Green Scores Three Times in Ram Loss
After jet-lagging through the first half of Saturday night’s game, the Rams rallied from a 17-point deficit to take a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter.
It lasted 17 seconds. Nate Lewis returned a kickoff 87 yards with 5:02 remaining to give the San Diego Chargers a 30-27 victory before 45,684 at Anaheim Stadium in the 46th annual Times/Rams Charity Game.
After a miserable first half of mistakes, the Rams could find solace only in waking in time for the third quarter.
“Obviously, we were not prepared to play the game,” Coach John Robinson said. “We were not emotionally equipped to play the game. This is what happens in this league when you don’t come ready to play the game.”
It did prove a big night for two Rams with something to prove. Quarterback Mark Herrmann, fighting for a roster spot, led the team’s second-half comeback, completing eight of 16 passes for 122 yards and one touchdown.
It was also another big night for tailback Gaston Green, who rushed for 71 yards in 14 carries and scored three touchdowns.
Tailback Curt Warner, making his first start as a Ram, was again upstaged by Green, who is making a strong bid for the starting job.
Warner gained only 20 yards in nine carries and was stopped cold until breaking off a 14-yard run late in the second quarter. He didn’t play in the second half.
“I thought Gaston looked very quick,” Robinson said. “But I thought he (Warner) looked good, too. It was a good thing for him to get going. I don’t mind the fact that it was frustrating for him. He’s been a good back for a long time.”
As expected, quarterback Jim Everett made only a cameo appearance, and he didn’t complete a pass in six attempts. Everett played in the first three offensive series and left the rest of the game for backups Chuck Long, who finished the first half and looked shaky at times, and Herrmann. Long fumbled one center snap and threw an interception.
Down 17-0, the Rams started their comeback when Herrmann took over at quarterback in the third quarter. After a missed Charger field goal, the Rams drove 80 yards in 13 plays for a touchdown, the score coming on a 14-yard pass from Herrmann to fullback Robert Delpino to cut the lead to 17-7.
On San Diego’s next drive, quarterback Mark Vlasic’s pass on third down was intercepted by cornerback Bobby Humphery, who returned it 35 yards to the Charger six. Green scored from there on first down, cutting the lead to three with 3:43 left in the third quarter.
Later in the quarter, the Rams took possession again and quickly moved to the Charger 20 with a 48-yard pass play from Herrmann to rookie Tim Stallworth.
On second-and-four from the 16, Herrmann passed into the end zone for Tony Lomack. Cornerback Joe Fuller was called for pass interference, giving the Rams a first-and-goal at the one. Green scored from there on a run with 14:51, giving the Rams their first lead at 21-17.
The teams then began exchanging touchdowns in a wild fourth quarter.
San Diego regained the lead, 24-21, with 7:57 left on a one-yard scoring pass from Vlasic to tight end Derrick Walker.
The Rams then drove 67 yards in six plays on their next drive and scored on Green’s one-yard touchdown with 5:19 left. The score was set up by a 31-yard pass-interference penalty in the end zone.
The Chargers dominated the first half, taking a 7-0 lead on a 67-yard run by H-back Rod Bernstine with 3:15 remaining in the first quarter.
San Diego then used two Ram turnovers in the second quarter to extend their lead.
Charger linebacker Cedric Figaro recovered a fumble by Long at the San Diego 47, and the Chargers drove 53 yards in eight plays for the touchdown, the score coming on a one-yard run by Bernstine for a 14-0 lead.
Green returned the kickoff 33 yards to get his team in good field position.
On first down, Warner broke off his longest run as a Ram, a 14-yard sweep around right end. On second-and-10 from the 47, Long passed 22 yards to tight end Richard Ashe to the San Diego 31.
After a holding penalty on first down, Long’s pass was intercepted by safety Martin Bayless, who returned it 43 yards to the Ram 40. Thomas Sanders raced 29 yards on first down to the Ram 10 and, after the drive stalled there, Fuad Reveiz kicked a 27-yard field goal with 39 seconds left to make it 17-0.
