Fire, Birmingham clash: approaches to ‘the’ game

Different strokes for different folks and no one is approaching the Fire’s clash Thursday night against unbeaten Birmingham more differently than Virgil Carter, the analytical quarterback, and Steve Wright, the carefree fight tackle.

Everybody around is calling the nationally televised contest a “pressure game” and tickets are selling faster than ever, according to the Fire.

Quick to agree as to its importance is Carter, the World Football League’s leader in completion percentage. “I like to think it’s an important game,” he says. “Psychologically, it makes it easier for me to prepare knowing there are certain things I must do and things I cannot do in a game. This week’s been easier to prepare for. But, the pressure is not really on us. Birmingham is the unbeaten one. I don’t compromise the fact that we have to win.”

“The problem is a man can put too much pressure on himself,” notes Carter. “Then you get too chancey. In games like this everything has to be done well, you can’t make any mistakes against a team like Birmingham. Pressure-wise, I like to think I am as good as any. I certainly played under pressure in Cincinnati’s playoff drive [1971]. I suppose I play better under pressure: at least I’d like to think so.”

But along comes Wright, 6'6", 245, and grinning, to calm things down.

“This is only game No. 8,” he says. “How can you talk about pressure? Everybody is making such a big deal out of this game. There’ll be 12 games left, you know.

“I can understand how it’s being promoted as a so-called pressure game,” he says, noting that Chicago and Birmingham are both in the WFL Central Division. “That’s where the pressure is coming from, promoters.”

“For my part, I take every game as a personal challenge,” he says. “There is no defensive end who is going to beat me.”

Wright played in his share of “big games” with the NFL champion Green Bay Packers, 1965-67, but that was different.

“In the WFL, with such a long schedule, a lot of things can happen,” he insists. “Hell, Portland Storm could win the title. Let’s not make this game the end of the world.”

Carter, hoping to lead the Fire to its seventh victory in eight games, understands the approach of his free-spirited teammate. “Steve has always had his own peculiar way of putting this game into perspective,” says Virg. “That’s OK for him, he does a great job for us. I guess we just see this game a little differently, that’s all. The important thing is that we win.”

Safety Joe Womack (knee) is doubtful for the Birmingham game.

Confident Fire eyes showdown, stiff slate

Jim Spavital, spotted a helicopter fluttering over the Chicago Fire’s practice field in Des Plaines yesterday afternoon.

He adjusted his cap back and broke into the wide grin you expect from winning coaches.

“Hey Hawk,” he yelled to zany television commentator Alex Hawkins, “Do think maybe that’s Birmingham up there?”

Spavital’s kidding remark was a healthy sign of the Fire’s easygoing confidence in approaching tomorrow night’s World Football League confrontation with unbeaten Birmingham at Soldier Field.

“We’ve had the best work week since we left Lake Forest,” said diminutive Wide Receiver Jack Dolbin. “Everybody seems to be concentrating more. I don’t want to say we’re uptight. It’s kind of a tense confidence.”

Spavital and his staff are cautious against investing too much importance to the Birmingham contest, nationally telecast but blocked out in the Chicago area.

“We don’t look at this as a must-win situation,” said Spavital. “Of course we want to win, we approach every game that way. But, we don’t want to put too much emphasis on it. We’ll be playing four games in 14 days. You can’t continuously get players psyched up.

“With Birmingham,” he continued, “our players get themselves up naturally. Our coaches haven’t had to say a word. That’s good, because we’ll have just too many games in a short time to even try that.”

That tortuous scheduling could prove the stiffest test of all. The Firemen depart for the West Coast Sunday to face the Southern California Sun on Labor Day, followed by a rematch with the Americans next Saturday night. Chicago returns home Sept 11 against the Sun again.

“Most players just are not used to playing so many games like that,” said Spavital. “In the Canadian Football League, we didn’t think anything of it. That’s just the way it was and we had to accept it. I hope our players can do that here, too.”

But for insurance Spavital is looking at more players in case the grueling series takes a toll. Most notable of the new men in camp is Linebacker Tom Roussel, a National Football League veteran who will likely be activated tomorrow.

