Save the USFL Tapes! The United States Football League video library is at risk. How can you help? Learn more about our campaign to save USFL video, then check out the USFL Video Library Preservation GoFundMe campaign. Please contact me with any questions.
Join the Save the USFL Video Archive Facebook group for updates.

Looking for news and updates on the new USFL?

« Previous Game Michigan « Previous Game Los Angeles Next Game »

Michigan 21 at Los Angeles 27 3OT Playoff


1984 Quarterfinals - Saturday, June 30, 1984
Michigan Panthers(10-8) at Los Angeles Express(10-8)(-6)
Attendance: 7,964, TV: ABC

LOS ANGELES(AP) - "I've never been through anything like that in my life," said Los Angeles Coach John Hadl -- and neither had anyone else.

The teams played 93 minutes, 33 seconds, breaking the old mark of 82 40 set by the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs in a 1971 National Football League playoff game. Just 8,753 fans witnessed the struggle in the 90,000-seat Los Angeles Coliseum, where the Express downed the Michigan Panthers 27-21 to advance to next weekend's Western Conference Championship.

Ironically, the player who broke up the game, tailback Mel Gray, broke his left arm as he crashed into the end zone on a 24-yard touchdown run at 3:33 of the third overtime.

Kevin Nelson scored his second touchdown of the game on a 1-yard run to bring the Express to within 21-19 with 52 seconds left in regulation time. Quarterback Steve Young followed with a dash around left end for the two-point conversion to set up the overtime.

Michigan had two chances to win, but Novo Bojovic missed a 37-yard field goal attempt with 10:13 left in the first overtime period and a 36-yarder with 36 seconds left in the second.

Complete Game




Highlights




Highlights




Michigan Panthers at Los Angeles Express
Saturday , June 30, 1984

Michigan           0     14     0     7     0     0     0- 21
Los Angeles        7      3     3     8     0     0     6- 27

LA- Nelson 5 yard run (Zendejas kick), 4:34 1st
LA- Zendejas 32 yard field goal, 8:30 2nd
MI- C.Miller 3 yard run (Bojovic kick), 13:10 2nd
MI- Lacy 22 yard pass from Hebert (Bojovic kick), 13:41 2nd
LA- Zendejas 34 yard field goal, 11:03 3rd
MI- Cobb 2 yard pass from Hebert (Bojovic kick), 5:57 4th
LA- Nelson 1 yard run (Young run), 14:08 4th
LA- Gray 24 yard run (no kick), 3:33 3rd overtime

Attendance- 7,964

                         MI             LA        
first downs              24             29
rushes-yards             45-236         54-217
passing-yard             245            285
sacked-yards lost        2-18           1-10
return yards             181            155
passes                   16-32-3        23-45-2
punts                    4-37.0         7-37.4
fumbles-lost             1-1            1-1
penalties-yards          7-54           5-45
time of possesion        41:34          51:59

Rushing
MICH- J. Williams 23-113, C.Miller 4-5, Lacy 5-60, T.Miller 13-58
LA- Nelson 15-4, Young 7-44, Gray 31-124, Boddie 1-8

Passing
MICH- Hebert 13-27-2-201, Taylor 2-4-1-34, Lacy 1-1-0-28
LA- Young 23-44-2-295, Gray 0-1-0-0

Receiving
MICH- O'Neal 2-49, Lacy 4-57, Allen 2-43, Broughton 1-18, 
Holloway 4-67, Cobb 3-29 
LA- Boddie 2-24, Scott 1-8, Gray 3-18, Hersey 5-68, Long 2-42, 
Townsell 5-96, Moore 3-26, Nelson 2-13

Kickoff Returns
MICH- A.Bentley 3-84, Futrell 2-63, Echols 1-1
LA- Gunn 1-38 ,  Boddie 4-87

Punt Returns
MICH- Allen 1-5
LA- Gunn 1-12

Interceptions
MICH- Osborne 1-15, R.Bentley 1-13 , 
LA- Drane 1-minus 7, E.Scott 1-0, Mitchell 1-25

Punting
MICH- Johnston 4-37.0
LA- Partridge 7-37.4

Field Goals
MICH- Bojovic 0-3 missed 46, 37, 36
LA- Zendejas 2-2

Sacks
MICH- Borland 1-10
LA- Weaver 2-18

Archived news report

Supplemental information courtesy of Chris Blackburn


Back to 1984 season results

« Previous Game Michigan « Previous Game Los Angeles Next Game »