August 22, 1974
By Al Harvin
Bob Gladieux, the Stars' running back who appears to have found his groove in the World Football League, had his best night of the season last night, scoring four touchdowns in New York's 43-10 rout of the Houston Texans at Downing Stadium, Randalls Island.
A crowd of 12,042, smallest of the home season, watched the former Notre Damer star plunge over for three scores and catch a 4-yard pass from Tom Sherman for another in New York's fifth straight victory.
Gladieux was proud of his performance, which amounted to a game-high of 84 yards rushing in 20 carries, but he seemed even more glad for the coming of the WFL.
"Naturally, I always thought I could contribute something to any club," said Gladieux, "but after last year I felt my career was over. "I was cut by 12 National Football League clubs. It was my fourth year and I was beginning to feel everybody was just trying to cut me out of my pension.p>
"In the NFL they want their running backs to be 6 foot 2, weigh 220 pounds and run the 40 in 4.6 and what am I? About 5-10, 195 and run the 40 in 4.8. I was seriously thinking of trying to get a job coaching."
The Stars wasted no time in humbling the Texans, who came into Downing Stadium with the best defense against the rush in the league, allowing just 112 yards a game.
Led by Gladieux, New York, boasting the league's best rushing attack, ran for 231 yards and had 130 in the first half.
Ed White, Gladieux's running mate, 69 yards on 16 carries and Dave Richards gained 63 on 14 carries.
The Stars capitalized on three Houston miscues to build a 21-3 lead by halftime.
Gerry Philbin, the Stars defensive end, picked up Mike Richardson's fumble on the Texans' 37-yard line to lead to the first score. Steve Dennis, the Stars' right cornerback, intercepted Mike Taliaferro pass at the New York 45 to set up the second New York score.
And John Odom, trying a coffin-corner kick from the Stars' 41, booted the ball out of bounds at the New York 26, and the Stars put on their third scoring march.
Charlie Durkee's 43-yard field goal stayed off a first-half shutout for the Texans.
Gladieux's fourth touchdown came in the third period on a 4-yard run, which put New York ahead, 29-3.
The other New York touchdowns came when Sherman hit Kreg Kapitan, activated for the injured George Sauer Jr., with a 26-yard pass in the third quarter and Gary Danielson, the reserved quarterback, plunged over from the 1 in the fourth quarter.
Sherman finished with 10 completions in 20 attempts for 135 yards.
Don Maynard the former Jet, who signed yesterday with Houston, caught one pass for 17 yards and drew attention by blasting Jets management.
"I missed three passes all of last season, had always been a nice guy on and off the field and look what they did to me," said Maynard, who was cut after 15 years experience and a record as the NFL's leading receiver in yards and catches. "How much do you think I got from my last year with the Jets?"
When someone guessed $65,000, Maynard shot back.
"Well, you missed by $25,000. I got $40,000 in my last year and they still owe me $4,600 of that. I could have gone into school teaching and got more than that. Weeb Ewbank [Jets general manager] was just cheap. I'm getting more than that with Houston."