Spavital’s secondary is also a concern. Free Safety Joe Womack’s left knee is still a bit stiff, and Spavital won’t know whether he can play until today. “It’s up to Joe,” said Spavital. “It depends on how he feels mentally. He’ll make the decision.”

FIRESIDE CHAT – Fire brass obtained more help to handle what they expect to be the largest crowd of the year, 40,000. Bond’s Menswear and Playboy Club are new ticket-takers and ushers were hired to avoid long lines and congestion in Soldier Field entrance ramps.

World giants vie here: Fire vs. Birmingham

Chicago’s feisty Firemen will discover tonight just how un-American they can get.

It is the first genuine showdown of the World Football League: the Fire (6-1) versus the unbeaten Birmingham Americans at Soldier Field. Kickoff is at 8:10 pm, and the nationally-televised contest will be blocked out in the Chicago area.

Fire chiefs are also expecting their biggest crowd of the year, over 40,000, based on the demand for tickets in recent days.

All week the Fire has been trying to play down the importance of this game, but it can no longer. Not only does the confrontation determine superiority in the Central Division, but it represents the first leg of a demanding schedule of four games in 14 days.

“I hope our players are up for it,” said Fire Coach Jim Spavital.

Chicago’s opponent is regarded as the WFL’s showcase team – at the bank and on the field. The Americans are enormously popular in football hungry Birmingham and have established what they call a “blue collar” following. About 3,000 persons have been on hand to welcome the Americans home from victorious road trips, prompting Coach Jack Gotta to confess: “I feel like a rock and roll idol.”

Money as well as hope has been invested in this team, whose multi-faceted offense reflects Gotta’s tenure in the Canadian Football League. The American’s highest paid player is ex-Washington Running Back Charlie Harraway, and teaming with him in the backfield is Paul Robinson, a Rookie of the Year at Cincinnati in 1968.

Arriving for next year are Pittsburgh Defensive Tackle LC Greenwood, Atlanta Tight End Jim Mitchell and Detroit Wide Receiver Ron Jessie. Oakland Quarterback Ken Stabler, a former Alabama star, is due for 1976.

“This is the entertainment business,” says owner Bill Putnam, “and you have to spend money, money for advertising in order to make money.” That the Americans are doing, leading the WFL in attendance [only a trifle padded] and averaging 59,553 in 68,000-seat Legion Field.

Even so, the Americans are winning the hard way. They’ve had to come from behind in five of their seven games, winning by less than a touchdown in each of them. Their hero last week against Jacksonville was Matthew Reed, a 6-4 black quarterback from Grambling, who scored an action point with six seconds left to beat the Sharks, 15-14.

But, Spavital fears their explosiveness, nonetheless. “They’ll throw the bomb seven or eight times a game,” he said. Birmingham’s bombee is Alfred Jenkins, who’s gained 550 yards on only 18 catches. Their top receiver, Dennis Homan, separated his breast bone last week and is not expected to suit up.

Nor is the Fire’s free safety, Joe Womack. His left knee never improved to his or Spavital’s satisfaction and Harry Howard will be moved from his cornerback spot.

Chicago, of course, can boast an equally-potent attack. Virgil Carter is the WFL leader in completion percentage, and Running Backs Mark Kellar and Cyril Pinder are raked No. 2 and No. 4, respectively. James Scott is the second-leading receiver in the league.

Fire, Birmingham collide in crucial league action

Panty raids constituted a campus riot, long hair touched the ears. Chicago’s best pitcher was Dick Ellsworth and South Vietnam had little more appeal than any other suburb of mainland China when thin city witnessed its last meaningful gridiron game.

That, of course, was the Bear’s National Football League Championship bout win, 14-10, over the New York Giants an even dozen years ago.

Yeah, it's been that long, especially since the NFL, players strike shipwrecked this summer's College All-Star Game.

But would you believe there's a good reason to pay 17 per head tonight at Soldier Field ... that's right, an important football game, right here on our stage!

It’s the Birmingham Americans against Jim Spavital’s Fire in an 8:10 p.m. nationally televised World Football League special. At stake: Co-leadership of the WFL Central Division.

As the league's only unbeaten team, Jack Gotta’s Americans will defend their 7-0 slate against the Fire, whose only defeat was three weeks ago against Florida in Soldier Field. Chicago Is 6-1.

