Tampa Bay 32 at New Jersey 9

1983 Week 3 - Sunday, March 20, 1983
Tampa Bay Bandits(2-0)(-1) at New Jersey Generals(0-2)
Attendance: 53,307

EAST RUTHERFORD (AP) - Herschel Walker had only been mediocre in the Generals' first two games, both on the road, by rushing for 65 then 60 yards. And in front of a home-opener crowd of 53,370 - the largest attendance in the USFL's three-week history - he carried the ball 19 times for only 39 yards against a Tampa Bay defense that keyed on him all day.

"It was easy to stop him because that's all they did was give the ball to him," said Bandits Coach Steve Spurrier. "It was obvious early on that Herschel was not running very far against us."

Meanwhile Greg Boone carried the ball 18 times for 72 yards and a score for Tampa Bay. John Reaves threw for the Bandits' other TDs - 3 yards to Boone, 25 yards to Eric Truvillion and 10 yards to Lewis Gilbert.

"I'm embarrassed with the performance of this ballclub right now," said Generals Coach Chuck Fairbanks. "I think we have better players than the way we're playing. I've got to coach them better."

1st Half

Highlights

March 20, 1983
Tampa Bay Bandits - 32
New Jersey Generals - 9
at Giants Stadium
53,370

Tampa Bay		11	7	7	7    --	32
New Jersey	0	3	0	6    --	9

1st Quarter	TB - FG Andruyshyn 20
		TB - Boone 3 pass from Reaves (Goedecker run)
2nd Quarter	TB - Truvillion 25 pass from Reaves (Andruyshyn kick)
		NJ - FG Jacobs 30
3rd Quarter	TB - Boone 1 run (Andruyshyn kick)
4th Quarter	TB - Gilbert 10 pass from Reaves (Andruyshyn kick)
		NJ - Hicks 10 pass from Boisture (pass failed)

TEAM STATS:		TAMPA BAY		NEW JERSEY
First Downs		19		17
Rushes-yards		34-136		30-67
Passing yards		255		198
Return yards		38		168
Passes			19-29-1		22-38-1
Sacks by			4-24		2-18
Punts			5-33		6-39.6
Fumbles-lost		1-0		1-1
Penalties-yards		3-25		4-25
Time of possession		28:55		31:05

INDIVIDUAL STATS:
RUSHING = Tampa Bay: Platt 14-61, Boone 18-72, Wilson 2-3.  New Jersey: Walker 19-39, 
	Sullivan 3-2, Scott 3-16, Carthon 3-10, Hicks 1-(-6), Boisture 1-6.
PASSING = Tampa Bay: Reaves 19-29-255-1.  New Jersey: Scott 16-32-138-1, Boisture 6-6-60-0.
RECEIVING = Tampa Bay: Young 6-47, Buggs 5-72, Gilbert 2-21, Truvillion 4-76, Boone 1-3, Cox
	1-36.  New Jersey: Walker 8-54, Hicks 2-23, Sullivan 2-15, Brodsky 5-50, 
	Slawson 2-22, Carthon 3-34.
MISSED FIELD GOALS = None

Archived news report

Supplemental information courtesy of Chris Blackburn

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