1995 USFL Summer Bowl: Maulers Ride Momentum to Cool the Gamblers

The Pittsburgh Maulers made believers out of the American viewing public, maybe even before they could believe themselves. In a Summer Bowl that showcased the top two offenses in the league, the Maulers erased a 30-16 deficit with four straight touchdown drives, upending the Houston Gamblers and securing the first league championship for the Steel City franchise that began play in 1984. Despite being outgained by Houston 494-396, the Maulers took advantage of two Houston turnovers and rattled off scores in quick succession as they turned the tables on the favored Gamblers.

With a combined 81 points and nearly 900 yards of offense, this game hinged on momentum and big plays, and while Houston had plenty of both early in the game, the tide turned against them in the final 20 minutes of play, shocking both the crowd at Mile High Stadium and the Gamblers themselves. Pittsburgh never gave up on the run game, despite falling behind, while Houston relied heavily on the arm of Jim Kelly, who would end the game with 404 yards passing and 3 TDs. Alan Risher had a much more modest 241 in the air, but his 3 TD passes equaled those of his more celebrated opponent.

The game began, as so many championship games do, with both teams tentatively testing some key formations, trying to assess what the defensive strategy of their opponents would be. The Gamblers got on the board first as their first drive got them within range for John Kasay to attempt a long field goal. After a short drive led to a punt, Pittsburgh got their first break, as FS Jay Bellamy was able to down the kick at the Houston 2 yard line. On their first play from the 2, Houston tried to catch Pittsburgh with a play action pass, but DE Bob Kuberski did not bite. Rather than give up a sack, the tackle held Kuberski, but was spotted by the Back Judge. The holding penalty in the endzone gave Pittsburgh a safety and brought the game to an odd 3-2 score.

Pittsburgh would have their first successful drive after the ensuing kickoff, as Mike Rozier got 4 carries on the drive and served as decoy for FB Ron Wolfley, who avoided an early tackle and found open ground ahead of him, rushing the ball 17 yards for the score. 9-7 Maulers. Houston would respond with a drive of their own, though the Gambler drive eventually stalled at the Pittsburgh 7 yard line, leading to a chip shot kick for Kasay.

The second quarter would all but belong to the Gamblers. Following a quick 3-and-out produced when Kiki DeAyala broke up a Risher 3rd down pass to his TE Mike Shaw, Houston combined 3 Thomas runs with 6 Kelly passes, including a 42-yarder to his slot receiver, Ricky Proehl. The drive was capped by a Thomas TD run from the 1-yard line and we had our second lead change of the game with only about 5 minutes gone in the 2nd quarter. Houston now up 13-9. A fumble by Reggie Rembert would end the next Mauler drive, and again Houston would add points to the score. This time it was a pass from Kelly to Ken Dilger that did the trick, though at first it appeared that the ball was intended for Perriman, Dilger reached for it at the 2, and was able to dive into the endzone for the score.

The first half ended with a solid Mauler drive, ending in a short TD run, this time from Rozier. At the half it was Houston up 23-16, a 7-point gap. The Maulers had hung in with the Gamblers thanks in large part to their ability to mix the run and the pass, keeping the Gambler defense from sending blitzers to speed up Risher’s decisions. Houston had relied largely on the pass, and as that continued into the second half, it would start to lead to some issues as Pittsburgh defenders started to key on Kelly and the pass. The Maulers would get all 4 of their sacks of Kelly in the final 30 minutes, not counting the safety which resulted from a holding call.

As the third quarter began, the two teams traded possessions, but on their second attempt, Houston took the Pittsburgh punt and in just 5 plays they were in the end Bzone again. The key play was a 3rd and 13 which turned into a 41 yard catch and run by Rookie of the Year nominee Antonio Freeman. Freeman was knocked out of bounds at the Pittsburgh 21, and after a short 3-yard run by Thomas, Kelly again went for the big play, this time finding his other TE, Jamie Asher, for the score. At this point in the game, up 30-16, Houston seemed to have it all going their way, but on their next possession, a tipped ball would flutter into the hands of Pittsburgh’s Sonny Gordon, and the fleet of foot corner would return it down to the Houston 4 yard line before being knocked out of bounds. Two plays later Raynard Brown turned a quick slant into a 3 yard TD. Pittsburgh was back in business, down only 7 at 30-23.