Badly. That's how much the Fire needs victory tonight. Why? They've got four games these next 13 days, meeting Birmingham tonight and on the road Saturday. Sept. 7.

Sandwiched around those unenviable tasks are next Monday's date at Southern California, leader of the Western Division, with the rematch on Wednesday, Sept. 11 in Soldier Field. It's a vastly more difficult challenge than Chicago's first "twin bill," two games in five days, earlier against Portland and Hawaii.

And after Southern Cal, there's another Central Division match-up on Wednesday, Sept. 18 against Memphis in Soldier Field.

"That's tough on anybody, I don’t care who you're playing," insisted Fire linebacker Ron Porter, a two-time Super Bowl veteran and holder of 11 tackles last Thursday against the Ypsilanti (Detroit) Wheels. "If we come out of this next series in good shape, we'll play that way the rest of the season."

Down the line, WFL contenders are chasing four playoff spots. Division winners plus the league's best second place team qualify for post-season money games.

At this point, Southern Cal looks strong in the West. It's probably Florida or New York in the East with Birmingham, Chicago or Memphis battling for one or two spots awarded the Central teams. So that's why Chicago must not falter during its next hectic two weeks or against Memphis.

"If we come out of that stretch with just one loss, I'd be the happiest guy in the world." said quarterback Virgil Carter. "We've got to win our home games, regardless. That's the mistake we made against Florida. We just can't be beaten at home."

That would mean only three wins however. “If we get some breaks on the road and play good ball at Southern Cal and down in Birmingham, sure we’d like to win them all. But our thinking must concentrate on winning at home.”

Carter claimed "The pressure's not really on us; it's on Birmingham. We need to relax, play football, have a good time and hope It works out in our favor."

(Yeah, except should the Fire get doused tonight, they'll be 6-2, two games behind Birmingham and in a mental valley with minimal recovery time before Southern Cal. Not a nice thought.)

There is guarded concern that Chicago free safety Joe Womack, WFL pass Interception leader with six, will play just sparingly or not at all tills evening. The ligaments in his left knee, strained against Philadelphia, aren't totally sound. He didn’t play against the Wheels.

"I don’t wont to do anything that would hurt the team," he said, "but I'm concerned about myself, too, because a (bad) knee can end your career." He's just 25 years old.

The Fire picked up safety Randy Richardson, a rookie from Southeast Oklahoma, this week, but it's not likely he'll be activated. Look for Womack to start. If he can't make it, they'll move Harry Howard to free safety and put Mike Carter at Howard's right cornerback spot.

Two new Firemen tonight will be offensive tackle Al Jenkins, recently waived by the Bears, and linebacker Tommy Rousscll, waived by the NFL Philadelphia Eagles. Jenkins started at Houston lost year, was recently waived by the Oilers, picked up by Abo Gibron's Bears and dropped again.

Fire personnel director Bill Byrne has acquired running back Billy Taylor from Memphis for a future consideration and traded running back Clayton Heath to Hawaii.

What Is Birmingham? A club that's scored 91 of its 201 total points during the lint period and escaped against Jacksonville last week, 15-11, when Charley Harraway scored and Matthew Reed added the action point with 19 seconds remaining.

The Americans have come from behind in five games and won them all by less than one touchdown. They wore able to handle hapless Ypsilanti (oops ... Detroit!) by just three and six points: in back-to-back games.

So the Americans are ripe for defeat, as some say, or they play like gang busters when it seems the axe will fall. Take your pick.

That 7-0 record has been accomplished despite losing starting quarterback George Mira on-and-off with a sprained ankle he injured against Jacksonville. But Reed, a free agent from Grambling, has replaced the 11-year vet with nice result!).

Mira ranks eighth and Reed ninth in WFL Passing stats. The Americans are second in total and passing offense and fourth in rushing. They’ve got the WFL’s No. 9 rusher in Paul Robinson, 91 carries for 333 yards. Chicago’s Mark Kellar is second, 113 attempts and 461 yards.

According to Fire linebacker Porter, Birmingham has been especially strong on first down, usually with a running play, and that's opened up their passing for second or third down.

"There's nothing you can depend upon all the time," said Porter. "You can figure tendencies. You can know what they do almost all the time. But what about when they don't?"

