Vulcans vs Hornets

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Birmingham Vulcans vs. Charlotte Hornets

Sunday, September 21st 1975

Attendance 18,500

Legion Field

Birmingham

 

 Birmingham found itself trailing 16-7 going into the 4th quarter to the Charlotte Hornets, but on the strength of two defensive stands, score successive touchdowns to gain a come-from-behind victory over the Hornets. Both teams entered the contest sporting winning streaks; Charlotte with a 4 game streak and Birmingham with a 3 game mark. Warren Capone led an impressive pair of defensive series and the Vulcans forced a timely turnover to square away the win.

 Birmingham took the opening kickoff and promptly drove to the Hornets one-yard line. But Johnny Musso lost the ball while diving for the end zone and Charlotte recovered. Later in the first quarter QB Matthew Reed led a 45-yard drive for the games first points, a 9-yard pass to Robert Evans. The action point was no good and Birmingham led 7-0.

Charlotte came right back, driving 68 yards, mainly behind the passing of Tom Sherman, to score. Don Highsmith completed the drive with a 2-yard run. Sherman threw to Ray Parsons for the AP and the Hornets led 8-7. The second quarter saw no scoring, so the teams went to intermission separated by the single point.

Charlotte threatened to extend their lead early in the 3rd quarter when Parsons caught a 38-yard pass from Sherman deep in Vulcan’s territory. However, George Haynes stripped him of the ball on the tackle and the ball bounded into the end zone where Gerard Williams recovered. Later Jeff Woodcock picked off a Reed pass and returned it to the Vulcan’s 13-yard line.  Highsmith  scored again from the two, and Sherman rolled left for the AP. The Hornets now led 16-7 and that’s the way the 4th quarter started.

 The Vulcans owned the 4th quarter, however. The Vulcans defense held the Hornets at the Birmingham 21, then  marched 79 yards, with Fullback Bill Rudder taking it in from the one yard line. Reed’s AP pass attempt was incomplete, but the Vulcans were to within 2 points. The Birmingham defense held Charlotte to 3 and out, and after the Hornet punt, Birmingham got the ball back at its own 41 with 5:13 to play. Musso ran for 9 yards, Rudder gained 5 to the Hornets 45. Musso lost 2, and then Reed threw an incompletion. On 3rd & 12, Reed threw to Evans for 15 to the 32. Reed then carried it the distance for the TD. Joe Profit ran for the AP and Birmingham led 22-16. The TD play was designed to be a roll-out to the left, but Reed turned and rolled to the right. The Hornet defense, responding to the rest of the Vulcan offensive flow, was caught flat-footed and Reed maneuvered his way 32 yards for the game winner.

 The Vulcans defense put the wraps on the Hornets for the remainder of the game and Birmingham came away with the 22-16 win.

Johnny Musso was the leading ground gainer for the Vulcans offense with 83 yards, while Art Cantrelle followed with 71 yards. Reed added 66 yards.

Capone, Haynes, Williams, Steve Manstedt, and William Bryant were the defensive stars of the day, Capone especially with a critical stop of Highsmith on 4th & 1 deep in Birmingham territory in the 4th quarter.

Don Highsmith scores for the Hornets

 

Art Cantrelle picks up big yardage

 

 

Johnny Musso picks up a crucial first down

 

FB Bill Rudder scores in the 4th quarter

 

With the huge Vulcan behind him, Robert Evans on a punt return

 

Hornets CB Jeff Woodcock and Art Cantrelle meet at the line

 

Another Birmingham comeback is completed

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