'88 Chronology-Back to Back

Event Date: July 4th, 1988

Event Description: 'Boats Win Again

Walter Lewis ran for a pair of touchdowns and Willie Gillespie caught a 68-yard touchdown pass, to lead the Memphis Showboats to a 43-38 victory over the Jacksonville Bulls in the United States Football League championship.

The Showboats have now secured back-to-back championships as they defeated Denver last year by a score of 48-34.

Gillespie, who played in college at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, caught 68 passes for 1,698 yards and 16 touchdowns during the season.

Jacksonville took an early 7-0 lead on Vincent White’s 40-yard touchdown on just the second play from scrimmage. Memphis struck right back on the 68-yard touchtown pass to Gillespie from Lewis.

A 57-yard pass from Evans to White set up Jacksonville's second touchdown a few minutes later with a 20-yard run from White as the Bulls led 14-7 at the 9:38 mark.

With Jacksonville leading 14-7, Lewis drove the Showboats 81-yards on five plays and tied things up again with a one-yard touchdown plunge.

Lewis put Memphis in front 21-14 with his second touchtown run with 0:53 left in the first half.

Three second quarter field goals from ex-Bulls kicker Brian Franco pushed the Showboats out to a 30-21 lead at the intermission.

In the third stanza, Vince Evans found Spencer Jackson for a 53-yard strike as the Bulls moved to within 33-28. That score was followed by a Jeff Brockhaus 25-yard field goal as Memphis led 33-31 at the end of three quarters.

In the final frame, Joe Carter capped a ten-play, 80-yard drive with a one yard scoring plunge at the 11:26 mark, as the ‘Boats led 40-31. Carter finished with a game-high 106 yards on 15 totes.

The Bulls responded with a seven-play, 67-yard drive of their own capped by a Bobby Howard five-yard touchdown run pulling the Bulls to within 40-38 with 8:38 remaining.

The final Memphis drive saw the ‘Boats again control the clock with a ten-play, 57-yard drive culminating with a 25-yard Brian Franco field goal which cemented the victory for Memphis.

The game was televised live outside the United States to Canada, Britain, Mexico, Spain and select parts of Europe. The crowd was announced at 45,585.

more to come......