THE FIRE LOG: Ex-Indiana quarterback Ted McNulty is back with the Indianapolis Caps, coached by Fire scout Ken Carter ... Advance ticket sales Indicate more than 40,000 for tonight's game. Rumor has it that Soldier Field repairs are complete ... The nationally televised game is blacked out in Chicagoland. It'll be aired on WJJD-FM radio with Eddie Doucette and Mike Pyle ... Kellar has a 78-57 lead over Birmingham's Alfred Jenkins in WFL scoring. All of

Virgil Carter, Chicago Fire quarterback, tosses a pass as Birmingham American defenders close in during a World Football game August 29. Birmingham won 22-8

Americans March to Eighth Straight

The undefeated Birmingham Americans scored their eighth consecutive World Football League victory tonight wiht a blend of George Mira's passing and a solid running game for a 22-8 triumph over the Chicago Fire.

After taking a 14-8 halftime lead, Birmingham sewed up the game late in the fourth quarter on a 66-yard drive in nine plays, capped by Art Cantrelle's three-yard sweep, a play after he rambled for 22 yards.

A crowd of 44,732 was announced at Soldiers Field, which has a seating capacity of 55,700.

Birmingham dominated the first half, scoring its touchdown on a two yard plunge by Jimmy Edwards after a 57-yard drive in the first period.

In the second period the Americans moved 69 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown as Mira hit Paul Robinson with a 19-yard scoring pass. Mira's pass for the action point failed.

Late in the quarter, Harry Howard intercepted a Matthew Reed pass and Virgil Carter hit three straight aerials, the last a 28-yard strike to James Scott for a touchdown with two seconds left in the half.

Carter connected with Jack Dolbin on a pass for the action point.

FIRE AT HIS FEET – Ron Porter (50) of the Chicago Fire reaches behind himself in an attempt to trip up Charlie Harraway (31) of Birmingham Americans during first quarter WFL action Thursday night at Chicago. Harraway eluded Porter and ran for three-yard gain and a first down on the play. (AP Wirephoto)

Americans near perfect win

Except for getting a “little greedy” near the end of the first half, Jack Gotta thought his Birmingham Americans played a perfect game Thursday night when they turned back the Chicago Fire in a pivotal World Football League game.

“There’s no doubt that this was a big game for us,” said Gotta. “It was against a team in our division and in their own backyard.”

The victory enabled the undefeated Americans, who boosted their record to 8-0, to open a two-game gap over the Fire which had to settle back to a tie for second with Memphis at 6-2.

“It might have been our best defensive effort of the season,” said Gotta. “We played a good team and might have shut them out if we hadn’t gotten a little greedy.”

The Americans got a “little greedy” near the end of the first half. They were leading 14-0 on a two-yard touchdown run by Jimmy Edwards and a 19-yard touchdown pass from George Mira to Paul Robinson.

With less than a minute to go in the first half, Matthew Reed went in to throw a bomb only to have Harry Howard intercept.

Fire Quarterback Virgil Carter went into action and completed three straight passes for 65 yards in 27 seconds capped by a 28-yard scoring aerial to Jim Scott. Carter then hit Jack Dolbin with the action point to cut Birmingham’s lead to 14-8 and put Fire back into the game before a hopeful home crowd of 44,732.

Still the Americans never panicked and after a scoreless third quarter, they marched 66 yards in nine plays late in the game to clinch it on a three-yard run by Art Cantrelle.

The Americans rushed 46 times for 212 net yards while the Fire had only 18 attempts for 70 yards.

Cantrelle, out of Louisiana State and formerly of the Canadian Football League, set up his own touchdown with runs of 6 and 22 yards.

“Man the blocking was something else,” said Cantrelle. “Our offensive line and Charlie Harraway really did all the work. All I had to do was walk.”

Before Cantrelle’s clinching touchdown, the Americans were hit with a costly penalty.

“We didn’t lose confidence or our poise,” said Mira. “The penalty didn’t stop us. We just came back and moved the ball well. I went to Alfred Jenkins a lot because of man-to-man coverage.

“Sure, we would have been happy to have a 14-0 lead at the half,” said Mira, “but we wanted to put another score on the board. The fact that they scored and it was 14-8 made us come out to do something about it.”

