USFL Exhibitions : While Flutie Watches, Reaves Leads Bandit Win

While New Jersey’s Doug Flutie stood on the sidelines in street clothes, Tampa Bay’s John Reaves passed the Bandits to a 21-7 victory over the Generals before a crowd of 32,370 Saturday night at Tampa Bay, Fla.

Flutie, the 1984 Heisman Trophy winner who signed a reported five-year, $7-million contract, made notations on a clipboard while Gene Bradley directed a New Jersey offense that managed only 89 yards in the first half.

The 5-9 Flutie, who has had only three days of practice, is expected to make his professional debut Friday night against the Orlando Renegades.

John Reaves, who teamed with Eric Truvillion and Jerry Price on scoring tosses of 10 and 46 yards, completed 7 of 14 passes for 117 yards before relinquishing Tampa Bay’s quarterback duties to rookie Ron Sally late in the second period. Jimmy Jordan played the third and fourth quarters.

Bradley, a third-year pro with the Generals, completed 2 of 3 passes for 14 yards before giving way to Ron Reeves.

Houston 28, San Antonio 21--Houston quarterback Jim Kelly, the USFL’s most valuable player last year, passed for two touchdowns and 411 yards before 8,100 at McAllen, Tex., in a game the Gamblers won when Todd Fowler scored on a one-yard plunge with less than two minutes to play.

San Antonio scored first on a 31-yard pass from Rick Neuheisel to James Hadnot, but the Gamblers rallied for a 14-7 halftime lead on Kelly’s four-yard pass to Richard Johnson and backup quarterback Todd Dillon’s 19-yard toss to Clarence Verdin.

Neuheisel’s second touchdown pass, a 39-yarder in the fourth quarter to Rick Coffman, produced a 21-21 tie and set the stage for Fowler’s game-winning score.

Orlando 20, Jacksonville 10--Orlando wide receiver Jerry Parrish returned the opening kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown and later caught a 10-yard scoring pass before a crowd of 16,500 at Jacksonville, Fla.

Brian Sipe, acquired Wednesday from the New Jersey Generals, hit tight end Victor Hicks on a 14-yard pass play for the Bulls’ only touchdown.

Sipe, who played only 3:45, was 6 for 7 in passing for 54 yards.

Mike Rozier gained only four yards on two carries in his first appearance with the Bulls.

Baltimore 14, Memphis 9--Quarterback Chuck Fusina and wide receiver Scott Fitzkee, former teammates at Penn State, each threw a touchdown pass in the game at Winter Haven, Fla.

Fitzkee threw an eight-yard scoring pass to Tim Riordan on an end-around with 6:43 left in the first half, and Fusina hit Herbert Harris on a 13-yarder with 5:02 to go in the third quarter.

Alan Duncan kicked field goals of 32, 48 and 40 yards to account for Memphis’ scoring.

Denver 27, Portland 9--At Cal Poly Pomona, Vince Evans threw touchdown passes of six and 49 yards as the Gold defeated the Breakers in a game that was played without kickoffs or punts before 1,750 spectators.