August 14, 1974
By John Hahn
The Portland Storm will find out if last week's tie against the Houston Texans was a transitional point in the World Football League team's season when it meets the New York Stars Wednesday night in New York.
The first of four games away from Civic Stadium, the winless Storm (0-4-1) tests another outstanding defensive team at Downing Stadium on Randalls Island. Stars' officials expect a crowd of 17,000 in the 21,587-seat facility that was used for the 1964 Olympics track and field trials.
New York with a 3-2 record in the Eastern Division, has won its last three encounters, beating Philadelphia, Jacksonville and Southern California.
The Stars' credentials are impressive. They are second in the WFL in total offense, averaging 332.8 yards per contest; they are first in rushing offense, averaging 187.6 yards; and are fourth and fifth respectively, in total defense and rushing defense.
Former Notre Dame running back Bob Gladieux ranks fifth in the league in rushing for New York. He has collected 283 yards for a 3.8 per carry average.
The Storm, however, has moved up to fifth in the league in team rushing offense, averaging 135 yards a contest. Marv Kendricks leads in that department with 261 yards and a 3.2 per carry average.
"Our running game definitely is starting to come," said Craig Fertig, Storm offensive coordinator. "You have to remember, too, that Kendricks has been playing hurt."
House to play
Kendricks has been playing with a bruised shoulder and bruised leg muscles.
Fertig said newly acquired running back Cleo House will see some action against the Stars. The 5-foot-11, 238 pounder suited for last week's game against Houston, but did not play.
"We wanted to be absolutely sure that he knew his assignments," Fertig said of House. "When you don't know them, you sometimes have a tendency to go at ¾ speed."
New York has an excellent front four on defense but the secondary has been weak, according to sources in New York. Linebacker Jim Sims, a rookie from the University of Southern California, leads the team in tackles and is the only bright spot, besides the veteran front wall.
Ken Johnson again start at quarterback for Portland, and the Storm is expected to throw more this week.