Mira, a veteran of the National Football League with five years with San Francisco and shorter stays with Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Miami said, “I really enjoy this league. It’s more wide open and exciting. I like the idea of wide open play.”

Mira and Carter of the Fire did their best to keep it a wide open game despite the lack of scoring. Mira completed 12 of 28 passes for 139 yards while Carter hit on 18 of 43 for 263 yards.

“Birmingham has a solid team in all areas,” said Carter, also a former NFL player. “They have good offense, defense and a fine kicking game.”

Jim Spavital, coach of the Fire, said “They simply controlled the ball against us and our defense was in the game 80 percent of the time. They put the pressure on us.”

Birmingham’s Paul Robinson gets crunched by two Fire Defenders. (17) Hal Phillips is seen making the tackle. AP Wirephototo

No. 8 – Americans keep rolling, put hurt on Chicago

Without the “bomb,” without the miracle, and even without Matthew Reed, the Birmingham Americans put the hurt on Chicago here Thursday night.

It was a battle between the big boys of the World Football League, and the Americans took a a cool 22-8 victory before 44,732 at Soldier Field and millions watching on national television.

George Mira directed a sound, conservative offense, Birmingham’s defense had its best game of the year, and the Ams hung up their eighth straight victory to come on strong as clearly the best team in the WFL.

The Americans, now 8-0, lead the Fire, 6-2, by two games in the Central Division. But, the 20 game season is not half over, and within the next 13 days Birmingham plays three WFL contenders, Florida, Chicago again, and Memphis.

Birmingham got on the board quickly in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead, stretched it to 14-0 in the second before Chicago closed it to 14-8, and the Ams nailed it down with a touchdown in the fourth.

Mira coming off an ankle injury, completed 12 of 28 passes for 139 yards, but it was the American’s running attack which chiefed the offense.

Charley Harraway ran for 17 times for 80 yards, Art Cantrelle had 58 yards in 11 carries, and Jimmy Edwards 57 in 12 as the Ams cranked out 212 yards on the ground.

By the same token, Chicago, a running team, managed only 70 yards rushing and quarterback Virgil Carter put the ball in the air 43 times, completing 18 for 263 yards.

Led by Ross Brupbacher, Warren Capone and Tony Andrews, Birmingham’s defense almost completely choked off one of the best running teams in the league.

Chicago’s Mark Kellar, No. 2 rusher in the WFL, gained only 59 yards in 11 carries and Cyril Pinder, the league’s fourth leading rusher, got just three yards on three runs.

“It was the best game of the season for the defense,” said Brupbacher, a former Chicago Bear who played to boos and cheers from the Chicago fans.

Mira, who says he gets more satisfaction out of establishing a sound running offense than dropping back and throwing the ball, contributed Birmingham’s conservative style to audibles at the line of scrimmage.

“I called more audibles tonight than I have all season,” said the Matador. “They were shifting their defense around and when I would get to the line I would spot a weakness. I tried to attack any weakness I saw in their defensive line. We’ll take anything they give us.”

Mira admitted the game plan was to get the ball moving on the ground. “We stopped ourselves too much,” he said, “but let’s give Chicago credit. Hey, they have a helluva football team.

Birmingham has earned a reputation for throwing the long ball, but Mira’s longest against the Fire was a 20-yarder. Reed did come in the game late in the second quarter and bomb one about as far as he could bomb it. But, Chicago picked it off and then, with 27 seconds to play in the half, marched 65 yards in three plays. That TD was a crucial one at the time, because the Fire converted the action point, trailed by only 14-8, and took big momentum to the dressing room.

The big concern as the third quarter opened was the Fire’s momentum, but the third was about as dull a quarter as you’d ever like to see. The Ams got only as far as the Fire 37 and Chicago’s deepest penetration was to the Birmingham 42.

But, then came the fourth quarter and it was a six-point ball game. It stayed that way until 10:28 when tough Art Cantrelle ripped around left end for three yards and a touchdown. Little Jimmy Edwards went up the middle for the action point.

Cantrelle had the big play in the final Ams scoring march, a 22-yard ramble going wide which set up his three-yard touchdown.