As the 3rd quarter wound down, a failed 3rd and 2 rush by Kenneth Woodside forced Houston into a 3-and-out, and Pittsburgh, now feeling more confident about their chances, quickly took advantage. Risher dinked and dunked his way down the field, helped by a 14-yard draw play to Dorsey Levins on a 2nd and 8. Risher would end the drive with a screen to Wolfley, who touched the ball only 3 times in the game, but got TD’s on two of them. Pittsburgh had evened the score at 30 and had the wind at their backs. They would score again on the biggest play of the game the next time they had the ball. Risher saw Raynard Brown in single coverage and the speedy receiver used a double move to get behind the corner, where Risher hit him with a looping deep ball. The 40-yard reception was a backbreaker for the Gamblers, as it completed the Mauler flip of the scoreboard. Now it was Houston playing catchup, down 37-30.

Kelly moved the team down the field, but the drive stalled just 3 plays after a big Perriman catch had gotten them to the 30. They trotted out John Kasay, but this time the reliable kicker was off, missing to the left and giving Pittsburgh the ball back at their own 37. The Maulers were feeling it now, and their next drive, which included 5 Rozier runs for 33 yards, put the game in their pocket. When Rozier dove off tackle and into the end zone with only 2:19 left, the Maulers had a 14-point lead just outside of the two minute mark.

Houston would make it a game, however, as they quickly took advantage of good field position after a short kick from Septien. A 12 yard Thomas reception was followed by a 47-yard Kelly to Perriman TD toss. Houston was still alive with 1:32 left to play and down only 7. Their attempt at an onside kick turned into more of a squib, as the ball’s third bounce took a larger than expected arc, right over the front line Maulers. Dorsey Levins, manning the second level, fell on the ball, and Pittsburgh tried to run out some time. They rushed Rozier, then Levins, but got nowhere. On 3rd and 9 Risher scrambled but could not reach the first down line, so Pittsburgh had to punt. Houston had only 37 seconds left at this point, and that forced Kelly to try to get big chunks. He tried to hit Freeman first, but was denied. Was able to hit Asher on 2nd down, but Asher was unable to get out of bounds, forcing Kelly to spike the ball on 3rd and 1. With only seconds left, Kelly would try to hit Perriman deep, rather than take the short pass to Thomas on the swing. Perriman was unable to bring in the pass, and the ball turned over on downs. Alan Risher would take a knee on the final play of the game and, with purple and orange confetti erupting along the sidelines, the Pittsburgh Maulers were declared the 1995 USFL Championship.

This was the club’s first title, and the culmination of 7 years of consistent growth for Ted Marchibroda’s Mauler squads. After an initial 5-11 season, the Maulers went to 7-9 in Marchibroda’s second year, then 9-7, 10-6 (and a Summer Bowl loss), and two straight 11-5 seasons before this year’s breakthrough. It was also, at long last, a coronation for one of the league’s earliest stars and one of its enduring faces of the game. Mike Rozier, in his 13th season, would have his first championship ring. Rozier, who is currently the #1 rusher in league history, edging out Herschel Walker 16,888 yards to 16,589, is already a legend, but now has the hardware to prove it. In this game he would rush for 114 yards and 2 short TD’s, and for that, and his long career of excellence, he was awarded the Player of the Game award.

For both Rozier and Alan Risher, who came to the USFL as an LSU rookie in 1983, and who spent his first two years with Arizona, the victory was sweet redemption for a career that has not always been idyllic. Risher capped off his best statistical season (finishing as the top rated QB in the league) with a title, and possibly stamping his ticket to Canton some day. Questions abound as to whether Rozier or Risher will call this game their swan song and retire in the offseason, but that is a question for another day. Now is time for celebration among the Maulers, their staff, and the city of Pittsburgh. A parade will be held on Wednesday, so you Steel Citizens plan to call in sick. It is gonna be a party for a city that has not seen a football championship since the Steel Curtain of the 1970’s.

For Houston it was a bitter end to a long and very successful season. The Gamblers appeared in their 5th championship game, but now, at 2-3 all time, have to hope that the 6th time will offer them a chance at another title. Jim Kelly, who is also rumored to be considering retirement, completed 26 of 40 for 404 yards and 3 scores in the loss. Thomas rushed for 88 yards and added another 34 on the ground, and three different Gambler receivers, Proehl (97), Freeman (87) and Perriman (75) finished with 75 yards or more receiving. But, in the end, the cruel fate of momentum shifted on Houston at a key time, and the Maulers simply had what it took to take advantage and earn their title.

So next week there will be no football, well, no games that count, as the NFL is still in their preseason, and those of us who are true USFL devotees will start to scour the newslines for stories of retirements, signings, trades, and, very soon, the inter-league transfer window. For now, we sign off, another season reaching its dramatic conclusion, another champion crowned, another exciting season of USFL football in the books.