Member of World Football League
3625 NCNB PLAZA
Charlotte, N C. 28280
(704) 377-9424
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mailed: October 13, 1975
DIVISION LEADING HORNETS
LIKE POSITION AFTER WIN
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- For the first time in the World Football League's 1975 season, the Charlotte Hornets stand atop the Eastern Division. The club doesn't stand alone. The Birmingham Vulcans share the honor. Both teams won games on the first weekend of the Fall Season, the WFL's way of making each half a pennant scramble.
We're on top and that's what counts," head coach Bob Gibson said. "The win over the Express gives us a fast and solid start in the Fall Season which is what I wanted. But the win didn't change anything. The pressure is still on every team to win every week. With Birmingham and Memphis playing two more times, the pressure is definitely on the Hornets.
"Because we are such a young team, we expect to improve as the season went along. We all thought we'd be a solid contender if we improved steadily. There's a long second half to go, but our club is playing with confidence. We think we are as good as any club in the WFL. Now, we just have to play week- to- week and prove it. Being at home five of the next eight weeks helps," Gibson added.
The Hornets travel to Philadelphia Saturday in an important Eastern Division game while Birmingham and Memphis clash again and Jacksonville visits Portland.
Then, Charlotte begins a four-game home stand with the Hawaiians on October 25; Shreveport on November 2, Portland on November 9 and Birmingham on November 16. "You can't look down the road," Gibson said. "Good football teams play week-to-week. It's tough to teach a young team that, but now I think we're getting there. I think we'll be tough at home. That says enough."
CHARLOTTE HORNETS FACT SHEET
THE GAME THIS WEEK: | CHARLOTTE HORNETS at Philadelphia Bell Saturday, October 18, 1975 Franklin Field, Philadelphia, Pa 7:30 p.m. Capacity -- 60,000 |
THE COACHES: | Bob Gibson (Youngstown State '50) Willie Wood (USC '60) |
RECORDS: | CHARLOTTE: WON 6, LOST 4 Philadelphia: WON 3, LOST 4 |
San Antonio 27, CHARLOTTE 20 (A) |
Philadelphia 21, Hawaiians 15 (H) |
SEASONAL HIGHLIGHTS: The Hornets opened the Fall Season with a 22-15 victory over Jacksonville to vault into a tie for the Eastern Division lead with Birmingham. Ike Thomas turned the game around with a 92-yard kickoff return and quarterback Tom Sherman passed a 12 yard touchdown pass to James Thompson. Pete Rajecki added two field goals.
OFFENSIVELY, the Hornets generated 342 total yards-168 passing and 174 rushing. John Sykes was the club's leading rusher, gaining 94 yards on 13 carries while Don Highsmith, the club rushing leader thru 10 games, picked up 60 yards on 18 carries. Sherman, a percentage passer, completed 11 of 23 for 168 yards. Two weeks ago, he hit 17 of 20 in a win over Shreveport. Rookie James Thompson, who caught eight passes for 123 yards against Shreveport, caught three Sherman aerials for 35 yards and a score while Lee McGriff added three catches for 66 yards.
DEFENSIVELY:, World Football League "Player of the Week," Ike Thomas leads a solid pass defense, ranked third in the league going into the Jacksonville game. The ground defense allowed a season low 86 yards net rushing against the Express.
Linebacker Jere Brown continues to lead the team in tackles with 98, 82 unassisted. Larry Shears ranks among the league leaders in interceptions with four.
SPECIALTY TEAMS: Randy Rhino leads the WFL in punt returns and Ike Thomas ranks in the top five in kick returns. Rhino holds a club and WFL record for interception returns of 84 yards. Thomas holds a club and WFL record for kickoff returns with a run of 92 yards.
HORNETS ON THE AIR: Saturday's game with the Bell will be televised over WRET-TV, Channel 36 in Charlotte beginning at 7:30 p.m. The game can also be heard on WBT-Radio, 1110 AM, beginning at 7:15 p.m. with Harold Johnson and Matt Snorton. Two additional television outlets will carry the game - WGHP-TV, Channel 8 in High Point and WTCG-TV, Channel 17 in Atlanta.
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS:
HORNETS OFFENSE | BELL DEFENSE | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
WR | 36 | Tim George | DE | 81 | Lou Ross |
LT | 78 | Carl Collins | DT | 76 | Doug Olson |
LG | 64 | John Culpepper | DT | 77 | Tom Gipson |
C | 52 | Charlie Tiblom | DE | 86 | Don Ratliff |
RG | 70 | Darrel Bunge | LB | 57 | Skip Singletary |
RT | 75 | Jerome Gantt | LB | 61 | Steve Colavito |
TE | 83 | Ray Parson | LB | 53 | Mel Rogers |
WR | 48 | James Thompson | CB | 47 | Gregg Butler |
QB | 19 | Tom Sherman | CB | 14 | Alvin Wyatt |
RB | 32 | Don Highsmith | WS | 38 | Rod Foster |
RB | 44 | Lewis Jolley | SS | 33 | Bill Craven |
PK | 3 | Pete Rajacki | P | 28 | Linc Welles |
HORNETS DEFENSE | BELL OFFENSE | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DE | 85 | Denis Turner | WR | 18 | Ben Hawkins |
DT | 69 | Greg Lens | LT | 60 | Steve Kinney |
DT | 74 | David Douglas | LG | 68 | Mike Wilson |
DE | 67 | Jerry Ellison | C | 59 | Ron Kecman |
LB | 51 | Jere Brown | RG | 65 | Vern Winfield |
LB | 54 | Marty Huff | RT | 64 | John Roman |
LB | 50 | Tom Chandler | TE | 82 | Ted Kwalick |
CB | 23 | Larry Shears | WR | 8 | Ron Holiday |
CB | 9 | Sonny Hicks | QB | 12 | Bob Davis |
WS | 8 | Randy Rhino | RB | 20 | John Land |
SS | 22 | Ike Thomas | RB | 30 | Claude Watts |
P | 15 | Robby Reynolds | PK | 35 | Bob Cooper |