“We knew they were going to have to block to win this game,” said Cantrelle. “Harraway in particular gave me some good blocking, but don’t give him all the credit. The whole line was tearing them up all night. I’ve never run behind better blocking.”

Chicago’s only score of the night was a 28-yard pass from Carter to Jack Dolbin. It was frustrating to Birmingham, coming only two seconds before halftime.

Dolbin beat cornerback Steve Williams by about two steps on his route.

“I feel I played one of my best games of the year except for that one play,” said Williams. “But, those two guys (receivers Dolbin and James Scott) are quick. Man, when a team throws as many passes as they did (43) and scores only eight points, your defense ain’t doing a bad job.”

Dee-fense! Birmingham plays it against the Fire – Wayne Hester, Aniston Star, Aug 30, 1974

Defense hasn’t been a trademark of the Birmingham Americans, but it was Thursday night in a 22-8 victory over the Chicago Fire.

That did nothing but please Birmingham head coach Jack Gotta, who had talked all week of Chicago’s offensive potency, chiefly quarterback Virgil Carter and running backs Mark Kellar and Cyril Pinder.

Carter went into Thursday night’s game as the WFL passing percentage leader at 56 percent, but completed only 42 percent (18 of 43) against the Ams. That was a star for the Birmingham defense.

Kellar, second leading rusher in the league, ran for just 59 yards, and Pinder, fourth-leading rusher in the WFL ran for a mere three yards. That was another star for the defense.

“Our defense came to play,” Gotta said after the game. “This was probably our best defensive effort because we were playing such a good offensive team. Our defense has come a long way in a short time.”

“We kept plugging and plugging offensively and defense stepped in there and came through time after time,” Gotta added.

Tiny Andrews, Ross Brupbacher, Warren Capone, Dick Trower, and Gary Champagne led the Ams on defense, limiting the Fire to only 70 yards rushing.

“Make no mistake about it, Chicago is a good football team,” said Gotta. “They aren’t out of anything yet, believe me.” Chicago is 6-2 and trails 8-0 Birmingham two games in the WFL Central.

Chicago coach Jim Spavital said “Birmingham did a good job keeping pressure on Virg, and when our two receivers did get open we missed them.”

Spavital added, “our defense was on the field too much. We couldn’t establish anything offensively.”

“There will be practice tomorrow,” the Chicago coach added.

“I wish we could enjoy this one,” Birmingham’s Gotta said. “But, we’ve got to get up quickly for Orlando (Monday night at Legion Field). That will be another tough one. But, right now it seems they are all tough.”

All take blame in Fire defeat

Blame it on their youth. Blame it on Virgil Carter or Jack Dolbin or James Scott. Blame it on Jim Spavital. Whoever you want to put the finer on it all adds up to the simple fact that the Chicago Fire got whipped last night by the Birmingham Americans in the World Football League’s first ever showdown game.

Dublin, tearfully, and Spavital, calmly, blamed it on themselves. Carter didn’t blame anybody, pointing out that the Americans played a pretty good football game.

“The biggest factor in the game,” insisted Spavital, “was that I didn’t do a good job of getting them ready mentally. When a team drops passes, chokes a time or two, it’s an indication they were not properly prepared by the coach.

“I felt I wouldn’t have to do anything to get them up for the game, being that Birmingham was unbeaten and it was first place and everything. I tried to play it down, figuring that in a game like this the players would get themselves up.”

“Then, too, I was afraid since we had three more games coming up real quick that we might have gotten on the old roller coaster and gone up and down too quickly. If I had it to do over, I’d sure have talked to them.”

Carter refused to put the rap on his receivers, tho Scott dropped two first half passes that became interceptions, and Dolbin wide open, dropped a bomb that would have given the Fire a third quarter lead.

“If you start counting dropped passes,” noted Carter, “they’ll start counting the ones you overthrow on.”

Carter threw 43 passes, far more than usual, and explained: “Obviously we felt they were playing to stop our running game. But their outside linebackers were up on the line and the middle backer was up close. I didn’t test it much but when I did they were right there.”

“I could tell what they were thinking going in. Our last two games have been predicated on the run and these were the two films they saw.”

