The USFL : Reaves and Jackson Spark Tampa Bay to a 33-17 Win

John Reaves and Spencer Jackson hooked up on a 61-yard scoring pass to cap a 20-point second quarter Monday night that gave Tampa Bay a 33-17 triumph over the Denver Gold, keeping the Bandits tied for first place in the USFL’s Eastern Conference.

The Bandits (6-2) remained tied with Birmingham while Denver (5-3) stayed tied with Houston atop the West despite snapping a three-game winning streak.

Gary Anderson scored on a one-yard run for Tampa Bay, and Greg Boone broke the game open with a 12-yard TD dash in the fourth quarter. Zenon Andrusyshyn added field goals of 42 and 24 yards and the Bandits closed the scoring with 48 seconds left in the game on a one-yard plunge by Ricky Williams. Andrusyshyn missed the extra-point attempt, ending a string of 53 conversions.

Reaves completed 18 of 32 passes for 292 yards while Williams ran for 54 yards on 14 carries.

Brian Speelman kicked a 22-yard field goal for Denver, which got a lift from Bob Gagliano at quarterback in the second half. Bill Johnson scored on a 23-yard run for the Gold, and Gagliano threw a seven-yard TD pass to Marc Lewis in a 14-point third period that pulled Denver close.

Boone capped a 78-yard drive with a 12-yard dash off left tackle that put the Bandits ahead, 27-17, with 9:11 left in the game. Boone’s first TD of the season came after Reaves connected with Jackson for 12 yards and Larry Brodsky for 19 on third-down plays.

The Bandits started slowly as Brodsky, filling in for injured All-USFL receiver Eric Truvillion, caught passes of 15 and 18 yards to set up Andrusyshyn’s 42-yard field goal that tied the score, 3-3, 69 seconds into the second period. Brodsky finished with nine receptions for 115 yards

After Speelman’s errant 54-yard attempt, the Bandits went 63 yards in 12 plays and grabbed the lead with 2:42 left in the half when Anderson took a pitchout around left end and followed Boone’s crunching block for his league-leading 14th TD. The key gain was a 30-yard pass from Reaves to Marvin Harvey on third and 20 from the Denver 31.

Gagliano opened the second half after starting quarterback Vince Evans dislocated a finger on his right hand while throwing an interception late in the second period. A 32-yard run by Johnson, who led all rushers with 95 yards, and an 18-yard reception by Vincent White gave Denver a first down at the seven-yard line and Gagliano then found Lewis for the score at 2:59, pulling the Gold within 20-10.

Reaves, hit by defensive tackle Reggie Singletary as he was backpedaling, fumbled and John Nevens recovered at the Gold 38. After Gagliano’s 13-yard scramble to the Tampa Bay 23, Johnson cut to the right sidelines and dashed in for the TD that cut Denver’s deficit to three points with 4:40 left in the third period.

Speelman, who missed earlier field goal attempts of 42 and 54 yards, was wide right on a 39-yarder with 12 seconds left in the period.

Anderson sprained his right foot late in the opening half and didn’t return, rushing for 32 yards in nine carries.

Although the crowd of 54,267 fell short of the 60,000 hoped for by Tampa Bay owner John Bassett, the Bandits decided to proceed with a $1-million deferred annuity prize, won by George Townsend, 34, of Tampa. Townsend will receive payments of $50,000 per year for 20 years, beginning in the year 2005.