional grounding, resulting in a penalty as well as loss of down. On 4th down Davis pass to Jim Strong out of the backfield, but Brupbacher got a hand on the ball, knocking it away to salt away the victory.
The offense ran out the remaining time on the clock and Birmingham’s 8-7 victory was secured.
There were heroes aplenty on the defensive side of the ball, with Brupbacher actually awarding the game ball to Head Coach Jack Gotta. Warren Capone, Baker, Foxx, Dick Trower, and Larry Willingham had big games. Willingham sustained a neck injury in a collision with Blazer receiver Hubie Bryant, and did not return to action.
Kickoff time
Blazer QB Bob Davis drops back
Jimmy Edwards runs through a big hole
Joe O’Donnel & George Mira take a breather
Charley Harraway leaps over a Blazer defender
Drew Ferguson tends to the players like a pro
Paul Robinson on a sweep behind big Bob Wolf
The Blazers & Ams squared away on a very wet surface
QB Matthew Reed takes off around left end and…
Leaps into the end zone for the score
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