The Charlotte Observer
August 17, 1975
By Richard Sink

HORNETS' LAST PERIOD BLITZ CLIPS WINGS FOR FIRST VICTORY 27-20

The Charlotte Hornets topped a six-game losing streak over the last two World Football League season Saturday night by scoring 19 points in the final quarter to overtake San Antonia and hand the Wings their first loss, 27-20.

It was a game that appeared to be totally in the Wings' control until the last minute of the third period. Then, the Hornets began an 85-yard drive and a resurgence that thoroughly excited the Memorial Stadium crowd, which was announced at 8,447 paid for the home opener.

The comeback from a 20-8 deficit put new life in the Hornets' defense, which did its job of getting the ball for the offense and putting the clamps on Johnnie Walton's throwing arm.

He's over! Shout Charlotte lineman as Don Highsmith scores first TD.

Hornet quarterback Tom Sherman, a regular last year but staring for the first time this season, did some slinging of his own, and it was his surprising 57-yard pass to rookie tight end Danny Whyte that put Charlotte ahead, 26-20, with 10:14 remaining.

Sherman then hit rookie receiver James Thompson on the action point that left San Antonio, now 3-1, a touchdown behind.

Before that, Sherman worked a 53-yard pass to Lewis Jolley on the last day of the third quarter. Then the Hornet fullback started the final period with an 11-yard burst up the middle to give Charlotte two touchdowns in a game for the first time this season.

Sherman passed on the action point to tight end Ray Parson, a '74 Hornet regular who was just returning to the team, and Charlotte was within 20-16. It quickly became 20-19.

Tom Embrey, who recovered a fumble on a kickoff last week at Memphis, repeated his act - with help from David Blake and Jerry Ellison - recovering Larry Crowe's bobble at the 24. Three plays netted four yards and Pete Rajecki kicked a 36-yard field goal just 1:03 after Jolley's touchdown.

The Charlotte defense held the Wings to a yard on their next possession and Sherman found Whyte three plays after the Hornets took over at the San Antonio 38.

"I think I'm getting old and senile but I really wasn't worried," Bob Gibson said after his first victory as a pro head coach. "It doesn't bother me like it used to."

"We didn't do anything at halftime, except pray. We wanted to do things we knew we could do, and do them better in the second half. And then, too, we got a few breaks in the second half."

Seven turnovers are what killed the Hornets in their 27-10 loss at San Antonio three weeks ago but they were only guilty of one in the rematch.

Hornet fullback Lewis Jolley scores on a 10 yard run.

"I was impressed with San Antonio," Sherman said. "I didn't think they were that good, but  after tonight, I don't know. They've got a good club. Their defense came hard at us the first two times after halftime.

"But then our offense line did a better job, and I thought their defense got a little tired."

Walton had a 33-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Richardson nullified by a penalty which would have put the Wings in front, 27-8, midway through the third period. They had increased their 17-8 halftime margin with a 38-yard field goal by Luther Palmer just 2:26 after intermission.

Twice, the Hornets were bottled up without a first down before the sudden turnaround. Sherman started it innocently enough with a couple of down-and-out passes to rookie Randy Cobb for 14 and five yards that must have set up the San Antonio defense.

Sherman looked to his right, saw the down-and-out covered this time, and dumped a pass to his left to a wide-open Jolley. That was the play that carried for 51-yards, and Jolley had to be dragged down at the 11.

His touchdown, Rajecki's field goal and Whyte's scoring reception followed but the work wasn't over for the Hornets. Their defense allowed a San Antonio march to the 10 but Walton was trapped for an eight-yard loss on third down by big tackle Greg Lens, and a 35-yard field goal try by Palmer was blocked by safely Terry Hoeppner.

In the dying minutes, the Wings again tried to move but had to do it without Walton. He was knocked dizzy and was replaced by Jim Ettinger, who couldn't produce the success Walton had earlier.

As cheerleader flees, Ray Parson plays "Don't Fence Me In"

San Antonio piled up considerable yardage and actually held the edge for the game, 321-305. Walton passed for 229 yards and had two TDs to his credit at halftime.

The first came on a five-yard toss out of a full-T offense with just 2:50 gone in the game. Left halfback Bill Sadler slipped open to the left to make the catch.

It was an easy touchdown for the Wings. As left cornerback Billie Hayes, grabbed an interception on the third play of the night and returned it 16 yards to the 11.

It looked like a repeat of the San Antonio giveaway three weeks ago. The game had begun in almost shocking fashion with Hornet returner Ike Thomas fumbling the opening kickoff on the run but recovering. Two plays lost two yards and then came Hayes's interception.

Thomas repeated the fumble and recovery on the next kickoff but the Hornets soon got untracked and managed an 8-7 lead. Twice they moved into enemy territory without a score, but with 10:31 left in the half, Don Highsmith got a touchdown on a one-yard run on forth down.

Highsmith completed a 68-yard drive in 12 plays after ha and Sherman had tried drives from the one. Highsmith got the march moving with a 13-yard pass from Sherman and a cutting 11-yard run down the right sideline . Parson's first catch of the year for 18 yards and Charlotte was actually stopped and was settling for a 29-yard field goal by Rajecki.

But Gibson gambled to take an offsides penalty against the Wings instead. A seven-yard run by Jolley, the game's leading rusher with 78 yards on 14 carries, gave Highsmith and Sherman their cracks at the goal line. After Highsmith TD run, Sherman hit Kreg Kapitan for the action point, and an 8-7 edge.

Charlotte's Danny Whyte crosses goalline on decision pass play.