'92 Chronology-Crazy Eights

Event Date: May 10th, 1992

Event Description: Express Down Wranglers

Source: Los Angeles Sentinel News

If quarterback Damon Allen is going to wear the goat horns when the Los Angeles Express lose, it seems only fair that he get a little bit of credit when things are going well. And at least for this week things did go well indeed.

Allen completed 12-of-24 passes for 209 yards with three touchdowns sending Los Angeles over Arizona, 31-20, at the Coliseum in Los Angeles.

Wayne Walker caught five balls for 131 yards for the Express (3-5). Tim Wrightman had four catches for 60 yards and Reuben Mayes rushed for 45 yards on 17 carries and Shawn Knight added a fumble return for a touchdown in the second quarter.

“I’m proud of how he played and how he managed the game,” said head coach Dick Coury, who created a low-level quarterback controversy when he said that he would consider benching Allen in favor of sophomore Garrett Gabriel.

“It’s all about the rhythm,” Allen said. “When you get into a rhythm in the early going like we did todays, it helps the quarterback out — you’re more comfortable.”

Allen says, while the offensive scheme has remained largely unchanged, the Express have tried to get the offense moving early with some high-percentage throws.

Allen was also quick to spread the credit around, noting the play of Wayne Walker who “really stepped it up this week” and the “tough running” of both Reuben Mayes and Leroy Holt, who combined for 85 yards rushing.

“When you don’t have negative plays, when the running back can fall forward for three yards and we’re in a manageable second-down situation rather than third and long yardage, it helps the offense out a lot,” Allen said.

Alan Risher threw for 156 yards on 21-of-39 passing for the Wranglers who now dropped to (1-7). Kevin Nelson scored a rushing touchdown, Trumaine Johnson caught eight balls for 68 yards and Darian Hagan scored on a 92-yard kickoff return at the end of the third quarter.

Game Notes;

Art Greathouse led all rushers with 61 yards on just six carries...the Wranglers were without running back Bill Johnson...a story out of Arizona this week claimed that head coach Frank Kush will step down at the end of the season and move to the front office.

In other Week #8 USFL action; Jacksonville edged New Orleans 24-23, Birmingham mauled Michigan 39-21, and Oakland defeated New Jersey at home 28-27.

Event Description: Klinger Returns; Gamblers Win

Source: Houston Star Tribune

David Klingler threw three touchdown passes and Reggie Dupard rushed for 43 yards on 12 carries, as the Houston Gamblerss remained the class of the West division with a 34-21 victory over Chicago.

Klingler, who has missed the last two weeks’ due to injury, completed 21-of-35 attempts for 277 yards to help the Gamblers improve to 5-3 and move into sole possession of first place. Gerald McNeil had four receptions for 67 yards and a score, while Manny Hazard caught five balls for 59 yards and a touchdown.

Mike Hohensee completed 17-of-39 passes for 224 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Blitz (4-4), who have dropped two of their last three games. Travis Moore registered four receptions for a game-high 90 yards with two scores in defeat.

A 45-yard field goal and a nine yard touchdown pass from Klingler to Marvin Harvey 68-yard gave Houston an early 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Houston got ten more uncontested points in the second quarter on a touchdown pass from Jason Garrett to Manny Hazard and another Max Zendejas field goal from 26-yards out.

Trailing 27-0 midway through the third quarter, Hart Lee Dykes hauled in a five-yard pass from Hohensee to finally put the Blitz on the scoreboard.

David Klingler's 18-yard touchdown pass to Vince Courville stretched Houston's lead to 34-7 with just over twelve minutes to go in the fourth.

Hohensee hit Dykes again for a 52-yard touchdown with 10:27 to play, and a one-yard touchdown run by backup quarterback Rick Johnson at the end of the quarter closed out the scoring.

Game Notes;

League leading rusher Mike Saunders finished with 40 yards on ten catches...Chicago committed three turnovers...Houston travels to Pittsburgh while Chicago returns home to face Los Angeles.

more to come...