August 21, 1974
By Al Harvin
George Sauer Jr., the New York Stars' leading receiver, won't be in the line-up tonight when the club attempts to extend its World Football League victory string to five games against the Houston Texans at Downing Stadium, Randalls Island.
Sauer pulled a calf muscle in his left leg in practice on Monday and is definitely out of tonight's contest. However, club officials are hopeful he will be sidelined for only one game.
Also out of tonight's contest is Bob Hermanni, the Stars' leading punt returner and backup wide receiver, who pulled a groin muscle, also in Monday's practice. The injury could keep Hermanni inactive for two or three games.
To replace Sauer and Hermanni on the roster, the Stars have activated two rookies, Kreg Kapitan, a 6-foot-3-inch, 198-pound wide receiver from Mankato State, and Tom Spinks, a 6-foot, 190-pound wide receiver from Louisiana Tech.
The Stars have also activated John Moss, a two-year Canadian Football League pro with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, a linebacker.
The real pitched battle between New York and Houston figures to be on the ground, however, because the Stars have the league's No. 1 rushing team with 178 yards a game, while Houston is the league's no. 1 team in defense against the rush, allowing 112 yards a game.
The Texans boast a defensive front four with 41 years of pro experience, led by Joe Robb, left end, Jim Kanicki, left tackle, Don Brumm, right end, and Al Dotson, right tackle.
The Stars' offensive line is composed of Ray Parson, the tight end, Rick Sharp and Matt Herkenhoff, tackles, Larry Butler and Dick Hart, the guards and Bob Kuziel, center.
However, the ground battle might very well develop into a standoff because Houston, which was knocked out of first place in the West last week by Southern California, is last in total offense, while the Stars are No. 4 in over-all defense, allowing just 267 yards a game.
Mike Taliaferro, the Texans' quarterback, has been able to muster only 200 yards of offense a game. The Stars are also fourth in pass defense.
Tom Sherman, the Stars quarterback, has been averaging 149 yards through the air by completing almost 49 per cent of his passes. New York trails the Florida Blazers by a game in the East.