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Wednesday, July 24th 1974 Attendance 61,319 Legion Field Birmingham
The Birmingham Americans and the Memphis Southmen engaged in an old fashioned shootout at Legion Field. According to Birmingham News writer Jimmy Bryan, two key elements were left out of the night’s festivities; a curfew and a 3-digit scoreboard. For a while it appeared that the first would be useless and the second might be needed. The Ams won a wild 58-33 barnburner over the Southmen, a game that lasted 3 hours and 25 minutes. That’s a long time, even for a game that’s televised, with all of the TV timeouts. This game was not televised, but it would have made a dandy had it been so. The game also heralded the advent of Alfred Jenkins, the super quick and gifted Americans wide receiver. Jenkins caught 5 passes for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also had a 62-yard TD reception called back by a penalty. Jenkins received the game ball following the contest, and deservedly so. Defenses had keyed on receiver Dennis Homan in the first two games, and Head Coach Jack Gotta had seen an avenue for getting Jenkins the ball. The plan worked and the Ams had a new star in its fold.
Birmingham could not move the ball on it first possession and punted to Memphis. On the first Southmen snap, QB John Huarte fumbled and defensive lineman Dick Trower recovered and the Memphis 9-yard line. Carl Bartles scores 3 plays later from the one-yard line. The action point was no good and Birmingham held a quick 7-0 lead. Later Bartles returned the favor, coughing up the ball with Memphis recovering at the Birmingham 7 yard line. The Birmingham defense stiffened and Memphis settled for a 21-yard Bob Etter field goal. 7-3 Birmingham. The Americans then took the kickoff and drove 66 yards in 7 plays. QB George Mira found Jenkins open for a 38 yard TD. Paul Robinson was stopped shy of the goal line in the AP try, and Birmingham now led 14-3.
After Memphis later missed a field goal, Birmingham ‘s Mira uncorked a bomb to Jenkins. Jenkins sped up the middle of the field, splitting two Southmen defenders en route to a 74 yard TD. Again the AP was missed, 21-3 Ams. Memphis fought back, taking the kickoff and driving 61 yards in 6 plays, Huarte hitting TE Gary Shirk from 35 yards out for the score. John Harvey converted the AP trimming Birmingham’s lead to 21-11. Birmingham bounced back with a quick 5-play 59-yard drive, Mira hitting on 4 consecutive passes, the final one a bullet to Homan in the end zone from 12 yards out. Art Cantrelle was stopped on the AP try and Birmingham’s lead was 28-11 as the teams went to the locker rooms at the half.
The action did not wane in the second half. Memphis opened it up with a quick 5-play drive to score. John Harvey ran 46 yards on the 2nd half’s first play, then scored later from the 2-yard line. Huarte passed to Roger Wallace for the AP, but still trailed 28-19. On Birmingham’s next possession, Mira scrambled and suffered an ankle sprain, sending him to the sidelines for the remainder of the game. Reserve QB Matthew Reed came in and, and the first play, calmly threw a 52-yard TD strike to Jenkins. Bartles converted the AP and Birmingham led 36-19. Memphis came right back, driving 80 yards in 7 plays, Harvey scoring from the one. LB Warren Capone stopped Harvey on the AP try, Ams still up by 10, 36-26. Undaunted, Birmingham moved 64 yards, culminating with Reed’s 4-yard pass to TE Jim Bishop for the score. The AP was no good and the Ams lead is now 43-26. Memphis, refusing to roll over, scored on a one-yard J.J. Jennings TD blast. The drive was aided by a pass interference call on Birmingham in the end zone, moving the ball to the one. The AP attempt failed, Ams still led 43-33. Birmingham was not finished either, Charley Reamon setting the Ams up in fine shape after returning the Memphis kickoff to the 46. 7 plays and 54 yards later, Paul Robinson carried it in from 2 yards out for the score. Reed passed to Homan for the AP and the Ams lead was now 51-33.
Reserve LB Steve Conley intercepted Huarte pass and Birmingham took over at their own 49. Robinson sprinted 31 yards on first down. Jimmy Edwards ran a sweep to the right, saw no opening, reversed his field, ran wide to the left and swerved in and out of traffic for a nifty 18-yard touchdown, Reed throwing a leveling block to spring Edwards the final few yards. The AP was no good and that’s how it finally ended, Birmingham winning 58-33. Accolades were aplenty for the Ams players, Jenkins, Homan, and Bishop all with TD receptions, Edwards, Robinson, and Bartles with TD runs. Cantrelle and Charley Harraway also contributed to the cause. Mira and Reed both had big nights throwing the ball, accounting for a combined 367 yards and 5 touchdowns. Birmingham’s offensive line played a stellar game, John Matlock, Joe O’Donnell, Buddy Brown and Jim Kregel among the standouts.
Defensively, Birmingham forced 6 turnovers: 2 fumbles and 4 interceptions. The interceptions were by Larry Willingham, Cecil Leonard, Charley Reamon, and Steve Conley. Cornerback Steve Williams had a team-leading 8 tackles. Capone, Clarence Washington, Ross Brupbacher and Dick Trower also had big games. One sour note however, rookie LB Mike Truax was lost for the season with a knee injury.
A near sellout crown of 61,319 packed Legion Field
Captains Brupbacher & Matlock gather for the coin toss
The Matador call signals behind O’Donnell, Matlock, & Kregel
Alfred Jenkins scores his third TD of the night
Matthew Reed, in for the injured Mira, kept the throttle to the floor
Paul Robinson picks up big yardage
Dennis Homan scored on a 12 yard pass from Mira
The scoreboard, changing early & often, finally counts down
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