Event Date: March 22nd, 1992
Event Description: Bulls Win Opener!
Source: Jacksonville Sun
Mike Rozier rushed for 93 yards on 15 carries in his U.S. Football League return, as his Jacksonville Bulls defeated New Orleans, 34-30, in the first regular season game for both teams.
Rozier was held to just eighteen yards rushing in the first half, but rebounded to help ensure the victory.
"You're always getting tired in your first game of the year," Rozier said. "I know you guys in the media are here see me as Mike Rozier, star player from the NFL, but it's all just football to me and the other players on the field."
A former Heisman Trophy winner, Rozier posted 1,000 or more rushing yards in his first season in Jacksonville back in 1985 and then again with the Houston Oilers in 1988.
"I'm more serious now than I was compared to earlier in my career," Rozier said. "I'm more mature now and I'm focusing on doing my job and helping my team mates this time around."
John Fourcade completed 13-of-26 passes for 123 yards for New Orleans, while Marcus Dupree rushed 18 times for 68 yards with one score. Lonzell Hill also caught six passes for 72 yards and Flip Johnson added two touchdowns of his own.
The game did not get off to a good start for the Breakers, who briefly lost veteran starting quarterback John Fourcade to a bruised finger on his throwing hand during the first series. His replacement, Terrence Jones, filled in for one series, before Fourcade returned.
Jacksonville opened the scoring with a pair of Carlos Huerta field goals holding a 6-0 lead less than six minutes in the first quarter.
New Orleans then went in front, 10-6, following a 43-yard touchdown run by Flip Johnson late in the first quarter, followed by a 19-yard Teddy Garcia field goal single with 14:09 left in the first half.
Jacksonville came back in the second quarter with a three-yard touchdown run by Melvin Bratton to claim a 13-10 advantage.
New Orleans, though, fired right back. Fourcade and Flip Johnson hooked up for a three- yard touchdown reception and with 4:07 remaining in the opening half. A Jacksonville fumble recovery by Isaiah West closed out the scoring in the first half and moved Jacksonville out to a 20-17 lead the the break.
Tom Ramsey opened the second-half scoring with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Marc Lewis, moving Jacksonville out to a ten point lead at 27-17.
Marcus Dupree drew New Orleans to within three with a six-yard touchdown run to close out the third quarter.
The Breakers made one last push, with Garcia nailing two late field goals to push New Orleans out to a 30-27 lead with under two minutes to play.
The Bulls then launched a comeback of their own when Andre Brown broke free for a 75-yard touchdown reception it seal the win for Jacksonville. "Ramsey put it right in there and I decided to finish it," Brown said.
"In the fourth quarter, we had the time to catch up and take the lead, but we left too much time on the clock and that allowed them to come back and win." Breakers head coach Jim Fassel said.
Game Notes;
Saturday's game between Birmingham and Tampa Bay kicked off the USFL's 10th season...Melvin Bratton led Jacksonville with 115 receiving yards on seven catches...Marcus Dupree had 68 rushing yards to pace the Breakers...Perry Kemp finished with five catches for 53 yards.
In other Week #1 weekend action; Birmingham downed Tampa Bay 34-17 on Saturday night, Pittsburgh upset New Jersey 30-17, Chicago upended Los Angeles 22-14, Arizona won at home against Oakland by a score of 20-13 and Baltimore notched a 30-7 win over Michigan on Sunday night.
more to come............
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