Flutie Earns Higher Grade With 4 TDs in Generals’ 28-10 Win

Doug Flutie and his coach agree--the million-dollar rookie’s performance in the New Jersey Generals’ 28-10 victory over the Orlando Renegades Friday night rated a “B.”

For Flutie, the Heisman Trophy winner from Boston College playing his second regular-season game as a pro, the grade translated into four touchdown passes and 243 yards in total offense.

“It was a load off my back,” said Flutie, who gave himself a “C” in the Generals’ opening-game loss to the Birmingham Stallions, 38-28.

“The key was I kept us out of bad plays,” he said. “Last week, I didn’t really get into the game until I started scrambling around some. Tonight, I did that by design.”

Flutie’s scrambling early in the game gave the Renegades a problem they didn’t expect.

“It’s hard to put up a defensive game plan when there is an extra man running around back there,” New Jersey Coach Walt Michaels said.

He indicated the league can expect to see more of Flutie’s scrambling as the season continues.

Flutie rushed for 52 yards while passing for 191.

“He adds an extra dimension that way,” Michaels said.

When does he get an “A”? Michaels was asked.

After five, six, seven touchdowns,” the coach said. “You can’t go right to the top so early.”

Three of Flutie’s passes went to wide receiver Clarence Collins--the longest a 47-yarder. The fourth went to tight end Sam Bowers.

Orlando lost its home-opener and second game by failing to generate any sustained offense under quarterback Jerry Golsteyn.

The Renegades’ only touchdown was on a two-yard Golsteyn pass to tight end Bob Niziolek midway through the final period. Jeff Brockhaus kicked a 22-yard field goal at the start of the third quarter for Orlando’s only other points.

The victory was the first for the Flutie-led Generals after the opening-game loss to Birmingham.

New Jersey built a 21-0 first-half lead after Flutie’s three touchdown tosses--one for 9 yards to Collins in the first period, another 9-yarder to Collins midway through the second quarter and a 25-yard toss to Bowers shortly before halftime.

All the first-half scoring was the result of Flutie’s scrambling and the strong running of Herschel Walker and Maurice Carthon, who combined for 139 yards on 29 carries in the first half. Flutie scrambled five times for 48 yards in the first two quarters.

Golsteyn, on the other hand, was ineffective from the pocket. When his passes finally found the range, several were dropped by his receivers.

Flutie was 9 of 18 for 136 yards in the first half to Golsteyn’s 4 of 15 for 40 yards.

Orlando, trailing, 21-0, started the second half by going 64 yards in 10 plays before bogging down on the 12. Brockhaus kicked his 22-yarder with 9:03 to go in the period.

Golsteyn hit tight end Don Echols for 18 yards to the 3-yard line toward the end of final quarter. Echols fumbled into the end zone and the ball was covered by the Renegades. But the officials ruled it dead at the three, and Golsteyn then threw his only scoring pass of the night to Niziolek.