New Jersey 28 at Birmingham 38

1985 Week 1 - Sunday, February 24, 1985
New Jersey Generals(0-0) at Birmingham Stallions(0-0)(-2)
Attendance: 34,785, TV: ABC

BIRMINGHAM(AP) - Doug Flutie, fresh from Boston College where he set NCAA passing marks, looked anything but ready for the pro ranks as he misfired on his first nine passes, with two being intercepted. It wasn't until late in the third quarter that the $7 million QB collected his first completion, a 6-yard pass to Clarence Collins.

By then, Birmingham had built a 31-7 lead on their way to a 38-28 victory over New Jersey. Stallions quarterback finished 21-for-33 for 220 yards and three scores. He also ran nine times for 65 yards.

The game at Birmingham was tied 7-7 when Joe Cribbs scored from the 2 with 19 seconds left in the first half. The Stallions scored 17 straight points in the third period before Flutie found his stride. He wound up with 12 completions in 27 attempts for 189 yards and was picked off three times. He did hurl a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes.

"I think I'm ready," said Flutie, who had only two weeks of steady practice after signing with the Generals. "I didn't prove it today, but I believe I will next week."

Complete Game

Highlights

February 24, 1985
Birmingham Stallions - 38
New Jersey Generals - 28
at Legion Field
34,785

New Jersey      0   7   0   21 --  28
Birmingham      7   7  17   7  --  38

1st Qtr ---- BIRM - Mason 2 pass from Stoudt (Miller kick)
2nd Qtr ---- NJ - Carthon 55 run (Ruzek kick)
             BIRM - Cribbs 2 run (Miller kick)
3rd Qtr ---- BIRM - Perry 2 run (Miller kick)
             BIRM - Gant 6 pass from Stoudt (Miller kick)
             BIRM - FG Miller 33
4th Qtr ---- NJ - Walker 1 run (Ruzek kick)
             NJ - Knight 4 pass from Flutie (Ruzek kick)
             BIRM - Smith 44 pass from Stoudt (Miller kick)
             NJ - Hackett 5 pass from Flutie (Ruzek kick)

TEAM STATS          NEW JERSEY           BIRMINGHAM
First Downs             12                     25
Rushes-Yards        17-111                 41-163
Passing Yards          177                    209
Return Yards            21                    115
Passes               12-27-3                21-33-2
Sacks By              1-12                   1-11       
Punts                 4-47                   4-41
Fumbles-Lost           2-2                    1-1
Penalties-Yards       8-45                   5-41
Time of Possession   18:23                  41:37

INDIVIDUAL STATS
RUSHING = New Jersey: Carthon 8-74, Flutie 2-17, Harmon 2-14, Walker 5-6.
       Birmingham: Stoudt 9-65, Cribbs 16-46, Perry 5-27, Gant 11-25.
PASSING = New Jersey: Flutie 12-27-3-189.  Birmingham: 21-33-2-220.
RECEIVING = New Jersey: Walker 3-73, Knight 3-38, Collins 2-27, Spek 1-20,
       Bowers 1-15, Harmon 1-11, Hackett 1-5.  Birmingham: Smith 6-98,
       Gant 4-45, Jones 4-43, Mason 4-16, Cribbs 2-1, Toler 1-17.
MISSED FIELD GOALS = None

Archived news report
Archived news report

Supplemental information courtesy of Chris Blackburn

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