'92 Chronology-Rookie Debut

Event Date: May 9th, 1992

Event Description: Kelly Gets Major Win

Source: Memphis Times Tribune

Rookie Andy Kelly threw for 262 yards and four touchdowns, including the game winner, leading the Memphis Showboats to a thrilling, 37-36 victory over Major Harris and the Pittsburgh Maulers at the Liberty Bowl. With the win the Showboats improved to 5-3 on the season.

The Showboats were more ground oriented in this contest, as the team relied heavily on Chuck Webb, who rushed for 97 yards Brad Gaines added another 61 yards with one score. Greg Anderson led the receiving corps finishing with 55 yards on four receptions with two touchdowns.

The Showboats struck first in the matchup when Andy Kelly found Greg Anderson down the left sideline for a 23-yard touchdown pass giving Memphis a 7-0 lead at the 6:48 mark.

It took the Maulers six minutes to answer back, as D.J. Dozier rumbled into the end zone for a three-yard score tying the game at 7-7.

Kelly struck again in the second stanza, as he found veteran Wamon Buggs on an eleven- yard toss, giving Memphis a 14-7 edge with 8:50 left in the half.

A frenzy of scoring closed out the half as each team scored at least twice with under two minutes left.

Major Harris tossed the first of two touchdowns with the first going to D.J. Dozier from 20-yards out and the second going to Derek Hill on a 62-yard bomb with no time left. Memphis also added a 38-yard field goal by Ian Howfield, making things 27-17 in favor of the visiting Maulers at halftime.

The third quarter was dominated by defensive play, as the only points in the frame came off of a Andy Kelly to Joey Hackett pass and off of the foot of Dan Plocki, as the kicker added a 30-yard field goal for Pittsburgh.

After another field goal from Plocki, this time from 40-yards out, the Showboats struck back with a 12-yard touchdown run from Gaines bringing Memphis to within two at 33-31 with 8:44 remaining. A third Dan Plocki field goal gave the Maulers a five-point cushion with 4:19 left to play.

Pittsburgh was marching down field towards the end of the fourth quarter, but Major Harris made a major mistake in the final minutes, tossing an interception to end the potential game-winning drive.

"Sometimes I felt like I was trying to do too much. The one pick and the sack we took were huge. Those didn't help us out at all," Harris said.

The Showboats were able to capitalize on the turnover as Kelly found Greg Anderson again this time from 28-yards out to give Memphis the lead and the win.

Game Notes;

Mike Oliphant led the Maulers with 36 yards on seven carries...Derek Hill finished with 188 receiving yards with one touchdown for Pittsburgh...Zeke Gadsden had two sacks and a game high eleven tackles...the Maulers signed veteran cornerback Jerry Holmes just before game time.

more to come...