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Washington 12 at Denver 24
1983 Week 14 - Friday, June 3, 1983
Washington Federals(1-12) at Denver Gold(5-8)(-6.5)
Attendance: 40,671
DENVER (AP) - Fullback Larry Canada powered up the middle for two fourth-quarter touchdowns, gaining 115 yards in leading the Denver Gold past the hapless Washington Federals 24-12 Friday night in the United States Football League.
The victory raised Denver's record to 6-8 and drew the Gold within one-half game of first place in the Pacific Division. Washington suffered its 10th straight loss and fell to 1-13.
A crowd of 40, 761, slightly below Denver's season average, saw the Gold convert two Federal turnovers into 10 points en route to a 17-6 advantage midway through the fourth quarter.
The second turnover came with 8:31 remaining as Washington wide receiver Jeff Postell was stripped of the ball by Denver linebacker Greg Gerken and safety Maurice Tyler rovered at the Federal 16-yard line. Canada carried three times for the remaining yardage, bulling five yards for the TD with 7:40 left.
Washington pulled within 17-12 after blocking a punt. Leroy Robinson deflected Steve Gortz's punt and Mike Matocha recovered the loose ball in the end zone, but the Federals failed on the two-point conversion.
Washington then tried an onside kick, but Denver recovered near mid-field, and Canada capped the victory with 41 seconds left to help raise new head coach Craig Morton's record to 2-0.
Washington's first crucial turnover came on the game's first play from scrimmage. Rookie running back Craig James fumbled and Gerken recovered at the Federal 39, setting up Brian Speelman's 24-yard field goal.
Friday, June 3, 1983 at Mile High Stadium
Attendance: 40,671
|
1Q
|
2Q
|
3Q
|
4Q
|
Final
|
||
| Washington |
0
|
3
|
3
|
6
|
|
12
|
| DENVER | 3 |
7
|
0
|
14
|
|
24
|
| DEN | Speelman 24 yd FG |
| WAS | Vitiello 24 yd FG |
| DEN | Sydney 3 yd run (Speelman kick) |
| WAS | Vitiello 21 yd FG |
| DEN | Canada 5 yd run (Speelman kick) |
| WAS | Matocha recoved blocked punt in endzone (pass failed) |
| DEN | Canada 24 yd run (Speelman kick) |
| TEAM STATISTICS |
WAS
|
DEN
|
| First Downs............................................ |
24
|
16
|
| Total Net Yards...................................... | 416 | 266 |
| Total Yds Rushing................................... |
183
|
183
|
| Total Yds Passing................................... |
233
|
83
|
| Pass Att - Comp - Int............................. |
39 - 26 - 0
|
28 - 9 - 0
|
| Off Plays - Avg....................................... |
77 - 5.4
|
63 - 4.2
|
| Punts - Avg............................................. |
6 - 42.8
|
8 - 40.5
|
| Returns - Yds.......................................... |
8 - 97
|
6 - 77
|
| Fumbles - Lost........................................ |
4 - 2
|
2 - 1
|
| Time of Possession.................................. |
32:14
|
27:46
|
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
| Rushing | WAS | James 21-90; Taylor 10-63; Hohensee 4-11; Bledsoe 1-4; McQuilken 1-7 |
| DEN | Canada 16-115; Sydney 9-23; Matthews 7-36; Penrose 1-9; V. White 1-0 | |
| Passing | WAS | Hohensee 11-4-0-77; McQuilken 28-22-0-156 |
| DEN | Mortensen 19-8-0-78; Sydney 1-0-0-0; Penrose 8-1-0-14 | |
| Receiving | WAS | Taylor 10-71; M. Harris 6-100; Postell 3-23; James 5-19; Walters 1-11 |
| DEN | Niziolek 2-7; Sydney 2-19; Matthews 1-21; Dirden 1-15; Matheney 1-14; Jones 1-7; V. James 1-9 |
Archived news report
Supplemental information courtesy of Chris Blackburn
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