The Fire didn’t get its only touchdown until 2 seconds remained in the half when Scott redeemed himself by hauling in Carter’s 28-yard pass in the end zone. “That got us going,” noted Virg. “In the third quarter, we played pretty well, but had a little trouble getting field position and that kind of got the defense worn down.”

“The defense played well,” confirmed Spavital, “but it was on the field 80 percent of the game.”

Dolbin already redeemed himself, too, when he pulled the Fire out of a deep hole with a 39-yard reception early in the fourth quarter. A punt had backed the Fire to its 1, trailing only 14-8. ON first down, Carter fired a flare to Dolbin, who skipped down the right sideline to the 40.

“That was a pretty safe play,” offered Carter, “it’s about as safe as a dive. I was going to throw the ball whether Jack was open or not. It was either going to be a completion or an incompletion. There was no danger of them coming in on me. Our line fires out and all I do is take three steps and throw. Even if we failed to hold them up they can’t get to me in time.”

Historians were reminded of the pass that Len Dawson threw to Otis Taylor under similar circumstances in an American Football League title game against Oakland. Only difference was that one turned out to be the game breaker.

Last night’s appeared to have the Fire fired up and ready to roll, too. But, on third and 1, Carter elected to pass and Russ Brubacher, blitzing him from his outside linebacker position, nailed him for a loss.

“Farther upfield that call might be pretty stereotyped,” said Carter, “but, not where we were. If we’d gone for the first down and missed it I think we’d have punted, anyway.

“It was a standard blitz. We had a man assigned to him but Brubacher got outside of him. That play kind of frustrated us.”

It was the pivotal play of the game and if Brubacher had not made it, Jack Dolbin may not have had to shed any tears, after all.

Americans ramble, quench Fire 22-8

Jack Dolbin was at his locker, crying so hard he could barely breathe or talk.

Finally, painstakingly, he tried to face the sad music.

“I wanted to have a good game so badly,” he whispered. “I can’t explain it. I can’t explain anything. All I know is I was dropping passes out there, and I had no excuses.”

Dolbin could just as well have been weeping for the entire Fire team last night, which lost 22-8 to the unbeaten Birmingham Americans in a World Football League game nobody could quite fathom.

“I think we have the best receivers in the league,” said Fire Coach Jim Spavital. “We must have dropped seven passes out there. Two receivers leading the league, and all of a sudden they start dropping them.”

The victory gave Birmingham an eight-game win streak and dropped Chicago to 6-2 in the Central Division with a tortuous task ahead, three games in the next 13 days.

“We’ll just have to regroup,” said Spavital, again taking the blame for not preparing his team mentally. “I thought the game would help prepare them,” he said. “It was my fault.”

It’s not that Dolbin or James Scott dropped everything thrown at them by Virgil Carter, who completed 18 of 43 passes for 263 yards and a touchdown with two seconds left in the first half.

Dolbin himself grabbed five for 77 yards, but it was one of those he dropped – a long pass in the third period – that would have put the Fire ahead. With third down a the Fire 23 and trailing 14-8, Carter sprinted out as he was doing all evening before a crowd of 44,332 at Soldier Field and a nationwide television audience. He spotted Dolbin outrunning his defender and hit him perfectly, but the ball went through Dolbin’s hands.

On another occasion, the ball bounced off Dolbin’s chest, and Carter’s toss to Mark Kellar, too, went through his hands with blocking forming ahead of him.

But, as much as the receivers seemed to have stone-hands, the defense played one of its best games of the season. Trouble is, the Firemen were simply on the field too much. “Our defense did the job,” said Linebacker Rudy Kuchenberg. “But we’re a team and we lost the game.”

As much credit goes to the Birmingham quarterback, former National Football Leaguer George Mira. He connected on 12 of 28 for 139 yards, but it was his pinpoint sideline passes to speedy Alfred Jennings that highlighted the Americans’ three touchdown drives.

Birmingham tallied first on a 57-yard drive in 12 plays in the first period: and 69-yard march in 11 plays, following one of Chuck Ramsey’s frequent short punts, was climaxed with Mira’s 19-yard aerial to Paul Robinson, the ex-Bengal.

On their final score with 10:28 elapsed in the fourth period, Mira took the Americans on a 66-yard, nine play drive. Highlighting the series were passes of 10, 23, and 6 yards to Jenkins, and effective running by Art Cantrelle, a rookie from LSU who finally scored on a sweep from 3 yards out.

