'85 Chronology-Title Tilt!

Event Date: June 30th, 1985

Event Description: Generals Win Title!

Source: PFW

Quarterback Doug Flutie fired a 43-yard touchdown pass to Clarence Collins with just 12 seconds remaining to lead the Generals to a wild 35-31 triumph in the USFL championship game versus Michigan on Saturday night.

Flutie’s touchdown pass ended one of the most exciting finals in the short history of the league as the two teams played through a see-saw battle which saw lead changes throughout the final minutes.

Flutie opened the scoring with a 30-yard TD pass to Sam Bowers, which capped a six-play, 80 yard drive giving New Jersey an early 7-0 lead.

At the end of the quarter, Michigan responded with a seven-play, 67 yard drive which ended with a John Williams five-yard touchdown run to tie the score 7-7. 

Midway through the second stanza the Generals regained the lead 14-7 as Herschel Walker finished another long New Jersey drive with a six-yard scamper.

A Novo Bojovic 30-yard field goal in the third would pull Michigan to within 14-10.

The final quarter would see a flurry of scoring as Bobby Hebert drove the Panthers 86 yards in six plays, capped by a 14-yard TD pass to tight end Mike Cobb with Michigan pulling ahead for the first time at 17-10.

The Generals quickly responded with a ten-play, 74 yard drive which saw Walker score his second touchdown of the day as New Jersey regained the lead.

Michigan quickly responded to that score as Hebert completed three consecutive passes n a 67-yard drive that ended with a 36-yard touchdown pass to Derek Holloway that put Michigan ahead 24-21.

New Jersey then put together another long, run-oriented drive that covered 76-yards over 12 plays and culminated with a Flutie to Maurice Carthon three-yard touchdown toss.

Trailing 28-24, John Williams carried five times in a 80-yard eleven-play drive that put the Panthers back into the lead. He took a pitch right and received a key block from running mate Cleo Miller to score untouched into the endzone with just 1:48 remaining.

Herschel Walker was named the game's Most Valuable Player after he rushed for 189 yards on 30 carries. Doug Flutie finished with 289 yards passing on 19-of-29 efficiency with one interception and two sacks.

John Williams led the Panthers ground attack with 178 yards on 28 carries, and Bobb Hebert finished with 278 yards with two touchdowns and two sacks in what could be his last game as the Panthers pivot.

The game was played before a crowd of 49,263 at Giants Stadium, the smallest of the three championship games.

Story-(UPI Composite)