'85 Chronology-Saturday Showdown

Event Date: March 24th, 1984

Event Description:  

Source: PFW/UPI

Quarterback Bobby Hebert threw for over 500 yards and six touchdowns Saturday to lead the Michigan Panthers to a 59-42 victory over the Houston Gamblers.

The victory kept Michigan in contention in the Central Division with a 4-1 mark. Houston, meanwhile, lost its first game of the season to fall to 4-1 as well.

Michigan increased their 21-0 first quarter advantage on the opening drive of the second quarter as Hebert engineered a five-play, 63-yard scoring drive on the Panthers' first possesion.

Hebert hit wide receiver Derek Holloway on pass plays of 19 yards, 33 yards and 28 yards for the touchdown on the drive to increase Michigan's margin to 28-0.

Houston then scored their first points of the game after a Clarence Verdin 101-yard kickoff return which was then followed by a Jim Kelly to Ricky Sanders two-yard touchdown pass as Houston trailed 28-13.

A pair of John Williams touchdown runs pushed the Panthers out to a 42-20 lead at the intermission.

After the break, Hebert took control again as the Panthers scored 17 unanswered points in the third frame. Hebert found Anthony Carter for a 19-yard touchdown, followed by a Novo Bojovic 38-yard field goal and then another Hebert to Holloway touchodwn strike.

Houston rallied in the fourth quarter as Jim Kelly tossed three touchdown passes, two of which went to slot receiver Gerald McNeil.

In other Saturday action, the Tampa Bay Bandits edged Jacksonville by a score of 17-6 as both Gary Anderson and Greg Boone capped second-half touchdown drives.

Story-(UPI Modified)