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 Birmingham
Americans vs.  Detroit
Wheels
Wednesday August 7th,
1974
Attendance 40,367
Legion Field
Birmingham
The Birmingham Americans officially became the “Amazing Ams” following
another dramatic, last minute, come-from-behind win. The Ams played the Detroit
Wheels for the second time in as many weeks, and just as before, Birmingham
pulled a win out of what looked like certain defeat. Matthew Reed engineered a
late drive and threw to Alfred Jenkins for the winning score with 26 second to
play to secure a 28-22 win. The term Cardiac Kids was coined after the last
second win in Detroit the previous week and the Ams lived up to the name again
versus the visiting Wheels. Sports Illustrated’s Joe Marshall was in attendance
and SI ran a story about the WFL and the Americans in its next issue.
Birmingham took the opening kickoff and drove
to the Detroit four-yard line, but the Wheels defense held and Birmingham
settled for a 23-yard field goal from Earl Sark. Detroit opened its offensive
book with a 61-yard drive using 8 plays to score, Bubba Wyche scoring form the
one on a QB sneak. Billy Sadler ran in the action point, Wheels were up, 8-3.The first two drives of the game resulted in
points on the board, however, the remainder of the first half would see no
scoring, with Detroit taking their 8-3 advantage into the dressing room at the
half.
Midway in the 3rd quarter
Birmingham’s Larry Estes recovered a Jesse Mims fumble at the Detroit 29. Reed,
who was still subbing for injured QB George Mira, rolled 2 yards in for the
score, and the Ams led 10-8, after the AP was no good.Two plays after the Kickoff, Ams linebacker
Ross Brupbacher intercepted Wyche and set up Birmingham at the Wheels 37. Sark
then converted for a 30-yard field goal to widen Birmingham’s lead 13-8. That’s
the way the 3rd quarter ended.
The 4th quarter saw a seesaw game
of scoring, with Detroit re-gaining the advantage. Rocky Long returned a
Birmingham punt 56 yards to the Ams 24. Wyche passed 12 yards to Terry Phillips
for the score, missed the AP, but now led 15-13.Birmingham then sprinted 72 yards in just
four plays to retake the lead. Jimmy Edwards was stopped for no gain, then Reed
hit Jenkins for a 28 yarder. Art Cantrelle ran for five yards, and then Reed
found Jenkins behind the Detroit secondary for a 39 yard score. The AP was no
good; Birmingham led 20-15 with 8:23 remaining.
Wyche drove Detroit right back, but
Brupbacher intercepted him again, this time at the Ams 11. Birmingham was forced
to punt, and Detroit then drove 48 yards in 8 plays to score, John Henderson
catching Wyche’s 18-yard pass for the TD. The AP was no good and it looked bad,
22-20 Detroit with 1:09 remaining. But Reed moved the
Americans 59 yards coolly and swiftly. After Cecil Leonard returned the Detroit
kickoff 31 yards to the 41, exactly one minute remained. Reed threw to Dennis
Homan for 14 yards, then called timeout with 49 seconds left. Reed then went
right back to Homan who carried it to the Wheels’ 26, another timeout called
with 38 seconds remaining. Reed was then flushed from the pocket and ran 9 yards
to the 17, running out of bounds to stop the clock with 31 seconds left. Coach
Jack Gotta at this time rejected positioning for a field goal attempt, and Reed
found Jenkins alone in the corner of the end zone for the score. Reed then
passed to TE Ted Powell for the AP and it was 28-22 with 26 seconds left.
Detroit never got an opportunity to try to
come back. Billy Sadler mishandled Sark’s kickoff and Edwards recovered the ball
securing the win.The stalwarts for the offense were the line, John Matlock, Joe
O’Donnell, Paul Costa, Buddy Brown, Jim Kregel, and Paul Wolfe. Cantrelle was
the leading rusher with 85 yards followed buy Paul Robinson with 68 yards. Homan
had four catches, Jenkins had three, two for touchdowns, Powell, Robinson, and
Jim Bishop each had a single reception.Brupbacher was the defensive leader, followed
by Warren Capone, Clarence Washington, Larry Estes, Dicky Lyons and Willie
Smith.Birmingham improved its record to 5-0, while
the Wheels were still winless.
QB Matthew Reed hands to leading rusher Art Cantrelle
Over 40,000 people attended the nail-biter
FB Carl Bartles leads the way for Paul Robinson
DB Willie Smith deflects a Wheels pass in the end zone
A Wheels RB involuntarily airborne
For the second week in a row Matthew Reed filled in
admirably for George Mira, leading another comeback win
Mr Sadler meet Mr. Capone.
Jenkins catches a 39-yard TD pass from Reed
Jenkins catches the winning TD pass from Reed to
give the Ams the lead for good with 26 seconds left
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