“We had so many good players,” said American Coach Jack Gotta. “I can’t single out any one player. Our defense was unreal.”

Birmingham’s first four – plus safety blitz – kept Carter scrambling most of the evening and caused several of his passes to go astray. At least twice his passes were deflected, once by former Bear Ross Brupbacher.

“We had wanted to do what we normally do,” said Spavital. “But, they took everything away from us. Losing Cyril Pinder midway in the second period following a slashing 38-yard run with a Carter pass didn’t help.”

Pinder, who carried only three times, twisted his left ankle but is expected to be ready for the Sun on Labor Day in Anaheim, Cal.

Fire running back Mark Kellar reaches for a few tough yards. Birmingham defeated the Fire 22-8.

Americans douse Fire

The infantry beat the bombers when the Birmingham Americans chopped down the Chicago Fire 22-8 to remain the only unbeaten team in the World Football League.

A National Football League refugee, Charlie Harraway punched out 80 yards on the grounds, Art Cantrelle ran for 58, including a three-yard scoring run, and Jimmy Edwards picked up 37 yards including a two-yard touchdown run as the Americans rushed for 212 yards in racking up their eighth victory without a loss.

Along with George Mira’s passing, 12-of-29 for 139 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown throw to Paul Robinson, the Americans never were in danger. They more than overcame the 263 yards amassed in passing by Chicago’s Virgil Carter.

Carter hit Jim Scott on a 28-yard throw for Chicago’s only score. But, Fire could rush for only 70 yards and Birmingham could play ball control with 77 plays to 64 for Chicago.

“We moved the ball well,” Birmingham Coach Jack Gotta said. “Our defense came up and stopped them time and time again. This was probably our best defensive effort because we were playing such a good offensive football team. Our defense has come a long in a very short time and it really showed. All our running backs ran well and I think our offensive line did a good job of blowing them out of there.”

Mira said the Fire defense forced him to call more audibles than he usually does, and that after Chicago scored, “we came back and beat them.”

Carter said he “hit plenty of receivers in the chest but I’ve thrown so many over their heads, too that I can’t complain.”

Fire Coach Jim Spavital said his team “just got licked pretty good. Our defense did its job but our offense did nothing. How we react to this loss will determine our future the rest of the way. I think we’ll bounce back.”

Birmingham Linebacker Ross Bruphbacher attempting to corral Fire quarterback Virg Carter.

Americans Singe Chicago

George Mira threw for one touchdown and directed long drives for two more to lead the unbeaten Birmingham Americans over the Chicago Fire, 22-8, Thursday night and tighten their grip on first place in the central division of the World Football League.

Mira, coming back from an ankle injury, completed 12 of 28 passes for 139 yards and was voted the game’s outstanding player by sportswriters covering the nationally televised game.

The Americans, now 8-0, and the only undefeated team in the fledgling pro football loop, handed Chicago its second setback in eight games.

Birmingham dominated the first half, scoring its first touchdown on a two-yard plunge by Jimmy Edwards after a 57-yard drive in the first period.

Mira hit Paul Robinson with a 19-yard pass to end a 69-yard push in the second period and give the Americans a 14-0 edge.

But, the Fire rebounded after Harry Howard intercepted a Birmingham pass on the Chicago 28, with only 27 seconds left in the first half.

Fire quarterback Virgil Carter connected on three consecutive throws, hitting Jim Scott with only two seconds left before intermission. Jack Dolbin scored the “action point” on a pass from Carter.

After a scoreless third period, Mira masterminded his team on a 66 yard-drive in the fourth period to clinch the victory. Art Cantrelle plunged over from three yards to cap the nine-play drive, which was highlighted by Mira’s passing with three completions for 58 yards to end Alfred Jenkins.

The Americans’ defense throttled the Fire, holding it to a season low total of 70 yards on the ground and became the first team to hold Chicago to one touchdown. Mark Kellar was held to 59 yards on 11 rushes. He picked up 54 yards on passes.

Carter passed for 263 yards on 18 completions, but three of his throws were intercepted. The Fire never got beyond Birmingham’s 38 yard line in the second half.