Oakland 24 at Arizona 0

1983 Week 1 - Sunday, March 6, 1983
Oakland Invaders(0-0) at Arizona Wranglers(0-0)(-2)
Attendance: 45,167

TEMPE (AP) - Fred Besana fired two touch down passes to Wyatt Henderson - including a 53-year bomb in the first quarter - as Oakland defeated Arizona.

Besana, a 29-year-old quarterback out of California, connected with Henderson on the first and last touchdowns of the game as the Invaders dominated the Wranglers from start to finish.

The game was watched by a crowd of 45,167, biggest of any USFL contest. The Philadelphia-Denver game in the fledgling league was a close second, with 45,102.

Highlights

MARCH 6 
SCORE BY PERIODS 
Oakland  ..........................  7     0     0   17--24 
Arizona  ..........................  0     0     0    O-- 0 

SCORING 
Oakland--Henderson 53 pass from Besana (Shea 
kick). 

Oakland--Whittington 2 run (Shea kick ). 

Oakland--Field goal Shea 45. 

Oakland--Henderson 19 pass from Besana (Shea 
kick ). 

TEAM STATISTICS 
                                          Oakland      Arizona 
First downs  ...........................     16          12 
Rushes-Yards  .......................... 29-130      31-102 
Passing yards  .........................    215        ].08 
Sacked-Yards lost  .....................   2-21        5.32 
Return yards  ..........................     70          92 
Passes  ................................  16-23-0     15-32-1 
Punts  .................................   4-44.3      7-30.4 
Fumbles-Lost  ..........................    3-2         1-1 
Penalties-Yards  .......................   2-20        3-20 
Time of possession  ....................  28:26       31:34 
Attendance--45,167. 

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 
Rushing--Oakland, Whittington 12-69, Jackson 5- 
23, Torosian 5-18, Henderson 1-23, Daniel 1-4, Be- 
sana 1-1, Banks 1-minus 10, James 3-2; Arizona, 
Clark 15-47, Murray 5-31, Blue 8-15, Howell 1-5, 
Biedsoe 1-2, Risher 1-2. 

Passing--Oakland, Besana 15-22-0--239, Grant 
1-1-0--minus 3; Arizona, Krueger 10-19-0--96, 
Risher 5-13-1--44. 

Receiving--Oakland, Whittington 5-31, Jackson 3- 
22, Henderson 3-92, Banks 3-74, James 1-minus 3, 
Chester 1-20; Arizona, Blue 4-27, Murray 1-7, Bled- 
soe 1-minus 2, Balholm 4-57, Denfeld 1-6, Keel 1-10, 
Smith 3-35. 

Kickoff Returns--Oakland, James 1-26; Arizona, 
Murray 2-48, Jones 2-44. 

Punt Returns--Oakland, Yancy 4-32; Arizona, none. 

Interceptions--Oakland, Manumaleuga :1-12. 

Punting--Oakland, Talley 4-44.3; Arizona, Asmus 
7- 30.4. 

Field Goals--Oakland, Shea 1-2; Arizona, Asmus 0- 
2. 

Sacks--Oakland, Liles 2-9, Manumaleuga 2-15, 
Hardman 1-8; Arizona, Kimmel 1-7, Larry 1-14.

Archived news report
Photo

Supplemental information courtesy of Chris Blackburn

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