Tampa Bay 17 at Birmingham 36 Playoff

1984 Quarterfinals - Sunday, July 1, 1984
Tampa Bay Bandits(14-4) at Birmingham Stallions(14-4)(-4)
Attendance: 32,000, TV: ABC

Rollie Dotsch may have set a precedent of sorts by giving his Birmingham Stallions a day off to cool off before meeting the Tampa Bay Bandits in the United States Football League playoffs.

"I gave them a Saturday off to give them an edge," Dotsch said after the Stallions advanced Sunday to the Eastern Conference championship game with a 36-17 victory.

"There was a little scuffling all week because the practices were so intense," said Dotsch. "I could feel it in my bones. We were ready "

Indeed they were.

Joe Cribbs, the league's leading rusher, gained 112 yards, Danny Miller kicked five field goals and the Birmingham defense set up two touchdowns to advance to the conference final next Sunday in Philadelphia.

The winners of next weekend's games meet for the league championship July 15 in Tampa, Fla.

"Miller was probably the difference " said Bandits Coach Steve Spurrier. "Everytime I thought, 'if he misses this kick, we could come back' But he just kept hitting them."

Miller booted field goals of 42, 49,35,42 and 32 yards.

Cnbbs, with 1,467 yards in the regular season, scored on a 3 yard run in the third period to give the Stallions a 27-11 lead.

Cnbbs also caught three passes for 55 yards. One was a 29-yarder to the Tampa Bay 1 in the first period to set up the first of two short scoring runs by quarterback Cliff Stoudt.

An interception by Chuck Clanton and a fumble recovery by Buddy Aydelette put Birmingham in position for two of its touchdowns.

Complete Game

Highlights

BIRMINGHAM 36, Tampa Bay 17

Compliments of Lenny Wolf

Tampa Bay Bandits at Birmingham Stallions
July 1, 1984

Tampa Bay           3     8    6     0- 17
Birmingham          7    10   10     9- 36

BIR- Stoudt 1 yard run (Miller kick), 5:35 1st
TB- Andrusyshyn 50 yard field goal, 14:43 1st
BIR- Stoudt 2 yard run (Miller kick), 4:10 2nd
TB- Gillespie 7 yard pass from Reaves (Gillespie pass from Reaves), 6:10 2nd
BIR- Miller 42 yard field goal, 14:28 2nd
BIR- Miller 49 yard field goal, 4:35 3rd
BIR- Cribbs 3 yard run (Miller kick), 7:01 3rd
TB- Morgan 20 yard pass from Reaves (pass failed), 11:37 3rd
BIR- Miller 35 yard field goal, 4:06 4th
BIR- Miller 42 yard field goal, 9:46 4th
BIR- Miller 32 yard field goal, 13:12 4th
 
Attendance- 32,000

                         TB             BIRM
first downs.             17             19
rushes-yards             18-73          42-209
passing yards            233            139
sacked-yards lost        0-0            2-8
return yards             148            106
passes                   16-35-3        13-27-0
punts                    3-43.7         4-40.0
fumbles-lost             2-2            1-0
penalties-yards          11-74          13-93
time of possesion        23:03          36:57

Rushing
TB- Boone 5-34, G.Anderson 8-21, Christian 2-8, Henderson 1-6, 
Williams 1-2, Jordan 1-2 , 
BIR- Cribbs 18-112, Perry 15-80, Stoudt 8-14, Gant 1-3

Passing
TB- Reaves 15-34-3---213, Jordan 1-1-0---20
BIR- Stoudt 13-27-0---147

Receiving
TB- Morgan 3-70, Harvey 3-59, Gillespie 3-49, Boone 3-22, 
G.Anderson 3-19, Brodsky 1-14 , 
BIR- Smith 4-35, Cribbs 3-55, Toler 2-17, Perry 2-14, Earl 1-14, 
J.Jones 1-12

Kickoff Returns
TB- Williams 4-89, Bailey 2-40
BIR- Johnson 3-60

Punt Returns
TB- Bailey 3-19
BIR- Frederick 2-23

Interceptions
BIR- Clanton 2-14, Woodberry 1-9

Punting
TB- Andrusyshyn 3-43.7
BIR- Parsons 4-40.0

Field Goals
TB- Andrusyshyn 1-1
BIR- Miller 5-5

Sacks
TB- Harrell 1-4
Nordgren 1-4

Archived news report
Archived news report
Archived news report

Supplemental information courtesy of Chris Blackburn

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