Dolphins KO the Colts--and Hogeboom

The Miami Dolphins opened their season, psychologically if not literally, with a rousing 30-10 victory over the Indianapolis Colts Sunday in the Orange Bowl.

“We’re trying to figure out how to play a season without an opening ballgame,” said Coach Don Shula, whose team lost, 50-28, to San Diego in its official opener last week.

“We told them before the game to play like this was our season opener. There was nothing we could do about last week now.

“Last week was a disaster. This week, we saw a lot of good things.”

The Dolphins played as if they had no psychological scars from the drubbing in San Diego.

Dan Marino passed for 254 yards and Lorenzo Hampton ran for two touchdowns as the Dolphins (1-1) continued their mastery of the Colts (0-2). Miami has beaten the Colts 12 straight times.

“We were a little overmatched,” Colt Coach Rod Dowhower said. “We couldn’t stand up between our mistakes and the job the Dolphins did. Right now, we’re a team that’s struggling.”

And things could get worse for the Colts. Starting quarterback Gary Hogeboom suffered a separated shoulder in the third period and it will require surgery.

Hogeboom left the game in the third period when he was tackled by Lyle Blackwood after running 50 yards with a fumble recovery.

While Marino had the impressive statistics, Dolphin newcomers provided the spark.

Hampton, a second-year running back starting only his second game, ran for touchdowns of 5 and 21 yards. Rookie John Offerdahl intercepted a pass and caused a fumble. And rookie James Pruitt returned 1 punt for a 71-yard touchdown and zipped 35 yards with another to set up a field goal.

Marino completed 17 of 29 passes, including a touchdown of four yards to Nat Moore in the second period. He was intercepted once.

The other Miami score came on a 27-yard field goal by Fuad Reveiz, who missed one of four extra points.

Indianapolis scored on a 1-yard run by Albert Bentley and a 23-yard field goal by Dean Biasucci.