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Washington 3 at Los Angeles 20

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Every game in the United States Football League is a learning experience for the teams, and the Los Angeles Express seems to be catching on faster than most.

The Express, featuring a solid defensive performance and two touchdown passes from Mike Rae to Ricky Ellis, ran its record to 2-0 Monday night with a 20-3 triumph over the winless Washington Federals.

"We weren't dominant," said Express Coach Hugh Campbell. "We still have a lot of things to worry about. Our team is showing a lot of spirit, but we still have a long way to go academically."

Considering the club has played just two games, the Express actually made few mistakes against Washington, suffering no interceptions, no lost fumbles, and drawing just five penalties for 44 yards.

"We're still young and will make mistakes," said Rae, a pro veteran of nine years in the National Football League and Canadian Football League. "We have a long way to go. We don't know how good we are yet; we've won two games, but we don't know how good the other teams are.

"I've been watching TV and trying to analyze the other teams in the league, but it's still too early to tell."

Rae, quarterback on Southern California's national collegiate championship team in 1972, threw scoring strikes of 17 and 18 yards to tight end Ellis in a 35-second span of the second quarter to pull the Express away from a 3-3 tie.

He completed eight of 14 passes for 110 yards in the first half, then gave way to rookie Tom Ramsey - under Campbell's two-quarterback system - in the second half.

Spearheading the Los Angeles defense against the Federals were safety Alvin Burleson, who logged seven solo tackles, one assist and one quarterback sack; and linebacker Ron Seawell, who was in on six tackles, deflected two passes and intercepted another.

The Federals, who have scored just 10 points in their first two games, suffered a couple of blows to their offense in the first half. Running back Craig James went out with a sprained back, quarterback Mike Hohensee suffered a bruised sternum and wide receiver Reggie Smith hurt an ankle.

"It was just unfortunate that we had all those injuries," said Washington Coach Ray Jauch. "The initial report is unclear on James and Hohensee, but it looks like both will be out for next week."

Jauch said he thought his club showed improvement over its 28-7 opening loss to the Chicago Blitz, commenting, "We improved on a few things from last week. Defensively, we were able to do some things that were good."

The game at the L.A. Coliseum drew a crowd of 22,453, the smallest for a USFL game thus far and some 12,000 fewer than for the Express' debut in the Coliseum.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14
SCORE BY PERIODS
Washington  ..................  3   0   0   0-- 3 
Los Angeles  .................  3  14   3   0--20

Washington--FG Ariri 28. 

Los Angeles--FG Abbott 30. 

Los Angeles--Ellis 17 uss from Rae (Abbott kick). 

Los Angeles--Ellis 18 pass from Rae (Abbott Kick). 

Los Angeles--FG Abbott 28. 

TEAM STATISTICS
                                        Washington  Los Angeles 
First downs  ...........................     18         19 
Rushes-yards  ..........................  21-60     34-142 
Passing-yards  .........................    169        153 
Return yards  ..........................      7         31 
Passes  ................................  20-38-2    15-20-0 
Sacks by  ..............................   3-24       5-51 
Punts  .................................   4-43       5-31 
Fumbles-lost  ..........................    2-2        1-0 
Penalties-yards  .......................   6-56       5-44 
Time of possession  ....................  29:58      30:02 
Attendance--22,453

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Washington--Mayberry 5-13, E. Rob- 
inson 5-18, James 8-17, Hardeman 2-4, Hohensee 
1-3. Los Angeles--Harrington 8-54, Boddie 11-33, 
Haslip 5-32, Davis 8-19, Ramsey 2-4. 

PASSING: Washington--Hohensee 5-8-0, 62 yards; 
McQuilken 15-30-2, 158. Los Angeles--Rae 8-14- 
0, 110; Ramsey 7-15-0, 67. 

RECEIVING: Washington--Holmes 4-78, E. Rob- 
inson 4-37, Hardeman 4-25, Walters 3-37, Wall 2- 
20, James 2-10, R. Smith 1-13. Los Angeles--Ellis 
5-63, Harrington 3-49, Turner 3-41, Boddie 3-13, 
Hayes 1-29, Haslip 1-11. 

MISSED FIELD GOALS: Los Angeles--Abbott, 47.

Supplemental information courtesy of Chris Blackburn

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