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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mailed: October 21, 1975

HORNETS FACE "PLAYOFF GAME"

SATURDAY AGAINST THE HAWAIIANS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Officially, playoff games in the World Football League are not scheduled until December 20-21, after the completion of the regular season. For the Charlotte Hornets, Saturday's game with the Hawaiians might as well be a December 20 game.

"It is more important that any game we play," Hornets' head coach Bob Gibson said after reviewing films of his club's loss to Philadelphia. "We not only have to win the game to keep pace in the Eastern Division, we also have to produce some consistent play, something we lost completely against the Bell."

Saturday's 8 p.m. game in Memorial Stadium is just as important to the Hawaiians, who like the Hornets, stand 1-1 for the Fall Season, good enough for a tie for second place but behind Southern California and Portland with 2-0 records. Charlotte, meanwhile, trails Birmingham. The Hornets' chances of a playoff berth rest on four consecutive home games beginning this weekend.

"It goes without saying that we're playing for a playoff berth this weekend," Gibson said. "Birmingham is setting sail with a 9-3 overall record. Memphis, although it is 7-4 overall and 0-2 in the Fall Season, has already qualified for the playoffs by virtue of winning the Summer Season title. That leaves Philadelphia, Jacksonville, and Charlotte to scramble for the Fall Season spot." (Charlotte hopes its home slate will provide some type of advantage.)

Charlotte faces a Hawaiians team riddled by injuries in the backfield and missing quarterbacks Sonny Sixkiller and Rick Cassata, who were waived after contractual problems. "It sounds like the Hawaiians are down," Gibson says, "but don't kid yourself. They beat us 33-14 in pre-season. Their defense is about the same –rugged. And their offense can score. I'm sure their injuries will be healed when they arrive in Charlotte Thursday.

Charlotte must replace reserve running back John Sykes, who is out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. Their starting backfield of Don Highsmith and Lewis Jolley is intact, but with playoff pressure the club needs to bolster its ground attack for the six remaining games.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: John Evenson, Director of Public Relations
3625 NCNB Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28280
Office: (704) 377-9424