USFL Roundup : Walker Gains 233 Yards, and Generals Win, 31-25

It was a record-breaking day for the New Jersey Generals.

Herschel Walker, overshadowed in the early season by quarterback Doug Flutie, rushed for a United States Football League single-game record of 233 yards, including a record 88-yard touchdown run, to lead the New Jersey Generals to 31-25 win Sunday over the Houston Gamblers at East Rutherford, N.J.

Walker’s performance broke the mark of 208 yards rushing set last season by Todd Fowler of Houston in a game at Denver.

The 88-yard run broke the old record of 83 yards set by Walker last May 29 against Washington. Walker also scored on a one-yard run.

New Jersey finished the game with 344 yards rushing, another USFL record. It bettered the 300 yards set by Oakland in 1984.

The victory raised the Generals’ record to 4-3, while Houston lost its second straight game and fell to 5-2 despite two touchdowns passes and a 333-yard passing performance by quarterback Jim Kelly.

Despite running only six offensive plays in the first quarter, the Generals led, 7-0. Walker’s long touchdown run came on New Jersey’s second play from scrimmage after John Preston intercepted a Kelly pass.

Kelly cut the margin to 7-6 on the Gamblers’ second possession, hitting Clarence Verdin on a three-yard slant pass for a touchdown. Tony Fritsch missed the extra point.

New Jersey took control early in the second quarter as Flutie took the Generals on a 75-yard drive in 15 plays, with Walker scoring from the one on fourth down.

A little more than two minutes later, the Generals expanded their lead to 21-6 when Gregory Johnson blocked a Dale Walters punt and Maurice Clemmons recovered it in the end zone.

San Antonio 15, Birmingham 14--Nick Mike-Mayer kicked three field goals to pace the Gunslingers over the Stallions at San Antonio.

Mike-Mayer’s game-winning 24-yarder came with over 11 minutes to go in the fourth quarter and was scored after a fumble recovery by defensive end Greg Fields.

The Gunslingers’ only touchdown came on the last play of the third quarter when linebacker Putt Choate recovered a fumble and scored from two yards out.

Birmingham (5-2) missed an opportunity to win the game with less than a minute to go when kicker Danny Miller’s 37-yard field-goal attempt was no good.