'85 Chronology-Gold Rush!

Event Date: February 25th, 1985

Event Description: Evans Leads Gold Surge

Source: PFW

Vince Evans threw for a career-high 377 yards to go along with a pair of touchdown passes leading the Gold to a 31-27 win over the Philadelphia Stars on Sunday as both teams opened the 1985 regular season. 

About 41,000 fans were at Mile High Stadium on the chilly, overcast day to watch the debut performance Evans and new head coach Mouse Davis as the team unveiled their new Run and Shoot offense.

Philadelphia scored first -- on a five-yard touchdown toss from Chuck Fusina to Ken Dunek and a 21-yard field goal field goal by David Trout giving the Stars a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

But Denver responded early in the second frame as Evans bootlegged nine yards for a touchdown and Bill Johnson scored midway through the frame via a one-yard run giving the Gold a 14-10 lead.

The Stars then closed out the half with another David Trout field goal and a two-ayrd touchdown run by kelvin Bryant as the stars led 20-14 at the intermission.

Philadelphia increased their lead to 27-14 early in the third as Fusina again connected with Dunek, this time via a 34-yard touchdown pass. However, the Stars offense would then go dormant as Denver controlled the final 25 minutes of the contest.

A 77-yard strike from Evans to Leonard Harris immediately following the Dunek touchdown ignited the Gold as they then fought back with ten unanswered points to seal the victory.

Game Notes: Kelvin Braynt led all rushers with 149 yards on 19 attempts…wideout Leonard Harris finished with 168 receiving yards on eight receptions…recently acquired linebacker Stan Blinka paced the Denver defense with 12 tackles.

In other Sunday USFL action; the Houston Gamblers smashed Los Angeles by a score of 31-6 sparked by a 70-yard punt return by Gerald McNeil.

Meanwhile, the New Orleans Breakers downed Oakland by a score of 21-16 with Buford Jordan leading the charge as he churned out 142 rushing yards to go along with a pair of touchdown runs. Matt Robinson made his Breakers’ debut throwing for 186 yards with a touch down toss to Jordan in the final frame.