'92 Chronology-Maulers Edge Michigan

Event Date: March 29th, 1992

Event Description: Maulers Start Season Undefeated

Source: Pittsburgh Times Tribune

Novo Bojovic's 51-yard field goal attempt to close out the game was short and wide left, leaving the Pittsburgh Maulers with a thrilling 35-34 win over the Michigan Panthers at Three Rivers Stadium.

Bojovic, finished the night 2-of-3 on field goal attempts with four extra points as the Panthers (0-2) remain winless.

Pittsburgh (2-0) quarterback Major Harris converted 16-of-24 passing for 174 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions and an additional 39 yards rushing. Rodney Carter collected six receptions for 63 yards and 31 yards rushing in the triumph.

"It was a good win," noted Maulers head coach Sam Rutigliano. "I'm disappointed with the way we played in the third quarter, but we were able to survive it. The offense went back on the field and saved the game for us."

Michigan signal-caller Steve Pelluer finished 20-of-34 for 330 yards passing and four touchdowns of his own, to go along with one pics, in the losing cause. Frank Lockett tallied a game-high eleven receptions for a whopping 230 yards.

Pittsburgh got off to a fast start as they moved out to a 14-0 lead behind a Major Harris 49-yard touchdown pass and a 45-yard interception return by David Arnold.

Later in the first frame Michigan responded with a Steve Pelluer to Frank Lockett bomb from 62-yards out, cutting the Pittsburgh lead to 14-7.

Major Harris was then called upon once more and delivered with a 9-yard pass to Derek Hill pushing the Maulers back oout to a 14-point lead. The two quarterbacks then again traded touchdown passes and Novo Bojovic nailed a 39-yard field goal as the teams headed into half-time with the Maulers up 28-17.

The offensive trend continued as Pelluer hit Carl Aikens Jr. with a quick swing pass out to the left and, with key blocks and some poor tackling, Lewis raced across the field and over the goal line from 39 yards out in the opening minutes of the third quarter to cut the Pittsburgh lead back to four at 28-24.

A second Novo Bojovic field goal at the 4:37 mark, cut the lead to one at 28-27.

Back under center to begin the fourth quarter, Pelluer marched Michigan down the field on the very first possession and led the squad into the end zone when he fired a 44-yard strike to Frank Lockett to pull Pittsburgh out to a 34-28 lead.

Despite the lack of a running game, Major Harris found plenty of time in the pocket for the Maulers final score, hitting Rodney Carter a total of three times down the field before finding Willie Collier all alone on the left side for a five-yard touchdown pass to put the Maulers ahead for good at 35-34.

Game Notes;

D.J. Dozier, who gained 65 yards a week ago for the Maulers, carried the ball seven times for just eight yards...Dozier left the game in the second quarter with an undisclosed injury...Michigan committed seven penalties in the game compared to just three for the Maulers.

In other Week Two action; Memphis mauled Tampa Bay by a score of 41-20, Birmingham man-handled Jacksonville 45-24, while Oakland topped Los Angeles 30-20 and Houston won at home against Arizona 30-24.

more to come........